Harvey Travel Arts

We see so many elaborate libraries on our travels: at palaces, castles, schools, churches and museums. On our recent visit to Prague, this delightful antique filled library caught my attention. I wonder sometime what it must have been like to live or have constant access to a place with so many books. When I was in college, I remember the cozy feeling I got when I was able to work in a quiet carrel secluded from the busy day around me. Unfortunately, I was usually researching a paper rather than curled up reading for pleasure. It seems today's libraries are filled more with people searching the internet than those who are looking for the written word--that is the words that still fill paper. Today most of my library is in electronic form and I take it with me. I have access to as many volumes as I could possibly read all in one device. However, it still makes me happy to think of a library, full of tomes waiting to be discovered, waiting to take me on an adventure.

The above photo depicts Magdalenenklause which was built on the grounds of Nymphenburg Palace in Munich. Despite its aged appearance, the small chapelesque dwelling was only built around 300 years ago. It was built to intentionally resemble ruins. For me, that's an interesting lesson in historic architecture. If a building such as this resembled the ruins that remained in the 1720s (remember, they likely had based it upon ruins elsewhere), then we can have a good picture of how buildings were constructed long before then. Stepping inside, the outbuilding looks even stranger: Yes, that's the ceiling; a shelled mosaic masterpiece. I cannot fathom the time that went into such a place. On a more practical note, think of the guys who had to set the shells and rocks into place. I'm sure their backs must have been sore after all that work. Just so someone could have a bizarre place to stay.

This motorized bike, an early prototype of today's motorcycle, looks painful to me. Who wants to sit on what is an uncomfortable, unmoving saddle and have to lean over, holding on to handlebars that surely will give you blisters? I don't know if this thing ever actually worked, but could you imagine this thing trying to whiz around through traffic? I'm sure the helmets were just as awkward back then. This vehicle on display at the Mercedes museum reminds me of my own life. Sometimes I feel awkward, like I'm just not quite there yet. I stumble and fall, make bad decisions. Compared to today's sleek machines, this bike certainly hasn't arrived , but for it's time, it was a stepping stone toward better transportation. Then I realize that, as human beings, we're a constant work in progress. We should be relying on God to help us grow. If we don't study His word and pray for guidance, we'll be stuck with our lives resembling a stiff, unben...

I want to take this time to share with you what summer sometimes looks like in Germany. Unlike my home state of Texas, where summer is generally HOT...my family and friends have been seeing temps in the 100s...Germany's summers are a bit unpredictable. It does get into the 80s and 90s here for a couple of weeks during the summer, but that quickly changes into an irregular rhythm of warm, then cool, rainy, then cloudy, a little sun, etc. In other words, it's more like early spring in Texas. This particular evening, we had our camera as we traveled downtown, and I'm glad we did. The beautiful gray covered hills are a perfect description of a cool summer day.

Brian enjoys Starbucks. Before we met, I had only been to Starbucks two, maybe three times. I don't drink coffee, and I didn't really have a reason to go. Now I have grown to enjoy our regular trips to Starbucks; I can get a wide variety of non-coffee beverages: tea, hot chocolate, steamed milk, cream frapuccino. But the point is, the stores have become commonplace and mostly trendy little boxes that all look somewhat identical. However, this Starbucks on the Hauptstrasse in Heidelberg is the most unique location I've seen. I'm not sure what the building was in its history, but the architecture is still preserved. The round loft is the most popular spot; so much that we have never seen it empty. Even the rest of the store is usually full of people, but we found a rare moment to get some photos of this great little spot. Enjoy the view!