New Terminal at VIE

Vienna.  A new terminal has opened at the Vienna International Airport.  When you reach the arrivals hall you are greeted by terrific graphics of enormous coffee cups (however, the shop is owned by a UK company and the brand sounds Italian...a bit odd when one considers that Vienna is known for its coffee houses).

If, on the other hand, you're waiting for someone to arrive there's a big but somewhat subtle wall of flight information.

Resting in a Flowery Rickshaw

Vienna.  Between the artists, musicians, living statues, break dancers, puppeteers, tourists, shoppers, and Mozart-wigged concert hawkers, there is always lots of activity at Stephansplatz in the center of Vienna.  This driver is taking a quiet in break from it all in a flower-bedecked rickshaw.

Dinner at Cafe Landtmann

Vienna.  A big, late lunch and early dinner meant the evening meal needed to be on the light side.  It had been a hot day and was one of those times when ice cream called louder than salads so a Mozartbecher it was for dinner, with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, pistachios and whipped cream.  I'm not so sure how light it was but some days it's just so good to be a grown-up...or a grown-up kid.

Bipa's Bright Pink Polka Dots

Vienna.  The distinctive, bright pink polka dots of the Bipa stores beckon shoppers inside.

Green Hair

Vienna.  The fashion in Vienna for the past several years is to color one's hair an unnatural color.  Women of all ages are likely to have pink, purple, blue and green hair, either a solid color or in tandem with other colors.  One of my favorites was a young woman with pink dreadlocks; the color looked great on her.

Women Restoring a Wall

Vienna.  Evidently at least one company appreciates the skills women can bring to the job of restoring the classic facade of an old building.

Demel's Wedding Dress Cake

Vienna.  Demel Bakery goes beyond the ordinary yet again with this impressive life-size wedding dress cake.

Another of the Most Beautiful Villages in France

La Roche-Guyon, France.  With threatening weather overhead, heavier than expected traffic in front of us and an airplane to catch in Paris, we didn't have much time to explore the village surrounding the Château de La Roche-Guyon one recent Sunday morning.  Named as another of The Most Beautiful Villages in France, we wished we had more time to visit this interesting village, only an hour outside of Paris.  Some of the homes have rooms carved into the limestone hillside. 

Residents of the original 12th Century castle demanded payment from travelers on the Seine River below.

One of the Most Beautiful Villages in France

Beuvron en Auge, France.  With its half-timbered houses, thatched roofs here and there, unusual window treatments, blooming flowers,  and charming shops and restaurants, Beuvron en Auge is an idyllic destination.  Named one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, it only takes a few seconds to realize why.  As promised a few days ago,  following are some images of this highly recommended (see Angels in a Parisian Church) village:

The village is known for its cider production and Calvados apple brandy.

I like the artistic arrangement of shingles on the face of this house.

This darling shop, La Pluie et le Bo Temps, has a wonderful collection of sturdy, high quality umbrellas in unusual, creative designs.

A true rooftop garden...growing in the roof.