tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42218511744513078592024-03-19T03:30:35.408+00:00Places SavvyThe blog for places to go to and places to know about.Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-81163569589577477152021-01-24T23:07:00.000+00:002021-01-24T23:07:16.124+00:00Places Facebook Hates<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Let me pose the important question first: Have you sold your Facebook shares? The company is collapsing, and its performance over the last months is a shambles. People have been wantonly banned form commenting or posting for no reason at all. A whole town was ostracized over one of it's beauty spots. Facebook 'algorithms' were blamed, where Facebook illogirithms would describe it better if in a novel way.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5Z3kkLIcPpC7-Y9na8KaZ-WoloHYkiSTjyv6pfKa8o8_Ng8TG2MZ3Uzw4qWm1CewDZkhzXHFVfLA9vT69SWACzDfYgHsWFITwSKF8TETfDvMR0G7kKEZ8oR9xcRTpxHyiLUKivAu2J0/s1200/dyke-march-toronto-tshirts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5Z3kkLIcPpC7-Y9na8KaZ-WoloHYkiSTjyv6pfKa8o8_Ng8TG2MZ3Uzw4qWm1CewDZkhzXHFVfLA9vT69SWACzDfYgHsWFITwSKF8TETfDvMR0G7kKEZ8oR9xcRTpxHyiLUKivAu2J0/w200-h150/dyke-march-toronto-tshirts.jpg" width="200" /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Facebook minions can't read, can't think, and have the education level of New York City cockroaches. It is hardly surprising that the company is running downhill like a loaf of cheese but with less brain inside the loaf. The site has been showing technical problems for months. After a certain amount of time, the site stops working, hanging itself in a loop of its own devising.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Since December, people have been wantonly banned from using Facebook or commenting on it. The bans were totally incomprehensible to the users banned as they occurred posting recipes, jokes, or discussing the weather. Complaints resulted in absolutely nothing. Facebook customer care means: You send us a complaint; our computer sends you the same standard answer after an amount of time has elapsed to pretend someone looked at it. But we don't give a shit.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now Facebook has started a crusade against places they hate. Users in Brighton, England, were banned when posting about their beauty spot called 'Devil's Dyke'. Facebook has finally apologized and in best Trumpian manner promptly blamed its algorithm. It shows that they can't afford to hire employees anymore after everybody who can read and write left for better companies.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you want to help Facebook to go into administration, here are some places you might want to post about in Facebook. You are worried about the people who work there? I just showed you that they didn't work but instead messed up right royally, so stop worrying. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Devil's Dyke (near Brighton, Sussex, England)<br />Dyke Valley (ditto by a different name)<br />Offa's Dyke (border ditch between Wales and England)<br />Dyke (Nevada, USA)<br />Dyke (Lincolnshire, England)<br />Dyke (Moray, Scotland)<br />Dyke (Virginia, USA)<br />Little Dyke (Nova Scotia, Canada)<br />Car Dyke (Roman boundary ditch in East England)<br />Devil's Dyke (earthen barrier in Cambridgeshire, England)<br />Devil's Dyke (prehistoric fortification in Hertfordshire, England)<br />Devil's Dykes (Roman fortification between Hungary and Serbia)<br />Deil's Dyke (from New Cumnock to Durisdeer, Scotland)<br />Pict's Dyke (ditto by a different name)<br />Celt's Dyke (ditto by a different name)<br />Foss Dyke (Roman canal linking Trent and Witham rivers, England)<br />Wansdyke (earthwork southwestern border of Wessex, England)<br />Wat's Dyke (earthwork in the Welsh Marches, Wales)<br />Great Dyke (geological feature, Zimbabwe)<br />Mount Desire Dyke (geological feature, South Australia)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With so many Dykes, I think Facebook will be busy sorting out it's faulty software; but they probably don't want to spend the money but rather stuff it into the pockets of the management (including Mark Zuckerberg). All in all, for a company that has a horrifically bad reputation since day one, they really should start to clean up their act. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Further reading<br /><a href="http://stutenzeebooks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/high-literature-being-politically.html" target="_blank">Being Politically Incorrect</a><br /><a href="https://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.com/2014/01/lgbt-history-in-british-museum.html" target="_blank">LGBT History in the British Museum</a><br /><a href="http://stutenzeebooks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/poking-fun-at-book-critics.html" target="_blank">Taking the Book Critics for a Ride</a><br /></span></span></p>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-41370863512543102402014-03-21T23:44:00.001+00:002020-11-11T15:59:00.656+00:00One of Exhibition: Saint Maurice at the Louvre in Paris<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>If you want to see one of the richest church treasuries in the world, then Paris should be your destination. Since March 14 and until June 16, 2014, the Louvre Museum presents the treasury of the Abbey of Saint Maurice in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. It is also called Abbey of Saint Maurice in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agaunum" target="_blank">Agaunum</a>. The exhibition is a one of and not likely to be repeated within our lifetime.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The exhibition shows the most important of the treasures from the abbey's long history. The donors of these priceless treasures are a who is who in European history from 515 to the 20th century. If you want to see how light the 'Dark Ages' were, then your visit in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louvre" target="_blank">Louvre</a> is imperative. For anyone interested in ecclesiastical art, it is an absolute must.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_of_Saint-Maurice_d%27Agaune" target="_blank">Abbey of Saint Maurice</a> has been inhabited by monks without interruption since 515, maybe since 315; it is the oldest working monastery of the Catholic Church. Before the monastery of Saint Maurice, there was a monastery dedicated to Saint Severin in place, dedicated in 315. Sainted King <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigismund_of_Burgundy" target="_blank">Sigismond of Burgundy</a> (the first kingdom of that name) dedicated the new monastery on September 22, 515.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The preparations for the 1,500 years jubilee include extensive restoration works in the abbey and the treasury, and it was more for safekeeping than for any other reasons that the exhibition in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris" target="_blank">Paris</a> Louvre was organized. But as such things go, the exhibition has to be counted as one of the few you shouldn't miss for any money.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The Abbey of Saint Maurice is a territorial abbey; it doesn't belong to any diocese. The abbot of Saint Maurice is also Bishop of <a href="Bethlehem" target="_blank">Bethlehem</a> since 1840. Currently, the abbey convent houses a monastery with 38 monks and a nunnery with 50 nuns. From 515 to almost 900, the monastery ran the laus perennis (perpetual prayers) whereby monks kept mass going in a shift pattern over 24 hours. The custom was imported from the Eastern Church and became known as the 'custom of Agaunum' to be copied all over Western Europe.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>To run such a shift pattern, large numbers of monks were needed which explains the rich endowment of the abbey from the start. What is more surprising is the fact that these treasures survived. The abbey occupies a strategic point at the entrance of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rh%C3%B4ne" target="_blank">Rhone</a> valley running from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Geneva" target="_blank">Lake Geneva</a> to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplon_Pass" target="_blank">Simplon Pass</a> and was therefore a point that any warlord had to control. The abbey had to house troops, pay huge ransoms, and was passed around like so much loot at times.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The Kings of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Burgundy" target="_blank">Upper Burgundy</a> (and later Kings of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Arles" target="_blank">Burgundy</a> second edition) made it a Royal residence and finances became mixed up between the abbey and the royal household. King <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolph_III_of_Burgundy" target="_blank">Rudolf III</a> restored the abbey's fortunes with huge donations prior to his death and before handing the kingdom to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Roman_Emperor" target="_blank">Holy Roman Emperor</a> as a bequest in his last will and testament.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The exhibition is included in the cheap Louvre ticket (Euro 12). Don't hesitate to go, you won't get a second chance.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/good-queen-berta-in-switzerland.html" target="_blank">Good Queen Berta in Switzerland</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.com/2013/11/solothurn-switzerlands-baroque-jewel.html" target="_blank">Solothurn, Switzerland's Baroque Jewel</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/neuchatel-anachronistic-city-in.html" target="_blank">Neuchatel: The Anachronistic City in Switzerland</a></span></span></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-58973473413673924472014-03-16T19:38:00.001+00:002020-11-11T16:28:38.540+00:00750 Years City of Thun in Switzerland<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>In the Swiss city of Thun, the year 2014 will be marked by ongoing festivities, festivals, and cultural highlights. The celebrations have been chosen to highlight and mark the work, cultural contribution, and political development of women in these 750 years. The reason for this extraordinary theme for a basically medieval jubilee lies in the person of the founder of the city: Countess Elisabeth of Kyburg.</span></span><br />
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</span></span><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The number of cities founded by women can probably be counted on one hand; and those that can prove it with documents are the exception. The city of <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#" target="_blank">Thun</a> in the Canton of Bern in Switzerland is this exception. The town received its city charter on the 12th March of 1264 from the hand of Countess Elisabeth of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyburg_family" target="_blank">Kyburg</a>. To commemorate this exceptional event, the city has named a place in her honor. The ceremony on March 12 also signaled the start of the jubilee year.</span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>If you search the web, you wont find much about the honored countess. She was the second wife of Count Hartmann V of Kyburg who was also the heir to the childless Count Hartmann IV of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counts_of_Dillingen" target="_blank">Dillingen</a>, his uncle. When Count Hartmann V died suddenly in 1263, his wife was pregnant. This created legal insecurity and caused several interested parties to hesitate before intervening. Elisabeth on the other hand didn't hesitate and installed herself as regent.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>She immersed her court in a flurry of legal work and spent the next seven months of her pregnancy handing out documents detailing the rights of cities, towns, villages, cloisters, monasteries, and other institutions. Most of these rights were just laid down in writing for the first time, but some, like the city charter of Thun, were done under her own steam. With the birth of her son and his death shortly thereafter, and with the death of Count Hartmann IV of Dillingen in the same year of 1264, she returned to her family and disappeared from history.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>If you are planning a visit to Switzerland this year, the beautiful city of Thun should be on your travel agenda. Apart from the many cultural treats in store for you there, the city is one of the most beautiful and laid-back in Switzerland commanding excellent views over <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Thun" target="_blank">Lake Thun</a> and the Alps. And once you have become aware of the exceptional Countess Elisabeth of Kyburg, you will find her presence everywhere between <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyburg_(castle)" target="_blank">Kyburg Castle</a> near <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winterthur" target="_blank">Winterthur</a> and the city of <a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-city-of-fribourg-is-located-only-20.html" target="_blank">Fribourg</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The agenda for all festivities planned for 2014 can be found on the <a href="http://www.thun.ch/" target="_blank">city page of Thun</a>. </span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://placessavvy.blogspot.com/2011/01/thun-gem-amongst-cities-in-switzerland.html" target="_blank">Thun: A Gem Among Cities in Switzerland </a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-city-of-fribourg-is-located-only-20.html" target="_blank">City on the Language Divide: Fribourg</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/bern-seat-of-swiss-federal-government.html" target="_blank">Bern: Seat of the Swiss Federal Government</a></span></span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><br /></span></span></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-91849594129019842322014-02-20T21:11:00.001+00:002020-11-11T16:15:50.672+00:00Hobbit Museum in Switzerland<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Tolkien fans might think they have to fly out to New Zealand to see the Shire. They are wrong. In October 2013, a Hobbit Museum opened its doors in Switzerland. Geographically in the tourist region called Heidiland, the region is an ideal holiday destination for families with children. For the parents, there are excellent local wines to test which the Swiss usually keep to themselves.</span></span><br />
