Castello Estense, Ferrara

Castle Estense looks straight out of storybooks, complete with towers, moat, drawbridges and dungeon.

It was built by Bartolino da Novara in 1385, commisioned by Nicolò II of Este.

The castle, originally conceived as a grandiose fortress, was subsequently transformed

into a Ducal residence and adequately embellished.
After the Este family had left Ferrara in 1598,

the castle became the residence of the Prolegates, or Papal governors of the town.

At present it is the seat of the Provincial Administration.

Pictures were taken on June 11, 2011

Tiny gate to one of the cell... "watch your head"

prisoners' writing done with candle smoke

Garden of the Oranges

Ducal Chapel, ceiling decorated with the Four Evangelists fresco

122 steps up to the tower

 Ceiling of the Government Room

Coats of Arms Room

Mardasson Memorial, Bastogne

The Mardasson Memorial was erected to honour the American soldiers

that were killed during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944.

The Latin inscription on the memorial stone:

LIBERATORIBVS

AMERICANIS

POPVLVS BELGICVS

MEMOR

IV.VII.MCMXLVI.
translates to "The Belgian people remember their American liberators – 4th July 1946."



Belgium Ardennes, Bastogne

The Siege of Bastogne is probably one of the best known incidents of WWII

and a symbol of the “Battle of the Bulge” It is also where the legend of the 101st Airborne was made.

As a big fan of Band of Brothers, I've always wanted to visit the forest in Bastogne.

I didn't know what to expect until I finally visited the Belgium Ardennes in Aprill 11, 2009.

The foxholes have been slowly filling with dirt and needles fallen from the trees

but remain mostly as if abandoned yesterday.

Walking to the Band of Brothers Monument

 Band of Brothers Monument

 

Eagle's Nest(Kehlsteinhaus), Berchtesgaden

Pictures were taken on May 24, 2011

Crazy bus ride up to the enterance tunnel

Tunnel enterance

Inside of the tunnel

At the end of the entrance tunnel is a circular room which one enters the brass lined elevator

for the ride 407 feet up to the Kehlsteinhaus. Inside of the elevator was quite beautiful

with golden brass walls so shiny no wonder many people think it's real gold.

Unfortunately taking picture inside of the elevator wasn't allowed.

The arched terrace windows were glassed-in in the 1950s,

and the terrace today is used to display a photo exhibit on the history of the Kehlsteinhaus.

The fireplace was a gift from Benito Mussolini to Hitler.

Late lunch at the Kehlsteinhaus,

Today the building is owned by a charitable trust, and serves as a restaurant.

Omaha beach, Normandy

If you watched the Movie Saving Private Ryan,

you would remember the 20minutes opening sequences of the movie.

It was filmed in County Wexford, Ireland near the town of Curracloe.

However it provide an excellent feel for what conditions on the beach must have been like

on the day of 6 June, 1944.

Omaha Beach is the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of

German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II.

Omaha Beach is located on the coast of Normandy, France.

 Pictures were taken on April 10, 2009

High plateaus, rocky cliffs, and sandy bluffs...

Features that are so beautiful to the eyes were nothing but an obsticle course

to the US troops during invasion of Normandy.

"Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of Allied Expeditionary Force!

You are about to embark upon the Great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months.

The eyes of the word are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you...

I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle.

We will accept nothin less than full Victory !" -Dwight D. Eisenhower