ANTOINE DE ST. EXUPERY SAID;
He who would travel happily must travel light..
In Front of Cathedral Basilica Saint Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe NM, 131 Cathedral Place. It was built between 1869-1887 in a Romanesque Revival style. The parish was founded in 1714 but the completed Basilica was dedicated in 1887. The original church here was destroyed during the Pueblo Revolt in 1680. The large Rose window in front and the nave windows that depict the 12 disciples were imported from Clermont-Ferrand France. When this Cathedral Basilica building was completed the parish building was taken down and removed. This statue is of Saint Francis of Assisi who is the patron Saint of Santa Fe NM
San Miguel Mission Church in Santa Fe NM. One of the oldest churches in USA. It is a National Historical Building built around 1615 in the Romanesque Fortress architectural style.
Èglise Saint Julien le Pauvre is one of the oldest churches in Paris. It is on the south side of Square René Viviane. This is a great example of medieval Romanesque architecture. It is really close to the Museum Cluny which is a museum of medieval life in a medieval building. 😄 This church was restored around 1890 and given over to the Melkite Catholic community. Hilaire Belloc wrote, (in his 1900 book called Paris), about St. JULIEN le PAUVRE; that it..."is curiously desolate. It should, if age and tradition could lend reverence to anything, be among the most revered of the city shrines; but the people of Paris, careful as they are of old customs, are capricious in their choice of idols, and the little church is so much abandoned that foreign lovers of Paris pass it a thousand times without remembering it...yet here, in 580 (that is, in the monastery attached to the church), Gregory of Tours lodged when he visited the town, and here, throughout the middle ages - from the Charter of Philip the conqueror to 1534 - the Rector of the University was elected...
SIR RICHARD BURTON SAID:
"The gladdest moments, me thinks, is a departure into unknown lands."
And here is the interior of the San Felipe de Neri church in Old Town plaza Albuquerque NM.
This is the oldest church in Albuquerque New Mexico. It has continuously served Albuquerque since 1706. It was originally founded as a parish church by the Franciscan order. In 1817, the clergy of Durango Mexico served here. Then, in 1868, the Jesuit order started to serve here. Then in 1966, the clergy of Santa Fe NM started to serve here and still do.
This photo is from the south east corner of the church property. The tree in the foreground has a carving in what is left of its trunk. I am guessing that it is supposed to be the Virgin Mary. The building in the background was a convent. There is a gift shop in that building now.
Royal Chapel at Vincennes Castle, also called Saint-chapelle like the one on L'île de la Cité. It is mostly empty now besides a gravesite. It was first commissioned to be built by King Charles X. He intended to store some relics pertaining to the passion of Christ in this chapel. It is worth entrance fee because the fee is very small and the view of the stained glass windows is really beautiful. You can even climb the narrow staircase to get an even more wonderful view of the stained glass windows from the second level balcony.
Another view of the Royal Chapel at Vincennes. Reno is included in this photo. He is our younger son.
Upon entering the Royal Chapel, it is immediately evident that only a bare minimum of furnishings and decorative elements have remained inside. Much of the interior was destroyed during the French revolution, including most of the stained glass windows. The bapistry, where many royal family children were baptized, now is located at the Louvre Museum.
Approaching the area of the altar, we noticed a small room to our left. Reno is walking towards the room after walking around the altar. There are some stone slabs behind the altar.
This is what we discovered in that small room. It is a very elaborate tomb. 2 persons were interred here. Louis Antoine, Duke of Enghien was actually executed at the moat of Château de Vincennes because Napoleon Bonaparte believed the accusation that he was involved in a conspiracy to restore the monarchy. Also interred here is Bernaudin Gigault. He was the Marquis de Bellefonds and Marshal of France. He also had important responsibilities in the household of King Louis XIV.
This is the view from the second level balcony in the Royal Chapel at Vincennes with Farida posting a photo or two. .
The bell tower of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Copper Street and 6th Street in Albuquerque. This church is part of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe NM. It is under the administration of the Society of Jesuits since 1868. That is something like 160 years!!
There are 2 sculptures outside of this church. Here is one of them. I am pretty sure this is Jesus giving counsel to mankind, or authority, or authoritative counsel. 😃....
This is the other sculpture outside of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. I am pretty sure this is the Immaculate Conception Mary. If Catholics look to Mary for the Grace of God that she imparts to mankind, they too can become Immaculate by remaining strong in the faith. Did I get that right?.
