The Maypole is always a symbol of Reconciliation for me. When Truth, Mercy, Justice and Peace touch and dance together, the place where they dance is RECONCILIATION

Ian Stehbens, on November 17, 2008, said:

OWS

Cityfotograph, on October 9, said:

It´s a great pic. Regards Hardy

klaus040, on October 9, said:

Hi Jan: Welcome in my secret capital of the middle Ages! What did you there? Holidays?

Greetings, Klaus

Cityfotograph, on October 10, said:

Hallo Klaus, sicherlich wolltest Du nicht auf die Anmerkung aus dem Jahre 2008 antworten. Ich habe das große Glück Mölln als meinen Geburtsort bezeichnen zu dürfen. In der Kirche vor, dessen Eingang Du dieses Foto aufgenommen hast, bin ich sogar getauft worden. Gruß Hardy

Ian Stehbens, on October 10, said:

Greetings Hardy and Klaus,

Thank you both for your appreciative comments on this photograph. Mölln is certainly a very special place historically as well as being a very beautiful place both because of its natural setting as well as its architectural richness.

Thank you for the welcome, Klaus. I wish I had met you when I was there. And I am pleased that I have visited a very special or sacred place in your life, Hardy.

In reply to your question, Klaus, I was on sabbatical leave. I chose significant places to visit. I was researching the "peaceful regime change" that had taken place in the ending of DDR and of the reunification of Germany. This was important to me as a peacebuilder for Bush Administration at that time (and as I am Australian - the Howard Government's decision concurred) was committed to bringing about regime change by violent means in Asia.

Hence my research meant visiting places along both sides of the old border. I interviewed many different people such as unemployed shipyard workers in Boizenburg, farmers at Sterling, mayor of municipalities on the border, builders, teachers, doctors, retired people, custom controllers that had supervised the border posts on the Hamburg-Berlin Railway, their children, pastors, etc, etc. Mölln, Wismar, Rostok, to Celle and Ilsenburg.

I learnt a great deal, met many wonderful and hospitable people, and had many special opportunities. And a long the way, I visited the special places of some of my ancestors, read the records and attended a baptismal service in the church where my ancestors were baptised. That particular baptismal font was handmade in 1666!

Again thanks for the visits to my gallery.

Ian

klaus040, on October 11, said:

Hi Ian: That must have been a very interesting and still much more a meaningful journey! Good job!

Greetings, Klaus from Hamburg.

Ian Stehbens, on October 13, said:

Indeed it was a special time, Klaus. Some of my heart is still there scattered among the communities I visited in Mecklenburg and Schleswig-Holstein in particular.

Ian

RicardoFilho, on October 20, said:

I visited Möll some weeks ago and becam an admirer of this city. Beautiful pic!

And here goes my newest pic of a World Heritage in Germany:

* Holstentor und Rosen *

Also in this month's contest. Greetings from Hamburg,

* Ricardo *

Ian Stehbens, on October 20, said:

Dear Ricardo,

Germany certainly has some remarkable heritage, in the north as well as in the south. I love the villages and cities of Mecklenburg and Schleswig-Holstein, especially.

Thanks for your appreciative comment.

Ian

Eduh ZM, 9 days ago, said:

Nice fachwerk houses

Ian Stehbens, 9 days ago, said:

I thought so too, Eduh ZM. I loved Moelln so much and architecturally it was as good as the villages of the Weser Valley or Celle. Thank you for your visit here.

Appreciatively,

Ian

Eduh ZM, 9 days ago, said:

The Fachwerk is very interesting. The German imigrants and their descendants constroyed some houses in Brazil, and many fachwerk construtions are now protected by a historical institute of Government.

I would like to learn how it is constroyed, but I can´t find books here.

Ian Stehbens, 9 days ago, said:

Dear Edmundo,

When I first replied to you, I didn't realize that you came from Brazil. Another Panoramio friend, Leo Laps, lives in Blumenau, a German city, in Brazil. He has some interesting historical Fachwerk buildings in his gallery and I am sure that the historical museum there would be able to answer your question.

I hope this helps.

Ian

Eduh ZM, 9 days ago, said:

Ian, that region has many fachwerk construtions, because many cities have many German descendants. One in special, called Pomerode, is considered the most German City of Brazil. That´s a good place to learn more about it, and have plans to visit there since a long time ago, and so, draw a house in Autocad.

Thank you for the link and informations!