In the heart of Austria, perched on two mountains and straddling a waterfall is Bad Gastein. Known for it’s radon waters and caves, travelers have come here for centuries for “the cures.” Grand old hotels stand side-by-side, often blocking each other’s views. No matter as today, sadly, many are deserted.
The Gasteiner Ache divides the town in two.
Charming Austrian architecture.
I took an easy stroll along the Kaiser Wilhelm Promenade...
...enjoying lovely views of the Gastein Valley to the village of Bad Hofgastein...
...through a pine forest...
...passing shingled mushrooms...
... a glorious old tree stump...
...moss-covered roots that make my heart sing...
...white ferns...
...miniature moss gardens...
...on rocky walls....These are Nature’s scenes that enchant me more than any other.
Then past a pretty home, its balconies overflowing with voluptuous geraniums.
Approaching Hotel Grüner Baum...
...with its tiny chapel.
Note the exquisite craftsmanship on this latch.
Love this rustic Austrian Alpine architecture at the Grüner Baum Hotel.
Can you tell the time on this fabulous sundial?
Time to go back!
Just look at the colors on this tree! Yellow, chartreuse, green, orange, silver, brown, gray....
I saw several of these birds darting about the pine forest but none seemed to want its portrait taken. So I stopped by a feeder and, sure enough, in time one paused long enough to take this blurry, long range snapshot.
Ah ha! It must be an Eichelhäher! Gorgeous!
No comments:
Post a Comment