Returned from Europe.

["John Klassen" <jaklassen2001@zzzzzzzzzzzz>]

Hello everybody,

Just returned from a trip to Germany, Holland, Switzerland and Italy.

The Small Monuments show opening was good and Horst Delkus was a great host
while I stayed at his home for a few days. He is very knowledgable in the
arts and has been to a lot of places.  Great conversationalist.  Thanks
Horst.

If anyone is planning a trip to Switzerland they are doing an excellent job
at restoring the Munster Cathedral in Bern.  A lot of effort is being made
to recreate the old carvings and replace them.  I took pictures but it will
be a while before I get the time to post them.  I also took pics of the old
lead cleating that is at the top observation level.

There has been some postings about Quarry methods while I was away.  In
Cararra I went up to the caves to take look around.  There was a cave,
"Francitta"(please forgive any misspelling) that is a working quarry during
the week and on the weekend they have tours.  I went on Saturday anyway.
Here they take you through the tunnels in a minibus and into the quarry in
the middle of the mountain.  The tours are in Italian, German or French.  I
was lucky that the girl spoke quite good English even though she didn't
think so.  So modest.  Incidentally, on the roads leading up to the caves,
there are all kinds of piles of marble pieces laying by the side of the
road.  These are free for the taking.  I took a little time and picked out
some nice pieces. These are waiting at my uncle's place, in Germany.  Next
trip back, I'll carve them, while there.

I met with Edie Heller in Pietrasanta.  She was very helpful in getting me
grounded there.  Where to go, what to see, where to eat and where to buy
tools. I wouldn't have seen all that I did without her knowledge.  Lot's of
great conversations as well. Thanks Edie.

It seems that for stone scultptors there is a brand of air hammers that is
preferred "Cuturi".  I had fould a Milani dealership and was looking at the
Milani air hammers.  They seem similar to me. Does anyone have any
experience that they could share about the two brands? Or is there another
brand similar in quality?  I am thinking about purchasing one for working in
granite.

Bye for now

John A Klassen