Take a Second Look

Stalker Castle is an almost 700 year-old well preserved castle on a small tidal islet in Loch Linnhe off the west coast of Scotland. It is privately owned and - haunted, of course. Stalker Castle has a colourful history including a change in ownership as a result of a drunken bet.

Early morning arrival at Seydisfjordur on the east coast of Iceland.

Lindarbakki House on the east coast of Iceland is 118 years old and 30 sqm (323 sqft) in size. Elisabet Sveinsdottir, the owner of this adorable cottage, uses Lidarbakki as her summer residence. Most houses on Iceland looked like this for centuries until not too long ago.

The town of Kotor in Montenegro. In medieval times, villages, churches and fortifications were built high above the fjord to discourage pirate attacks.

This 13th century castle was built into a rock face near the village of Predjama. It was the hideout for a rogue knight by the name of Erazem. He robbed and murdered and found his end in the castle's lavatory. Erazem was hit by a cannon ball while sitting on the toilet. 

Creative wall art in Kortula, Croatia.

Monaco is the second-smallest country in the world (behind the Vatican). It is the home of the super-rich. The city-state has 8,000 citizens and 38,000 residents. To get a permit to live in Monaco for one year, you have to have a minimum of 500,000 Euros in the bank.

An Icelandic fishing boat in Skjalfandi Bay along the north coast of Iceland.

Photographing Godafoss, a majestic waterfall near Akureyri.

Landscape near Akureyri.

The tower houses in the Italian town of San Gimignano are evidence to some of the most enduring attributes of the human condition: vanity and pride. During the 13th and 14th centuries, rivalries among the richest and most powerful families were settled by each clan building higher and higher tower houses. At one time, 72 tower houses stood in the village with the tallest reaching 70 m (230 ft) into the blue Italian sky. Over the centuries, San Gimignano fell on hard times and many towers were either destroyed or fell apart. Today, 14 of the towers remain and are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This is the cathedral in the medieval town of Lugo in Spain. Construction of this church began in 1129 A.D. One cannot deny the love and passion that was employed in the creation of such extravagance. If Jesus approves of it, however, remains an unanswered question.

Mt Etna is a popular recreational area for the people of Catania and Messina on the island of Sicily. From hiking to collecting mushrooms to skiing, the mountain offers spectacular sights and lots of fun things to do.

This picture looks east towards the Italian mainland from a height of approx. 1,500 m (4,920 ft). 

Hung out to dry - a tuna fish head..

Cats and holy places go hand in hand. This cat lives a tranquil existence at a monastery on the Greek island of Khios.

This sign was seen at a monastery on the Greek island of Khios.

The striking Mt Kirkjufell near the town of Grundarfjordur was one of the filming locations for the Games of Thrones series 6 and 7.

The Novaya Square in central Moscow on a Sunday afternoon.

The massive body of a minke whale surfaces beside me near Husavik, northern Iceland.

The rare silver birches on Mt Etna in Sicily are threatened by climate change.

The construction of the famous leaning tower of Pisa began in 1173 A.D. and ended in 1370. The tower already began to lean during the initial construction phase because it was placed on unstable ground. Building the tower over such a long period of time allowed the ground beneath to settle and stabilize.

Today, the tower leans a bit more than 5 degr. In the year 1370 A.D. the belfry was placed on top of the tower straight to compensate for the 2 degr. lean at that time. The lean increased sharply in subsequent years due to the enormous weight of the tower and misguided attempts to straighten the tower. Now, the tower has been stabilized and is unlikely to fall. I know you were worried...

Seven young male migrants are being picked up by a Spanish Maritime Rescue vessel just off the coast of southern Spain. The migrants' boat can be seen to the left of the Spanish vessel.

Standing forlorn among monastic ruins and an ancient graveyard, this 900 year old and 30 m (100 ft) tall Irish Tower offers more questions than answers. Why did centuries of earthquakes and enemy assaults not topple the tower when its foundation reaches only 60 cm (2 ft) into the ground?   

The Irish Round Towers at the monastery in Glendalough still offer enough mystery to be interesting. What were their purpose? Built in the 11th century, the towers, some of which are 30 m ( 100 ft) in height, are neither architectural masterpieces nor the result of epic construction projects. What is incredible about the Irish Round Towers is that many have survived a millennium of earthquakes, thunderbolts, enemy assaults, vandalism and fires. The monks must have employed some divine protection...

St Kevin's Church (picture), which is part of the monastery complex at Glendalough, has a Round Tower attached. Every part of the building is from the 11th century. The church is in its original condition.

This is the spot where Boris Nemtsov was killed in February 2015. Nemtsov was an opponent to Vladimir Putin. Nemtsov was walking home across the Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge with his girlfriend when he was shot 4 times in the head. Since the assassination, a make-shift memorial attracts supporters who want to pay tribute. They hold vigils day and night. In 2 years the memorial has been removed more than 60 times by municipal workers. Shortly after each removal, new flowers and pictures appear.  