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</span></span><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>What does a collector do when the size of a collection is threatening to get out of hand? He builds a museum and opens it to the public. That is exactly what former stockbroker Bernd Greisinger did. In 2008, he started building a museum for his <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkien" target="_blank">Tolkien</a> collection. The museum is located in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenins" target="_blank">Jenins</a> in the canton of Grisons in Switzerland. So far, foreign tourists knew the area as the </span></span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidi#Heidiland" target="_blank">Heidiland</a></span></span> holiday destination. Heidi has arrived in Middle Earth. </span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Bernd Greisinger was a celebrated stock exchange broker. With the crash of 2008, he retired early and concentrated on his hobby. Collecting everything there was to buy about the world of the hobbits became a full-time job. The museum now houses the reputedly largest collector of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth" target="_blank">Middle Earth</a> paraphernalia in the world. The museum boasts everything from art, literature, film props, and merchandising that has been produced about Middle Earth and its inventor author JRR Tolkien. </span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Fittingly, the museum is built underground and in approved traditional style. That is Shire style, not Swiss traditional style. To get the necessary permits to build a museum in an alien style with the necessary footage was a piece of cake. Switzerland is riddled with bunkers from the last two World Wars and the authorities found nothing to complain in the planned subterranean Shire world despite being protective of the traditional Heidi connotation of the region.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The museum is for fantasy fans, Tolkien fans, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings" target="_blank">Lord of the Rings</a> fans, Hobbit fans, and obviously children. The museum is organized as a charitable trust and there is an entry fee to be paid. The actual entry fees can be seen on their <a href="http://www.greisinger.museum/en/index.html" target="_blank">homepage</a>. The museum can be reached by car by way of motorway E43/A13. Jenins is only a few miles from the spa town of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Ragaz" target="_blank">Bad Ragaz</a>. The borders of Austria and the Principality of Liechtenstein are less than five miles away.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.com/2013/11/how-migrants-save-dying-language.html" target="_blank">How Migrants Save a Dying Language </a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/history-in-alps-bernina-pass.html" target="_blank">History in The Alps: Bernina Pass</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/history-in-alps-fluela-pass.html" target="_blank">History in The Alps: Flüela Pass</a></span></span></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-10173730659379888302014-02-03T20:50:00.001+00:002020-11-11T16:42:46.264+00:00Delphi Mystery Writing<div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Stewart_(novelist)" target="_blank">Mary Stewart</a>'s mystery novel <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Brother_Michael" target="_blank">My Brother Michael</a> is set in Delphi in Greece. this isn't the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphi" target="_blank">Delphi</a> from the package ads or the glossy travel catalogs. Outside of the beaten tourist track and out of sight of the ruins' visitors, there is a wild and dangerous landscape with live people instead of statues. Mary Stewart's novel takes you over sheep trails and walkways known to locals only. These hiking adventures start above the stadium and some of them lead to the village of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amfissa" target="_blank">Amphissa</a> on the next hill. Some trails take you down to the fishing village of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itea,_Phocis" target="_blank">Itea</a>, its green fields, olive groves, and harbor linking it to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peloponnese" target="_blank">Peloponnese</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The story is unusual set up for one of Mary Stewart's mystery novels. It has the literary form of a quest out of which the mysteries evolve. The back history to the novel reaches back into Greece's involvement in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II" target="_blank">World War II</a>. The Allies poured money and weapons into the fracture Greek resistance battling German occupation. Very little money and less weapons were ever used to combat the German foe. Greek communists stashed away what they could to start a civil war just as soon as the occupation ended.</span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Digging into Greece's recent unsavory past, she sets one of her best mystery plots. The story presents historical facts as part of the story-line that are still kept under wraps by changing Greek governments and their officials since World War II ended. The setting in the beautiful mountains of Greece lets Mary Stewart ride her favorite hobby horse: Describing landscape with sounds and smells. Her power of description is such that readers are right there with dust, heat, and all. See the gods still walking the mountainside of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Parnassus" target="_blank">Parnassus</a> and hear <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_(god)" target="_blank">Pan</a> playing his flute to goats and sheep foraging for grass.</span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The plot is simple enough. A British liaison officer reported dead during World War II was seemingly killed under suspect circumstances without German help. The last thing his family received from him in England was a puzzling letter containing a real gold coin. Years after the war, his younger brother sets out for Delphi to find out how his brother had died and where he was buried. With him are the letter, the gold coin, and a long list of questions. Into this steps Mary Stewart's heroine after a famous 'nothing ever happens to me' remark. </span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>There is a drawback to this book for everyone who has visited Delphi and missed out on all the landscape, the walks, and the climbs. It will just convince you that you'll want to go back. If you have plans to travel there in the future, you'll know to allow for more time than just one day of hot ruin plodding. Mary Stewart's My Brother Michael is available on <a href="http://stutenzeebooks.blogspot.com/2015/07/getting-best-amazon-kindle-ever.html" target="_blank">Kindle</a>. Don't forget to take it along when you visit Greece.</span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Further reading</span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeebooks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/mystery-in-pyrenees-mountains.html" target="_blank">Mystery in The Pyrenees Mountains</a></span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeebooks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/austrian-mystery-with-horses.html" target="_blank">Austrian Mystery With Horses</a></span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeebooks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/mystery-in-scotland.html" target="_blank">Mystery in Scotland</a></span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-49598163087603500352014-01-13T22:23:00.001+00:002020-11-11T17:18:17.141+00:00New World Art Capital: Athens<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>If you are interested in art, then Athens should be the place to go to next. The art scene in Athens is booming. New cultural spaces open almost daily. Studios and apartments are turned into galleries. For artists, living in Athens is cheaper than elsewhere. Artist have moved their studios from London and Berlin to Athens. And art is seen in Athens, not only bought.</span></span><br />
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</span></span><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>When artist Sofia Stevi moved to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London" target="_blank">London</a> ten years ago, she thought it was forever. Then came the London real estate boom rocketing house prices and rents into stratospheric regions. The cost of living in London has become unsustainable for young artists today. Sofia Stevi lived and worked in the trendy district of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peckham" target="_blank">Peckham</a> in South London. Now, this district has become gentrified with dire consequences for the rental market.<br /><br />In 2013, she packed her bags and moved to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens" target="_blank">Athens</a> lock, stock, and barrel. Money wasn't the only reason, though. In the wake of the financial crisis with a lot of help from Germany, Greece has become the epicenter of a changing Europe. In Athens, you can witness how Europe is about to change. In Greece, so many things are currently happening that artists are naturally attracted. There is space for artists and their art in the city. Space to live, space to work, space to exhibit, space to be free. London is the exact opposite of Athens, with little space to live, little space to work, little space to exhibit, and no freedom of expression. Everything produced in London has to conform to an art market that wants to control art, rather than help it. The London art market is a capitalist's dream come true.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Greece, however, is currently dissolving under the pressure from capitalist governments. This makes it a fertile breeding ground for avant-garde artists and their art. London is all about the artist, his social status, his career, his success. Sofia Stevi spent more time hunting for a gallery to host an exhibition than making art happen. Athens may be in flux, but at the same time it is calmer and more laid back. Artists are given time to think about their work instead of worrying about where the money for the next rent comes from.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Artist Bobby Dowler is Sofia Stevi's partner and moved with her. In their Athenian apartment, they have hosted two exhibitions in the past few months to come into contact with the local art scene. The low living costs as compared to London allows artists to work without making any concessions to self-appointed art critics as in London. In order to survive in London, Bobby Dowler had been constrained to make more and more market oriented crap instead of art.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Andreas Sell moved from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin" target="_blank">Berlin</a> to Athens. He, too, just housed an exhibition in his home. He presented his sculptures made of material collected from the street as etudes to his next art project. For Andreas Sell, Athens is only an intermediate stop. He plans to continue his work on the Aegean island of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbos" target="_blank">Lesbos</a>. That choice has more to do with his artistic development than with developments in Greece.<br /><br />Berlin like London is totally overrated and overpriced. The Berlin art scene is finished. The London art scene died from an acute case of capitalism, the Berlin art scene succumbed to gluttony. In Athens, however, people come to look at art because they want to look at art, not because they are looking for their next investment. While the arty farty crowds in Berlin and London discuss the latest art auction results, the arts aficionados in Athens discuss art. It is this last fact that makes Athens incomparably more valuable to artists than London or Berlin.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/blowing-up-acropolis.html" target="_blank">Blowing up the Acropolis</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/the-athenian-navy-revisited.html" target="_blank">The Athenian Navy Revisited</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeewriting.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/is-it-all-greek-to-you.html" target="_blank">Is It All Greek to You?</a></span></span></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-36920474304728585692014-01-06T21:50:00.002+00:002020-11-11T17:32:41.392+00:00Buddha in Lapland<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Have you ever considered visiting an extraordinary Buddha statue somewhere? How about the one that stands tall in Lapland, Sweden. The statue is maybe not the most ancient work of art, but its geographical location is out of the ordinary, and out of the way. To get there, you will need one of Buddha's great virtues: Patience.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Since 2008, a very special gift is looking out over the wide planes of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapland_(Sweden)" target="_blank">Swedish Lapland</a>. Perched atop a small hill stands the statue of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha" target="_blank">Buddha</a>. It was the gift from a Thai monk intended to bring a bevy of converts in Europe's far North. But the purpose built parking for 500 cars remained empty. That was not the statue's fault, but missing money has prevented the building of a monastery so far.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>In 2003, a diminutive Thai monk was standing on a reindeer skin on that selfsame hillock looking over a magnificent Swedish landscape of forests and lakes. The highest Buddhist monk in Sweden was on a winter sleigh ride through Lapland. It was the beginning of this most unusual of gifts.</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><br />Lapland is the largest province of Sweden. It is three times the size of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey" target="_blank">New Jersey</a> but with less than 300,000 inhabitants. Inside this province on the Arctic Circle are numerous small towns. One of them is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredrika,_Sweden" target="_blank">Fredrika</a>, named after a Swedish queen and today home to around 200 people. If you want to travel to Fredrika, you have a long way and that mostly through forests. The town lies halfway between <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ume%C3%A5" target="_blank">Umea</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorotea" target="_blank">Dorotea</a> near the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bj%C3%B6rnlandet_National_Park" target="_blank">Björnlandet National Park</a>.</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><br />But once there, the landscape will grip you. The landscape is a large plain dotted with small hills from where you get a majestic view. Long before monk Phramahaboontin came here on his sleigh-ride, a Thai girl called Noi was picking berries while taking in the views of Lapland. More than that: Noi fell in love with a local farmer and stayed.<br /><br />As a devout Buddhist, she invited the head of the Buddhists in Sweden for a visit. That was the start of the story of the gift: Monk Phramahaboontin was immediately convinced that this place needed a ten meter high Buddha statue. And he promised more: Fredrika should receive a Buddhist temple, a center of learning and contemplation to attract people from all over northern Europe.</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><br />The surprising gift convinced Mayor Bert-Rune Dahlberg to declared himself willing in local media to convert to Buddhism. The local pastor was less enthusiastic. He warned that the graceful Buddha statue could turn his dwindling flock from the righteous path of dull <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheranism" target="_blank">Lutheran</a> teaching. For months, the gift dominated the letter columns of northern Swedish newspapers.</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><br />But all religions cook with water. Buddha didn't work a miracle. Although it only took a few months until a four meter high statue was delivered and placed, it wasn't a statue of the Buddha. It was a statue of Sweden's highest monk Phramahaboontin as modest guard and placeholder. Five years later in 2008, the planned for statue of Buddha was brought in by a heavy freight lorry and placed on the hill overlooking Fredrika. In 2010, it was followed by the figures of two elephants.