hundwalder's VirtualTourist Home Page

I travel in hope that I will find reasons for all of the madness, carnage, and devastation committed for the glory and vanity of the Republic, and to defend the honor and selfish ambitions of the ruling classes. Throughout my travels I have yet to find even the slightest fragment of a reason for the bigotry, hatred, and bloodshed. All I find is people who like myself, want nothing more than happiness, liberty, love, health, the necessities of life, and a small taste of its pleasures. Our cultures, habits, outward appearances, customs, traditions, religions, speech, music, art, architecture, superstitions, etc., are all different. However, most of us are alike in the attributes and characteristics that are the most important.

The photo displayed is of a memorial to the citizens of Aquileia, Italy, that lost their lives in combat during World War I. The monument which was crafted in 1921, shows Christ comforting a dying " enemy " soldier while suffering his own crucifiction. The name of the artist I cannot remember.

Italy was an ally of the U.S. and Britain during WWI. However, this part of present day northeastern Italy was part of the Habsburg empire during WWI. This is why I use the term " enemy soldiers ". During the war Habsburg Slovenia battled Italy in many border conflicts in and around the Aquileia area. Consequently the citizens of Aquileia suffered greatly from the horrendous war that was fought almost solely for defending the honor of the ruling classes. Behind the monument is a cemetary where Aquileia's many WWI dead are buried. The cemetary contains row upon row of graves. Aquileia is a very small town.

My great grandfather immigrated to Oklahoma from Moravia ( now part of the Czech Republic ) in 1905. He was from the small village of Dobra Voda ( good water ) 5 km. west of the historic town of Telc. ( Sorry for misspelling the place names but I can only type English alphabet characters ). In 1917 he returned to Europe as a U.S. soldier. Regretably he fought against his own family, friends, and people.

A few years ago I visited Dobra Voda. The village has a population of about 250. In the center of the village stands a memorial to the 16 villagers that lost their lives in combat during WWl. I enjoyed meeting the good people of this village. We visited, played some football, and drank some pivo ( beer ). I assumed every resident of Dobra Voda to be my relative and friend, because most of them probably are.

It is my sincere hope and fervant goal that we will never be forced to be the enemies of this people or of any people again. I regret to say that one statement will probably always remain true. Those few that desire war and use it to their selfish advantage are never the ones who actually engage in combat on the battlefields of the world, and sacrifice their mortality for the republic.

I don't miss by too much though. Other VT members have commented to me that it should be mandatory for every member to include at least one photo of themself somewhere in their pages. I guess that my Achensee, AT, tip, wherein I appear as a small spec next to a large mountain, does not count.

I thoroughly enjoy shooting photos, but have a great distaste for having photos taken of me. Shown is me standing in front of my sprawling estate in Prague, ( named for the capital city of Bohemia ), America.

I am certain that people do not utilize VT for the purpose of reading countless autobiographies, and reading about the emotional problems and political views of other members. People read VT pages to get ideas about what are the best places to visit on their vacations and to get ideas about making the most of their visits. I wish that many of the members who have created pages would keep this in mind. Therefore, I will keep me personal information brief.

My wife passed away a few years ago, and understandibly the loss has caused much emotional strain. My children are grown and living on their own now. I am confident that I have always been a good father to them. I have worked hard as a mechanic and a machinist all of my life, and continue to do so. I love to travel and make friends from all walks of life and from all corners of this great planet. I am also an avid sportsman and always participate in sports during my travels.