A Quiet Square

My favourite square in the 2nd disctrict seen through a Lomo filter on a quiet summer Sunday... I like the atmospere of this place, even when the restaurants are open...

Look up!

The Haas Haus in the city center is always a good photo subject. I love how the parasols of the restaurant on the top floor stick out against the sky.

Sunday Flowers #155

"I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June."- L. M. Montgomery

Regensburger Hof

The beautiful Regensburger Hof in the city center was erected in 1897. The life-size statue on the façade represents Emperor Frederick III.

Surfing

The current window display of the department store Steffl was developed in cooperation with the 21er Haus – Museum of Contemporary Art. Austrian artist Hans Weigand presents highlights of his installation “Surfing” which is currently shown in an exhibition at the 21er Haus. As you can see from the stickers on the surfboards, sale has already started...

Sunset Obesssion #17

Yesterday I had to work long hours, and on my way home I was so busy looking at my mobile phone that I got off the subway one stop late. Thanks to this moment of abstraction, I was able to take another sunset shot ;-)

Dragon Bicycle

Amongst the 7.000 people who took part in Sunday's bicycle parade I discovered these young men with their eye-catching dragon bicycle.

Batman & Poison Ivy

What an honor! Batman and Poison Ivy left Gotham City to take part in the bicycle parade on Sunday. Don't they look good on their bicycles?

Bicycle Parade

Yesterday's public bicylce parade passed through my street. The parade started at the Burgtheater and ended in the Prater park with a picknick. Several bands along the route entertained the cyclists. I loved the percussion group underneath my windows.

Sunday Flowers #154

"If every plant and flower were found in all places, the charm of locality would not exist. Everything varies, and that gives the interest." - Richard Jefferies

Welcoming Herbs

Herbs in cans at the entrance to a community garden in the 22nd district. What a nice idea!

Colourful Mural

The colourful mural "Atlantis-Klang-Haus“ by Austrian poetic surrealist Helmut Kand in the 6th district has recently been restored and now catches again the eye of the passers-by.

Modern Façade

During a recent bicycle tour this façade of a car park caught my eyes. Well, red is one of my favourite colours...

Green Door

A green door in a courtyard in the city center, framed by Virginia creeper and flowers.

Wedding Cakes

Currently a lot of confectionaries are displaying wedding cakes in their windows, because the summer months are THE months for weddings.

Friendly Alien

Is he an advance-guard of more friendly aliens who live in Vienna's canal system? I will keep you posted...

Sunday Flowers #153

 

"In June, as many as a dozen species may burst their buds on a single day. No man can heed all of these anniversaries; no man can ignore all of them." - Aldo Leopold

Peace Museum Vienna

The Peace Museum Vienna strives to contribute to world peace by educating the public about peace heroes. It spreads the word of peace through discussions and encourages all its visitors to think about how peace may be achieved. An important project of the museum is the "Windows for Peace" initiative: Influential figures from throughout history who have devoted their lives and careers to peace and tolerance are showcased in the windows of surrounding local businesses.

Tattooed Back

When I stopped to take a photo during my last bicyle ride along the Old Danube, this young man's tattooed back caught my eyes. I think one tattoo can look good, but I'm not a fan of too many tattoos. What do you think?

Sunset Obesssion #16

Guess what I did yesterday evening! Yes, I cycled along the Old Danube and took another sunset photo! On the water you can see a floating restaurant, it must be a great experience to have dinner there.

Acrobatics in the Park

Last Friday evening in Augarten: While other people were relaxing, reading, chatting, walking their dog, sitting on benches, laying on the grass, this young couple was doing some acrobathics... I couldn't stop watching them...

Some motivation for Dog Owners

There are a lot of dogs in Vienna... polluting the streets. Dog owners have to clean up after their pet when out for a walk, otherwise they have to pay a fine. The municipal government  tries to motivate the dog owners to comply with the laws with this sign that you can find nearly everywhere.

A Quiet Harbor

Yesterday evening I took another bicycle tour and passed by this small  and quiet harbor for sailing boats at the New Danube. The modern building in the background is the Millennium Tower, completed in 1999 for the coming of the third Millennium.

Sunday Flowers #152

"What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade." - Gertrude Jekyll

Pick a Poem

According to the idea that art has to be present in the public space, the author Helmut Seethaler has been writing poems on scraps of paper and sticking them on lamp posts in Vienna's main streets, on building site fences, on trees in parks and on the walls of subway stations since 1973. He was reported for damage to property thousands of times until in 1998 finally the Supreme Court classified his activity as "art" and therefore as "worthy of protection".

A Relaxing Afternoon

Yesterday's public holiday was a very sunny and hot day. I think most people spent it sunbathing and swimming, but some chose to relax in the courtyard of the MuseumsQuartier (MQ). The newly coloured courtyard furniture was delivered just in time. Since 2007 the visitors of the MQ can vote the seasonal colour of the so-called "Enzis", this year they opted for "mermaid".

Sunset Obesssion #15

Didn't you miss it? Another beautiful sunset seen from the bank of the Old Danube...

European Bicycle Day

Today is the European Bicycle Day. It was established in 1998 to show that the bicycle is not only the most environmentally friendly but also the healthiest means of transport. As you probably know by now, I love to do after work bicycle tours during the warm season. But sometimes I'm lazy and just cycle to Augarten, sit on a bench, lay my legs on the bicycle and read a book or magazine.

View of The Town #10

Last Sunday I left central Vienna and took a walk through the vineyards at the foot and on the hillside of Kahlenberg and enjoyed this view of the town.

June Theme Day: Stylish

Today's theme day is a good opportunity to present you the "dirndl", the traditional Austrian dress which consists of a bodice, a short or long sleeved white or chequered bluse, a wide skirt and a colourful apron. There are dozens of dirndl varieties, many of them characterise a specific region. Traditionally the skirt is ankle long for festive dirndls and knee high for every day versions. The placement of the knot on the apron is an indicator of the woman's marital status: A knot tied on the woman's left side indicates that she is single, a knot tied on the right means that she is married, engaged or otherwise "taken", a knot tied in the front centre means that she is a virgin and a knot tied at the back indicates that the woman is widowed. You don't really see Viennese women dressed in dirndls, they are mostly worn in rural areas, but of course there are several shops selling these dresses.
Click here to view thumbnails of all participants in the theme day.