<br /><br />They stand guard over the remote town in the far North of Sweden that is still looking forward to the boom to be brought on by the Buddhist monastery. The latter, however, has not materialized due to lack of money. Lacking the monastery, the visit of believers has remained elusive despite the fact that parking spaces had been built for them. Buddha teaches patience. And maybe, as the statues are still there unharmed and resplendent in their exotic finery, the Lutheran god teaches tolerance.</span></span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><br /></span></span> <br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeebooks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/reincarnation-every-day.html" target="_blank">Reincarnation Every Day</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/christina-female-king-of-sweden.html" target="_blank">Christina, the First Female King of Sweden</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/the-elect-circle-of-elected-monarchs-on.html" target="_blank">The Elect Circle of Elected Monarchs in Europe</a></span></span> </span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-77561211763937139452013-12-17T21:42:00.002+00:002020-11-11T17:46:33.237+00:00Fake Birth Certificate For Hamburg's Harbor<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>One of the events that should be on everyone's bucket list happens every year at the beginning of May in Hamburg. Over 1.5 million people come to Hamburg for the festival commemorating the birthday of itsharbor on 7 May 1189. There is a document proving it, and it is a fake. Never mind, bring out the fireworks.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Any birthday is worth a party, and the one <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburg" target="_blank">Hamburg</a> stages each year for its harbor is one of the best. The harbor is first mentioned in a document signed by Emperor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_I,_Holy_Roman_Emperor" target="_blank">Frederick I Barbarossa</a> of the Holy Roman Empire on 7 May 1189. You can't get much of a better pedigree than that. That was what the clerk making the forgery thought, too. The document wasn't specifically aimed at the harbor, it was more a long list of privileges that supposedly had been granted to the city and specifically to its merchant ships and sailors.<br /><br />The historical harbor in Hamburg is older and goes back at least into the 9th century. The harbor wasn't always in the same place, it moved to keep pace with the city's growth in population, economic power, and strategic importance. Success breeds envy and greed; in Hamburg's case these Christian emotions were those of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prince-archbishops,_archbishops,_bishops_and_administrators_of_Bremen" target="_blank">Archbishop of Bremen</a> trying to line his pockets with the port city's riches. The conflict came to a head when the bishop asked for documentary proof of Hamburg's privileges in the 13th century.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>19th century historians had suspected that someone in Hamburg might have helped the interests of the city by forgery. They had noticed that the document had been signed and dated in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuburg_an_der_Donau" target="_blank">Neuburg on the Danube</a>. Emperor Barbarossa on the other hand was in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regensburg" target="_blank">Regensburg</a> on 7 May 1189. Probably a miracle; the Catholic Church should sanctify him for that, and Saint Barbarossa has a nice ring to it, too. They also noticed that the imperial seal was that of Emperor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_II,_Holy_Roman_Emperor" target="_blank">Frederick II Barbarossa</a>.<br /><br />Historians have many theories. One camp is of the opinion that the content of the document is pure invention to back up rights usurped by the city of Hamburg. A second camp is of the opinion that the document is a copy of a lost older document. A third group thinks that Emperor Barbarossa made the commitments verbally but died in the crusade before having them put to paper and that Hamburg asked the Imperial Court for confirmation thereof.<br /><br />Hamburg is not bothered by the fake document or the discussions of historians. They want to tap into the tourist attraction the port offers in addition to the historical city. The 825th birthday in 2014 will be a welcome jubilee and we may expect a spectacle to mark it. If you haven't planned anything else in May, this is the party to attend. The festival will star on 9 May and end on 11 May with many spectacles on land and on water.<br /><br />Is the event to be classified alongside the marketing of the wines of <a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/if-short-on-facts-then-invent-marketing.html" target="_blank">Chateau Talbot</a> as a historical fraud? Hamburg doesn't take the document too seriously, and the harbor is older anyhow. They rather take the auspicious date for the possibility of warm weather than for reasons of historical interpretation. The celebration is a bit of fun with lots of fun to be had on three days.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/emperor-frederick-ii-model-ruler.html" target="_blank">Emperor Frederick II: A Model Ruler? </a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/easter-eggs-taxes-and-tithes.html" target="_blank">Easter Eggs, Tithes,and Taxes</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/if-short-on-facts-then-invent-marketing.html" target="_blank">If Short on Facts, Then Invent: Marketing of Chateau Talbot</a></span></span></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-85811035362770938352013-12-13T00:28:00.002+00:002020-11-11T18:06:07.650+00:00Imperial Austria in Leipzig<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>On the countrified outskirts of Leipzig in Germany, a double-headed imperial Austrian eagle spreads its wings on a memorial to an Austrian hero of 1813. Built in 1913 by the Austrian Military Order of Maria Theresa, it was blissfully forgotten by German imperials, republicans, communists, and republicans again. When the monument started causing costs, no one felt responsible to pay them.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZHpIcZRYdiAf_W9wXxfAgU-xqo7qvNideSrQ4u_bqeK11Kq2SmYX7Se-g4rCziigANtU15Q6mJQZHSAO3JA7Fl8in_hmr5FGg-rpt8iPxQZhz1N1ctd_zY1pZln_PLKnr20GSuseUVI/s1600/austria-imperial-double-headed-eagle-1913-leipzig-holzhausen-eastern-germany-saxony.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZHpIcZRYdiAf_W9wXxfAgU-xqo7qvNideSrQ4u_bqeK11Kq2SmYX7Se-g4rCziigANtU15Q6mJQZHSAO3JA7Fl8in_hmr5FGg-rpt8iPxQZhz1N1ctd_zY1pZln_PLKnr20GSuseUVI/s200/austria-imperial-double-headed-eagle-1913-leipzig-holzhausen-eastern-germany-saxony.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
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</span></span><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Holzhausen is a leafy suburb in the southeast of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leipzig" target="_blank">Leipzig</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxony" target="_blank">Saxony</a>. On a fork in the road, a huge double-headed eagle keeps watch on an imperial monument in the middle of what used to be the communist state of East Germany. For 100 years, the monument was doing fine. But in 2009, the two poplars flanking the monument were starting to fall apart and had to be taken down. Leipzig's city gardeners did just that and sent an invoice for the trouble to the land owner. <br /><br /> That was when problems really started. The land owner couldn't be found. The records showed the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Order_of_Maria_Theresa" target="_blank">Military Order of Maria Theresa</a> owning the 200 square meters of greenery around the monument. The order was declared defunct and was dissolved by the Republic of Austria in 1986. The invoice was returned to sender. The city sent a letter to the Austrian embassy to inquire after the legal owner of the land. I suppose they are still waiting for an answer.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The monument was built in 1913. The Military Order of Maria Theresa erected the monument to commemorate Baron of Janowitz, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_von_Klenau" target="_blank">Johann Count of Klenau</a>, who commandeered the 24,000-man-strong Corps IV of the Austrian army a hundred years earlier in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Leipzig" target="_blank">Battle of Leipzig</a> against Emperor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon" target="_blank">Napoleon</a>. On that battlefield, 500,000 soldiers were deployed. The battle and the carnage lasted for four days. The worst of the fighting had taken place South of Leipzig.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Johann Count of Klenau had distinguished himself in the battles of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Aspern-Essling" target="_blank">Aspern</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Wagram" target="_blank">Wagram</a> four years earlier. In Leipzig, his tactic was not successful as a description of the battle of Leipzig written in 1863 revealed. The Count wasn't lucky in this battle, but this didn't do any harm to his status as a hero. His status as a hero was assured since the Battle of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Handschuhsheim" target="_blank">Handschuhsheim</a> near <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg" target="_blank">Heidelberg</a> in 1795. There, he had defeated the French decisively while seriously outnumbered. He was awarded the Military Order of Maria Theresa only weeks later. The Military Order of Maria Theresa Medal was the highest military decoration which the Hapsburg monarchy handed out.<br /><br />For 160 years, particularly courageous soldiers of the imperial army were awarded this distinction. Empress Maria Theresa herself had endowed the Order after the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kol%C3%ADn" target="_blank">Battle of Kolin</a> in June 1757. Until 1918, 1240 medals with perks were handed out. The last one went to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gottfried_Freiherr_von_Banfield" target="_blank">Gottfried Baron of Banfield</a>. He was a World War I flying ace honored for his actions (21 victories over enemy aircraft). He died in 1986 in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trieste" target="_blank">Trieste</a> in Italy as the last holder of the order' medal. Which brings us full circle in this story.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The Austrian Republics before and after World War II had continued to pay the pensions as set out by the statutes of the Military Order of Maria Theresa. They had not acquired the order as a successor state to the Austrian Empire, neither had any other successor state done so. The order remained in the hands of the Imperial family as the last emperor never had abdicated. The pensions were paid as part of the military pension scheme of the Republic of Austria. The payments by far outstripped the monetary possibilities of the order. So when the last holder and pensioner died in 1986, the remaining assets in Austria were seized in repayment for pensions footed by the state. This happened under Austrian law and wouldn't apply in East Germany.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Somehow, our communist friends in East Germany had overlooked this imperial thorn in their side and books and missed the chance to deprive someone of their legal rights to line their own pockets. When East Germany was reunite into West Germany to form Germany in 1989, the land deeds remained as noted unless contested.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Internationally, the order has not been disbanded. It is directly linked to the head of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Habsburg" target="_blank">House of Hapsburg</a>; that no medals have been handed out since 1917 doesn't mean it is legally defunct. Contrariwise, the Imperial family has launched various lawsuits in and against countries that tried to reinvest the order (Nazi regimes in Austria and Hungary come to mind) and managed to suppress the handing out of medals in all cases except one (1944).</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>What now, Leipzig? Austria is not the legal successor of the order and will not pay the invoice for felling the two old poplars. The Imperial Hapsburg family is not the legal owner of the land either, as they would point out that the order still exists until they dissolve it. The order is the owner, but has no domicile. It looks like an impasse that will remain one for years to come. For Leipzig to go through all the trouble of acquiring the land by deed would cause much higher costs than sending the gardeners over once in a while.</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><br />Today, four young poplars grow behind the monument in Holzhausen. They tower imposingly above the double-headed eagle but their stems are still thin and supported by wooden frames. The stumps of the felled trees are proof of how huge these had overshadowed the monument. A gnarled wooden bench invites visitors to linger. If in Leipzig and out for a destination off the beaten trail, you might consider the lonely eagle. Bring some flowers for all the soldiers that lost their lives in that awful battle.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/palmanova-italys-star-city.html" target="_blank">Palmanova: Italy's Star City</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/royal-changelings.html" target="_blank">Royal Changelings</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/prince-and-people-of-liechtenstein.html" target="_blank">Prince and People of Liechtenstein</a></span></span></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-79622873867422576292013-12-09T18:01:00.003+00:002020-11-11T18:22:17.737+00:00The Picasso Miracle of Basel<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>In 1967, the Swiss city of Basel was rocked by student protests. Their protest slogan was: "All You Need Is Pablo." The students were not protesting against something or everything, they were protesting for the acquisition of two pictures painted by Pablo Picasso. The protests were a turning point and moved voters in Basel to spend more than six million Swiss francs in public money. This legendary ballot led to a miraculous propagation of pictures by Pablo Picasso.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8qQSio-OcV0635vv7WY9Zfg-VXc6q6B5zdtO-QXBtpy4mrLgyB73cOol68s-pEpSt9vCSK5eoPOP6X_K-GfKYnnHRIdd6gWkszve_MOXTwBZnLr9tThyphenhyphenPrMg5i-bxisQr634dgBsgzw/s1600/basel-picasso-miracle-student-protest-march-1967-switzerland-art-all-you-need-is-pablo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8qQSio-OcV0635vv7WY9Zfg-VXc6q6B5zdtO-QXBtpy4mrLgyB73cOol68s-pEpSt9vCSK5eoPOP6X_K-GfKYnnHRIdd6gWkszve_MOXTwBZnLr9tThyphenhyphenPrMg5i-bxisQr634dgBsgzw/s200/basel-picasso-miracle-student-protest-march-1967-switzerland-art-all-you-need-is-pablo.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
