Dwell the Moods

We wander through different worlds without seeing them as they merge.

Well, the angels left this nation

And salvation caught the last train out tonight

He lost a hell of a fight

Piece by piece,

I slowly fade away,

I slowly drift apart

~ Five Finger Death Punch

Last year we ended up with our family holiday in the village of Barr. A surprising discovery, slightly less that it was 32 degrees but that did not detract from the charm of the village.

This region in France is reminiscent of half-timbered houses along the Moselle, with the difference that in France the houses are made more colorful and unfortunately are in a poor state of maintenance. It is without a doubt a nice place to stroll through. About Barr Barr is a charming village in the Alsace region of northeastern France, located in the department of Bas-Rhin. The old town of Barr is known for its half-timbered houses, carved stone portals and lively squares, and houses a museum of decorative arts.

That moment you find items from your childhood in a museum…..the very first time this happened to me at the open-air museum and I had not even passed the fifty (now I am on my way to 54). I sent my little brother a picture and he knew that some items are still in the closet with our mother.

Some places have a connection that runs through my life as a common thread. Like the town of Limone on Lake Garda. As a child I got there for the first time, I took my children there when they were 5 and 7, I came there myself with partner to stroll with camera (2017) and I came there again a few years ago with partner and daughter (then 24).

On a beautiful afternoon we drove to Oudenbosch. I had read that there was a special Basilica there. Special is a brief description for the imposing building and the rich paintings and decorations. You really don´t know where to look since there are so many details to see that you can barely process it. For people who are physically able to climb the 140 steps to visit the dome. Not only the dome itself is great to see but also the view from above gives a completely different picture.

About the Basilica

The Basilica of Saints Agatha and Barbara is a special church in Oudenbosch.

In 1425, 4 years after the Elizabeth flood, a new church, the St. Agatha Church, built that would dominate the horizon until the end of the 19th century. At that moment the Basilica of Oudenbosch takes over the horizon and the old church is demolished.

The young priest Willem Hellemons ends up in Oudenbosch after his studies in Rome. When he becomes a pastor, he is only 32 years old and full of ambition. During his studies in Rome, he was inspired by the imposing Catholic Basilicas such as Saint Peter and Saint John of Laterans. When he took office as a pastor, he quickly concludes that the Agatha Church is too small for the rapidly growing number of Catholics in the parish.

In 1865 the first spade went into the ground, but years of preparation preceded this. Willem Hellemons asked the Dutch greatest architect of his time, Petrus (Pierre) Cuypers to design and build the new church of Oudenbosch. Cuypers, a man of neo-Gothics, preferred not to build a neoclassical church, but Willem Hellemons managed to convince Cuypers. After Cuypers made a study trip to Rome and Willem Hellemons received permission from the bishop, construction began in 1865.