Wednesday 31 December 2008

Prosit Neujahr!


Dear blogging friends,
My very best wishes to all of you for a
Happy New Year!




I hope you will join me again on my walks
in the New Year!


By the way,
I took these pictures today on a trip through the Mostviertel,
a superb region in Austria's Pre-Alps :)
Coming soon..

Tuesday 30 December 2008

How did she get up there?


When I posted this photo with my dog 10 meters above the Vienna river,
CES asked me, a little shocked, how the dog managed to get up there.
Well, I'll show you!


The dog simply jumps up the little wall which is not very high here,
and speedily balances along it.
I dare not call her for fear she might fall down into the Wienfluss river.

I love the Stadtpark very much.
After the regulation of the Wienfluss, the whole river area was rebuilt between 1903 and 1907, with a gate out of which the river flows, pavillons and stairs to its shorts.
There is more information here in Wiki.


I love its architecture, the bridges, the old trees,


and the pond with its waterfowl.

And tourists love to take pictures of the golden statute of
Johann Strauss,
Austria's king of waltz.

When the dog realizes that we are on our way to Stadtpark,
she begins to run like mad...
Vienna's Stadtpark is a very important part of
OUR WORLD!


By the way - JOHANN STRAUSS!
The traditional Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert 2009
will be conducted

for the first time by the Argentinean-Israeli pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim.


He is one of the most famous conductors in the world and most loved by the Vienna audience.
Barenboim also founded the West-Eastern Diwan Orchester which consists of Israeli and Palestinian musicians!
Perhaps a good way to make peace.


The New Year's Concert 2009 will once again be broadcast by the Austrian Broadcasting Network to over 70 television networks and 300 radio stations around the world.

Here you see the Musikverein building where the concert is performed every year.

Neujahrskonzert 2009
Dirigent: Daniel Barenboim
Programm:
Johann Strauß: Ouvertüre zu "Eine Nacht in Venedig" (Berliner Fassung)
Johann Strauß: Märchen aus dem Orient. Walzer, op. 444
Johann Strauß: Annen-Polka, op. 117
Johann Strauß: Schnellpost-Polka. Polka schnell, op. 159
Johann Strauß: Rosen aus dem Süden. Walzer, op. 388
Johann Strauß: Freikugeln. Polka schnell, op. 326
- Pause -
Johann Strauß: Ouvertüre Zigeunerbaron
Johann Strauß: Einzugsmarsch Zigeunerbaron
Johann Strauß: Schatz-Walzer, op. 418 Josef Hellmesberger: Valse espagnole
Johann Strauß-Vater: Zampa Galopp
Johann Strauß: Alexandrinen-Polka, op. 198
Johann Strauß: Unter Donner und Blitz. Polka schnell, op. 324
Josef Strauß: Sphärenklänge. Walzer, op. 235
Johann Strauß: Éljen a Magyár! Polka schnell, op. 332
Joseph Haydn: Abschiedssymphonie, 4. Satz

Click on the image above to hear the waltz "The Blue Danube" from last year's New Year's Concert!

Sunday 28 December 2008

Frosty blossoms!

Finally, Vienna's got it's first wintry temperatures:
-1°C!


I just returnd home from a morning stroll with my doggy through Stadtpark where I found all kinds of frosted leaves


spread on a daisied meadow.


Some bushes show their barren leaves and forgotten blossoms
in wonderful brown hues.



Fascinating daisy!
I think it won't stop blooming even when covered with snow:)


Between the houses on a sunny spot,
some yellow blossoms won't wait for spring!


In the park, the ponds are beginning to freeze up!

After two hours in the sun we walk home where my new book patiently waits for me,
MIDDLESEX, by Jeffrey Eugenides,
too absorbing to let me pay visits to you and thank you for all your good wishes :(
Please forgive me !

Thursday 25 December 2008

Look at that dog! Without a fear of heights!


Sometimes, my dog D'Ora makes me feel dizzy!
Stadtpark, Vienna.

Wednesday 24 December 2008

Merry Christmas To You!


Merry Christmas to you and thank you for your good wishes!
See, we are having a comfortable evening at home,
and tomorrow the children will come to visit!





Monday 22 December 2008

Waiting for the snow to fall

Taking a stroll through Stadtpark, Vienna

and its neighbourhood.

Maybe, the snow will come on Thursday!

What a pleasure for my four legged friend D'Ora!

Sunday 21 December 2008

TODAY'S FLOWERS - Christmas Star !

Dear blogging friends,
A Christmas Star, a burning candle and a child in a crib
they shall be a symbol of
my best wishes to you and your families,
and for a peaceful and happy holiday season
all around the globe!


MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Click on the image ... as usual :)

Wednesday 17 December 2008

Sky Watch Friday - Urban or rural ?


Would you prefer to watch the sky
in the countryside or in a town?



St. Stephen's Cathedral,Vienna,

throwing its shadow on a foggy background....
(with a new gilded top
and the scaffloding being gradually removed)






...or the pastel winter sunset over sleepy Pfaffstetten, Lower Austria?

* * *

I love both, urban and rural,
but I need to leave the city from time to time to see the horizon.



For all skies around the globe, please follow THIS special link :)

Sunday 14 December 2008

TODAY'S FLOWERS



Funny enough, in December

the coloured cabbages wear festive glitter coats!


In November, they looked like this!


Click on the logo above to search for flowers all around the globe!

Saturday 13 December 2008

I QUIT SMOKING


Today I celebrate 7 months without a single cigarette!
I quit smoking on 13 May 2008!
Imagine how proud I am!

And what got me motivated?

John Cleese!

Click on the picture for watching the short video!
HE'S SO CUTE!

...but not all are cremated, some of them are buried...

Friday 12 December 2008

BRENDA'S PHOTO CHALLENGE

HOLIDAY DECORATIONS

A whole city
wrapped up in golden wrapping paper,
and a red ribbon,
decorated with thousands of fairy lights and stars and candelabra and huge red balloons,
festive candles,
made up for an armada of amazed visitors.
Christmas city!


























Vienna, Austria
City Hall, Graben, Kärntner Straße, Peterskirche,
Haas Haus, Rotenturmstraße, Stephansplatz, Ringstraßengalerien.
You wouldn't believe it?

Visit Brenda's photo challenge to see more festive contributions to
Kim's theme
Holiday Decorations!