Two elegant statues of a male and female deer stand at the entrance to the Mandraki Harbor in Rhodos. In antiquity , Rhodes was called "Elafioussa" which means "with a lot of deer". The deer are located at the spot where the famous "Colossus of Rhodos" once stood and fell.

In an effort to commemorate the uprising of the Irish Catholics against a ruling minority (Protestants), which led to almost 30 years of unrest in Northern Ireland after 1969, three artists from the catholic neighborhood of Bogside painted 12 murals illustrating the struggle.

THis mural depicts a scene from "Bloody Sunday", January 30, 1972 when 13 unarmed protesters were shot dead by British paratroopers in the Bogside part of Londonderry.

The Kiel Canal connects the North Sea with the Baltic Sea.

The monastery at Mont St Michel continues to captivate and mystify visitors from around the world. Third in popularity, only behind the Eiffel Tower and the palace of Versailles, Mont St Michel attracts 3.5 million visitors per year.

The tiny village at the bottom of the hill (right) was a hub of activity. In the 14th century fishermen, tradespeople and innkeepers mixed with pilgrims who travelled from afar to worship the relics of early Christianity, to be healed, to unburden their souls, to seek favor with St Michael and to buy souvenirs as proof that they had been to the Mont.

Unusual for this location and climate: coconut and banana production.

Members of a theater troupe march through the town of Tallinn.

The town of Catania with a steaming Mt Etna in the background.

A minke whale comes up for air.

Landscape in northern Iceland.

Londonderry, simply called "Derry" by Irish Catholics, is located on the north coast of Northern Ireland along the River Foyle. The Atlantic Ocean is to the right of the picture.

The wall encircling the center of Londonderry was built between 1613 and 1619. Its purpose was to protect the English settlers (Protestants) from Irish insurgents (Catholics). The wall was never breached and still exists today in its original condition.

Street curbs painted in red, white and blue (the colours of the Union Jack) mark the entrance to a protestant neighbourhood.

These two statues, placed on separate pedestals, are called "Hands Across the Divide". Located at the entrance to the city of Londonderry, they illustrate the desire for tolerance, peace and reconciliation by both parties. The gap between the hands is a reflection of reality in a city that is still deeply divided.

The famous white cliffs of Dover.

The monkeys in Gibraltar are crowd pleasers. The well-managed population is expanding and monkeys are being exported to parts of Africa where populations are declining.

The facades of the Sagrada Familia tower high above the rest of the city.

The four towers of the "Passion Façade" at the Sagrada Familia.

Stained glass windows in the Sagrada Familia.

The church altar in the Sagrada Familia.

Architect Gaudi wanted his sculptor to use elements that are not typically represented in churches. Here Jesus is depicted working as a carpenter.

Architect Gaudi had a strong connection to nature. Inside the church, columns are shaped like trees which branch out as reach up to the roof.

Jesus enduring flagellation. A sculpture in the "Passion Façade" of the Sagrada Familia.

Separatist emotions run high in Catalonia the day after the referendum.

Going to work in Barcelona.

Monaco is a constitutional monarchy with Prince Albert II as the head of state. (Prince Albert is the son of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III). Prince Albert is married to the American Charlene Wittstock. The picture shows the couple's palace where they live with their 3-year old twin girls.

This is the poor part of town. To rent a small apartment here costs 4,000 Euros (US$5,000) per month.

The "Dilbar", one of the largest private yachts in the world, arrives in Monaco. Owned by a Russian Billionaire, it was built at the Luerssen wharf in Germany's Kiel Canal. The yacht has two landing pads for helicopters.

The "Fallen Angel" bronze statue beside the tower of Pisa was created by Igor Mitoraj in 2012.

The picturesque mountaintop village of San Gimignano with its characteristic tower houses.

"Ny Havn" (New Harbour) in Copenhagen. The new harbour is close to 400 years old.

This woman, dressed in a costume from medieval times, has the unenviable job of attracting customers to a restaurant.

A young volunteer protects his ear drums as the cannon fires at noon.

The "Lubyanka Building" in central Moscow used to be the headquarters of the infamous KGB. During Soviet times, this was the home to the country's internal security, foreign intelligence service and the secret police. Here, political assassinations were plotted, surveillance of citizens was arranged, spies were hired and prisoners were interrogated and tortured. Conveniently, a prison was located on the ground floor. After the dissolution of the KGB in 1991, the building became the headquarters of Russia's Border Guard Service. Ironically, a monument commemorating victims of political repression is located right across from the Lubyanka Building.

The "Tsar Bell" was commissioned by a rather ambitious Empress Anna Ivanovna in 1733, cast in 1735 and completed in 1737. With a weight of 202 metric tons, it is the largest bell ever manufactured. Unfortunately, the bell was damaged in a fire while it was resting on a provisional wooden support. A large piece broke off when guards threw cold water on the hot bell. As a result, the bell was never suspended or rung. The Tsar Bell is on display in the Kremlin.

