WHERE WAS THE MAPLE LEAF ???

The Hahnenkamm (Rooster comb) is a mountain near the town of Kitzbühel. The Streif is the downhill course for only the very best of the very best in the world of skiing. It is one of the most challenging downhills anywhere.  At the steepest part the course drops down at an angle of 72 degrees and the skiers develop speeds of up to 145 km/h....  (I don't even drive this fast in my car...)

The annual "Hahnenkamm Race", which is skiing's Stanley Cup and the Superbowl wrapped into one, was held today. It attracted well over 50,000 visitors and untold millions watching it on television. If you want to know details, just google it... I will only tell you that at the end of this exciting race, an Italian, Dominic Paris, from South Tirol stood on the highest pedestal. 

The Canadian, Eric Guay won the Silver, coming in 0.13 seconds behind Paris and in third place, the Austrian Hannes Reichelt prevented an Austrian shut-out.

When the announcer introduced Reichelt, a sea of Austrian flags were waved by the crowd of 50,000.

Then he introduced the Silver Medalist, Guay... there was not a single Maple Leaf to be seen.

The first place winner of course caused hundreds of Italian flags enthusiastically to be waved.

Throughout the playing of the Italian National Anthem, the cameras scanned the crowds. It was an absolute see of Flags...the Austrian, the Italian, the Swiss, the Slovenian.... I strained my eyes... but No !

There wasn't a Maple Leaf... Do we really not understand Eric Guays fabulous achievement? Or did we not expect to do so well and therefore left our flags at home?

I hope that Eric will, upon his return to Canada,  receive the adulation and homage which is due to him.

And, by the way, Eric is not only one of the best skiers, he also proved, during his many interviews, to be a thoroughly nice man.

that's the way Bertstravels sees it, anyway.

A Butterfly did flutter by..

Must be viewed in largest format.

CIRCUS CIRCUS

Circus Circus is not only an hotel in Las Vegas, but it realy is what's going on in the Province of Salzburg.
Remember, some days ago I wrote about the big time gambling that's happened with tax payers money in this beautiful Province?
Ms Monika has been playing the market for several years now and it seemed that the market value of her investment purchases was some 350 Million Euros (about 475 Millions of Can$$$ ) short of the original purchase price. 
The buck-passing which has been going on is truly astonishing. It's like the proverbial hot potato which is tossed from person to person.  Nobody wants to take responsibility. One of Monika's bosses has offered his resignation, pending the outcome of a thorough (?) investigation.
The results of this investigation were tabled yesterday and, see there, a miracle happened which may be compared to the miraculous multiplication of loaves of bread and fishes.
Now we hear that not only are there no losses of 350 Million Euros, but there is actually a profit of 74 Mio Euros. Well, isn't that just honkey-dorey? Doesn't that just prove how clever Monika and her bosses were? They actually made money for the Province. Now all is well... Isn't it?

What a confused accounting and record keeping system they must have in Salzburg.
One day they find 350 Millions of losses, then it takes them six weeks and two big name accounting firms to check their books and " Abara Kadabara - Hokus-Pokus" they find 424 Mios to give them a surplus of 74 Millions. 

Does this justify the putting at risk moneys which the good citizens of Salzburg worked so hard to earn to enable them to pay their taxes? Of course not !
The gambling with moneys not your own, which has been entrusted to you by others for running the affairs of your business or your country is immoral in the heighest degree and must be made illegal to the heighest degree.

Will the Federal Government of Austria pass such prohibition into law???
Will the Provinces in fact outlaw this gambling by their own Politicians and/or Civil Servants ?

Don't hold your breath...
that's what Bertstravels suggests.

STILL LIVES

Pictures without words!!!

 

 

A FAREWELL TO A GOOD FRIEND:

Never ever have I regretted leaving my camera at home anywhere near as much as I did today.

Eisenkappel is a small town, tight on the Slovenian border, nestled  between mountains which in Summer are lovely, green and tree studded, only the very top a grey solid rock. 
In Winter the mountains wear the obligatory white snow cap. The densely growing evergreens, under the load of freshly fallen snow, bend their branches low to the ground. Each branch a solid white, with only the very bottom flashing their green needles now and then in a gentle breeze.

