IN TORONTO

Just a few images from the Harbour Front

and from the boat of a friend,
toward the silhouette of Toronto.

View these pictures in the large format, please.

FERIENREISE

On the 25th August 2010 we shall fly to Toronto. Our return to Austria is scheduled for the 1st October 2010. I will take my lap top with me and if all goes well I shall post some pictures of our trip, which is extensive....Toronto, Niagara on the Lake, Stratford, back to Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, down the St. Lawrence via Trois Riviere around the Gaspe, through New Brunswick to Halifax, NS, then to Digby for a little Whale Watching...then Northward through New Hampshire and Vermont to Ottawa, on to Algonquin Park, Collingwood, Toronto and then back to Austria after 36 days in Canada.
So please be patient, when not much will happen on this Blog.
I'll talk to you later.
Bert

Parkhotel on Lake Tristach

The "Parkhotel Tristachersee" is located in East Tirol, Austria, near the city of Lienz.
It seems to dip its toes into the lake; that's how close it is to the shore line.
If you know hotels, then you will also know that a hotel is usually as good as its manager and staff. Well, let me tell you, you have just found a pearl amongst pearls. Josef Kreuzer owns this wonderful house and manages it as only a manager can whose whole heart is in his business.
All of his staff, and I mean all of them, are the very epitome of friendly service and thorough efficiency. Once you set foot inside the front door, you feel as if you were an old friend, come home for a visit with the folks.
I cannot begin to tell you about the food in this hotel's beautifully appointed dining rooms:
Every morsel is simply exquisite. From the soups to the maincourse, to the deserts.
If you really want to treat yourself, ask for some fish, which are raised in their own fish ponds (you can't get fresher than that) and prepared in an absolutely scrumptious way.
This was only our second visit. Let me assure you it will have been only the latest in a long series.
If you are within a thousand miles of this establishment, do yourself a big favour: Make a side trip to the Parkhotel Tristachersee, near Lienz, Ost Tirol.
Walk in the front door, ask for Josef (Peppi) Kreuzer, shake his hand and tell him: Bertstravels sent you.

Parkhotel Tristachersee

Situated right at the edge of the small lake,

the Parkhotel Tristachersee offers everything

a first class traveller could possibly demand.

The Parkhotel Tristachersee is owned and operated

by one of the finest hoteliers one could ever meet.

The view from the hotel accross the lake.

(please view this picture Large)

The Silkspinner Moth

My neighbour came rushing into our house:
"Quick, quick, grab your camera and follow me."
...and he was gone. I did as he said:
Grabbed my Nikon and the additional Micro Lens
(a Nikkor 105mm 2.8)
Here are some of the many many shots I took of this rare bird
...aah "Moth."

...don't stare at me with your phony eyes.

The Tauern Mountains

Mountains, Mountains and more Mountains

On the way home from Steyr...
the trip through the Alps is more beautiful
than I can describe in pictures or words.
You just gotta do it yourself.

...STEYR...UPPER AUSTRIA

This lovely City, located in the Province of Upper Austria, at the junction of two rivers, the Enns and the Steyr, received its City Charter in the year 980 A.D. In 1980, therefore, it celebrated its 1000th anniversary as a City. It features many architecturally interesting buildings in the Gothic, right up to the Rokoko styles.
This City of just under 40,000 inhabitants has a turbulent history, too multi-faceted to describe here. One can imagine that in 1000 years of history any number of things happened within the walls of this place.

The City of STEYR in the Province of UPPER-AUTRIA

The "Hauptplatz" (Main Square) of this beautiful City.
Looking from about the half way point to the upper half.
The lower part of this generously sized square (below)

One of the many beautifully restored buildings.

...a typical street scene of Steyr.

The City Of STEYR (cont.)

Churches dominate the sky line along the river.

City Hall of Steyr, rightfully claims to be
the most beautiful city hall in the Rokoko style

Two streets meet in this proudly
decorated City in the Province of Upper Austria.

from the PETZEN

This little town inmidst beautiful scenery,
is where I now live.
This image was taken from half way up the mountain
with a 400 mm lens.
I live right next to the church steeple.

View this LARGE

At the top of the cable car, a restaurant which is
particularly welcome on the way down from the top.
Sit down, have a cold beer, and slowly swatch the sun go down.

The start of the cable car, with a panorama view
of the hills beyond.

If you don't view this in the large format, you'll miss
the impact of the land below the Petzen.