Earth year complete

We've come a long way. 940 million km to be precise.

During the year I tend to forget the fact, that this planet is not just spinning around its own axis but moves through space. On this day, the last day of the orbit's round my thoughts are circling around the fascinating idea fact of Heliocentrism. Oh yes, I have been to the  Globe Museum in Vienna earlier this week. You can tell. ;-) 

Down we go ... sunsed Dec 31 2017

Round almost completed. Three days until Perihelion

These trees are ready for low temperatures to come.

Now I know the name of the colour of my coat : It's "dry grass" ;-)

At the end the clouds above served as sources of low light. Nice!

Pictures taken earlier today at the Lainzer Tiergarten in Vienna. This has become a tradition, catching the last glimpes of sunlight of the old year in the dusky woods.  

Farewell 2017 & Happy New Year to You!

Paula

Hochwinter

Hello!

You remember the view over Vienna? Well this time it's all muted pastells:

And it was cooler. Way cooler. Freezing cold. It has been freezing cold for almost a week. We call this time of the year "Hochwinter" - midwinter.

This snow that is meant to last for a few days (not something we can take for granted in Vienna. Usually snow thaws immediately after the snowfall in Vienna.

Well, this year does start mono-thematic. It's the Lainzer Tiergarten. Again.

I can't help myself: these surroundings are just too good and need to be shared.

Our walking route was exactly the same one we did choose a week ago, only this time it looked ... different.

The Trees are wearing tiny snow blankets and the visitors visibly changed their appearance as well:

 Mountain gear in the city. Because we can. haha. 

We started late in the afternoon - late in terms of midwinter - past 2pm. Ouch. Gates close at 5pm. We made it, in time. Mostly because I spent only little taking photos. Not much time for proper tree watching. A quick glance to the left and a look to the right. Check!

When trees become bending roads. I like this shot!

Me, tree-scouting

There is something wonderful about those heavy grey skies above Vienna during midwinter. They look really heavy, like lead.

 Carl Moll captured the typical heavy winter sky on a late afternoon beautifully over 100 years ago:

Carl Moll: "Belvedere in Winter" colour woodcut, 1903 as seen at the ALBERTINA (exhibition ends 15 Jan 2017)

There is not much going on in todays photos. It is quiet, coppice, trees and most of the animals who live in the woods take a rest while we walk ....

 .. and walk ....

...enjoying scenic views while we walk, all the way through l'Heure Bleu.

It's fascinating, HOW blue the light gets. You won't see the Bleue as clearly while being are out there. Our brains somehow filter those nuances. But the photos (out of camera) show them clearly:

This is where Vienna ends and Lower Austria begins.

.... until the moon finally lead us towards the closing gate, 5 to 5.

The park is now closed for good, until 4 Feb (only a small part will be open to public).Those days around Christmas and New Year are special, because the park administration lets us in and allows us to disturb the rest the animals need during midwinter.

Can you tell, I DO love this city.

Stay warm :-)
Paula

The Good Old Traditions

Hello and a Happy 2017!

Frequent readers, longtime followers might remember that we love to start the new year at the Lainzer Tiergarten.

This year we expanded this tradition and went for a walk yesterday, New Year's Eve AND today.

Well, what a difference 10000000 fireworks make:

"Wien Blick" (Vienna View) yesterday, Dec 31st,  3pm, –before the fireworks: you could see Kahlenberg and Leopoldsberg

Wien Blick Jan. 1st, 2pm. The view is gone. I guess you can say the Wien Blick is not worth it* the day after the fireworks. :-D Now we know ... (*it is a steep hike, up the hill)

Rewarding nature in the shade, touched by a few sun beams during the winter's day

No one halted to capture this magic. I had to. You know me. #whereabouts:Vienna

1 hour before the gates at the Lainzer Tiergarten close, still 3 km ahead of us. You can't just walk by, well, I just can't ...

Right in front of the gates the last photo halt. Funny, what people "need" to throw on ice surfaces. I don't quite get it. Yes, there is the moon.

The gates close at 5pm. By 5 it is already really dark. And there are no lights in the wood. So you better not be late.

Not pictured are the many Viennese people who visited the Lainzer Tiergarten today.

In case you come to Vienna and want to do something hardly any tourist does on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day: come to the Lainzer Tiergarten, you won't regret it! You can get there by public transportation.

Yes, these woods are a part of Vienna. A corner of my hometown I 💓, even in a moody light like today.

all the best!
Paula

Exploring the Lower Drautal Valley

Hello!

After my vacation in July I happily returned to Carinthia, my favourite region in Austria. Even after so many visits, this region still has many places in store and on a slow but steady path we are exploring one corner after another.

On our way to Fresach

I was surprised to find the woods deserted on such a perfect Sunday afternoon

A pool. Really?

Sequential arrangement

Late October and the woods are burst from mushrooms

"I'm freeeeezing."

This scenery not just reminded my of "Top of the Lake" (scary1), it actually was at the top of a lake pond.

Exciting occurence

The patchwork house is the neighbour of the ...

... idea of an ideal home? Maybe.

A stable, bursting from hay

Right next to the stable you find this structure.

Big scale farming

A chapel accompanied with cows ...

... cows and ...

...  a cowboy. matchy matchy (photo at a vintage antique ice cream stand)

Another plant, working 24/7

Small scale structure (no idea, what the purpose of the building to the left is/was)

The Drautal Valley is the largest river valley in Carinthia, it's situated not far from the place where we are staying, which is nice for the first day of a vacation - no long car rides.

We left the house quite late and experienced an afternoon full of impressive impressions, so many different qualities in just 3 hours. The proximity of small, antique structures and huge industrial plants was surprising. Exactly to my liking. :-)

After the harvest, looking South towards the Southern Alps/Slovenia

No, I did not eat them, but tried to identify their nature back home with a mushroom guidebook.

spectacular. perfect. amazing. heart opening.

A high seat in an old oak tree

Golden October shines on a colourfull berberis

A Villacher beer is never far in Carinthia

Detail at the Protestant parish in Fresach

Leaves on every step of our way

At the cemetry gates

By far the most specatcular plant in such a remote rural region, near Villach

The plant comes with a drive through and colour blocking.

Mirror, mirror in the pond: Fresach and snow on the mountain tops