The town has a main street and to the West a few side roads. Left and right the hills rise steeply and leave very little space for even a church and a grave yard. The church looks down upon the town from quite a height, the way up to it in gentle serpentines with one or two hairpin turns, runs right between the snow covered graves.  

Eberhard was an architect and left his mark on many buildings in not only Eisenkappel, but all over Carinthia.
He built a Protestant as well as a Catholic church. He built public and private buildings.
He also built bridges between the German- and Slovenian speaking people of his world. If you think that that's easier than building a church out of bricks and mortar, granite and marble, you are sadly mistaken.
To understand the difficulty of building bridges between these two groups, you must understand the history of this area. When the difficulties mounted, however, Eberhard just worked a little harder.

Eberhard loved his family. He also loved the mountains and, I am sure, he loved his skies. I'm told he was an excellent skier  right up to an age when most others hung up their boots.

The other day Eberhard closed his eyes for ever, and today the whole town of Eisenkappel and many, many friends from far and wide came to bury him and pay their respect to his family.

That's why I regretted having left my camera at home.

You cannot imagine the sheer beauty of this burial.:

A coffin made of plain wood. I believe it might have been Cedar, fashioned in the way an honest carpenter would have made a sturdy box, was carried on the shoulders of six men clothed in bright red winter jackets, blue pants and heavy boots. The Uniform of the mountain rescue group stood out among the rest of the mourners, dressed in black. A long winding snake of those who had come to say "Good By" to Eberhard slowly wound its way up hill, through the snow covered grave yard and to the church. 

To a 'standing room only' crowd, the Priest, who was also a friend of Eberhard, spoke of his many accomplishments. He spoke of his creations as an architect, as well as of his untiring efforts on behalf of his community and of his love for his family. Again and again the words "modest", "giving", "patient" and "loving" were used by all those, honored to eulogize him.

When the Mass was over, we filed out of the church and, as if Winter was also here to say "Fare Well" to one of his lovers, heavy snow flakes came down so densely that the surrounding hill- and mountain sides almost disappeared in a white cascade.

The same six men from the Mountain Rescue Squad carried Eberhard in his wooden box along the winding path to his final resting place. The local brass band, dressed in blue tunics, black pants and wide brimmed hats, played: "Ich hat' einen Kameraden' einen bessern find'st Du nicht." (Once I had a friend. You'll never find a better one')

I have never attended a visually more beautiful funeral in my entire life.

That's why I could have kicked myself for leaving my camera at home.

This will never happen to Bertstravels again:




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ART AND HISTORY IN FRIULI; ITALY:

On Saturday, the 5th of January, we drove by bus into Northern Italy, specifically the region of 'Friuli'
We had been invited by the Cultural Society of "Dante Alighieri" of which Christin has been a member for many years.
The weather was absolutely beautiful. Blue sky and sunshine framed the surrounding snow covered mountains.
At about 9.30 AM we arrived at our first stop: San Daniele, where we visited a most beautifully restored library, the 'Biblioteca  Guarneriana'.
 In this, the oldest 'Biblioteca' of Friuli,  we were shown original, hand written works from the 15th and 16th Century. No wonder, that the chief librarian touched those treasures only with white gloved hands.

Our next stop was the famous "Villa Manin" in Passariano. A most marvvellous exhibition of paintings  by the Italian painter Giambattista Tiepolo....   Inside the Villa Manin: No Fotos...No Fotos...

The following day, Sunday, brought us, via Udine, to Civitale. In the Cathedral of Civitale we witnessed the 'Messa dello Spadone', the Mass of the Sword.....
A most colourful, nay, 'pompous' celebration of a Catholic Mass, in which a Broadsword is prominently featured, I understand that the powerful Patriarchs of the region wanted to indicate their influence not only in religious, but also in secular issues. 

A great time was truly had by all....
even by 'Bertstravels', who actually hates bus trips.

The BIBLIOTECA GUARNERIANA

The Chief Librarian, white gloved, most carefully
shows some of the rarest and most valuable
books stored in his Library.
Volum after Volum, hand written and
adorned with small paintings bear witness
to the diligence of the monks of the Middle Ages.
Dante, Bocaccio, and many others
are stored in this the oldest, but newly restored Library of Friuli.