Albuquerque has a few Buddhist centers. Here are a couple of photos at one of them. The location of this Thai Buddhist center (Wat Buddhasothorn) is at Copper Street and Madison Street (145 Madison). Monks are very friendly and accommodating to visitors, both Buddhist and non Buddhist. Several ceremonies are held here throughout the year, such as Kathina Ceremony and Sangkran Festival. .
One more exterior photo from Wat Buddhasothorn.
Ballerup Kirke is at Sankt Jacobsvej 1B 2750 at the north side of the Ballerup Centret area. I walked around the church looking for an entrance but found only a small wood door that was locked.
We are outside of Ballerup Kirke having walked up the pedestrian mall then entering at this open gate. There are 3 entrances to the church property that I remember. .
There are tombstones around most of this church but it is still a very lovely place. This is a Catholic church dedicated to Saint Jacob.
Church of Our Saviour in Christianhaven neighborhood of Copenhagen was built in the Baroque architectural style in 1695. The street address of the church is Sankt Annæ Gade 29.
This church organ can be seen in the Church of Our Saviour. The organ was built by the Botzen Brothers between 1698 and 1700. It has more than 4,000 pipes.
This is the altar in the Church of Our Saviour. This masterpiece was created by Nicodemus Tessin. It depicts a scene from the Garden of Gethsemane with an angel holding a golden chalice above. Can this be the HOLY GRAIL I am searching for? I hope not because I already arrived here, found it, and left it behind. It absolutely is not so I continue my search.
This is Loretto Chapel at 207 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe New Mexico. Construction began in 1873. The six sisters of Loretto, who were sent to Santa Fe to start up a school for girls had commissioned the construction. There is a "miraculous staircase" in the chapel. It has two complete 360 degree turns from the top to the bottom. It has no center pole as spiral staircases usually do for support. The staircase is made of wood and has survived all these years, since around 1880 when it was created. The architecture of the church was greatly influenced by the architecture of the Saint Chappelle in Paris ( you can read about Saint Chappelle on my website page titled "Paris".) There is a legend that speaks of the difficulty the local carpenters had trying to figure out how to make a staircase in the very limited space they had in the chapel. They were unable to solve the problem so the Sisters of Loretto prayed for a solution for 9 consecutive days. Then, all of a sudden, an unknown man appeared from some unknown place. This stranger offered to build the staircase although he had very simple tools. He worked alone and used wood pegs and glue rather than nails. After the work was completed, the stranger disappeared without taking any payment. Since the sisters had prayed to Saint Joseph (the patron saint of [who else] carpenters), they believed that the stranger was Saint Joseph himself or someone sent by Saint Joseph.
THIS IS THE SULTAN MOSQUE IN SINGAPORE. IT IS AT THE SOUTHERN AREA OF LITTLE INDIA ON THE NORTH SIDE OF KAMPONG GLAM AND ARAB STREET. MESJID SULTAN WAS ORIGINALLY THE ROYAL MOSQUE FOR SULTAN OF JOHOR AND HIS FAMILY. SULTAN HUSSEIN SHAH HELD THE KAMPONG GLAM AREA IN AGREEMENT WITH BRITASH EAST INDIA COMPANY. SIR STAMFORD RAFFELS CONTRIBUTED 3000 SPANISH DOLLARS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ORIGINAL BUILDING. IN 1928, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS RENOVATION BEGAN. THE ARCHITECTURE IS IN AN INDO-SARACENIC STYLE,
IN THE TOWER OF BASILICA DE LA VOTA NACIONAL, WE WERE ABLE TO RELAX AND SNACK A BIT. I DO NOT KNOW IF ALL THE TOWERS HAVE CAFES IN THEM. WE CLIMBED THE TOWER THAT IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE CHURCH. I DO NOT KNOW IF PEOPLE WERE CLIMBING THE TOWER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE BECAUSE WE DID NOT SEE ANYONE IN THAT TOWER. WE DID SEE PEOPLE CLIMBING THE THIRD TOWER WHICH IS NOT AS HIGH AS THE TWO FRONT SIDE TOWERS. WE ORDERED TWO HOT TEAS, A TEA WITH MILK, ONE HOT CHOCOLATE AND TWO HUMITAS. I CAN NOT GET ENOUGH OF THOSE HUMITAS.
THIS VIDEO IS A RATHER LONG WALKING TOUR AROUND THE AREA OF THE HOTEL WHERE WE WERE STAYING. I WAS LOOKING FOR THE BAKERY WHERE I HAVE SHOPPED A COUPLE OF TIMES ALREADY AND FOR A DESSERT PLACE CALLED GELATO MIX. I FOUND THEM AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF OTHER INTERESTING PLACES. WE CAN SEE HAPPY PANDA CHINESE RESTAURANT FROM OUR HOTEL WINDOW.