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</span></span><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>On 20 April 1967, a plane of <a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/museum-city-basel.html" target="_blank">Basel</a>'s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_Nicosia_Britannia_disaster" target="_blank">Globe Air</a> crashed and took 124 people to their deaths. The disaster led to the first grounding of a Swiss airline since air travel had started. The main shareholder of Globe Air, Peter A. Staechelin was held personally responsible and had to meet all financial demands. Peter A. Staechelin didn't posses a lot of cash, but art worth millions was hanging in Basel's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunstmuseum_Basel" target="_blank">Art Museum</a>. His father had moved the family's art collection into a foundation. The pictures could not be sold unless a family member got into severe financial distress. That moment had now come.<br /><br />When the family trust sold the first painting "La Berceuse" by Vincent van Gogh out of the country to the Unite States, Basel's art world went into collective shock. The sale of more paintings loomed over the Basel Art Museum. Among the paintings viewed for a possible sale were two important paintings by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Picasso" target="_blank">Pablo Picasso</a>: "Arlequin assis" (1923) and "Les deux frères" (1905).<br /><br />Franz Meyer was the director of the Art Museum Basel. He managed the extraordinary and brought Peter A. Staechelin, the government, and businesses to one table. They reached an agreement that the city would be able to buy the two paintings by Pablo Picasso for 8.4 million Swiss francs. The deal was that if the private sector would bring in 2.4 million, the remaining 6 million would be paid the city.<br /><br />Basel's parliament passed the urgent motion in record time, but voters opposed the credit and asked for a public ballot. What followed was as unprecedented as it was unexpected. Basel's students and schoolchildren went on public strike and staged demonstrations and protests all over the city to fight for the purchase of the paintings. The protests expanded into a general movement and soon the whole city was on its feet. Even the local football (soccer) club <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Basel" target="_blank">FC Basel</a> joined the protest and advertised the campaign with posters.<br /><br />When it seemed that private donations might fall short of the targeted 2.4 million, citizens organized a public festival. They called it the beggars' festival with the sole aim of collecting money to buy the paintings. The credit was under contention to the last, but Basel's voters balloted in favor of the credit.<br /><br /> From his retirement home in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mougins" target="_blank">Mougins</a> in the South of France, Pablo Picasso had followed the events closely. Angela Rosengart, the present director of the Museum Rosengart Collection in Lucerne, was a friend of Pablo Picasso's. She and her father, the art dealer Siegfried Rosengart, often staid with the artist on visits. She still remembers how they reported to Picasso about the events in Basel on a daily basis. The student protests and the fact that the people had voted in a ballot to purchase his pictures inspired the painter.<br /><br />Pablo Picasso invited Franz Meyer to Mougins. He was asked to select a picture for the Basel collection. Franz Meyer could not make up his mind which picture would be appropriate. He finally asked Picasso to put two pictures side by side, so as to be able to make a choice. Pablo Picasso's wife Jacqueline intervened and pointed out that the two pictures belonged together anyway. She told Pablo Picasso to give both pictures to Basel, and he agreed.<br /><br />In a final gesture, Pablo Picasso added another painting and a sketch to it. Franz Meyer returned to Basel with three paintings and the sketch of one of the most famous works of Pablo Picasso's: "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon." The four paintings were donated by Pablo Picasso explicitly to the "Jeunesse de Bâle" (Youths of Basel) that had taken to the street for his art.<br /><br />The grande dame of the Basel art world and patron of the arts Maja Sacher was so impressed by Pablo Picasso's generosity, she bought a further painting of the cubist phase of him and donated it to the Art Museum. And that is why the Basel Art Museum has one of the most important collections of paintings by Pablo Picasso. Strictly speaking, though, four of them are on permanent loan to it by the youths of Basel.<br /><br />Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/museum-city-basel.html" target="_blank">Museum City: Basel</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/cheating-hermann-goering.html" target="_blank">Cheating Hermann Goering</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/corsair-painter-writer-ambroise-louis.html" target="_blank">Corsair, Painter, Writer: Ambroise Louis Garneray</a></span></span> </span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-35589180040892515702013-12-06T20:56:00.003+00:002020-11-11T18:37:42.504+00:00Engineering Time Capsule: Amsterdam<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>In the 17th century, Amsterdam was bursting at the seams fed by a booming economy. Population growth and influx led to a housing crisis. To end the housing shortage, rich merchants designed and built horseshoe-shaped canals with ostentatious houses overlooking the waterways. The canals known as 'grachten' are the landmark of Amsterdam to this day.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtWqFfHwS_7_iW80CXW6loLrNc5aW6fRKHcbAim2frRlFxpZRTYgLLqUbkJzDyefSylnxXQTp-djyZ-UnuS9D7fmRPAoZWFuMInZLnzem1PDF3iWQWjTzCw3Qmwo_n5q4aRhwlaj311k/s1600/amsterdam-grachten-canal-city-houses-mansions-merchants-architecture-waterway.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtWqFfHwS_7_iW80CXW6loLrNc5aW6fRKHcbAim2frRlFxpZRTYgLLqUbkJzDyefSylnxXQTp-djyZ-UnuS9D7fmRPAoZWFuMInZLnzem1PDF3iWQWjTzCw3Qmwo_n5q4aRhwlaj311k/s200/amsterdam-grachten-canal-city-houses-mansions-merchants-architecture-waterway.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>In order to realize this monumental construction, canal beds had to be dug into the marshy ground. The Dutch word gracht for canal was derived from the verb "graven" meaning digging. After that, workers drove long logs into the soft ground and dressed the walls of the canals with bricks. In between the canals, higher dry ground now allowed the building of the merchants' houses so much admired by tourists.<br /><br />Since then, form and function of the canal system has hardly changed. Of course, the ravages of time have taken their toll on the houses, and a large part of the facades have been tampered with to keep them in fashion. Many of the pretty stone gables which draw attention to the employment of the first inhabitants of the houses have been preserved together with the white paint on the window frames contrasting with the red-brown bricks. An architect once compared the total impression to a pattern of a bar code.<br /><br />The horse shoe formed three main canals are lined with trees and are under <a href="UNESCO" target="_blank">UNESCO</a> protection. The system is made up of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singel" target="_blank">Singel</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herengracht" target="_blank">Herengracht</a> in the interior, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keizersgracht" target="_blank">Keizersgracht</a> in the center and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prinsengracht" target="_blank">Prinsengracht</a> on the outside. The system wouldn't be complete without the many narrow connecting canals. They contribute to make a ride on a tour boat a special experience. They are part of the tourist path through <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amsterdam" target="_blank">Amsterdam</a> as much as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Frank_House" target="_blank">Anne Frank House</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rijksmuseum" target="_blank">Rijksmuseum</a>.<br /><br />The most noble of the waterways is the Herengracht. It was named after the merchant princes who ruled the city and who provided the money to build the canals in the first place. Along its bank can be found the most impressive mansions in Amsterdam. The wealthy families that lived and worked in the magnificent buildings with the pretty gardens have long since left. They have given way to the offices of banks and insurance companies.<br /><br />In contrast, the houses on the Prinsengracht are much more modest. Once, there stood the warehouses of the merchants and the narrow houses were home to the poor. Today, the outermost half-ring is very popular due to numerous pubs and other entertainments. All canals tend to come to life whenever there is something to celebrate and for boat parades. That is the time to really be in Amsterdam to make the most of a visit.<br /><br />On the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the building of the canals, an extensive book has been published. It contains a lot of photographs and detailed history about each property. In addition, the authors describe very vividly how confectioners and tobacco manufacturers, slave traders and scientists, and thieves and whale hunters lived together peacefully along the canals. The Canals of Amsterdam - 400 Years of Building, Living and Working by Koen Kleijn and Rob van Zoest (editors) was published by Toth in English and Dutch.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/cheating-hermann-goering.html" target="_blank">Cheating Hermann Goering </a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/abolition-of-slavery-purely-financial.html" target="_blank">Abolition of Slavery: A Purely Financial Decision</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/prime-minister-for-dinner-anyone.html" target="_blank">Prime Minister For Dinner Anyone?</a></span></span><br />
</span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-11570597271758716942013-12-03T20:47:00.002+00:002020-11-11T19:05:51.238+00:00The Town That Builds a Medieval Monastery<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>They wear homespun clothing made from flax. They use wicker baskets for transportation. Workers in the German city of Messkirch have started building a monastery. The technology is exclusively medieval. The template for the monastery was provided for in the never realized a plan dating to the 9th century intended to be built in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Is it a gimmick, tourist attraction, or archaeological research?</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>In summer 2013, a unique archaeological experiment has been started near the German city of </span></span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Me%C3%9Fkirch" target="_blank">Messkirch</a></span></span>. The plan is to build a complete monastic community using techniques and crafts known in the early Middle Ages. The medieval monastery town should be finished in 40 years. No modern building techniques are used for shortcuts or to speed up the building process.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The idea originated with journalist Bert Geurten from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aachen" target="_blank">Aachen</a>. He is one of those crazy people who never give up on their youthful dreams. 50 years ago in Aachen, he saw a scale model built according to the plan for the monastery of <a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/town-of-embroidery-st-gallen.html" target="_blank">St. Gallen</a>. The plan was the ideal of a settlement in 9th century Europe, and Bert Geurten couldn't forget it. The plan was never realized, and he decided it was about time to do so. </span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The blueprint is a floor plan with a large abbey church in the center with 51 buildings around it. The plan is drawn on a 112 times 77 centimeters large parchment dating from the 9th century. The plan shows details for all important buildings of a convent city, from crafts through housing to educational institutions.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>It was the first known architectural plan since antiquity and would remain so into the 12th century. And it is still in remarkably good condition. The document got the name "St. Gallen Monastery Plan" because it was a gift from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haito" target="_blank">Haito</a>, </span></span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Abbot </span></span>of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichenau_Abbey" target="_blank">Reichenau</a> and Bishop of <a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/museum-city-basel.html" target="_blank">Basel</a> to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gozbert_of_Saint_Gall" target="_blank">Gozbert</a>, </span></span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Abbot </span></span>of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_of_Saint_Gall" target="_blank">St Gallen</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheinau_Abbey" target="_blank">Rheinau</a>. It is unknown if it was ever planned for a specific building plan. It might just have been a blueprint for 'how to build a monastery'.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>A 8.5 hectare large forest area next to the city Messkirch has been dedicated to the project. A dozen or more workers employed under an unemployed working project make a start on the necessary essentials. They weave willow baskets for transport, sew work clothes from flax, put the first shovels together and produce the first roof shingles. Each chisel, every instrument for wood turning, all ox carts and even the mortar are produced according to the knowledge of the 9th century. This is important to initiator Bert Geurten because the project is labeled as "experimental archeology". The organizers and the city expect that the monastic city will become an important source for bachelors' and doctoral theses.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Archaeological science has recognized the value of the huge project. Five universities and 18 scientists are involved in projecting, supervising, and documenting the work. The experiment will bring insights into <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolingian_architecture" target="_blank">Carolingian architecture</a> and engineering of which little is known due to lack of written accounts. Another scientific expert involved Ernst Tremp as curator of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_library_of_Saint_Gall" target="_blank">Abbey Library of St Gallen</a>. He hopes that the building of the monastery town in Germany will turn a profit for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO" target="_blank">UNESCO</a> world heritage site of St Gallen, too.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Initially, the project will be financed by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union" target="_blank">European Union</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baden-W%C3%BCrttemberg" target="_blank">Baden-Württemberg</a>, and Messkirch. Running costs should eventually be covered by the sale of admissions to the developing building site which is under administration of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campus_Galli" target="_blank">Campus Galli</a>, a charitable organization set up for the purpose. With increasing awareness of the extraordinary project under way, they expect 150,000 visitors per year. This estimate</span></span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span> is realistic </span></span> as the nearby stilt house settlement in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unteruhldingen" target="_blank">Unteruhldingen</a> draws 300,000 visitors a year.