 

 

 

THE STREET FESTIVAL

Dressed in original looking garb
this group represents the farmers of the region.
Each of them compelled to make their
contribution.

The 'Sargeant at Arms'
attired in his fighting uniform
makes certain that the proceedings
run smoothly and without problems.

The 'Nobles'  Dukes, Counts and religious leaders
assemble in the viewing stands,
awaiting the arrival of the Patriarch.

Fights are performed for the entertainment
of the assembled Nobility.

THE PATRIARCH'S ARRIVAL:::

The highlight of the street festival
is the arrival of the Patriarch of Aquileia.
Marchard von Randeck.
He most ostentatiously shows his sword
to all his 'subjects'.

The costumes, worn by the players, we are told,
are most authentic, tailored in accordance
with historical records of the time.

MESSA DELLO SPADONE

It's the 6th of January and in the Cathedral of
  'Cividale del Friuli'
the 'Mass of the Broadsword' (Messa dello Spadone)
is being celebrated.
This Mass has a symbolic value reminding the faithful
of the time (14th Century) of the absolute power
over life and death wielded by the Catholic Church
in general and the Patriarch of the region
specifically. The Deacon, adorned by a feathered helmet,
lifts the sword and thus "blesses" the faithful.
In the Middle Ages, I believe that he threatened rather
then blessed them.

In order to see this colourful scene
a little better, I suggest that you enlarge the image.

 

The Star singers

 

Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar
the legendary "Three Kings from the Orient"
accompanied by the "Star of Bethlehem
go from house to house, singing and
collecting money for Good Causes.

Believe it... Or Not

A little while ago I wrote about the negligible sum of 445 Million Euros, which the Province of Salzburg received from the Federal Government for the express purpose of building homes, but which nobody could find. This amount was transferred from Vienna to Salzburg, destined for the Building Fund, but it never arrived there. 
Hurray... they found the money: Our dear Monica, she of the Investment Magic, grabbed the money, and invested it in "Value Papers"...  The Provincial Auditors now say that they do not know what value these papers actually have. ( I can only hope that they have a value of at least 445 Million Euros).
It will take until 16th January to find out what the current value might be.
It now seems to have been a 'rope towing' between Monica and her superiors for some time. Certain instructions were given to Monica, with which she did not agree and which she therefore disregarded, doing her own thing, which was meant to be making money for the Province, but which actually turned out to be the very opposite. In e-mail exchanges which now were discovered she argues against certain instructions, saying that she understands the financial affairs of the Province "with every fibre of my body."... and that she would "give my life" for Salzburg' financial well being.
Let me repeat here, that there is no suggestion of misappropriation of funds for her own benefit.
She, and everybody else, simply overestimated to a staggering extent, her ability to read the money market and to invest taxpayers money wisely.

I have asked this question several times, but have not received a satisfactory answer:
If the governments, Federal and Provincial, have so much money that they can invest it in value papers which always demand a certain length of time of the investment, why don't they just give back to the taxpayers the moneys not needed for the operation of the country, by way of reducing the overall future tax burden ?
They would be surprised at how quickly the Country, the Province, would prosper.
Lower taxes would inevitably mean a growth of the Economy, requiring more employees, thereby reducing unemployment rates (which, it must be stated, in Austria are the lowest in all of the European Union but could easily stand a further reduction), producing more goods which could be sold in foreign markets, thereby attracting funds into Austria from other countries.
I am certain that the average entrepreneur could invest his money more wisely than our famous Monica.
The average entrepreneur would invest his money in new machinery, more employees and thereby create an economic environment far superior to that any Civil Servant could create.

I fear, however, that I am tilting at wind mills. No Government will ever give back money to the taxpayer.
Governments always find ways to spend taxes... that's what they are here for... and if no other opportunity presents itself, they will play with taxpayers fund as if it were Monopoly Money.

When finally is average taxpaying citizen, Joe Bloe and Jane Doe, going to rise up and shout:

ENOUGH...  ..ENOUGH...  More than ENOUGH....???

If ever they would, 
Bertstravels would give them a megaphone....