Albums from Western Europe | Karl-Ove Vindenes' Photoblog

2005 – Paris, France

We visited Paris for some days in December, 2005.

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is the most famous symbol of Paris. It is 320 meters tall, and was the highest construction in the world when it was built for the 1889 Universal Exhibition.

11 photos.

Louvre

One of the largest and most famous museums in the world is housed in the former royal palace, Louvre, in the center of Paris.

13 photos.

Père-Lachaise

The necropolisPère-Lachaise is one of the largest and most impressive cemeteries in the world.

8 photos.

Center

Other notable sites in Paris include the Arch of Triumph, Notre Dame, the Opera and the Sacre-Coeur basilica.

20 photos.

Versailles

Luis XIV built a massive palace in Versailles, just outside Paris. It was safer there than in the big city with all those protesting peasants.

14 photos.

2005 – UK

We travelled to London for a few days in the week of Easter, 2005.

London

While in London, we saw places like Tower of London, Big Ben, St. James's Park, St. Paul's Cathedral and Canary Wharf.

17 photos.

2005 – Berlin, Germany

We visited the 4th largest city in Europe, Berlin, the last weekend of February, 2005.

West

After World War II, the USA, the UK and France merged their administration zones into one, and allowed it to be integrated into the Federal Republic of Germany, founded in 1949. With the new center in Kurfürstendamm, this part the city was the last outpost of the free world, and evolved into a showcase of western capitalism.

8 photos.

East

After World War II, Berlin, Germany, and Europe were divided in two. East Germany developed a Soviet style communism, also apparent in architecture, like in Karl Marx Allee.

7 photos.

Historic Center

The historic center includes Brandenburger Tor, Reichtag, Berliner Dom, Schinkel Museum and more. After the bombing during World War II, many buildings lay in ruins for up to 50 years.

20 photos.

2005 – Netherlands

Anton and I went on a weekend trip to Amsterdam in January 2005.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands.The city is most famous for its canals, redlight district and "coffe" shops.

17 photos.

2003 – Belgium

The first weekend of 2003, I went to the capital of Europe, Brussels. The city has definitely more to offer than bureaucrat buildings.

Brussels

Brussels is the capital of Belgium and hosts the headquarters of the European Union and NATO. But the city has definitely more to offer than bureaucrat buildings.

17 photos.

2002 – Scotland, UK

Right before Christmas 2002, I visited Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland, UK, with a friend. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, and full of historic buildings, while Glasgow is a more pulsating city.