Hello dear friends,
How was your week? Mine was super FULL but I still managed to daydream here and there and one of the moments that I always seem to go back to is my time in Austria! and because I loved living there so much, I even took a trip right before I departed for the States, in May 2012.
This time around, I took some extra time just to stroll through its gardens, parks, on its country roads, taking it all in. And let me tell you, there is nothing like Austria in the midst of of the lilac blooming season! I had forgotten how colorful and enchanting Austria can be in the spring time. Even better, I felt like I haven’t even left! Austria was, after all, my home for a year…
And everything was in bloom. The apricot trees – trademark of the Wachau area, the apple trees, and everywhere I looked, there was green, green, green…
Even to this day, I can’t help but find Austria one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
A country that exudes peace and harmony, with a balanced infrastructure that strives, through its political, governmental and local policies to respect and protect nature and the natural movement of its inhabitants. Bike lanes are everywhere and you can easily recycle anything, for free. The University Campus in which I lived, in Sankt Pölten, had 15 (!!!) trash containers, so that you can dispose and recycle accordingly: we had containers for all types of plastic, 3 for glass, 1 for aluminum, for plastic bags, paper, and of course, for the biodegradable produce. A lot of the buildings have improvised gardens on their rooftops and the windmills are everywhere!
Do you notice the beautiful colors of the crops? :)
Austria is a country that is peaceful and charming (there is not even one nuclear plant!), and a country that strives hard to preserve the balance between a modern infrastructure and nature’s right to rule.
While I was there, I was also very fortunate to indulge in some home-made and hand baked Austrian goodies. Food fairs are normal in Austria: local farmers gather in the middle of the biggest square, literally in the middle of the town, twice/week, and offer their food creations: bread, sausages, gems, all home-made and created from local produce. The best thing of all? the price is close to the one you find in supermarkets, for mass production food, making it easy and not so expensive to live off organic and local produce which I find absolutely amazing! Here are some photos:
Austria is a very Catholic country! But I think that just adds to its charm. And well, having a lot of days off throughout the year to celebrate ALL the saints doesn’t hurt either! ;)
The main tower of the oldest church, looking over the city…
Do you see the solar panels on top of the roofs? they are almost everywhere, in Austria :)
Biking has never been more pleasurable for me than here. Everyone is doing it and it makes you feel so safe!
Any time of the day, you will see entire families on bikes, teenagers going to school, even people in business suits, riding to work. You can also hire a bike for the day, for only 5 euros.
It is also the country who gave birth to some amazing thinkers and psychologists that will shape our views and understanding of our mental health forever. I am talking, obviously, about Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler, Viktor Frankl, Melanie Klein, amongst others.
To me, Austria will always resonate with peace, serenity, nature, green, bikes, love and simpler way of life.
The city’s welcoming sign and its motto: ” Herzogenburg: A city with Life Quality”.
I hope you enjoyed these photos! They are from Herzogenburg, Lower Austria, an old Medieval city, close to Vienna, a city that I did not manage to visit last time I was there.
Roxi
gmcall says
It seems to be a country where everything is where they should be.
Very nice pictures to show a very nice country. :-)
Gabby Angel says
Austria looks so beautiful Roxi. Thanks so much for sharing the photos and also your thoughts! :)
Roxi says
Thank YOU Gabby for stopping by! :)
Roxi says
Thank you, I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed the photos!