When visiting towns and cities, I like to find the local courthouses. I often find that in small towns, they tend to be the biggest, most well kept buildings downtown. Each one is different. While many have similar architectural elements, they are still unique. Some are now museums or visitor centers, but they all started out as courthouses. These courthouses are located in Kentucky.
The Madison County Courthouse in Richmond, KY is a dominating building in center of the small town. Finished in 1859, the oversized Greek Revival building is impressive with its cupola and clock tower. The white brick is definitely eye catching. The courthouse still serves as the county seat.
The Old Courthouse in Bardstown, Kentucky is now a visitor’s center in the small historic town. The cathedral like building was erected in 1892 to look like a cathedral since the majority of the population was catholic.
These two courthouses are both located in Kentucky, roughly an hour and a half apart, and erected within 30 years of one another, yet they are so different. This is what I love about small town America. Each town is different and offers something worth visiting. So don’t discount the small towns around you, take a day and go see what they have to offer.
Prints of these images are available. Just click on the image and it will take you directly to the print page. If you would like to see courthouses, from America and around the world, click here.
Jan 4 – Jan 10 Listing of this Week’s Photo Challenges
- Almost ALL accept, and also like paintings! The fact that there are not too many painters around, doesn’t mean that you cannot post 🙂
* Lens Artists don’t at this time 🙁 - Some challenges that specify a particular day or week-end go for the whole week. For example: Dutch goes the Photo! Tuesday Photo Challenge – This week: “Slippery” (link inside) – This is a quality challenge!
Donaueschingen Danube River Source – A place worth visiting.
The top image of this post features “Donau Quelle” which is the German for Danube River Spring. For those who don’t know, Danube is the second biggest river in Europe, after Volga. It starts in the Black Forest in Germany and ends in the Danube Delta of Romania (and a small part Ukraine). From the source, the river flows for a distance of 2850 km (1771 miles) and goes through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine.
I always wanted to see the source of it. The time arrived in 2011, when my husband and I went to visit Germany.
Donau Quelle – Danube River Spring
The spring resides on the domain of the Fürstenberg family, where there is also a castle with the same name and a cathedral. The zone is partially under construction and I couldn’t get any decent shots of the castle. Too bad, but my target was to see the source anyway…
The water goes from here to the small river (Breg), which joins another river (Brigach) 1 km farther. From there it becomes the actual Danube.
Donaueschingen
The closest place to the source is Donaueschingen town. I speak a little German, but not enough, so what I could find out was that the name of the town could be translated as Danube confluence. And this is what it actually was. Here are two pictures of this town’s red roofs, viewed from above.
Donaueschingen is a very nice old German town with some new updated modern architecture and lifestyle.
All these pictures are available as art prints for wall and home decor in my Germany gallery. Just click on them to see all the options. If you are like me and want to have the Danube river spring image as a poster in your home, this is how it will look like:
* Upon purchase the images will be WATERMARK FREE. Every purchase includes a money-back guarantee!
For the fun of challenges:
Fog over West Dover Nova Scotia
West Dover is a small quiet fishing village on Prospect Bay on the Atlantic ocean in Nova Scotia. It is actually in Peggy’s Cove area in between the famous heritage village and Halifax. This is a very good place if you want to relax and stay cool in the summer.
It was at the end of July when we celebrated our wedding anniversary here. I took this photo from the terrace of a nice restaurant overlooking this small bay.
When pointing my camera toward the fisherman’s houses and boats covered by the afternoon fog, a seagull entered into the frame. I was amazed by this lucky happening – What a great gift for this special day 🙂 Thank you seagull!
My husband and I spent a few months in this tranquil area in a rental house right on the water.
One day we were invited by some friendly neighbors to take a tour of the bay on their boat. This is what the water and the shore looked like in the light of the setting sun when returning from the trip.
The coast of Nova Scotia always brings me serenity and piece of mind.
Both images: Fog over West Dover Nova Scotia and Sunset on the water are available as art prints for wall, home decor and accessories. Just click on them for options on sizes and prices. * Upon purchase the images will be WATERMARK FREE. Every purchase includes a money-back guarantee!
[ezcol_1half][/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end][/ezcol_1half_end]
For the fun of challenges:
FOWC with Fandango — Special | Tuesday Photo Challenge – Tranquil
Are you a fan of Cuban architecture? You’ll love “Red” by Dawn Currie featured in Travel Art group on Fine Art America! This artwork is of a heavily textured and bright red wooden facade of a building with a solitary white ladder leaning against the deteriorating wood siding. Five shuttered windows hide what is behind.
Add a touch of Cuban style to your decor
Now imagine ‘Red’ in your home or office. Certainly this artwork will enhance your room and spark conversations. All because you ordered a print according to your style and taste – framed art print, modern metal print, acrylic and more, in the size you need.
Visit the Cuba Autos and Architecture Gallery and find even more images of Cuban architecture to enhance your decor. Share a glimpse of modern-day Cuba. And while you’re there, consider ordering greeting cards of your favorites. These images will bring a slice of the Caribbean, with a Cuban flare, into your home and place of business. Bienvenido a Cuba!
Panama City Panama Skyline
Panama City Panama skyline, an amazing view from Amador Peninsula, across the Panama Bay.