THE BAKERY IS NEXT TO THE HOTEL; PANIFICADORA AMBATO. GELATO MIX IS LOCATED ONE CITY BLOCK FURTHER DOWN AVE. 12 DE OCTUBRE. CAFÉ QUITO IS AT THE SWISSÔTEL QUITO WHICH IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR HOTEL. THERE IS ALSO AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT CALLED LA BRICIOLA AT THE CORNER OF AV. ISABELLS CATÓLICA AND FRANCISCO SALAZAR. SAN HONORÉ AND MUSA RESTAURANTE ARE ALSO GOOD SOUNDING PLACES IN THEIS AREA.
OH, AND WHILE AT CAROLINA PARK, WE TRIED THE ESPUMILLA. WE DID NOT REALLY LIKE IT. THE TOP PART WAS RATHER FUNKY. THE TEXTURE IS ODD AND THE FLAVORS DID NOT STAND OUT ENOUGH TO MAKE UP FOR THE STRANGE TEXTURE. WE DID LIKE THE BOTTOM PART THAT CONSISTS OF SEVERAL TYPES OF FRUIT PIECES SOAKING IN A DELICIOUS RED SAUCE. ESPUMILLA IS A TRADITIONAL ECUADORIAN DESSERT. IT IS A FOAM, NOT AN ICE CREAM, WHICH IS WHY IT IS NOT MELTING AS VENDORS SELL IT IN THE STREETS. IT IS MERINGUE WITH EGG WHITES, SUGAR, AND PUREED FRUIT. THE FRUIT IS SOAKING IN A RED BERRY SYRUP. THAT LAST PART IS GOOD.
WE SPENT SUNDAY IN SHOPPING CENTERS AND PARKS. WE FIRST WENT TO PLAZA OF THE AMERICAS. IT IS REALLY SMALL WITH FEW SHOPPING OPTIONS. IT DOES HAVE A FEW NICE CAFES AND A LARGE CINEMA. THE PLAZA OF THE AMERICAS IS SMALL BUT COZY. IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE A SQUARE PARK WITH SHOPS, CAFES, AND CINEMARK SURROUNDING IT. AFTER WE LEFT PLAZA DE LAS AMERICAS, WE WALKED DOWN TO PARQUE CAROLINA. WE STOPPED TO TAKE A PHOTO AT A FUNKY STATUE. I COULD NOT FIND A NAME FOR THIS STATUE OF FOUR CHILDREN SITTING ON A BENCH TALKING TO EACH OTHER. IT IS IN A TINY PARK AND MAY BE CALLED DESCANSO. WE THEN CONTINUED WALKING UNTIL WE REACHED THE VERY LARGE PARK. IT HAS A VIVARIUM HERE. IT IS A SMALL SAMPLE OF REPTILE SPECIMENS INDIGIONOUS TO ECUADOR. THERE IS A SUPERMAXI SHOPPING CENTER ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SOUTHERN END OF CAROLINA PARK SO WE WENT THERE TO BUY COLD MEDICINE FOR RENO WHO MAY HAVE GOTTEN A HEAD COLD. WE RELAXED AT A SPECIAL PLACE CALLED REPUBLIC DE CAFÉ. THERE IS A VIDEO HERE ABOUT JUST THAT. IMMEDIATLY ON THE SOUTHERN END OF PARQUE CAROLINA IS A METRO STATION. ONCE I SAW THE STATION ENTRANCE, I DECIDED WE SHOULD TRY IT OUT. IT IS GREAT. IT IS STILL NEW AND MADE TO BE EASILY USED BY THE MOST UNITIATED PERSONS IN METRO USE. IT ALSO COSTS ONLY .45 CENTS FOR ADULTS. I AM HAPPY TO HAVE USED IT. I TOOK A VIDEO OF IT WITH MY CELL PHONE SO I MAY UPLOAD IT HERE ALTHOUGH VIDEOS FROM MY CELL PHONE COME UP SMALLER HERE. WE GOT OUT AT PARQUE EJIDO METRO STATION. AFTER TAKING A COUPLE OF PHOTOS OF WRITERS (THERE ARE MANY STATUES OF POETS AND NOVELISTS HERE), WE WAKED THE REST OF THE WAY TO THE HOTEL.