In Memoriam of fallen Soldiers

It was the so-called "Angelobung"! A ceremony during which new soldiers are taken into the ranks.

At the War Memorial of Bleiburg the town held a very quiet, without much pomp and circumstance  memorial for all those who lost their lives during the First and Second World War but also for those who, on the 12th May 1945, were murdered by Tito's henchmen. 

Christin's Mother in Law and Father in Law, were dragged out of their home and in a nearby meadow, along with many other private citizens, they were brutally bludgeoned to death.

I went to this Memorial Celebration and took some pictures.

There also were two military priests, who, for once, did not talk rubbish and nonsense, as Priests  normally do!

The "Honour Company"

The "Defence Group" who fought against the take over 

of a large part of Carinthia by Slovenia.

 "For Homeland - Peace - Liberty."

Flowers of our garden

We got Roses!

This Sunflower grew all by itself, next to our bird feeder.

Evidently one of the seeds  fell from the feeder to the ground

and...voila...

A "Day Lilly"

A slightly computer-manipulated image.

Up the high hills

On the way up to the  "Wackendorfer Alm"

a Village lies below.

The "Turkshat Lilly"

Flowers wild, Flowers wild !

It surely looks like a wild meadow with many different flowers. 

I suspect, however, that somebody just tossed a lot of seeds around.

The Loon Trio

 The Loons of Red Rock Lake;

Since I am alone during this trip I allow myself to take the water taxi from the south end of Lake Opeongo, all the way up to the 16 km distant North end.

Opeongo is a comparatively large body of water and with a stiff breeze blowing from the North, a solo paddle would be difficult and time consuming.

Having arrived at the beginning of the portage, leading from Opeongo to Redrock Lake I, assisted by the water taxi driver, place the Canoe into the water, drag it up onto land, unload all paraphernalia, tent, sleeping bag,food, cooking gear and, most important, three cameras, 6 lenses, tripod and what-not and sort it all out, ready for a difficult portage.

Being alone I simply have to do the portage twice, since I cannot carry everything in one go.

Over rocks and roots, always careful, so as not to slip and break a leg, I make my way through dense forest, along a well marked portage and finally I arrive at the shore of Redrock Lake.

What unadulterated pleasure it is to finally, at about 10 O'clock in the morning, see the water again, put down canoe, paddle, and camera gear, return for the tent, sleeping bag, food and utensils and, truly tired and sweat soaked, go for a quick, refreshing dip in the lake, swim a few strokes and then, having loaded the canoe, dip the paddle into crystal clear water and head for the island to pitch camp in the known, wind protected little bay on the North end.

Fan a little fire, make a cup of tea and sit on the rock, overlooking the lake. This is Paradise, right here on earth. There is no other.

In mid afternoon I prepare a soft cushion with the life jacket for my cameras and lenses in the canoe and carefully I cast off.

With a few strokes of my paddle I am out of the little bay and in open water.

The gentle breeze has lost its “gentle” but has not yet become “stiff”.

I hear a Loon calling from far off. The almost uncanny sound, one of three I can differentiate comes closer with each call.

Then there is an answer from quite close.

I stop paddling and sit almost motionless with cameras at the ready.

The wind takes me ever so slowly in a southerly direction.

Sunlight reflects in the water and I can barely make out the shape of two Loons. Their black dress with white dots, the white rings around their necks tell me that I am looking at a pair of “Common Loons”.

(How can anything that beautiful be called “common”?)

I try to lift my camera as slowly as I can. The wind still pushes me closer and closer. The Loons and I are on a dangerous collision course.

Why, I wonder, are they not fleeing?

Normally they would dive deep, only to come up hundred meters away.

Then they sometimes would call each other, dive again or fly away.

Then I see the reason for their odd behavior:

Between the two Loons is a tiny Loon-chick. It can neither fly nor dive. It just drifts in the water. The parents will not abandon it, but stay with their offspring come what may.

One of the parent birds offers the chick a fish, as large as the chick itself.

The chick pecks at the fish and Mom seems to say: 
 “Yeah, taste it! It's what you'll eat for the rest of your life.”

It is wondrous! This otherwise so shy bird allows me to come to within a paddle length. They seem to ignore me and seem to be oblivious to the clicking of my camera.

With a few backward strokes of my paddle I back away from this wonderful trio and allow the lesson in dining to continue without further disturbing their peace.

Mamma and Pappa Loon and their little Baby.

Baby Loon under Mamma's wing.

"come on, try it, you'll like it."

"What? You expect me to eat this?"

"Better get used to it!

It'll be your only food for the rest of your life."

A Loon upon her nest.

Turning her eggs

And that's the Truth !