The most haunting memories of Moskow's "Red Square" come from Soviet times and the Cold War. Here, through lengthy military parades, the Soviet leadership demonstrated the might of their armed forces to the world. The Red Square, which is the official address of Russia's government, was also used for national celebrations, important political speeches and, since the fall of the Soviet Union, music performances. The most memorable performance was that of Paul McCartney in 2003. The Beatles' music was banned in the Soviet Union, turning the band into the impetus for a social revolution that, eventually, contributed to the downfall of the communist regime. Behold the awesome power of music!

The "Senate Building" within the Kremlin walls is the official seat of the Russian Presidency. In front is a helipad where Vladimir Putin lands his helicopter when he comes to work. The palace is closed to the public.

This unique Lutheran Church is the end-result of a winning entry in an architectural competition in 1961. The proposal presented by two architects in their twenties (who were also brothers), involved the construction of a church sanctuary inside solid rock. Completed in 1969, the church is now a favourite attraction in Helsinki, drawing visitors from all over the world. The stunning acoustics make the church a perfect venue for concerts.

The busy "Kiel Canal" connects the North Sea with the Baltic Sea and saves 460 km (250 nautical miles) of ship travel by cutting through the German state of Schleswig Holstein.  

A Kiel Canal transit on a Saturday morning offers a glimpse of weekend family life in Germany. Many high-end private homes line the canal for much of its length. 

High above the monastery of Mont St Michel, a 4 m (13 ft) tall statue of a triumphant Archangel Michael tops the towers of the abbey, With his sword in hand, Michael has overcome Beelzebub, the fallen angel.

The monastery of Mont St Michel is illuminated by the morning sun.

On the right, the "Tour des Corbins" (Crow Tower) connected the three floors of the "Merville" with its A-framed roof. The Merville is the cloister, the spiritual center of those praying for the salvation of society. On the left in the "Chatelet" with its two towers. The towers are joined by a formidable staircase that was almost impossible to climb, especially if you were an assailant and you were bombarded with various objects from above.

The abbey has a Romanesque nave from the 16th century and a Gothic choir from the 19th century. Over the years, the nave collapsed several times, giving way under the enormous weight of the thick masonry.

This picture was taken during midday mass, when the 5 resident nuns and 4 resident monks come together in the church for prayer and heavenly singing. In the monastery, the monks and the nuns live their lives completely apart from each other. They only see each other during mass.

The word "monk" comes from the Greek word "monos", which means alone. How any monk can pursue his calling among 3.5 million annual visitors is a mystery to me.

The "Charter Room" was added to the cloister's west wall during the 14th century. It contained the babbey's title deeds and a considerable collection of charts. This priceless collection was lost during the Normandy landings in 1944.

In the background to the left is Tombelaine Island. This granite rock is smaller than the Mont and was never meant to house a monastery.

The famous "Rock of Gibraltar".

A fascination with monks.

View of a typical Tuscan landscape from the village of San Gimignano in north-central Italy.

The 14th century cathedral of Orvieto is just a 90 minute drive north of Rome. Below the town of Orvieto its residents constructed an extensive network of tunnels. It is estimated that over 1,200 tunnels were chiseled into the soft tuft rock to serve as escape routes during sieges in the medieval period.  

Naples is located at the foot of Mt Vesuvius. During the 1st century A.D. the volcano was much higher than it is now and used to have a pointed top. This changed in 79 A.D. when the mountain exploded, sending hot pyroclastic material racing down the mountain, killing thousands of people in the towns of Herculaneum and Pompeii. 

The ancient but well-preserved ruins of Herculaneum are in the foreground, the modern city of Ercolanum is in the background. Ercolanum was built on top of Mt Vesuvius' pyroclastic material which buried Herculaneum in 79 A.D.

The inner court yard of this upscale residence in Herculaneum shows tile work depicting Neptune and Amphitrite. The town of Herculaneum was buried during a violent eruption of Mt Vesuvius and remained well-preserved and undetected for more than 1,630 years. 

A wall decoration on the outside of a residence in Herculaneum. Note the tufa building material - the very volcanic rock that destroyed the town.

The town of Catania with a steaming Mt Etna in the background.

Mt Etna spewing sulfur-laden steam. The lava's path during the 1971 and 1979 eruptions can clearly be seen.

On the flanks of Mt Etna is a tiny chapel where the lava flow from a recent eruption stopped.

The cone of Mt Etna up close and personal. The yellow material surrounding the cone is sulfur.

A valley created by two tectonic plates moving apart.

This is the west coast of the kidney-shaped island of Khios. On this side of the island there is one road, very few people, mostly wind and silence. My kind of place.

Khios has the perfect climate for growing beautiful grapes.

The abandoned village of Anavatos is located high on a rock cliff for protection from enemy forces and pirates. It was home to people who were employed at the local monastery. Now, the homes are disintegrating and the rock paths are difficult to walk, but since the village has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, repair work has finally started. The village was also the setting for the James Bond movie "For Your Eyes Only".

Monks always chose the best views for their monasteries.

Nea Moni is an 11th century monastery on the island if Khios. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.