Mariazell

One of our first stops on our two-day Styrian Alps road trip this past week (see previous posts) was the well-known old pilgrimage town of Mariazell.

I thought of James and his meme Weekend Reflections when I took this first photo; the town seen in a big red Christmas ball, with the basilica as an advent window on the building behind it. It's been a while since I joined this fun.

Austria, 2012

All the very best in 2013 to my blogging friends!
May only pleasant surprises come your way.
Thank you for the past year's fun 
and wonderful sharing.
 

Skies over Austria

Last week my honey and I landed in Austria. Coming from the tropics, we've been relishing the white winter wonderland here. (See previous post.)

But I've also been reminded again how the sky can take on such different personalities in different countries. 

These are a few captures from yesterday, starting with an amazing sunrise in my brother's back yard in the Vienna Woods.

These next two were take mid-afternoon on country roads outside Vienna looking towards the Styrian Alps.

 Austria 2012

I hope my blogging friends are 

enjoying fine skies with

warmth in their hearts and their homes 

this holiday season! 

Linking with Skywatch Friday.

Happy Holidays from Austria

To think that ten days ago I was snorkeling in tropical waters. It's a bit of a shock to the system to land in winter wonderland. But here I am, in Austria, enjoying the beauty of white landscape.

My honey and I took a two-day drive through the Styrian Alps this December 24 and 25. A magical white Christmas.

Austria, 2012

I wish you all the very best of the holiday season!

A big heartfelt thank you to my blogging friends 
for the joys of sharing over the past year!

Clouds Over Fall Fields

Austria, 2007

This panorama (better seen enlarged) was taken on an early fall day, when the gladiolas and corn stalks were past their prime, somewhere in the vicinity of Vienna, Austria.

Graveyard in the Styrian Alps

I'm taking a brief break from my Guangdong series of posts to bring you to Austria for Taphophile Tragics.

It's a mid-winter day in 2006. Somewhere en route to Mariazell from Vienna, high up amid the north Styrian Alps, with the sun already lost beyond the horizon, we were passing through a small charming village when we saw the church.

Austria, 2006

See church; have graveyard. We stopped for a quick look. Another photo opp on the run. So with the blistering cold, diminishing light, and an early model of a digital camera, my photos for you are less than stellar. Still I thought the scene was intriguing and the wrought iron crosses magnificent.

Heart of Vienna Reflected

 Vienna, 2011

Reflections of the heart of Vienna, Der Graben, including its most famous landmark Stephansdom (St Stephen's Cathedral) in store hours sign and store windows. [Better seen enlarged.]

Below is a longer view of the pedestrian street with the once exclusive apparel and fine linens store E Braun & Co established in this building (with the tower) in 1893, now the Swedish mid-range fashion chain store H&M.

Linking with reflections seekers at Weekend Reflections.

Apple Blossoms

The apple blossoms' shower of pearl, 
Though blent with rosier hue 
As beautiful as woman's blush 
As evanescent too.”
      ~ Letitia E Landon (English poet/novelist, 1802–1838)

The apple blossom exists to create fruit; when that comes, the petal falls.    
      ~ Kabir (Indian Philosopher, 1398-1519)

[click to enlarge to see shadows]

Austria, 2011

I saw this magnificent apple tree in bloom this past spring in Austria.

Linking with Shadow Shot Sunday (see the gentle  shadows of the stamen on the petals?), Weekend Flowers, Today's Flower, and Macro Monday.

Auto Reflection

Exploring the city of Vienna on foot last April, I spotted this squeaky clean car offering a funky view of the old buildings on this street. I just like the lines of the building design coupled with the bare trees.

Vienna, 2011

I prefer this scene in monochrome. My honey disagrees; he says the original color photo is almost black and white already and the blue sky adds to the story. Mouse over my image and you can see the color version. What do you think? Don't worry, you are not taking sides in any domestic dispute... this is a friendly discussion. Really... LOL!

Today I link with memes Weekend Reflections, Weekend in Black and White, and Walk in the Street.

Z is for Zimbabwe

Okay, I am cheating a bit today. Maybe not just a bit.

The challenge at ABC Wednesday is the letter Z, a tough one. So what I offer you is a stone sculpture by a Master Zimbabwean sculptor in the park surrounding Burg Lichtenstein in Maria Enzersdorf not too far from Vienna.

The medieval castle sitting on a crag overlooking the Vienna Woods was originally built in the 12th century. It was destroyed twice by the Ottomans (Turks) in the 16th century and later rebuilt in 1884.

Austria, 2011

What do you think of the sculpture? [Click on it for a closer look.]

Check out the other links... I'm sure others could do better with Z!

Yellow Wheels

Vienna, 2011

Visitors to Vienna can hop on a horse-drawn carriage and get a guided tour around this beautiful historic city. The old-fashioned carriages can be found parked on Stephansplatz I introduced earlier, right beside the famous cathedral.