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>To attract as many visitors as possible, the initiators guarantee that building the monastery will be consistent with the resources available in the 9th Century. There will be exceptions. To comply with 21st century health and safety rules, helmets and steel capped shoes will be used for the safety of the work force.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The city of Messkirch can be found to the North of the Swiss city of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schaffhausen" target="_blank">Schaffhausen</a> near <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Constance" target="_blank">Lake Constance</a>. You can get directions from the homepage of <a href="http://www.campus-galli.de/" target="_blank">Campus Galli</a> or from the one run by the city of <a href="http://www.messkirch.de/de/English" target="_blank">Messkirch</a> which is also available in English. As 40 years sounds like a sort of long term plan to me, I would advise you to go and look at the building process. I understand that there will be activities to take part in the process while you're there.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/town-of-embroidery-st-gallen.html" target="_blank">Town of Embroidery: St Gallen</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/queen-edith-of-eastern-franks.html" target="_blank">Queen Edith of The Eastern Franks</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/cologne-cathedral-shrine-of-magi.html" target="_blank">Cologne Cathedral: Shrine of The Magi</a></span></span></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-8507821411889342012013-11-30T19:02:00.002+00:002020-11-11T19:26:00.429+00:00Cleopatra's Needle on the Embankment<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>One of the things you do when in London is walking along the Thames. That will inevitably bring you to the Victoria Embankment where Cleopatra's Needle is standing tall. The needle is an obelisk, and it has absolutely nothing to do with Cleopatra. Otherwise the name is apt.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The obelisk standing on the bank of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Thames" target="_blank">Thames River</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London" target="_blank">London</a> was commissioned by <a href="Tuthmoses III" target="_blank">Pharaoh Tuthmose III</a> about 1,400 years before Cleopatra's birth. That's about the same time lapse as between the Romans leaving Britain and the birth of Queen Victoria. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramesses_II" target="_blank">Pharaoh Ramses II</a> had it inscribed and the Romans transported it to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria" target="_blank">Alexandria</a> for propaganda purposes. </span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>In 1820, the Egyptian government presented the obelisk to the United Kingdom as a memorial to the victories of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Nelson,_1st_Viscount_Nelson" target="_blank">Nelson</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Abercromby" target="_blank">Abercromby</a> over <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon" target="_blank">Napoleon</a>. It took 57 years to make the way from Egypt to England. In the process, the obelisk was almost sunk and then lost.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>John Dixon was the engineer in charge of getting it from Alexandria to London. He built an iron cylinder casket around the 68 ft stone block weighing 200 tons and had it rolled into the harbor of Alexandria. There it was fitted with deck house, mast, rudder, and steering gear and named the Cleopatra. The craft was taken in tow by the steamship Olga and the convoy left Alexandria for London on 21 September 1877.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The steamer Olga with the sailing ship Cleopatra in tow were hit by a strong storm in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Biscay" target="_blank">Bay of Biscay</a>. The tow ropes had to be cut and the Cleopatra set adrift. In the course of rescuing the Cleopatra's crew, six crew from the Olga lost their lives. The Cleopatra was eventually sighted by Spanish fishermen (or the steamer Fitzmaurice) and towed to Spain (either the port of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigo" target="_blank">Vigo</a> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrol,_Spain" target="_blank">Ferrol</a>). From Spain, it was then towed to London arriving on 21 January 1878.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>At this point, the British government did what governments do best, it started infighting over where to place the obelisk. By September, the issue had been settled, a concrete base laid at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Embankment" target="_blank">Embankment</a>, and the Cleopatra towed upriver. Hydraulic jacks brought the obelisk onto the riverbank. The stone then received an iron jacket with two circular pivots around which it could be swung. A stirrup strap was added to keep it from slipping while being pulled upright.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>It was raised to a horizontal position with hydraulic jacks. The gradual raising had to be supported by timbers. Under the obelisk, three steps and a pedestal were raised to 18 ft. The tackle was worked by a pair of manned winches each end. In that way, the pillar was moved into a vertical position over the pedestal. While the obelisk was lowered into position, the Union flag and the Ottoman flag were unfurled.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>When you walk along the Thames, remember that this work of art had stood on the Nile for more than 3,000 years before moving here. So when it's raining while you take your walk, just take the sun of Egypt with you and enjoy it.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/cleopatra-and-2000-years-of-slander.html" target="_blank">Cleopatra and 2,000 years of slander</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/naval-arms-race-in-mediterranean.html" target="_blank">Naval Arms Race in The Mediterranean</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/fannys-story-lady-nelson.html" target="_blank">Fanny's Story: Lady Nelson</a></span></span></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-45784184244387350882013-11-27T17:11:00.005+00:002020-11-11T19:39:09.598+00:00Yemen: The Way Into Today's Mess<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Yemen is not a usual tourist destination. It could be one, if the country had a minimum of organization and structure. But that was lost and willfully destroyed during the cold war in the last century. If you want to know the reasons why you are unable to enjoy the Yemen historic sites and landscapes, here's a book to read. </span></span><br />
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</span></span><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>There are many people claiming to have unearthed secrets from the past. Some people are mountebanks making it up; some secrets were never a secret; most secrets are nothing more than empty conspiracy theories. It was therefore nice to find a book about a secret war that really happened. It wasn't so much a secret but for various reasons it escaped scrutiny so far.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The War That Never Was by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duff_Hart-Davis" target="_blank">Duff Hart-Davis</a> was published by Century. The author has done his homework. With his collected facts and stories, he produced a book that is enlightening, diverting, and at times amusing despite its subject matter. Let’s go back and take a look at the year 1962.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Egypt was held in the iron fist of pseudo-communist dictator <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamal_Abdel_Nasser" target="_blank">Gamal Abdel Nasser</a>. Nasser, under direction and with the help of his Russian allies, was dreaming dreams of a great Arabian communist empire under his benign presidency. To this end, he instigated a coup against the Yemeni government. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemen" target="_blank">Yemen</a> was governed by its hereditary leader the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imams_of_Yemen" target="_blank">Imam of Yemen</a>. To help the rebels, Egypt poured in troops, weapons, and bombs.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The United Kingdom had and needed the strategic port of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aden" target="_blank">Aden</a> for its fleet. But <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10_Downing_Street" target="_blank">10 Downing Street</a> was kept busy with bed affairs much more important than governments or lives. The soap opera played out in London was called the Profumo Affair. It eventually ousted Prime Minister <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Macmillan" target="_blank">Harold Macmillan</a> from office. The Imam of Yemen therefore received no help from the British government. At least not officially he didn't.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Unofficially, an old boys’ network started to give assistance to the Yemeni Royalists. They were more interested in the future of the country than in who had slept with whom and why. It allowed the British government to stay officially neutral in the internal affairs of the Yemen. Staying out of the internal affairs was a concept of international law until recently. Nowadays, it has become obsolete as American and British troops just bomb their way to oil resources under the mask of bringing democracy. They only apply it to countries without natural resources they want to plunder. The war in the Yemen was left to OAPs from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II" target="_blank">World War II</a> that used their retirement leisure to coordinate the loyalist troops from their armchairs in their London gentleman's clubs.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The book abounds with details about the people involved. If it reminds of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_Waugh" target="_blank">Evelyn Waugh</a>’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bright_young_things" target="_blank">Bright Young Things</a> at times, then that is no coincidence. Duff Hart-Davis hasn't copied from Evelyn Waugh, he just states historical facts. It was the way Britain had run wars for a couple of centuries including World War II. Nasser’s secret service was fully aware of the people working behind the scenes in London; the Egyptian president even sent them Christmas cards every year.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Young British officers were (privately) sent to Yemen to train the Royalist troops. They found a rag tag band of medieval warriors armed with Victorian rifles at best. Their equipment got a boost into modernity once Israel started to airdrop guns and ammunition to help their conservative Muslim archenemy on the Yemenite throne. Politics can be deliciously murky, don’t you agree? The most modern way of communication within Yemen available was using runners.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>The Egyptians on the other hand were on the height of modern warfare by Russian standards. They used German Enigma machines for their transmission. They were either ignorant of the fact that the British had deciphered that code 20 years earlier or they just weren't caring about it. Nasser later came to call the Yemen war his Vietnam; he didn’t achieve what he had set out to do, and he weakened his position within Egypt and throughout the Arab world dangerously.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeebooks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/history-distortion-with-criminal-intent.html" target="_blank">History Distortion With Criminal Intent</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeebooks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/sinners-and-saints-by-father-michael.html" target="_blank">The Catholic Invasion</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeebooks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/dont-speak-well-of-dead.html" target="_blank">Don't Speak Well of The Dead</a></span></span></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-68921249740593858632013-11-22T15:28:00.002+00:002020-11-11T19:56:00.217+00:00Slow Travel: Walking From Somerset to India<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Parents like to remind their children to eat slowly. And slow cooking has progressed from being a fad to being a way of life. Time to think about slow traveling. And quite frankly, you can't see anything when doing Europe in three days. My advice, take a page out of Thomas Coryat's book and start walking.</span></span><br />
