Reflections #13

Reflections of the Albertina museum in the greenhouse in Burggarten.

Victoria

This Victoria, the goddess of victory in ancient Roman mythology, is part of a monument to Johann Andreas von Liebenberg (1627-1683) who was the mayor of Vienna from 1680 to 1683. He had primary responsibility for the resistance of the Viennese during the siege by the Ottoman Empire in 1683. Unfortunately he died two days before the decisive battle took place.

Urbanihaus

The recently renovated Urbanihaus, originally erected between 1630 and 1639 with a facade from 1716/18 is one of the many Viennese buildings under historical preservation protection.

Christmas Roses

Helleborus niger is commonly called Christmas rose, due to an old legend that it sprouted in the snow from the tears of a young girl who had no gift to give the Christ child in Bethlehem. I saw these flowers only yesterday even though Christmas is over for quite some time now...

Façade detail #9

If you watch the façades of Vienna´s buildings carefully, you will discover a lot of beautiful things - as for instance this sexy lady...

Quiet Corner

A quiet corner in Heiligenkreuzerhof complex (erected between 1659 and 1676) in the city center...

Dancers

Currently the Vienna ball season is in full swing - from January until early March there are more than 450 balls. The window display of the Swarovski store in the city center is inspired by the ball season and shows dancers by Keramos, a Viennese art ceramic and porcelain manufacturer (1919-1982).

The Window

When I recently passed by Vienna´s oldest hotel (mentioned for the first time in a newspaper in 1746), the light inside as well as the warm colours of the draperies and the wall paint caught my eyes and seemed very inviting to me.

Kiss And Ride

When I saw this sign for the first time on Praterstern railway station, it made me smile, but I didn´t know what it meant. Meanwhile I found out that "Kiss and Ride" indicates a short-term parking area at an airport or train station where you can discharge and pick up passengers.

Museum Van

The photo on this van of the Kunsthistorisches Museum shows a painter copying "The Tower of Babel" (1563) by Pieter Brueghel the Elder (1525-1569), one of the many artworks on display at the museum. I think that´s a great decoration for a museum van!

Hot Drink Anyone?

An Italian café in the city center tries to attract the attention of the passers-by with this beautiful illustration.

Hotel With A View

From the top floors of the Hilton Vienna Hotel the view of the town must be really awesome.

Reflections #12

Reflections in a window of the Albertina.

Sale Is Still Going On

The new collections are already arriving to the shops, nevertheless winter sale is still going on. In this window I especially like the dachshund. The Viennese love dogs, apparently even for window decorations, see more examples here and here.

Golden Pigs

I discovered these golden pigs in the window of a flower shop near my place. There aren´t any flowers on display because the shop is currently on winter break.

Evening Stroll

After having worked long hours, I love to take a walk in order to unwind. Recently I went along a quiet part of Praterstraße, where this little square is located. In the background you can see the statue of Nestroy which I showed you some days ago.

Sweet Sunday #11

"Make a list of important things to do today. At the top of your list, put 'eat chocolate.' Now, you'll get at least one thing done today." - Gina Hayes

Arcades

The arcades of the Vienna State Opera by night.

Yellow Man

This yellow man is Austrian opera singer, actor and playwright Johann Nestroy (1801-1862). Click here for a photo of this statue during the day.

You Can Leave Your Hat On

Yesterday, after a long working day, I took a short walk and discovered this vintage mannequin wearing an interesting hat in the window of a fashion store.

What´s Going On?

If you want to know which events are going on in Vienna, you can read the newspapers, check on the internet or you just have a look at the advertising columns that you can find all over the town.

Witnesses of the Times

On the occasion of its 15th anniversary, the Austrian Photographic Society has organised a show at the Künstlerhaus which provides a cross-section of Austrian photography after 1945. The photographs are arranged in a somewhat chaotic way, I couldn´t identify any thematic or chronological order, world-known works can be found right next to those by entirely unknown young artists - still it´s worth seeing. The exhibition runs through January 29th.

Sale

In Vienna sale started the very first work day after Christmas and is still going on. I wasn´t a big fan of this winter´s fashion, so I´m very much looking forward to the new collections.

Coffee Break

Sunday - the perfect day for an afternoon coffee and a delicious dessert.

Façades

Beautiful historicist façades on Rudolfsplatz in the city center.

Guerilla Knitting #2

Some "guerilla knitting" on a lamppost in the 19th district. Click here for another (funnier) photo of this type of street art.

One Frog A Day...

I discovered this graffito on the banks of the Danube Canal. I don´t think the rule "One frog a day keeps the doctor away" works for me, but each to his own...

Reflections #11

Reflections on the building of Austria´s third largest bank during my last walk in 2011.

Good Luck

In Austria it is the custom to present friends with lucky charms (for instance horse shoes, chimney sweepers, fly agarics, ladybugs, pigs, lucky clovers) at the beginning of a new year. A flower shop in the city center offered these plants decorated with chimney sweepers and fly agarics.

2012

I hope you will have a sweet new year!!

Theme Day: Photo of the year 2011

I took this photo on my way home after running the last errands before Christmas 2010. It was a bustling day, but the atmosphere in this photo is very quiet and special.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants