Vending Machines

When I was a kid, I loved these machines because the bubble gum sold here was the best for making huge bubbles. But even in Rethem, a small town on the Aller River, there are now not enough young customers for these once wonderful machines.

When I was a kid I loved these machines, as the gumballs sold here, were the very best for bubblegum bubbles. Unfortunately my parents neither liked bubblegum nor these vending machines... Though chewing gum is still popular, these vending machines are only raraly seen meanwhile. They should be on the "Red List of Threatened Dream Machines", in case this list does exist already.

The Sainte-Chapelle ("Holy Chapel") was part of the Palais de la Cité, residence of the French Royals between 10th and 14th century. The chapel was built, to house Louis IX's vast collection of relics, including the Crown of Thorns, the Image of Edessa and the point of the "Holy Lance" - and many more prominent relics. Saint Louis (aka Louis IX) had purchased the "Passion Relics" from Baldwin II, unfortunate emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople, for 135,000 livres. The money was actually paid to the Venetians, to whom the relics had been pawned. Begun around 1239 and consecrated in 1248, the Sainte-Chapelle is considered among the highest achievements of the Gothic architecture. After I had left the Sainte Chapelle, I strolled around the yard and found many entrances and doors to the Palais de Justice. In a corner is a waiting room for people who want to visit the remand prisoners - and there is this huge vending machine. Of course, there is much better café au lait or café crème everywhere in Paris, but this coffee may be the cheapest. The coffee from this vending machine only costs 0,40 Euros. I had three cups! sainte-chapelle.monuments-nationaux.fr/

The construction of the "Duomo" began in 1064 by the architect Busketo, who with this structure set the model for the distinctive Pisan Romanesque style of architecture. When the construction of this cathedral started, Pisa was on a height of political (and financial) power. Pisa was an important commercial centre controlling large parts of the Mediterranean merchant fleet and navy. In 1017 Pisa had militarily supported the Sardinian "Giudicati" (regional kings) to defeat Saracen troops in the north of Sardinia. Between 1030 and 1035, Pisa defeated rival towns in Sicily. In 1051–1052 admiral Jacopo Ciurini conquered Corsica. In 1063 admiral Giovanni Orlando, coming to the aid of the Norman Roger I, took Palermo from the Saracen. The gold treasure taken from the Saracens in Palermo allowed the Pisans to start the building of the cathedral. Of course there are many more stories to tell about the "Duomo". This sophisticated little machine near the entrance knows them all and it is willing to share them with you for only 2 Euros - in four languages.

Sitting in front of the entrance to the book shop at Senanque Abbey. Founded 1148, consecrated 1178 (The abbey! Not the bookstore!). The abbey is a brilliant example of the sober architecture, Bernhard of Clairvaux wanted, for the monasteries of the Cistercians. Though raided and looted during the Wars of Religion, nationalized and sold after the French Revolution, the whole complex seems still very intact. It is probably the most photographed abbey in the Provence. After having seen all the many postcards and photosbooks in the store behind, I had the impression, that all photos in and around the abbey were taken and published already. Dozend times. Then I noticed the nice reddish colour of the tiles, the entrances to the restrooms, the vending machine (coffee - 50 cents!) and the bins. And a poster of the "Fondation des Monastères", you want to know more? Here you go: www.fondationdesmonasteres.org/

The "Basilica di San Vitale" was erected on an octagonal plan from 526 on, when Ravenna was under the rule of the Ostrogoths, followers of the Arianism. It was completed and got consecrated in 547, when Ravenna was part of the Byzantine Empire. The church combines Roman with Byzantine elements. It is most famous for its wealth of Byzantine mosaics, the largest and best preserved outside of Constantinople. It is one of the most important examples of early Christian Byzantine art and architecture in Europe. The impact, that this church had on the Wesern European architecture, can hardly be overestimated. The Palatine Chapel in Aachen, commisioned by Charlemagne, has strong parallels to San Vitale. There are many more stories to tell about "San Vitale". This sophisticated "slot machine" knows them all and it is willing to share them with you for only 2 Euros.

Only about 250 people live in Saint-Léger-sur-Vouzance, so a boulangerie, that belonged to every French village, may have been closed already long ago. Mostly boulangeries were followed by a "dépôt de pain", where baguettes could be bought from a bakery, that may heve still existed in the next village. Now these dépôts seem to get replaced by vending machines. This was the first machine selling bread I saw in France. The machine even accepts credit cards! The telephon booth on the right is on the list "Last Chance to see".