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</span></span><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Coryat" target="_blank">Thomas Coryat</a> didn’t really walk all the way from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerset" target="_blank">Somerset</a> to India. He traveled first in Europe and did 2,000 miles mostly on foot. He then went on to explore the Orient. He did over 4,000 miles also mainly on foot. If you think this is extraordinary, imagine further that he did this at the beginning of the 17th century.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Thomas Coryat was born in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odcombe" target="_blank">Odcombe</a>, Somerset, in 1577 or maybe in 1579. His father served as rector to the village church. The spelling of family names was not fixed until the 19th century. Before that, they were written as heard. You will therefore find alternative spellings of Coryate and Coriat for the family. Thomas Coryat went first to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester_College" target="_blank">Winchester College</a> and then attended <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloucester_College,_Oxford" target="_blank">Gloucester Hall</a>. Gloucester Hall was a college established in 1560 in what had been Gloucester College until its dissolution in 1540 by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VIII" target="_blank">Henry VIII</a>. Gloucester Hall was intended for Greek Orthodox students. This might explain Thomas Coryat's particular interest in the Orient. Gloucester Hall became Worcester College in 1714.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Thomas Coryat became a member of Prince Henry’s court in 1603. He seems to have been regarded and treated as something of a country bumpkin and jester. This must finally have got on his nerves. He left the Royal court in 1607 to return to Odcombe. A year later, he left there to explore Europe. It was an extraordinary decision for a time that didn’t know tourists. Most people hadn’t traveled farther than the next village. Even peers usually knew their own estates and the Royal court in London and not much else.<br /><br />His trip took him through France and Italy to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice" target="_blank">Venice</a> and then back through Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands. About half of this journey he did on foot. A lot of the rest he did in rowing boats. When he returned to Odcombe, he hang up his shoes (yes, he had used only one pair of shoes) in the village church. They remained there until 1702, when they mysteriously disappeared (a replica may be viewed in the church of Odcombe). He wrote down his travel adventures and published them in 1611 in two volumes. Again, he was ridiculed by his contemporaries.<br /><br />His book might be the first traveling blog. It is of special interest to musical history as it contains a detailed description of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venetian_School_(music)" target="_blank">Venetian School of Music</a>. The composers at that school were the avant-garde of contemporary music and would substantially influence European musical composition until the advent of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Sebastian_Bach" target="_blank">Johann Sebastian Bach</a>’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Well-Tempered_Clavier" target="_blank">Well Tempered Piano</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span>Thomas Coryat seemed to have liked traveling. He set out by ship for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople" target="_blank">Constantinople</a> in 1612. From there, he walked to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem" target="_blank">Jerusalem</a>. Not content with the feat, he crossed back through Syria into Persia. Eventually, he found his way through Afghanistan and Pakistan to the court of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mughal_emperors" target="_blank">Great Mogul</a> at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agra" target="_blank">Agra</a>. He continued his travel to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surat" target="_blank">Surat</a> where he fell sick and died in 1617. He had covered most of that 4,000 miles trek on foot.<br /><br />From various points during his travel, he sent letters home. They would be published in 1625. During his travel he had soaked up languages like a sponge and was proficient in several European as well as Oriental languages by the time he reached India. He has been credited with introducing the fork to England and was definitely responsible for the word umbrella entering the English language (from the Italian ombrellone meaning ‘little shadow’).<br /><br />Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/saint-helena-empress-of-rome.html" target="_blank">Saint Helena, Empress of Rome</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/the-star-puzzle-of-bethlehem.html" target="_blank">The Star Puzzle of Bethlehem</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/johann-sebastian-bach-plagiarized.html" target="_blank">Johann Sebastian Bach Plagiarized</a></span></span></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-62503422645233164612013-11-19T22:46:00.001+00:002020-10-03T23:09:47.624+01:00Superhighway from Londinium to Isca<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">A Roman road was uncovered in Puddletown Forest in Dorset. While the existence of the road was a well-known historical fact, it had been well hidden by the forest that it could not be located so far. The harvesting of a planting of Norway spruce firs by the Forestry Commission brought parts of it to light finally.</span></span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">The existence of an important Roman road as part of the highway system connecting Sorbiodunum (Old Sarum) with other important towns in England was known, but its exact site had been lost in the mists of time. Now part of a road has been found in Puddletown Forest, better known for being part of Thomas Hardy country.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">The road had been built during the first century AD as part of the drive to conquer the island of Britain end to end. The scale of the road uncovered is on the massive side. The 85 ft wide construction consists of a cobbled center for fast traffic including mounted messengers and whole legions on the march; on either side the slow lanes for civilians on foot and cattle on were found. Unlike modern British roads, the Roman road was carefully ditched to allow water to run away to prolong the lifespan of the road. For good measure, the road had been elevated 15 ft over the surrounding area. A superhighway indeed.<br /><br />A Roman road was built as follows: On a foundation (called pavimentum) of stamped clay, the ‘statumen’ layer of large stones and mortar was laid. The ‘ruderatio’ layer of fist sized stones was put on top of the ‘statumen’. The next level called ‘nucleus’ was built of nut sized pebbles. The crowning top of it all was the ‘summa crusta’, the road surface. It could be built of a mixture of sand and pebbles in lesser roads, but was made of cobblestones on important and frequently travelled roads. The Londinium to Isca highway was one of the latter.<br /><br />The road was an important part of the Roman Empire's drive to subjugate the savages inhabiting the British isles. The sheer size of the road implies that it was built to impress as much as to expedite travel. It stressed the importance of fast travel for the legions; thanks to roads like this, the Romans were able to march an army at a fast pace to wherever it was needed anywhere in the empire.<br /><br />The uncovered stretch of road was part of the connection from Londinium (London) to Isca (Exeter). Londinium at that time was of some temporary importance as a troop port, but would later be nothing but a minor town besides more important big cities that would evolve on the island. When the invasion was over and the country pacified, the connection from Londinium to Exeter became obsolete and the road was allowed to be forgotten.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">The Forestry Commission plans to leave the road accessible with no planting on top. Plans are to cover it with grass after the archaeologists have been allowed their dig. It will then be possible for visitors to easily follow in the steps of the Roman invasion of Britain.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">The good state the road is in is testament to the building skill of the Romans who built it almost 2,000 years ago. As opposed to British road building, they were aware of the fact that water and ice will destroy road surfaces in short order. Seeing it, one could think that drainage and ditches should not be completely alien to the British mind but obviously that is a mistake. But contrariwise, the roads in Britain are a collection of potholes, badly built and worse maintained.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/about-roman-numerals-and-not-numbers.html" target="_blank">About Roman Numerals (and Not Numbers) </a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/palimpsest-ancient-recycling-method.html" target="_blank">Palimpsest: Ancient Recycling Method</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/naval-arms-race-in-mediterranean.html" target="_blank">Naval Arms Race in The Mediterranean</a></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-86083705232693902752013-11-16T18:59:00.001+00:002020-10-03T23:09:05.997+01:00Swiss Village St Silvester on Its Saint's Day<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">The feast day of Saint Sylvester is the 31st of December, New Year’s Eve. In French and in German, the saint's name is synonymous with New Year’s Eve, party, booze, and fireworks. In the village of St Silvester in Switzerland, his special day starts off with an old tradition dating back more than 400 years.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLskBLB1g1VlDHA0FwkHvKtjF6jEib9TYoO66mjMo14JjcQEx_n3xOpP-bYCAz7mKPnOYZP2PucLTzxDkoEokFfXOHRaNw4K3i7I3r_ae2mqkFc4L-s79oBCGBXq2BpJciOR4tPK_Gl1c/s1600/village-church-of-saint-sylvester-in-st-silvester-switzerland-canton-fribourg-freiburg-friburgo-winter-first-snow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLskBLB1g1VlDHA0FwkHvKtjF6jEib9TYoO66mjMo14JjcQEx_n3xOpP-bYCAz7mKPnOYZP2PucLTzxDkoEokFfXOHRaNw4K3i7I3r_ae2mqkFc4L-s79oBCGBXq2BpJciOR4tPK_Gl1c/s200/village-church-of-saint-sylvester-in-st-silvester-switzerland-canton-fribourg-freiburg-friburgo-winter-first-snow.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Saint Sylvester was bishop of Rome during the reign of Emperor Constantine. His greatest historical achievement was being buried on the 31st of December 335. And these are the two only historical facts that we know about him for sure. Unlike most other saints of early church mythology, he actually existed. Everything else about him is conjecture. In Catholic Mythology, he is named as the 33rd Pope, an office and a title he would not have recognized as the papacy was a political evolution of the 6th century. Sylvester’s name is nonetheless closely linked with the papacy as his invented vita (that's what Catholics call the fictitious biographies) written in the 6th century would be the basis for one of history’s most successful forgeries: The Donation of Constantine.<br /><br />Parallel to the introduction of the Gregorian calendar of 1582, the New Year was moved to January 1st in many regions of Europe, but not all. This moved the memorial day of the obscure saint into a position of hitherto unknown prominence on New Year’s Eve. He had to take over several functions of other saints to satisfactorily fill his role and became responsible for good harvests, fertility, and keeping people from harm in the coming year.<br /><br />His influence over French, German, and Allemannic speaking people became substantial. His name became synonymous with the outgoing old year and the festivities leading up to the New Year. In Allemannic his name is also used to refer to eternal losers always coming last (for obvious reasons); he also got linked to the saying ‘coming late as old Sylvester’ referring to people bringing old news. The saying stems from the time of the Gregorian calendar reform when Protestant areas were keeping to the Julian calendar in opposition to the popish new calendar; their New Year would in consequence have come ‘late’ compared to Gregorian standard.<br /><br />In St Silvester, the day starts at five o’clock in the morning with mass being held in the village church of Saint Sylvester. The village is situated 10 km (6 miles) from Fribourg in Switzerland. The village was known as Baselgin in early medieval times. A chapel to Saint Sylvester at the place was first mentioned in 1148. When the importance of the saint’s chapel became greater than that of the village, the name stuck.<br /><br />In many Catholic areas, it is an old custom to place figurines on the church altar on New Year’s Eve and pray for a good harvest and the safety of the family. The figurines may represent people as well as domestic animals. The ritual is very old, much older than Christianity in fact. St Silvester’s church of Saint Sylvester is one of these places where old traditions are allowed to survive.<br /><br />But St Silvester also holds a high mass for the occasion of his festival day at five in the morning. This high mass includes the offering of a wheel of cheese and a ham. The high mass and the offering go back to a time of pestilence when an oath was made by the villagers in return for better protection from harm. The mass and the offering are on record for the year 1680 but might be much older.</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />If New Year's celebration has become something normal and unexciting for you, I recommend that you go and spend your next one in St Silvester. It is a beautiful place, and taking part in a tradition as old as the one there gives you a completely new outlook on what it means to start into the New Year.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/when-new-year-falls-on-january-13th.html" target="_blank">When New Year Falls on January 13</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/saint-helena-empress-of-rome.html" target="_blank">Saint Helena, Empress of Rome</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/st-georges-day-april-23.html" target="_blank">Saint George's Day April 23</a></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-33326887454326533882013-11-12T14:31:00.001+00:002020-10-03T23:08:12.358+01:00How a Village Prays For Its Glacier<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">For times immemorial, humans have prayed to their gods to look favorably upon them, to keep them safe, and to grant their wishes. But what happens once the wish has been granted? This real life story tells you exactly what. The village of Fiesch in the canton of Valais in Switzerland does a yearly pilgrimage to ask God and Saint Ignatius of Loyola for help.</span></span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">In 1678, the village of Fiesch in the Republic of The Seven Tithes of Valais (today part of Switzerland) was under constant threat. The threat was not one of armies or invasion by human migrants but the much mightier threat of invasion by the growing Aletsch Glacier. During the period of global cooling around 1650, the glacier had started to grow at an alarming rate.<br /><br />The growing of the glacier not only ate up acreage needed to graze cattle, it also provoked natural catastrophes such as rock slides and spring floods that severely damaged village, roads and fields. The villagers therefore decided that nothing less than a major alliance could get them out of their troubles; they decided to enter into a pact with God.<br /><br />The Swiss have remarkable access to higher up (well, not quite THAT high). They petitioned Pope Innocence XI to grant them the boon of entering into a pact with God. They swore to live a good life in fear of God, and in return they were allowed to petition God directly on a yearly basis. The petition included their wishes: To be kept from harm, to be spared natural catastrophes, and to stop the glacier from growing.<br /><br />After Innocence XI had granted their request, the villagers started to send up their prayers every year on the Feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola on July 31st. They did this unfaltering and unfailingly, and still there were rock slides and floods coming from their greatest enemy.<br /><br />In 1862, Pope Pius IX granted the villagers the right to step up pressure on God. They were now allowed to hold a yearly procession to the chapel of Maria Heimsuchung (Chapel of the Visitation of Mary) to pray for assistance. The procession is a form of penance as well; the ascent to the chapel takes six hours.<br /><br />300 years of badgering God with the combined assistance of Saint Ignatius and Saint Mary finally showed results. The Aletsch Glacier is in fast retreat. Guess what the villagers did next?<br /><br />In 2009, they petitioned Pope Benedict XVI to grant them a change in their oath. Instead of praying for the glacier to go back, they now want it to grow. The Pope in his infinite wisdom and reflecting the ever unchanging Catholic Faith granted their request for a complete u-turn in 2010. While the Pope is infallible, this seems to not to apply to dead popes. As of 2011, the new prayers will be used on the feast of Saint Ignatius at the Church of Saint Mary.<br /><br />What can we learn from this story? Be careful what you wish for from God, your wish might be granted. There is also a positive side for all the Cassandras carping about global warming: I am sure that in 300 years the pious people of Fiesch will have prayed down a further ice-age. Problem solved, sort of.