[GERMANY.THÜRINGEN 11021] 'Rainbow over the Thüringen plain.' A large part of the state of Thuringia (Thüringen) consists of rolling plains, called the Thüringer Becken. It is a country of wheat and poppies. Photo Paul Smit.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.185] ‘A nice trip.’ The survivors of Noah’s Flood are gratefully watching a rainbow, while the animals are leaving the ark. A smiling unicorn looks back at the boat as if he wants to say ”that was a nice trip!” The scene was created by unknown 17th century artists in the western vestibule of Tutayev’s Resurrection Cathedral. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[SPAIN.CLEON 28661] ’Looking from Gormaz Castle into the Duero valley.’ The castle of Gormaz (Soria province) was built in the 9th century and reinforced in 965 by Caliph Al-Hakam II of Córdoba to defend Moorish territory. Built on a steep narrow ridge, just north of the Duero, it was the most important fortress along this river that formed the boundary between Moslem and Christian lands in the 9th - 11th century. It was conquered and reconquered several times by both sides. In 1087 King Alfonso VI of Castile gave it to El Cid. The fortress, which is one of the biggest in Europe, has the layout of a typical Moorish alcazaba: an extensive walled precinct with a perimeter of 1 km that could house a large garrison. Photo Mick Palarczyk.