I took this photo on January 1st 2012. Yes, we spend our New Year’s Eve and a few more days after in Panama City, Panama! 🙂
* Here is the postcard I sent to my friends, taken from the hotel we stayed on Amador peninsula. It is certainly available without the text on it 🙂
This is an astonishing busy city and we tried to see as much as we could, by car, taxi or walking. The old historic Panama City – “Casco Viejo Panama” was also on our itinerary.
Here we are in the taxi and its driver who was our touristic guide for about one hour – a great ride with many useful explanations. * Panamanians speak English as a second language and the cabs are quite inexpensive.
I never expected to see such an impressive city in Central America! It was the starting point into our three month journey in Panama 🙂
Panama Bay – shown in the first picture, is actually part of the famous Panama Canal. Sure, we have visited that as well… I’ll post some of those photos later 🙂
I uploaded this pictures into my Panama gallery. They are available as art prints for wall, home decor and accessories. Click on them for more options:
For the fun of challenges:
FOWC with Fandango — Driver | Tuesday Photo Challenge: Memories | Thursday’s Special: Pick a word in November – Y3: Cerulean
Mexican La Calavera Catrina and the Day of the Dead.
The Day of the Dead – Día de los Muertos holiday is over, but the fun in Mexico never ends 🙂
During the celebration, the central plaza in Patzcuaro was full of vendors selling “ofrendas” (offerings). These are generally sweet treats made from Mazapan (Marzipan), chocolate and pastries.
[ezcol_1half][/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end][/ezcol_1half_end]
The main character of the holiday is the Mexican La Calavera Catrina. For those who don’t know, Catrina is a doll with a face of a dead woman. * Calavera in Spanish stands for Skull. You will always see her dressed in the European last century style, wearing large hats. the photo below shows a spooky bride candy Catrina. 🙂
Mexican La Calavera Catrina
The doll was originally created by the Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada. Although a little weird, this funny character became very popular. I noticed that Mexicans like weird, funny things 🙂
Colorful and well ornamented, Catrina is not always a candy doll. She often welcomes customers to stores, bars or restaurants. Mexicans venerate her as the beloved “great dame of death”.
[ezcol_1third]
[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third]
[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third_end]
[/ezcol_1third_end]
When I first saw this in an artisan store, I was shocked. However, Mexicans are putting a lot of artistic talent in creating this character. Soon I started to like her myself. The “doll” can be even adorable… so to say 🙂
– Many tourists also like to buy her for a souvenir.
If you like funny spooky things, Catrina will be happy to keep you company. 🙂 All the pictures above are available as art prints on various materials, for home decor or accessories.
* The watermark will not appear on the print!
For the fun of challenges:
An Italian piazza is a town square. It is often surrounded by cafes, restaurants and stores. And sometimes there is a church, a statue or a fountain. A piazza is enjoyable because there are often markets and musicians.“Italian Piazza with Laundry,” was painted after an Italian vacation. I often saw laundry hanging from windows.
Many enjoyable activities take place in the piazza. People go to the piazza to visit and eat for instance. Coffee-drinking is popular. Gelato ice cream is for sale and popular. As a result many flavors are available. And children play. Also people stroll on streets from one piazza to another.
One of the most famous piazzas is Piazza Navona in Rome, Italy. Nearby is the Campo de’Fiori piazza. Piazza San Marco in Venice is also worth a visit. You don’t want to miss Piazza della Signoria in Florence. The large Piazza del Campo in Siena has the famous palio horse race.
Switzerland – Cabins in Snow
Watercolor Paintings by Sabina von Arx
Cabins in the Grison Alps
Wooden cabins and barns in the wonderful winter landscape in the Sertig Valley, Switzerland. The Sertig Valley is located in the municipality of Davos, south of the town, in the Swiss canton of Graubünden (Grison). The small village of Sertig (at 1,861 m) is accessible by road, 15 min. from Davos.
Click on the painting to get to my Web-Shop for Art Prints on Paper or Canvas!
Cabins in the Bernese Alps
Beautiful view on the three famous swiss mountain peaks called Eiger Mönch and Jungfrau close to the village of Grindelwald. The Eiger has an altitude of 3,967 meters above sea level and its “North Wall” has a rather fearsome reputation. The three mountains tower over nearby Grindelwald, a popular hiking and skiing destination in the Swiss Bernese Alps.
Click on the painting to get to my Web-Shop for Art Prints on Paper or Canvas!
Cabins in the Valais Alps
The most famous mountain of the Valais Alps is the Matterhorn on the border between Switzerland and Italy. It is a well-known mountain due to its near-symmetrical pyramidal peak with an altitude of 4,478 metres (14,692 ft), making it one of the highest summits in Europe. The mountain overlooks the Swiss town of Zermatt, in the canton of Valais. The painting shows cosy wooden barns close to Zermatt.
Click on the painting to get to my Web-Shop for Art Prints on Paper or Canvas!
My Artistic Approach
I do chose a semi-abstract approach for my watercolor paintings. Therefore I change the local color to powerful tones and shades of atmospheric light. So the painting depicts a dreamy world of wonderful holidays. Also see my other Posts with paintings from Europe Provence France – Old Village of Gordes and Italy – Pai Sopra on Lake Garda. Art Prints on paper and canvas prints are available in different sizes and qualities. Visit my online art gallery for more paintings of mountains and winter sceneries
Which Way Challenge