Friday, July 31, 2015

#Respect Diversity

I discovered this graffito on a wooden pavillon next to my place yesterday evening.

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Nonnenstöckl

Originally the "Nonnenstöckl" was the access yard of a monastery in the 19th district, today it houses a viticultural museum.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Sunset Obesssion #19

One of the last sunsets I saw before my vacation. If I remember correctly it was a very hot day...

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Déja Vu

Did you miss me? I was on vacation and didn't have the time to publish photos here. But now I'm back, and we start with this orange bull that I discovered four years ago. During my last walk in the 18th district I noticed that he is still there. I still have no idea why he was put on the balcony...

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Cross-Stitch Street Art

During my last walk along the Danube Canal I discovered this work of cross-stitch street art. It was the first time that I saw this kind of street art and liked it at first sight. Maybe because I loved to cross-stitch myself when I was younger?

Friday, July 17, 2015

Beach Cake

The "Patisserie zum Schwarzen Kameel“ was opened in 2007 and offers sweets, cakes, confectionery and desserts to take away or to be eaten as a quick snack. The perfect cake for summer is of course a beach cake...

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Zum Schwarzen Kameel

Being founded in 1618, the restaurant "Zum Schwarzen Kameel" enjoys a long tradition. There's also a gourmet food store and a wine tavern. Since the street where it's located has been converted in a pedestrian area you can have your meal during the summer months in a relaxed atmosphere.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Judenplatz

In the Middle Ages Judenplatz was the center of Jewish Life and the Viennese Jewish Community. Today the Jewish Museum Judenplatz, the Holocaust Memorial and a monument to the German poet Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (not in this picture) still relate to this past. The Holocaust Memorial was designed by British artist Rachel Whiteread and is the central memorial for the 65.000 Austrian victims of the Holocaust.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Beethoven's Residence

That's the building in which 1802 the composer Ludwig van Beethoven wrote his Heiligenstadt Testament. Heiligenstadt, at that time situated far outside the city limits, has long since been incorporated into the city as part of the 19th district. The testament is a letter to his two brothers and reflects his despair over his increasing deafness and his desire to overcome his physical and emotional ailments to complete his artistic destiny. Beethoven kept the document hidden among his private papers for the rest of his life, and probably never showed it to anyone. It was only discovered in March 1827, after Beethoven's death.

Monday, July 13, 2015

Petite Party

The window display of the Swarovski store in the city center always catches the eyes of the passersby and is a a popular  photo subject for tourists. The current display was created by set designer Stuart Henry and shows dressed up girls sitting on a glittering carousel.

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Boat Rentals

There are several boat rentals along the Old Danube. You can opt for a rowboat, a pedal boat or a motorboat. During the summer months the boat rentals extend their opening hours at full moon so that romantics can float along the Old Danube in the moonlight... Many years ago I had a picnic on a pedal boat (but not at full moon)...

Friday, July 10, 2015

Fishing Boat

There are several fishing boats like this along the Danube Island. To go fishing in Austria you require a "fishing card", and with privately owned or rented waters, you have to find an agreement with the landlord. Carp, luce, pikeperch, perch and eel are some of the fish species living in the Danube.

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

French Windows

I love French windows! As I told you I would love to have a balcony, but I would even content myself with some French windows. Unfortunately in Vienna you don't see a lot of them...

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

A Shady Place

With the current heatwave it's good to know places where you can cool off. This outdoor area of a restaurant in the 7th district is not only covered with a "roof" of Virginia creeper but also located in a quiet courtyard.

Monday, July 6, 2015

Summer Pleasures

In the past seven years it has become a tradition that the Ringturm, which houses the headquarters of an insurance company, gets wrapped with an over-sized artwork during the summer months. This year the work "Sommerfreuden" (Summer Pleasures) by Croatian visual artist Tanja Deman was chosen for the wrapping. This photo shows only a detail - with the current heatwave I would like to jump in a swimming pool to cool off a little like this woman. If you want to see the whole wrapping please click here.

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Organic Ice Cream

It's currently very hot in Vienna - the perfect excuse to cool down by eating some ice cream. "Eis Greissler" in the city center sells organic ice cream, made only from fresh ingredients without additives, some flavors are even vegan or lactose free.  The ice cream is very popular, usually there's a long waiting line...

Friday, July 3, 2015

Let's Have a Beer

I don't drink beer, but I guess the beer lovers can relate to this blackboard...

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Balcony #12

I would love to have an apartment with a balcony, even a tiny one - just to put a table, a chair and some flowers on it - and I would spend each possible moment out there. Up to now I have to content myself with watching the balconies of other people...

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

July Theme Day: Upside Down

Well, I know, this photo isn't  very inventive, but I couldn't find a better one.... and I think squirrels are cute.
Click here to view thumbnails of all participants in the theme day.