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/history-in-alps-bernina-pass.html" target="_blank">History in The Alps: Bernina Pass</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/the-village-of-st-silvester-switzerland.html" target="_blank">The Village of St Silvester, Switzerland</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/history-of-fis-alpine-ski-world.html" target="_blank">History of The FIS Alpine Ski Championship</a></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-50203699846545595862013-11-07T19:03:00.001+00:002020-10-03T23:07:11.742+01:00The Real Tower Bridge in London<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Everyone knows one of the most iconic buildings to be seen in London: The Tower Bridge. The Olympic Rings had been suspended between its two towers and its raising platforms have fascinated generations. Have you seen it? Stupid question, you might think, pictures are all over the internet. But have you seen the working bridge? Because what you see is not what you get.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Tower Bridge is a three part bridge. Two suspension bridge parts connect the Thames river banks North and South with the two piers holding the towers. The part connecting the two towers is a bascule bridge with two platforms that can be elevated to let river traffic pass. The two towers are connected by a walkway at the top to give them stability.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">That said, what is the big secret? The suspension bridge parts are not the issue, there you see what you get. But the two iconic towers built by the Victorian architects involved in the project are nothing else but window dressing. To say it succinctly, all that stone is just a stage prop. The real working bridge is hidden inside two huge follies. The working bridge is pure metal designed to withstand the changing pressures and tensions of a bridge designed with moving platforms.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">To get a look at what makes this beautiful bridge tick, you'll have to go to the Tower Bridge Exhibition. The exhibition will get you inside the towers, all over the walkways on top, and down into the belly of the beast where the hydraulic machinery is on display that raised and lowered the bascule parts. Entrance to the exhibition is gained through the North tower and will cost you £8 for an adult (and keep your eyes open for boys and girls handing out leaflets, they usually have discount vouchers to give away).</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">The towers house film arenas that explain the history and the working of the bridge. The walkway holds an exhibition of other bridge designs that were proposed; these sketches alone are worth taking time out to see them. Designs submitted ranged from the weird to the mad. Guided tours will take you through it all and explain the machinery behind the wonder. Do it! I had a lot of fun there.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/bruce-castle-or-lordship-house.html" target="_blank">Bruce Castle or Lordship House</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/roman-troop-highway.html" target="_blank">Roman Troop Highway</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/st-botolph-and-head-in-glass-casket.html" target="_blank">St Botolph and a Head in a Glass Casket</a></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-57656415007367869912013-11-03T23:02:00.002+00:002020-10-03T23:06:29.214+01:00My Teddy Needs a Break<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">My Teddy was recently complaining. He felt overworked and desperately needed a break. While lying in bed all day might be your idea of relaxation, he thinks it’s just another day in the office. Luckily, there are options for Teddy’s holidays.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlbsFrMeiFCBPtoWoGNRHwOvJandwj9usFxvEeM36a7je0L1jkzguLivQNbz5km03sPZxGFsHaqorPi3EBB1QQbXkBLiCus0L-dRnwQgq5nxuinwbSYRmosyaJlzZ9m8gWCVq0n_hukI/s1600/santa-claus-christmas-xmas-teddy-travel-holidays-finnland-berlin-germany.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlbsFrMeiFCBPtoWoGNRHwOvJandwj9usFxvEeM36a7je0L1jkzguLivQNbz5km03sPZxGFsHaqorPi3EBB1QQbXkBLiCus0L-dRnwQgq5nxuinwbSYRmosyaJlzZ9m8gWCVq0n_hukI/s320/santa-claus-christmas-xmas-teddy-travel-holidays-finnland-berlin-germany.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Teddy has a choice of things he may want to do on his holidays if you are prepared to be parted from him for some time. There is the attractive offer of <a href="http://teddytourslapland.com/">Teddy Tours Lapland</a> on one hand. They offer a package tour in Finland that would appeal to any discerning Teddy (or any other cuddly toy of similar importance).<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">The standard tour in Finland includes Teddy's hotel stay in Rovaniemi. In Rovaniemi, he will be treated to the sights of the town including its picturesque church and a visit to the Lappiatalo Theatre. From Rovaniemi, he will then travel to Arktikum and along the Lumberjack Candle Bridge to Ounasvaara. His travels will include crossing the Arctic Circle, visiting the Santa Claus Post Office (from where he will send a postcard home) and a personal visit to Santa Claus in his office.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">If Teddy has earned a special treat, you might get him the luxury tour. A visit to the reindeer farm of Santa Claus and a sled ride, a snow mobile safari with ice fishing and an evening spent around a camp fire.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">After his holidays, Teddy will return home refreshed and ready for work. He will bring home photos and videos of all the important steps of his holiday. Don’t you think your Teddy has earned it? After all, he has been with you for how many years?<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Teddy Tours Lapland is not the inventor of the Teddy Tours. The original idea was spawned in Berlin, the town of bears. <a href="http://www.teddy-tour-berlin.de/">Teddy Tour Berlin</a> offers holidays for Teddy since 2005.<br /><br />If Teddy should opt for Berlin as a holiday destination, there are four tours on offer. The short Paparazzi Tour, the slightly more extensive compact tour (includes visiting the Reichstag), the exclusive tour (with Checkpoint Charlie), and the luxury tour (with Kurfürstendamm) all include visits to the Brandenburg Gate and photographs. The more exclusive the tour the more gadgets are included in it (the luxury tour includes a relaxation massage for Teddy as well).<br /><br />The prices of all tours in Berlin include a donation to <a href="http://www.nestwaerme.de/">nestwärme e.V.,</a> a German charity looking after poor families and children. Not included in the tours above is a boating trip on the Spree, but it may be added as an option. Likewise, you might add a trip through the gay scene of Berlin (the tour price includes a donation to the German AIDS foundation).<br /><br />And if you don’t have a Teddy yet, or are thinking of acquiring a fantastic Moomin Troll instead, they can be ordered with Teddy Tours Lapland including the trips and photos.<br /><br />And now it’s time to have a talk to Teddy. I wonder what his choice of destination will be.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeebooks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/a-holiday-to-die-for.html" target="_blank">A Holiday to Die For</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeecandyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/santa-claus-undressed.html" target="_blank">Santa Claus Holiday Snaps</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeecandyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/santa-claus-family-album.html" target="_blank">Santa Claus Family Album</a></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-15243254559916775092013-10-27T22:18:00.001+00:002020-10-03T23:05:52.356+01:00Castle Rapperswil and The Polish Museum<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Castle Rapperswil above the city of Rapperswil in the Swiss canton of St Gallen is home to the Polish Museum in Switzerland. It offers a breathtaking view over Lake Zurich with its islands of Lutzelau and Ufenau. It is a place few people know of and yet it is your loss if you haven't gone there when in Switzerland.</span></span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Castle Rapperswil was built on the present location between 1220 and 1230 by Rudolf II and his son Rudolf III of Rapperswil; at the same time, they were elevated into the hereditary peerage as Counts of Rapperswil. The city of Rapperswil grew quickly around the new seat of the family. Before that, the family had resided on the other side of Lake Zurich in what today is called Altendorf (Old Village).</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Altendorf was first mentioned as Rahprehteswilare in 972 in a document commissioned by Emperor Otto II of the Holy Roman Empire listing the land holdings of the Abbey of Einsiedeln. When the family moved to their new condo, the former village of Rapperswil acquired the name 'vetus villa' or just the old village, Altendorf. I digress.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">The line of Counts failed and the Castle passed to the Counts of Hapsburg-Laufenburg. When they died out in , the Castle was acquired by the burghers of Rapperswil in 1442. In 1462, they bought themselves out of the hands of the Dukes of Hapsburg-Austria and immediately joined the Swiss Confederation (Oath Fellowship). The castle is still in possession of the city of Rapperswil.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">In 1350, castle and city were completely burned down during a heated discussion between the city of Zurich and the House of Hapsburg. The Counts of Hapsburg-Laufenburg rebuilt both; the castle as you see it is the result of that period. It served as seat for the Swiss representative on site for centuries and was falling into disrepair after the annexation of the Swiss republics by Emperor Napoleon of France.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">In 1870, the city got lucky and leased out the entire castle to Polish emigrate Count Wladyslaw Broel-Plater. He restored the pile and founded the Polish National Museum. It was housed in the castle from 1870 to 1925 when it was repatriated. From 1936 to 1952, a museum for contemporary Polish art was housed there; this collection was repatriated in 1952. In 1975, the third Polish Museum opened in the castle. It tells the story of Polish emigration, famous Polish expatriates like Marie Curie, and holds a large collection of Polish traditional art.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">While you're there admiring the view, don't forget to visit the museum. It contains several important collections from eminent families that had to flee Poland at one point or another. As an added plus, there is an excellent restaurant.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/zurich-is-more-than-banks.html" target="_blank">Zurich is More Than Banks</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/town-of-embroidery-st-gallen.html" target="_blank">Town of Embroidery: St Gallen</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/nonexistent-switzerland.html" target="_blank">Nonexistent Switzerland</a></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-15734775653742235022013-10-20T13:48:00.001+01:002020-10-03T23:04:53.112+01:00Why You Should Visit St Botolph-without-Aldgate in London<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">The church of St Botolph without Aldgate had a curious show piece, a head in a glass case. The provenience of the head is a great mystery. Different theories as to its history have been proposed, but there are no clues as to whom the head was once attached to. And it looks like the mystery will remain unsolved. </span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOP_05N89c9_hRuLd_-a1fKx0enuX5-QFLjscZKORoK62PXYf81bQSihjv3_xC2EiRS1pVvfgVMFsXugxSNf9kt7nTiZlYY6c5v8OcAPXX008b9yRXeSW43MDFjKheSNHw97xBD4M_EA/s1600/St-Botolph-without-aldgate-church-of-england-london-united-kindom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOP_05N89c9_hRuLd_-a1fKx0enuX5-QFLjscZKORoK62PXYf81bQSihjv3_xC2EiRS1pVvfgVMFsXugxSNf9kt7nTiZlYY6c5v8OcAPXX008b9yRXeSW43MDFjKheSNHw97xBD4M_EA/s200/St-Botolph-without-aldgate-church-of-england-london-united-kindom.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">St Botolph without Aldgate is a staid church, better known for a faithful congregation than as a tourist hot spot in London. For years, though, it was home to one of the more curious exhibits of the capital. It was proud owner of a head in a glass casket. Walter George Bell gave a detailed description of the story surrounding the head. But Alison Weir stated in 1996 that the head had disintegrated by then.</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> The story of St Botolph doesn’t hold many clues. The first mention of a rector for the Saxon built church is recorded in 1108. The church was extended in 1418; it was rebuilt a hundred years later. By 1739, it had fallen into disrepair and was torn down. A new church was built in 1744 and then widely destroyed by the Victorians (I think they called it embellishment). In 1899, the parish of Holy Trinity, Minories, was merged into St Botolph. And that is where the head came from.</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> Minories, by the way, is what remained of the word Minoresses, an order of nuns that had owned the area outside the gate of Aldgate. The Minoress monastery had been invested by Edmund, Earl of Leicester and Lancaster in 1293. His second wife, Blanche of Artois, was Queen Regent of Navarra at the time of their marriage and brought nuns of that order with her to England. The monastery was known as St Clare after the church they built there in honor of the founder of the order. Like all monasteries, it was sacked and plundered by Henry VIII and the lands were given to Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk. St Clare became the church for the parish of Holy Trinity, Minories, and is sometimes also called by that name.</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> The church fell into disrepair and was rebuilt in 1706. In 1851, a preserved head was found in St Clare under a large pile of sawdust. It is assumed that the tannin preserved it from decay. It was put into a glass casket and displayed in the church. When it was moved to St Botolph it was no longer displayed on order from the vicar who disapproved of the practice.</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> The vicar of St Clare, the Rev Samuel Kinns, published a book about famous people associated to his church in 1898. In it he suggests that the head is that of Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk. Henry was the father of Lady Jane Grey, Queen for nine days. He was beheaded for treason on Tower Hill in 1554. Kinns reasons that the Grey family was anxious to spirit away the head before it could be displayed on London Bridge. St Clare lay on their lands and it would be logical for them to bring the head there. His reasoning has as many holes as Emmenthal cheese, though.</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> Why didn’t they bury the head, but only stuck it into a pile of sawdust? And what about the (equally unproven) story of the Duke’s head being interred in St Peter ad Vincula in all secrecy? The church of St Clare was rebuilt in 1706, but the sawdust remained undisturbed all the time.