Admiral (ret.) Stavridis, 16th Superior Allied Commander of NATO said:
"Democracy isn't perfect, but it will still prevail!"

Winston Spencer Churchill said:
"Democracy is the worst form of Government, except for all the others !"

I say:
You have every right to criticize "Democracy". But if you do, you must suggest a better alternative.

That's what
Bertstravels says.

A Promise is a Promise! Is it?

A Promise is a Promise

I am not an ardent Donald Trump supporter and I am sure there is much the President of the United States of America could do better. For one, he could “think” before he speaks, or at least consult his many trusted advisers before he issues a statement on Twitter or in a speech.

But when he is right, he is right and I must pay him grudging respect.

In Brussels, recently, he spoke out loud, asking the European members of NATO who do not pay their agreed upon, considered a fair share of 2% of the GNP of their respective countries to fulfill their obligation.

In fact, there are only 4 countries, (out of how many?) who are complying with this Agreement:

The much maligned USA pays 3.57% of their GNP, while Estonia, Greece and the United Kingdom comply with the 2% requirement. Poland, with 1.99% makes it almost the fourth compliant.

All the rest fall below this cut off point.

Mighty Germany is the biggest laggard, paying only 1.24% on their GNP into the coffers of Nato.

Well, Mrs.Angela Merkel whines that they will reach this level (of 2%) within a number of years, and in any event, Germany makes other than monetary contributions.

If Estonia and Greece are able to fork over the 2%, why in the name of all that's fair, will it take Germany, the mighty Germany, another few years to reach this level?

The reputable German Magazine “Der Spiegel” published some numbers concerning, for instance, Nato's involvement in Afghanistan:

The USA spent about 80 times the amount of Germany's contribution

2000 American GIs lost their lives, while 20,000 were wounded.

This compares with Germany's 35 dead and 204 wounded.

And here is Donald Trump quite right when he says that this imbalance is borne by the Citizens of the USA and Germany is the largest winner.

And this is not the only Agreement on which the Europeans are fudging:

Take Kyoto, for instance: This Agreement set reduced emission levels in respect of CO2 and other damaging exhaust products and all European countries signed this Agreement with great fanfare.

The USA refused its signature, stating that the goals stipulated could not be reached. Well, you should have heard the European Politicians and the European Press, How they lambasted America for its refusal to sign.

Now, many years later, everybody has to admit that none of the signatories have anywhere near reached the goals bragged about.

Sure, it's wonderful to sign such Agreements. Much hey can be made at the time the signatures are affixed. When down the road it is clear that all of it was but a signature on a piece of paper, well, that's “down the road”... we have gained the political benefit at the date of signing and by the time this farce shows its ugly face, it's too late and very few are left to bear the burden of guilt.

And so it goes with the Agreement to pay 2% of its GNP to the Operation of a Defense Alignment, such as NATO.

We sign it under great fanfare and we'll pay it when you catch us, and then we whine and promise to pay it at some future date, not yet determinable.

So, who is right? Trump, who insists that a promise is a promise, or Merkel and her ilk who are not at all embarrassed to let America bear the burden, of the defense of Europe

That's the way

Bertstravels

sees it

There are places...

one of them is

Algonquin Park

Five Mergansers (one is a straggler)

A young Moose, reflecting about  "Life in the Park"

or is he just "reflecting" ?

"Eye contact!"

Yellow on Yellow-

Humming away !

Hailstorm Creek Marsh

What a shame

I just saw a soccer game, or what passed for one.
Russia defeated Spain after Extra Time, through penalty shots.
Now, I am not telling you that the lads of Willowdale United Soccer Club would have beaten either of these teams, but I guarantee you that they would have played a more entertaining game.
That the Spaniards made over 1100 passes ( the vast majority in their own end or in midfield, against Russia's 450 (or so ) should tell you how boring this game was made by the Spaniards.
In  the beginning I rooted for them, but I soon changed my allegiance, when I saw the shameful way in which the Spaniards made a mockery of the "Beautiful Game":
What incredibly bad coaching must have fashioned a group of talented players into an inefficient, lazy, bunch of standarounds. (with the exception of a few minutes toward the end of overtime.)
I was happy to see this team punished by a team of far less talented individuals, playing a desperate defensive struggle with greatest effort.
Well, that's it...
The world is changing: Italy did not make it into this competition! Germany did not make it into the knock-out portion, Messi is out, so is Ronaldo.
What does this tell you?
Talent alone is not enough. It takes teamwork, dedication and aggressive play.
Thousand passes in midfield won't do it.
In case you don't know: The Name of the Game is: Scoring more goals than your opponent.

That's what
Bertstravels 
has always believed.

Broken

How is this again ?