Herrenhausen Gardens - Hannover, Germany

Hannover is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), Germany. With a population of 522,944 (1 February 2007) the city is a major center of northern Germany, known for hosting annual commercial expositions such as the Hanover Fair and the CeBIT.

Every year Hanover hosts the Schützenfest Hannover, the world's largest Marksmen's Fun Fair, and the 

Oktoberfest Hannover, which is the second largest Oktoberfest in the world.

The city is also a major crossing point of railway lines and highways (Autobahnen), connecting European main lines in east-west-direction (Berlin - Ruhr area) and north-south-direction (Hamburg - Munich et al).

The Great Garden is an important European baroque garden. The palace itself, however, was largely destroyed by Allied bombing. Some points of interest are the Grotto (the interior was designed by the French artist Niki de Saint-Phalle), the Galery Building, the Orangerie and the two pavillons by Remy de la Fosse. 

The Berggarten is an important European botanical garden. Some points of interest are the Tropical House, the Cactus House, the Canary House and the Orchid House, which hosts one of the world's biggest collection of orchids, and free-flying birds and butterflies.

The landmark of Hanover is the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus). Inside the building are four scale models of the town and the only working diagonal elevator in Germany, which goes up the large dome.

Another point of interest is the Old Town. At the centre is the huge Market Church and the Old Town Hall. Near by are the Leibniz House, the Nolte House, and the Beguine Tower. A very nice quarter of the Old Town is the Kreuz-Church-Quarter around the Kreuz Church with many nice little lanes. Nearby is the old theatre, called Ballhofeins. On the edge of the Old Town are the Market Hall, the Leine Palace, and the ruin of the Aegidien Church which is now a monument to the victims of war and violence.

Eric Christian Olsen’s wedding to actress Sarah Wright

"The bride chose Graham Central Station. The groom, White Tiger Paws.

And guests to “NCIS: Los Angeles” star Eric Christian Olsen’s wedding to actress Sarah Wright got a taste of the Quad-Cites at the reception Saturday night in Tetonia, Idaho.

Nearly 100 guests were served cups of Whitey’s Ice Cream, said Jeff Tunberg, the company co-owner and Olsen’s uncle by marriage.

Olsen, who spent much of his life in Bettendorf, ordered 27 dips of four Whitey’s flavors, including Moose Tracks and Mint Chocolate Chip. White Tiger Paws is Oreo cookie chunks and fudge in a vanilla ice cream; Graham Central Station has graham cracker chunks in a similarly flavored ice cream.

Tunberg said putting individual scoops of ice cream in plastic bowls and shipping them worked better than sending larger containers. The FedEx shipment was 112 pounds, including dry ice to keep the ice cream chilled. Tunberg, who attended the wedding, said the ice cream was cold and hard by the time it was scheduled to be served as the dessert to a meal that included barbecued brisket and fish tacos.

That came after a ceremony Tunberg called “the most unique wedding I’ve ever been to.”

It took place outdoors at the farm that Olsen; his parents, Paul and Jeanne; and brother, David, own along the Teton Mountains and across from Jackson Hole, Wyo. — a “splendid background,” Tunberg said.

“They cut the grass up on a knoll and the bridesmaids and the groomsmen proceeded from the barn at least 100, 150 yards to where the ceremony was,” he said. “It was a long wedding aisle.”

Guests sat on covered hay bales that served as makeshift pews. A guitar-ukelele duo provided the music.

Paul Olsen, a longtime Augustana College track and field coach and English professor, as well as an ordained minister, officiated at the ceremony.

After the wedding, guests were ushered through the barn and into a horse corral covered with a tent for the reception. David Olsen, a stunt double and his brother’s best man, showed a video compilation of those who could not attend the reception wishing the couple well, including LL Cool J from “NCIS: LA” and Mark Harmon from “NCIS.” Two of Olsen’s “NCIS: LA” costars, Barrett Foa and Renée Felice Smith, were in attendance, as was actor Joel Edgerton, the co-star of the movie “The Thing” and who plays Tom Buchanan in “The Great Gatsby” movie remake due out at Christmas.

Guests danced until at least 11 p.m. to music from a bluegrass band, Tunberg said.

Olsen, 35, met Kentucky native Wright, 28, in 2006 when they were both cast in the short-lived Fox TV sitcom “The Loop.” Her credits include “Made of Honor” and “House Bunny,” as well as the upcoming “Celeste and Jesse Forever.”

Tunberg and his wife, Sue, were relaxing days after the wedding and still in the mountains. Sue’s sister, Jeanne Olsen, is a chaplain for Genesis Health System in the Quad-Cities.

“It’s just clear as a bell out here, very beautiful. I don’t think it could have gone any better,” Tunberg said of Idaho and the wedding."

Source

Orange in The Netherlands

Have you ever seen such colorful apartment buildings like these? These pictures were taken on the 3rd of January 2011, in Medias, Romania. Medias is the second largest city in Sibiu County, Transylvania, Romania.

I was absolutely amazed to see that each and every apartment owner has painted his/her apartment's outside walls as he/she pleased. That's how each building got its own unique look. At first it can even be funny but if you look at them as part of the city, it can be sad. How would this city look in a few years?

 

Shit Happens

Yes, shit happens. This is a commercial in a department store in Leiden, Netherlands. It's funny, I like it.

Live Statues in Amsterdam

These pictures were taken in November 2008. These guys were standing in front of the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. There was a huge crowd behind me, people were taking pictures of the Palace and of course, they were photographing these guys as well.

I tried to do the same and look what's happened: Batman covered his face and asked for money in exchange. I have no idea how much money one can make standing there all day long, dressed like Batman, or  being Jim Carry from "The Mask". I guess it's not easy but can be fun (sometimes).

These guys promised me to cut off my head if I'm not paying. Well, hello,  I'm here, well and alive.

The Toothpaste

According to Wikipedia, toothpastes or powders came into general use in the 19th century. The Greeks, and then the Romans, improved the recipes for toothpaste by adding abrasives such as crushed bones and oyster shells. In the 9th century, the Persian musician and fashion designer Ziryab invented a type of toothpaste, which he popularized throughout Islamic Spain. Washington Sheffield made the original collapsible toothpaste tubes lead.

Look what I've found in Leiden, The Netherlands. What do you think, who's is it? :)

The Shoe

If you are looking for big size shoes, I can help you right away. Nice, isn't it? This picture was taken in Leiden, The Netherlands. This is a shoe shop window, so it is real.