</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> The Legge family laid claim to the head, too. The Barons and later Earls of Dartmouth received the land after the Restoration. We may surmise that they had enough scoundrels in the family to account for numerous beheadings. As the head is no longer available, it can’t even be established if the head was severed from a living person or post mortem.</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> This brings the third story into play. In the late 18th century, a beadle was caught supplementing his income by saving on wood for his heating. He dug out the recently interred, chucked them out of their coffins and used those for fire wood. The head might have been a left-over from that activity, if the story is not a later invention to account for body parts and wood chips being found together.</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> If you are just a bit curious about St Botolph, I do recommend the blog to you. I have linked it at the end of this article under Tales from the Parish Clerk’s Memoranda. The blog deals mainly in technicalities but has 13 entries under that same title with interesting and amusing stories worth the reading.</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> St Clare’s, by the by, is reputed to be the burial ground for the ancestors of George Washington. And St Botolph is still worth a visit; at least two more traitors from Tower Hill are buried there, and quite a few celebrities used to be part of the flock, like Chaucer. </span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/bruce-castle-or-lordship-house.html" target="_blank">Bruce Castle or Lordship House</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/how-house-became-home-in-georgian-london.html" target="_blank">How a House Became a Home in Georgian London</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/1608-walking-from-somerset-to-india.html" target="_blank">Walking From Somerset to India</a></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-40334552030668779692013-10-15T10:52:00.001+01:002020-10-03T23:03:43.634+01:00Weird Switzerland<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Switzerland is an odd little country in Central Europe bordering Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein. It contains more oddities than people, I think, and I want to present a few of these weird peculiarities to you. They might also give you some ideas as to what is going wrong in other, larger, countries.</span></span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Let’s first cover some ground to get the country fixed on the map. Switzerland is about the size of New Jersey and split into 26 cantons or states that have more independence from federal government than do the states of the United States. That there are so many states in this small country has historical origins which I’ll cover later. <br /><br />You see Switzerland surrounded by countries which form part of the European Union, namely Germany, France, Italy, and Austria. There is one exception to the east of Switzerland: The Principality of Liechtenstein which is sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria is, like Switzerland, no member of the EU. <br /><br />The geography leads to some peculiarities: Since 1921, Switzerland and Liechtenstein form an economic and customs union with both countries using the Swiss Franc as their common currency. The borders between the two countries are completely open and never patrolled. Switzerland is a signatory partner to the treaties of Schengen, which means that the borders of Switzerland and the European Union are completely open, but Liechtenstein isn't. The borders should be closed between the two countries but aren't because Liechtenstein's border posts are manned and run by Swiss officials. On the other hand, Liechtenstein is a signatory partner of the European Free Market allowing the unchecked flow of goods, while Switzerland isn’t. Makes everybody’s head hurt, I suppose. <br /><br />History leads to another weird situation. The 26 cantons or states of Switzerland conform roughly to the original countries that merged to become Switzerland in 1848. Before that, they had formed a loose confederation of independent countries. As Bern was at that time not only the largest of these countries but also the most powerful, the seat of the federal government was voted on to be in Bern. While everybody could agree as to where to place the government, they didn't want to honour Bern with the accolade of capital city. Switzerland is probably the only country in the world that has no capital. The constitution allocates the seat of government to Bern, but there is no mention of a capital ever. <br /><br />In Bern, the Bundeshaus houses the parliament and the government of Switzerland, or as it officially styles itself, the Confoederatio Helvetica (hence the international short form of CH). There are two chambers of representatives, the national assembly Nationalrat and the assembly of cantons or states Ständerat. Together they form the general assembly Gesamtrat. <br /><br />Switzerland hides its head of state from the public. National assembly and state assembly choose a president for each of the assemblies. The president of the national assembly becomes automatically head of state of Switzerland with the president of the state assembly as his replacement. Both are replaced every year by somebody else, usually one of the vice presidents.It is customary that the head of state keeps public appearances to a minimum.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Switzerland has no generals to lead its military. A general is only chosen in times of war, during peacetime there may be no general in Switzerland. The general assembly is convened when choosing a five star general of the forces. To make it really confusing, Switzerland has a general all the same. He is a four star general stationed on the border between the North and South Korea. As nobody understands the ranks in the Swiss army, this post was created to satisfy foreigners. The general in Korea is chosen by the Defense Minister and deputed into the Foreign Office. The Foreign Office then sends the chap as Attached Military Aid to the embassy in Seoul. Upon his arrival there he is promoted to Ambassador in the rank of a general four star. He is demoted again before returning home. <br /><br />Switzerland has no Prime Minister and a fixed number of ministers. The general assembly is also convened when choosing the government Bundesrat. The government consists of seven ministers voted on in general assembly whereby the assembly has no restrictions. It can vote any Swiss national into the post of minister; if member of the assembly is chosen, acceptance of the post of minister means instant resignation from the assembly. Out of these seven ministers, the assembly then chooses a president of the ministers Bundespräsident. To the rest of the world, Switzerland pretends that the Bundespräsident is head of state because protocol would just go nuts otherwise. <br /><br />Was this all confusing enough? I’ll give you one more. Switzerland has been run by a permanent coalition government for more than 100 years. The government ministers are chosen from all major parties represented in the two assemblies. The number is of ministers for each party is calculated on their voting percentage (roughly, 15 per cent give you one minister). It is called the magic formula Zauberformel. As only small parties are not part of the government there is no opposition in parliament. The official opposition is formed by the voters. But that oddity is for another time. </span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/nonexistent-switzerland.html" target="_blank">Nonexistent Switzerland</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/bern-seat-of-swiss-federal-government.html" target="_blank">Bern: Seat of The Swiss Federal Government</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/iconic-design-swiss-army-knife.html" target="_blank">Iconic Design: Swiss Army Knife</a></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-73432365367170336732013-10-08T19:27:00.002+01:002020-10-03T23:00:12.822+01:00Traveling in The Alps: Use a Roadworthy Car in Winter<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">When planning to take your car into The Alps in winter, proper preparation might be worth your life. It might also be worth a lot of money as most countries may hand out hefty fines if you aren’t ready for snow and icy conditions on the roads. </span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvT4HI_AlU1phjtyzb3UPzFNBlsusLjw0l8mYKWP9f6fs1KZBXoWdyrO8mWFHf9ufkMTAzRdJA-yxaKhZ8Tb4xfvkxHkfDT-Uahn1QAX3aNXoL0WrE22TZeVerbd1ja9PbbA1b4ApfA8/s1600/switzerland-alps-snow-road-pass-mountain-sunshine.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvT4HI_AlU1phjtyzb3UPzFNBlsusLjw0l8mYKWP9f6fs1KZBXoWdyrO8mWFHf9ufkMTAzRdJA-yxaKhZ8Tb4xfvkxHkfDT-Uahn1QAX3aNXoL0WrE22TZeVerbd1ja9PbbA1b4ApfA8/s200/switzerland-alps-snow-road-pass-mountain-sunshine.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Traveling in The Alps in winter can be a trial; a trial in patience while others struggle and a trial of your own driving skills. Living in areas where with only little snow fall brings travelers to underestimate what mountains are able to throw at them. While Britain collapses under a few inches of snow, Alpine travel may make you face several feet of new snow during a single day. Equipment, therefore, is all. <br /><br />Winter tires are a must (or at a minimum tires that are guaranteed to be able to deal with snow and slush). With winter tires on you might confidently expect to deal with most weather conditions. They will serve you excellently on snow and slush, but they don’t do a lot for you on blank ice. If you have to drive in icy conditions, slow is better than sorry. <br /><br />If you plan to travel mountain passes, keep easy to install snow chains in your boot. Keep them on top of your bags or you’ll end up unloading your boot to get at them. The chains are mounted onto the tires to give additional grip in heavy snow and additional bite on ice. Mount them on all tires; while two will do the trick to propel the car, you really don’t want to go straight out over the next bend in the road. Once you reach cleared roads you should take them off again; the hard surface will make them damage your tires otherwise. <br /><br />Generally when traveling in winter, take enough blankets with you inside the car. You never know where you might get stuck and for how long. Spending an hour in your car when the motor is not running is less of a trial snuggled up than otherwise. A blanket will also double up as a garment in the cold should you have to leave your car for any reason. <br /><br />While these tips sound like common sense to most of us, Germany, France, Italy, and Austria felt constrained to pass laws making winter gear on your car mandatory and backed up with heavy fines. Switzerland in turn is relying on common sense to tell you what to do and how to do it properly. <br /><br />You should be aware, though, that the proper fittings of your car are your responsibility. Insurances are able, allowed to, and encouraged to reject part or all of your claims if you venture forth unprepared. Saving on tyres could be an expensive mistake. Apart from that, sliding slowly over the edge of a mountain pass over a 300 ft drop is not my idea of a happy holiday. </span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeecandyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/how-to-pack-your-rucksack-for-hiking.html" target="_blank">How to Pack Your Rucksack For Hiking</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeecandyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/wrong-footwear-makes-hiking-dangerous.html" target="_blank">Wrong Footwear Makes Hiking Dangerous</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeecandyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/take-ride.html" target="_blank">Take a Ride</a></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221851174451307859.post-90060200657475768132013-10-01T12:21:00.001+01:002020-10-03T22:59:13.381+01:00Swaziland, Switzerland, and Sweden<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"> Over many years I found that what seems quite obvious to some is a mystery to others. This article is a help for people getting Swedish and Swiss or Switzerland and Swaziland mixed up. Once you remember just a few key facts about any of the places, you will be able to keep out of trouble when showing off geography knowledge.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIQMikLJb_byBmQHb2iaZrpyKrSE2Djfy3RhwFinag7VRn0gw0LfhuaK0LVpyAz52O9CLSkvsZKdQCbNANEf10zX6OGUx_UWpyaYBZtvZGONs9mDUgi49JugXB8cWWuRDJ3O18ngX4Co/s1600/Civil-Ensign-copyright-trademark-Switzerland-swiss-cross-white-red-quality-seal.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIQMikLJb_byBmQHb2iaZrpyKrSE2Djfy3RhwFinag7VRn0gw0LfhuaK0LVpyAz52O9CLSkvsZKdQCbNANEf10zX6OGUx_UWpyaYBZtvZGONs9mDUgi49JugXB8cWWuRDJ3O18ngX4Co/s200/Civil-Ensign-copyright-trademark-Switzerland-swiss-cross-white-red-quality-seal.png" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">The Kingdom of Swaziland is an independent country almost entirely encircled by South Africa and with a string's length of border with Mozambique. Of the three countries, it is the only one outside of Europe. The national language is Bantu, and a national of the kingdom is called Swazi. As an African nation and a monarchy, it should be easy to keep Swaziland apart from Switzerland, but the similarity in spelling seems to trip people up time and again.<br /><br />The Kingdom of Sweden is a country in the North of Europe and forms part of the European Union. The language spoken is Swedish. Sweden has direct access to the Baltic Sea unlike Switzerland which is a landlocked country. Swedish stereotyping should get you to the following cliches: Blond, Sauna, Smorgasbord, and Viking. Sweden used to be a major power broker in Europe and used to be in a union with the kingdoms of Denmark and Norway. <br /><br />Switzerland is in Central Europe and isn't part of the European Union. It has no access to the sea; it was therefore the first landlocked country ever to win the Americas Cup. The national languages are German, French, Italian, and Romansh, whereby German is not spoken in Switzerland, only written, as the spoken language is Alemannic, a Germanic language. The typical Swiss cliches are mountains, banks, chocolate, cheese, watches, the Swiss army knife, and neutrality. Switzerland is a democracy; it is in fact the only direct democracy in the world.<br /><br />Do you think this helps you a little bit to get the countries sorted? Maybe it helps a bit if you know that Switzerland is not the correct name of the country, but Confoederatio Helvetica. Both Swiss and Switzerland are nicknames carried over from medieval times. I also have heard the saying 'I am Switzerland' used by people wanting to sit on the fence over an issue. And if you followed the Twilight Saga, you might have encountered Team Switzerland for those who didn't want to take sides.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Further reading</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/nonexistent-switzerland.html" target="_blank">Switzerland Doesn't Exist</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/iconic-design-swiss-army-knife.html" target="_blank">Iconic Design: Swiss Army Knife</a></span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/christina-female-king-of-sweden.html" target="_blank">Christina: Female King of Sweden</a></span></span>Lucas Diehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03952852213344027979noreply@blogger.com0