Kees' photos

At least some one noticed me exiting the church. Our landlady in Montepulciano was puzzled by Chencho’s name. Naturally, it is pronounced “Kenko” in Italy, and when we explained it should rather be “Cencio” she had to laugh, that being Italian for “rag”, per pulizia , with which to clean up things (in German, that would be “Lumpen” –“Lumpi” actually is a term of endearment for dogs). I’m glad we weren’t in France: the imaginary landlady would probably have understood “chien chaud”, meaning “hotdog”...

After dinner, it’s nice to have an espresso and an Amaretto di Saronno at a street café. There are three in Sabbioneta, and we visited them all, at different times.

Chencho at the central piazza of Sabbioneta.

There were times we went on vacation by train, but we didn’t need today’s infrastructure then...

Picture taken with a camera bungling down, while having a drink at yet another Sabbioneta street café. Chencho did fine, being shielded by a bunch of familiar legs.

These are exciting times. I’ve sold my scooter and bought a motorcycle, no, not a Yamaha XV950 (as the license plate suggests), but the XVS950A (sadly too complicated to be issued as a license plate). I’m not an accomplished rider, and it’s sheer luck that I’ve managed to keep the thing in an upright position. I’m working on it, though!

Pictures of the moon are ubiquitous, and most of them are better than this one. But it is mine, all mine. It’s one of the first I shot with my Sony 55–300mm lens, which was meant to complement the original 16–50mm one. I will probably only use it on special occasions: I’m more of a wide angle guy, and am anxious not to litter the inside of my camera by changing lenses too often.

I moved to Munich in 1981, to work in a building that is part of the former residence of the Bavarian kings (aptly named “die Residenz”). The servants’ quarters, to be sure, utterly destroyed in WW II, and later rebuilt in a modest fashion. Nevertheless, it is a bit embarrassing having to confess that I have never visited the Museum in another part of the same building, that is: never, until now. I’ve also posted a picture of the Court Chapel, much bigger than this one, and nice without being lavish. However, being king, one would like to retreat, from time to time, to a less inhibited place, and converse with God as an equal.

Former Court Chapel, now a popular concert hall for chamber music.

Sadly, I know nothing about the subject of this picture; I believe I took it in the Antiquarium, so the odds are that it is old, very old. Fact is, I sometimes take pictures just for the love of it.

The Bavarian kings had an early appreciation of Classical Antiquity, and built a museum for their collection of ancient art. The hall was also suited very well for private functions.

If the weather doesn’t prevent me from doing so, I often spend my afternoon breaks in this garden, or court yard, just a few steps away from work. A good read and a cigar –for that I readily cancel lunching.

Landshut, another old Bavarian town. We had been there before; I still have a vivid memory of a visit we made around 1989 with our first dog, shortly before he suddenly died: images of that trip long haunted me in my dreams. We were tired from sight-seeing, and had to rest a while before driving home (yes, we’re getting old...). Chencho needed a little patting from my wife –just to confirm that everything’s OK.

St. Benedict at Sandau, near Landsberg, is an old church, parts of which date back to the Carolingian age. Its churchyard is abandoned, but one can still recognize some of the graves.

37 Herensteeg, in Leiden, where my wife and I used to live when we were students, and where our daughter is living now. We have purchased another picture, taken, in the 1920ies, from about the same position, and it’s remarkable how little has changed since then. The Pieterskerk , in the background, isn’t a church anymore, but still contributes greatly to the atmosphere.

Last Summer, when we made a tour through the Netherlands, we stayed a few days in the charming town of Deventer. The weather was fine, and after dinner we enjoyed the luxury of a drink at a street café. The right one is mine, a generous shot of Amaretto di Saronno. This picture could be used for advertizing, I think –but it wouldn’t come cheap! ;-)

He could make himself comfortable on the seat, but for some reason (probably because he isn’t fond of traveling), Chencho keeps a low profile when we make trips. He does appreciate the leg room, though.