Edelweiss, the Flower

Other than Holland's tulips and Japan's cherry blossoms, I don't think I know of a flower more closely associated with a country than the Edelweiss is to Austria. Protected by the government for more than 100 years, this hairy, star-shaped Alpine member of the sunflower family became internationally beloved via the Rodgers and Hammerstein song in The Sound of Music. I've never seen one growing wild but recently did come across a crate full of Edelweiss plants, that I assume were cultivated, for sale in Hallstatt, Austria.

Black and White and Walked All Over

The floors of Vienna's Kunsthistorisches (Art History) Museum are as intriguing as the paintings on their walls. I love these beauties....

On Lights and Light

As we walked past Vienna's glowing Cafe Central one evening...

I noticed these illuminated glass blocks in the sidewalk that provide daylight to the cellar below...

which reminds me of the great idea shipbuilders had in the mid-1800s. They would embed glass prisms into the decks of ships to provide a scattered light to lower decks. I'm thinking someday I'll put a deck prism into the roof of my backyard shed to get light into the space without electricity. Click HERE for photos and the full story about deck prisms and why a prism is more effective than a glass block. If you'd like, you can also order a reproduction (they happen to be on sale now). A friend of mine has one on his office desk. It makes quite a hefty paperweight and conversation piece.

Pastel Skies Over the Rathaus

From behind Austria's Parliament, Vienna's Rathaus, or City Hall, was bathed in the soft pastel light of sunset a few evenings ago. Behind it are the twin spires of Votive Church.

Morning Mist Over Lednice's Gardens

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Lednice Gardens in the Czech Republic, just ninety minutes outside of Vienna, were established in the 17th century by the Liechenstein family. A heavy fog doesn't detract from their beauty today.

Lovely Transitions

I love nature's palette as the seasons change in Lednice, Czech Republic:

A Bunch of Grapes

Vienna's Naschmarkt is a treasure trove for foodies. Its vendors have just about every kind of food eaten by western societies, including a few grapes.