Awesome view of the buttresses of the Kings' College Chapel

Wednesday, June 1: Sadly, the great adventure comes to an end. My chariot awaits at Heathrow to take me back to reality....

The entrance to the Kings' College Chapel. Note the lady in the foreground wearing academic robes.

The Main Gate of Kings' College, Cambridge.

Fascinating six-sided sundial in Cambridge. Below it is the "Scholar's Gate," where students enter to receive their degrees.

Exterior of the Chapel of Kings' College, Cambridge, one of the most spectacular musical venues in the world (every year the Christmas service is broadcast worldwide from here). I couldn't take pictures inside, but the fan vaults were an awe-inspiring sight.

The gate of St. John's College, Cambridge.

View of Cambridge -- what a college town should really look like!

Another view of Michael's rooms.

Michael in his natural habitat. This is his quarters at the college. The massive fireplace was plastered over for many years, but Michael discovered it and had it opened up again.

The Great Hall at Jesus College. I had lunch here with Prof. Michael Waring. We sat at the Master's Table, seen here. Students sit at plainer tables in the foreground (not seen).

Exterior of the Chapel. Michael's rooms are in the wing on the right.

The chapel at Jesus. The college was founded in 1496 on the site of Benedictine Nunnery.

Tuesday, May 31: After taking a train from London, I'm at Jesus College, Cambridge, to visit my friend Prof. Michael Waring. This is the gate to Jesus College and the Gatehouse...located on the charmingly named "Jesus Lane."

Interestingly, this is another Chihuly piece...over the bar at The Abbey in West Hollywood, California.

Looks like glass growing from the ground...

Wonderful chandelier...

Passing by a field of poppies (or, in German, Mohnens).

And more (looks like swans among the giant lily pads)

More...

Spectacular opening piece of the "Gardens of Glass" exhibit. Check it out: http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/chihuly/index.html

Kew Palace in the background (fenced off for renovation)

As a study in contrasts, here I am with my friend John Heilman, taken last week. John recently finished a term as the Mayor of West Hollywood, California. His chains of office seem to be somewhat different from Barry's.

And this is Barry in his full mayoral robes. He just finished a term as Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. He is now Councillor of the Earl's Court Ward. The very regal cat is Wing-Wang.

Barry Phelps and James Dufficy, my friends in London. James is an editor at MacKeith Publications.

James heads out across the gardens.

Sculptures floating on the lake at Kew Gardens.

Monday, May 29. The Pavilion at Kew Gardens, where we saw the remarkable show of Dale Chihuly glass sculptures.

Remember when this gate was surrounded by acres of memorial bouquets?

later on Sunday: Dropping by Kensington Palace, former home of Princess Diana and Princess Margaret, shortly after arriving for a visit with James Dufficy and Barry Phelps in London.

Another view of the Palace.

Sunday, May 29. Goodbye from Heiner at the Frankfurt Airport (picture enhanced with the camera strap!)

Marker in Hanau where the home of the Brothers Grimm once stood (destroyed in WWII bombing).

The other famous residents of Hanau (The Brothers Grimm of "Grimm's Fairy Tales")

The Goldsmith's House in Hanau.

Hanau city archive, with records dating back hundreds of years.

Street scene in Hanau. Most of the town was destroyed in WWII bombings, producing a mix of old and new buildings.

Hanau Jewish Community Center

Jewish Community Center in Hanau.

Bill's Bridge (Wilhelmsbrucke), under construction in Hanau.

Eat your heart out, Colonel Sanders.

Dam on the Main River in Hanau

And more...

More gravestones...

Convenience among the gravestones.

At the gate of the Jewish Cemetary (Judischer Friedhof).

Inside the cemetery (which was closed; these shots were taken over the wall).

Inside the Jewish Cemetery in Hanau, where we think some of my ancestors are buried.

Goose sculpture in the Hanau Pedestrian Mall

The car was a little dirty, so a visit to a car wash inspired this glamour shot as Heiner checks the progress.