Three Wise Men

With the Christmas holiday approaching, I would like to focus on these men and talk about their origins. First and foremost, I need to give credit to the Fairmont Princess Hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona for these magnificent decorations as well as superior service and accommodations during a previous holiday visit.

The Three Wise Men or Three Kings, were, in the Gospel of Matthew and in Christian tradition, a group of distinguished foreigners who visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts  of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They are regular figures in traditional accounts of nativity celebrations of Christmas and are an important part of Christian tradition.

If you are ever in the neighborhood, Sedona is an easy drive away and the Grand Canyon is also accessible and worth the trip.

In my travels all over the world I have visited many places and if you are interested in purchasing a photo you can contact me via my website at joansbookshelf.com  or at writerjr1044@gmail.com

FLOWERS

 A Rose for Thanksgiving

I'm going to depart from my travel photo theme for the holiday and suggest that you bring that "special" someone in your life a rose. It doesn't have to be peach like the one my beloved gave to me, but it should be one that shows how much you appreciate your one and only. If you've yet to find him or her, then consider family members or a friend.
Now, let's see how flowers came to be given as gifts.

The earliest known flower arrangements date back to ancient Egypt. Egyptians were decorating with flowers as early as 2,500 BCE. They placed cut flowers in vases, and highly stylized arrangements that were used in burials, for processions, and as table decorations. Illustrations of arranged flowers have been found on Egyptian carved stone reliefs and

painted wall decorations.

The Greeks and the Romans also used flowers. The ancient Greeks used flowers and herbs for adornment and decorations included in artwork. They did not often use vases, focusing instead on garlands and wreaths.

During the Renaissance flower design started in Italy and spread throughout Europe. Paintings of impressive floral arrangements in vases were popular. In the paintings, fruit blossoms and leaves were woven into garlands to decorate walls and vaulted ceilings, and petals were piled into baskets or strewn on the floors, streets, or allowed to float down from balconies.

Take Tulips for example, between 1634 and 1637, the enthusiasm for these flowers triggered a frenzy now known as the Tulip Mania.  This was a period in the Dutch Golden Age during which contract prices for some bulbs of the recently introduced and fashionable tulip reached extremely high levels and then collapsed in February 1637. Tulip bulbs became so expensive that they were treated as a form of currency, or as futures.

In my travels all over the world I have photographed hundreds of flowers.  If you are interested, please contact me. Go to Joansbookshelf.com.

Sweden- INSPIRING SETTINGS FOR SUSPENSE NOVELS

This may look like a doll house but it isn't.  While in Sweden we took a one day boat cruise which included a tour of one of the royal palaces. This particular building was constructed to resemble Chinese architecture.
Sweden became a world power during the reign of King Gustavus Adolphus.  He led Swedish forces fighting in the Thirty Years War which ravaged Central Europe.  Protestants fought  against the Catholic powers and the Church. Referred to as the Lion of the North he was characterized by some as the Father of Modern Warfare. His tactics and strategic innovations were studied by Napoleon and von Clausewitz.  Unfortunately for the Protestant cause he was killed at age 38 while leading a cavalry charge.

His  flagship  sank on its maiden voyage due to improper ballasting. The Swedes recently found the wreck and using the latest techniques were able to raise it and placed it in a specially constructed museum building.  A great exhibit and if you are ever in Stockholm stop by and visit.  

Contact me via my website or email at writerjr1044@gmail.com if you wish to purchase these or other photos of interesting places I have visited.

Visit my website at:  joansbookshelf.com for information on events, new publications and short stories. 

Prague, Czech Republic
INSPIRING SETTINGS FOR SUSPENSE NOVELS

Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. It has had a long, rich history going back to when it was first established in the eighth century and is the historic capital of Bohemia. The city was the main residence of several Holy Roman Emperors, most notably Charles IV (r. 1346–1378). It was an important city to the Hapsburg Monarchy and the

Palace of the Emperors

Austro-Hungarian Empire.  Prague played major roles in the Protestant Reformation and the Thirty Years' War. 


Be sure to tour the palace; it is huge and a great place to visit.  When you tire of the chapels, the infinite number of rooms, and the great furniture  take in the museum of Medieval Armour contained within its  battlements.  Work your way down to the dungeons and marvel at the implements in the torture chamber.






On the left is the Gun Powder Tower, which was  part of the old historic  fortifications some of which still remain 




At the right is a Jewish temple in the old Jewish Quarter of the city

Contact me via my website or email at writerjr1044@gmail.com if you wish to purchase these or other photos of interesting places I have visited.

Visit my website at:  joansbookshelf.com for information on events, new publications and short stories.