Milan is the city capital of the Lombardy and the second most populous city in Italy after Rome. Known during Roman times as "Mediolanum" it was the place, where in 313 Constantine I and Licinius met and "signed" the "Edict of Milan", giving Christianity a legal status within the Roman empire. At the end of the Roman empire Milan was besieged by the Visigoths in 402, looted by the Huns in 452, and taken by the Ostrogoths in 539. Only 30 years later is belonged to the Kingdom of the Lombards, until in 774 Charlemagne defeated the Langobards and added Milan to the Carolingian empire. During Barbarossa´s (Frederik I) "Italian Campaigns" Milan was taken and destroyed to a great extent. The "Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio" is much older and was not destroyed by Barbarossa´s troops. It is one of the most ancient churches in Milan, built by St. Ambrose in 379–386, outside the city of Milan on the site of a cemetery, where the martyrs of the Roman persecutions had been buried. The first name of the church was "Basilica Martyrum". Ambrose, born into a noble family about 340 in (present-day) Trier (Germany), was governor of Liguria and Emilia for two years before he became the Bishop of Milan in 374 by popular acclamation. He was a staunch opponent of Arianism. Only very few traces of the first church can still be found, as in the centuries after its construction, the basilica underwent numerous restorations and reconstructions. The current Romanesque church, mostly built in brickwork, was begun around 1080. In 789, a Benedictine monastery was established here. The canons of the basilica, however, retained their own community. So two separate communities shared the basilica. In the 11th century, the canons adopted orders and became Canons Regular. From then on two separate monastic orders following different rules lived in the basilica. The canons were in the northern building, the cloister of the canons, while the monks were in the two southern buildings. The two towers symbolize the division in the basilica. The 9th century Torre dei Monaci ("Tower of the Monks") tower was used by the monks. However, the canons did not have a bell tower and were not allowed to ring bells until they finished the Canons' bell tower in the 12th Century. This tower got two additional levels in 1889. In 1943 the basilica got severely damaged by bombings. It took a decade to rebuilt and reconstruct the church. Entering the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio the visitor is greeted by this sophisticated, polyglot "slot machine". It knows all the stories about the church and is willing to share them for a small fee.

The Melaten-Friedhof (Melaten-cemetery) is the largest cemetery of Cologne. The area is known since the 13th century. The name "Melaten" refers to a "maladerie", a hospital for the sick and lepers, that was here in medieval times. The cemetery exists since the early 19th century. Upto 1829 only Catholics got buried here. The vending machine offers candles and matches.

When I was a kid I loved these machines, as the gumballs sold here, were the very best for bubblegum bubbles. Unfortunately my parents neither liked bubblegum nor these vending machines... Though chewing gum is still popular, these vending machines are only raraly seen meanwhile. They should be on the "Red List of Threatened Dream Machines", in case this list does exist already.

When I was a kid I loved these machines, as the gumballs sold here, were the very best for bubblegum bubbles. Unfortunately my parents neither liked bubblegum nor these vending machines... Though chewing gum is still popular, these vending machines are only raraly seen meanwhile. They should be on the "Red List of Threatened Dream Machines", in case this list does exist already.

When I was a kid I loved these machines, as the gumballs sold here, were the very best for bubblegum bubbles. Unfortunately my parents neither liked bubblegum nor these vending machines... Though chewing gum is still popular, these vending machines are only raraly seen meanwhile. They should be on the "Red List of Threatened Dream Machines", in case this list does exist already.

When I was a kid I loved these machines, as the gumballs sold here, were the very best for bubblegum bubbles. Unfortunately my parents neither liked bubblegum nor these vending machines... Though chewing gum is still popular, these vending machines are only raraly seen meanwhile. They should be on the "Red List of Threatened Dream Machines", in case this list does exist already.

When I was a kid I loved these machines, as the gumballs sold here, were the very best for bubblegum bubbles. Unfortunately my parents neither liked bubblegum nor these vending machines... Though chewing gum is still popular, these vending machines are only raraly seen meanwhile. They should be on the "Red List of Threatened Dream Machines", in case this list does exist already.

I'm witnessing the complete vanishing of gumball-machines. When I was a kid, these vending machines decorated every fourth or fifth facade. Cigarette-machines were just everywhere, as just everybody smoked. At least any male adult, I only remember female nonsmokers. Things changed. Even I had quit smoking nearly 20 years ago. And many others did, so that now after the gumball-machines, cigarette-machines entered the "red list of vanishing items". Obviously all public vending machines are used as places to leave messages. Young urban nomads are probably able to decipher and understand them.

The vending machine in front of Meister Grämmel´s butchery in Detmold offers popular German bratwurst. The "Wurstbox" was constructed by the Wurlitzer company, formerly known for jukeboxes. www.graemmel.de

A gumball machine had been here (Wormser Strasse) for decades, but now the vending machine is gone for ever. Only a red, metal square is left.

When I was a kid I loved these machines, as the gumballs sold here, were the very best for bubblegum bubbles. Unfortunately my parents neither liked bubblegum nor these vending machines... Though chewing gum is still popular, these vending machines are only rarely seen meanwhile. They should be on the "Red List of "Threatened Dream Machines", in case this list does exist already.