Street Musicians

In Vienna musicians and other artists are not allowed to perform whenever and wherever they want to, but need to reserve a location and if it's in the city center they even have to pay a charge. The Viennese usually ignore the artists except if they are really good. These four lucky musicians were surrounded by a lot of people... Too bad that I arrived only at the last sounds of their last song!

Piber Meets Vienna

Currently the famous white Lipizzaner stallions of the Spanish Riding School enjoy their summer break, but until 2 August the brood mares and their young foals of the Federal Stud Piber are in town and present their summer programme "Piber Meets Vienna". Five times a week the horses enjoy their green nursery located in Burggarten and can be visited free of charge.

Haas Haus

"Haas Haus", located in the very city center, right across St. Stephen's Cathedral, was designed by Austrian star architect Hans Hollein and opened in 1990. The building is in strong contrast to the adjacent historic buildings,it houses a hotel, a restaurant/bar and a multi-level store of an international fashion chain.

Beer Van

There's one last large brewery in Vienna: "Ottakringer" was founded in 1837. Until recently I have seen only "normal" Ottakringer delivery vans, but then I discovered this small Ape van. Isn't it cute?

Sunday Flowers #121

"Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed." - Walt Whitman

Palais Dietrichstein-Ulfeld

In 1753 Count Ulfeld bought two adjacent buildings and had them furnish with a unitary baroque facade with classicist elements, the floor plan of the two edifices however was not changed and they were used separately for a considerable time. Since 1908 the palais has housed the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs and the Federal Chancellery of Austria.

Another obsession

I'm not only obsessed with sunsets, but also with bright couloured tables and chairs...

Work in Progress

The American street artists Cycle and Gaia are currently covering the façade of a car park in the 15th district with a huge mural.

Sweet Flip-Flops

Are you in the mood for some flip-flops (thongs) made of marzipan?

Sunset Obession #4

Here's another sunset photographed on my way home from a bicycle tour. Don't the clouds look great?

Sun Lounger

On one bank of the Old Danube there are several lidos, the other bank is equipped with numerous platforms for sunbathers. On some of them you can even stretch out on sun loungers.

Sunday Flowers #120

"Truth and roses have thorns about them." - Henry David Thoreau

Relax, Take it Easy

The "Alte Donau" (Old Danube) is a dead end of a former river branch of the Danube, separated from the main course of the river by a dam. It is popular for sailing and windsurfing, and alongside its banks there are a couple of lidos.

Sweet Treat

Sometimes in summer you just have to treat yourself to some frozen yogurt...

Shooting Marilyn

Last week, when I left the office for a meeting, I saw this man taking a photograph of a painting of Marilyn Monroe. Did he just buy  the artwork in the gallery that's in this street? Or is he the artist and tried to sell it? We'll never know...

Reform Dress

Emilie Flöge was not only Gustav Klimt's life companion (notwithstanding the artist's relationships with other women), but also one of Vienna's most successful fashion stylists and designers. She designed the "reform dress" - a powerful new statement of revolutionary modern values. Loose, flowing and bold, it was a fashion that rejected the tight-laced bolstered style of historicist Vienna. In the Klimt Villa you can see this reproduction of a reform dress. For a photo of Emilie Flöge in the original dress please click here.

Klimt's Last Atelier

On the occasion of Gustav Klimt's birthday on 14 July 1862 last Sunday was open house at the Klimt Villa. Klimt had his studio in this building from 1911 until his death in 1918. Over the following years the edifice has been largely modified and finally was restored in 2011/12. So basically the building doesn't much look like as when Klimt worked there... This photo shows his reconstructed atelier.

Vive la France!

As I'm very francophile and soon will be in Paris for one week, I can't ignore that today is the French National Day. It commemorates the beginning of the French Revolution with the Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, as well as the Fête de la Fédération on 14 July 1790. I was in Paris on this special day once and managed to neither see the military parade on the Champs Elysées nor the fireworks... I photographed this flag some weeks ago at the Palais Clam Gallas that houses the French Institute of Vienna.

Sunday Flowers #119

"How can one help shivering with delight when one's hot fingers close around the stem of a live flower,
cool from the shade and stiff with newborn vigor!" - Colette

Before the Storm

Some weeks ago I wanted to make my usual bicycle tour in the evening, but then I saw a storm coming up and decided to better go back home.

New University of Economics #7

A sunny day on the campus of the University of Economics... The campus consists of six groups of buildings each of which was designed by another architect of international repute. The building in this photo (Department building D4) was designed by Estudio Carme Pinós S. L., based in Barcelona (Spain).

Past. Present And Future

"Ursula von Eschenfells: Past, Present and Future", the new installation in the window of the Swarovski store, designed by art director and set designer Simon Costin, is the portrayal of a fictitious feminine character from imperial Vienna: Ursula von Eschenfells was one of the first female graduates of the Imperial Academy of Sciences and professor with comprehensive education on everything from quantum physics to occultism. She disappeared in 1914 while on an expedition to the crystal caves of Mexico. Apparently she was hot on the trail to the secrets of time travel.

"New" Courtyard

As you may already know, I love courtyards. Here's one in the city center that I discovered last week.

Golden Carriage

Prince Joseph Wenzel of Liechtenstein ordered this magnificient golden carriage in 1738 when he was appointed ambassador in Paris. The carriage is located in the Sala Terrena of the Liechtenstein Garden Palace.

Princely Summer Party

Last week I attended the summer party of a daily newspaper at the Liechtenstein Garden Palace and its beautiful garden. The palace is home to one of the world's largest and most important private art collections (masterpieces from the early Renaissance to the High Baroque), owned by the Princely Family of Liechtenstein. For some years the palace has been open to the public as a museum, now the princely art collection may be viewed exclusively as part of an event or a booked guided tour on request. For more photos of the palace please click here and here.

Sunday Flowers #119

"By plucking her petals, you do not gather the beauty of the flower." - Rabindranath Tagore

Graffito Wall

A graffito by Australian based artist Numskull in the 7th district.

Tree Pit Garden

In Vienna it is possible to become a "tree patron" which means that you are officially allowed to transform a tree pit in your own small garden - you just have to apply at the competent area renewal office. I think this is a very good idea, the city gets more green without spending money and hobby gardeners get a "playground". The only things I'm worried about are litter and dog poop... The tree pit garden in this photo is located in a quiet street close to my place, it is very well kept and seems to be (still?) very clean.

Balcony #11

Summer is not only the time of the summer cocktails, but also the time of the balconies. I'm envious of everybody who owns a balcony, even if it's a tiny one, and would love to put some flowers/plants on it that add a southern touch to my city life.

I can't help it...

For whatever reason I'm attracted by bright coloured chairs and can't help photographing them again and again...

July Theme Day: Celebrating Summer

Here's to a beautiful and long summer! I took this photo two years ago at the summer party of the Augarten Porcelain Museum where they served some special summer drinks. Don't ask me which ingredients this cocktail contained, I just remember that it was very good.
Click here to view thumbnails of all participants in the theme day.