There are people who oppose the use of horses for this purpose, no matter how well the animals are treated or protected by laws. In New York City, for instance, a bill has been introduced to ban them. 

What is your view on this topic? Is this an issue close to your heart, either way? The newly wedded couple of Britain greeted their well-wishers in a royal carriage. Was that a sweet nod to tradition or just painfully old-fashioned? Or does it matter at all?

These bright yellow wheels join Mellow Yellow Monday.

Crossing a Canal

On foot or by subway... crossing a canal in Vienna.

 Vienna, 2011

For Sunday Bridges.

Is This Your Sausage?

Austria, 2011

Saw these signs everywhere I went in Austria. For Signs, Signs.

PS. After reading all the comments I realize the purpose of this sign is not so obvious. Andy got it right: it's a poop and scoop message. The website he links is also in German and says roughly: The famous Jack Russell Terrier can be seen again all around Vienna. A total of 18,000 of these dog signs have been distributed across Vienna's green spaces to remind people once again to pick up their dog mess or get fined Euro 36.

T is for Tulips in Tulln

Settled in pre-Roman times, Tulln an der Donau (Tulln on the Danube) is one of the oldest towns in Austria. It's nicknamed Blumenstadt (city of flowers) and I had the terrific good fortune to travel to it some weeks ago when the tantalizing tulips - among other flowers - were in full spring bloom.

Hauptplatz in Tulln, Austria, 2011

 

[click on any image for better view]

T is the letter of the week at ABC Wednesday. 

Anchor Clock

The famous Ankeruhr (Anchor Clock) forms a bridge between two buildings of the Anker Insurance Company located in the oldest square of Vienna, Hoher Market. 

 Vienna, 2011

Franz von Matsch designed this elaborate clock in the Art Nouveau style I introduced here. It was built in 1917 to commemorate twelve famous Austrian personalities, such as Prince Eugen, Empress Maria Theresa, composer Joseph Haydn and others. 

Each hour, one of the figures moves across the bridge. If you enlarge the image, you can better see that I took the photo at about 17:40, but I can't tell you who this figure represents. At noon, the historical figures are all displayed together; I missed that show.

Linking to the community fascinated by bridges at Sunday Bridges.

The Common Dandelion

What is the difference between a weed and a flower? Only that the weed grows where it is not wanted, I've learned. Does that make it less beautiful or useful? Well, no. 

Take the common dandelion. Isn't it delightfully pretty? Each bright yellow flower is unique, no two alike, as far as I can tell... so much like snowflakes that way... and humans.

[Enlarge me by clicking.]

Dandelions have medicinal and culinary uses. If, for example, you have low appetite, upset stomach, or liver or gallbladder issues, or you need to normalize your blood sugar level or improve your lipid profiles, you may want to look more into the curative powers of the various parts of this lowly weed. Its young leaves are great in salads or sauteed with sweet vegetables. 

 Austria, 2011

Hey, honeybees love them... and after a spring of seeing bright yellow dandelions everywhere, so do I.

This is my contribution to Today's Flower, Mosaic Monday, Macro Monday, and Mellow Yellow Monday. (If a host of any of these memes frowns on multi-linking, don't be shy to let me know.)

B is for Busker

Stephansplatz (St Stephen's Square) is called the heart and soul of Vienna. The cathedral is the key historical landmark, and an imposing one it is. 

Yet for me it's the various street entertainers there who put the smile on my face. I  admire the courage of these buskers in displaying their talents to earn a living only from the generosity of appreciative audiences.

 

Vienna, 2011

B is the letter of the week at Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday and I link to the players with these buskers.

[MyWorld] Schönbrunn Palace

Some people can escape the hot city life in summer to a small cabin by the lake (just saying). Other people go to a summer residence on a massive acreage. Like the 1400-room Schönbrunn Palace in Austria. But you'd have to be royalty.

 

 Vienna, 2011

 

Between the palace and Neptune Fountain are 32 statues of deities and virtues. And behind the fountain, still farther up on the hill, is a rather useless structure, in my opinion, called Gloriette, designed and built to glorify Habsburg power. Today it is a café serving the throngs of locals and tourists ambling the grounds.

Looking back down from the fountain you get a better picture of the size of this palace. Contrast it to the buildings in the city behind it.

The history of this imperial summer residence goes back to 1569. It holds various  styles of large gardens, an arboretum and a forest that was used as a hunting ground.  But the only animals I saw wouldn't be of much interest to hunters. Oh, and there is a children's zoo that I did not enter.

Call me crazy, but given a choice (and I've been told I do have a few drops of blue blood in my veins), I'd take the cabin. The trappings associated with this life are much too restrictive for my tastes.

And this was part of my world this week, so I am linked with MyWorld Tuesday where many others share a peek into their corner of the world.