Early Spring ???

There are s nowbells in our garden !

Although they must have been there

for a few days,

I only noticed them today.

Victor Hugo (again)

Fourty is the Old Age of Youth
Fifty is the Youth of Old Age !

( Ain't that the truth ! Victor was smart boy. )

so thinks

Bertstravels

Braunau am Inn

... much I could tell you about this lovely town, which, in fact has been a City since 1200 AD.
Some of the time it belonged to the German State of Bavaria, then it changed into the possession of Austrian Monarchs of various descriptions.
For me, it was simply the place in which I grew up, in which I spent my recollectable childhood, where I was a teenager and which I finally left to come to the place I now call my home: Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
I still have friends in Braunau and I go there now and then to visit them and the town.
Each time I'm there, I take pictures and I would like you to see some of them:

Part of the "Upper Main Square" with the "Fish fountain" in the foreground.

In the back is the restored Stadtturm, (City Tower)

What you see here is probably less than one third of the entire Town Square.

The "Rathaus" (City Hall )

The steeple of the church of St. Stephan.

On the right hand side of this narrow street (Gasse)

you may notice a lamp and below it the frame of the entry door to 

Stadtplatz 22. The building in which I grew up

The Stadtturm from the other side,

 provides a vary narrow entrance to the main square.

It is now, of course, a One-way street.

Between the lowest two windows you may note an inscription

which I shall show you below and give you an interesting translation.

"In 1966 this tower was reconstructed in its old form

as a permanent memory of the 700th Anniversary of Braunau as a town celebrated in 1960

First mention of the Latin "Brundunum" later "Braunau" was documented in 1260.

Just outside the Stadtturm, shown earlier,  

in the 'Salzburger Vorstadt', 

is the building in which Adolf Hitler was born.

Many of Braunau's citizens wish it went away. 

A reminder of a time of Austria's and Germany's darkest days in their respective histories.

But even if one would demolish the structure and build a children's play ground in its place,

The part of the world would always remain in existance

and one could point to it and say: 

This is the spot where Hitler was borne.

It is Histoy and will remain History. 

The building has no significance.

What we do with the memory, that is of significance.

In front of this infamous building a rock was placed 

from the Quarry near  the Concentration Camp Mauthausen,

with the inscription:

"For Freedom, Liberty 

and Democracy

Never again Fashism

so warn Millions of Dead"

In earlier days, one of Braunau's mayors was called 

"Hans Staininger".

He was famous for his long beard, which he normally

carried, tightly rolled up, in a small  leather sack, around his neck.

One day, the fire alarm, sounding throughout the town,

caused him to rush downstairs.

In his haste he had forgotten to roll up his beard,

stepped on it,

fell,

downstairs

and

broke

his

neck.

poor Hans  Staininger.

This is the rear view of a less significant building.

Its address: Stadtplatz 22

The five windows in the middle, is exactly where I grew up.

This too is History and can never be changed.

But then, why would you want to ?

A view from the bush land outside the town, 

running for miles up river.

I knew every square foot of it.

It was my "Dorado"

The "Stadtplatz" ( Main square)

I suppose I could show many more pictures and tell

many stories of this town

 "Braunau on the river Inn"

Bertstravels 

however,thinks this is enough.

Aristoteles, Plato and Socrates, where are you ?

I had promised myself not to write anymore about the „Greek Affair“

I wasn't going to say anything about the fact, that the country borrowed way above its ability to repay and that both parties knew, or should have known this.

The recent developments, however, make me renege on this promise.

I am not an „Economist“, nor am I particularly well informed about lending practices between countries.

I am very well informed, however, about lending practices in business life, where it is quite common to borrow money, either from a bank or a private institution or individual.

This is roughly the way it happens:

In order to complete a transaction, say the purchase of real estate, the purchaser may use some of his/her own money as well as some obtained from outside sources.

During negotiations between the Lender and the Borrower, the principal amount, the interest rate and the repayment time of the principal amount ( amortisation period) are agreed upon.

A contract, containing all pertinent points of the loan is signed by both parties and the ownership transfer of the property is registered.

Borrowing between countries may have some idiosyncrasies of its own, but I am certain that the principles of „agreement“ are the same.

As I understand the way it happened between Greece and the European Union (of which Greece,of course, is a member) was not much different with one small exception:

Since the Lender knew that the Borrower was in serious financial difficulties, it placed certain conditions upon the modus operandi of the Borrower.

Everybody agreed, the papers signed, it was „a done deal“.

Not so fast, buddy !

The management of the Borrower changed and the new 'President' was of a different, political cut from the outgoing.

To him, previous promises meant little to nothing. He simply announced that the conditions under which the loan was granted would be disregarded, and it would be 'spending as before.'

In fact, he announced large increases in minimum pay, substantial increases in pensions and other empty unfulfillable promises which made every nonthinking Greek yell: Yeah!

Based on these fairy tale promises the Greek Communist was elected to head a minority Government by two seats. He promptly allied himself with an ultra right wing party, clearly demonstrating his political and moral lack of integrity.

( I find it interesting to note that nobody uses the noun 'Communist' anymore. The modern terminology is 'radical left wing“ and I wonder where does one end and the other begin ?

In addition to the promised increases, the loan amount would have to be substantially reduced and the interest rates and amortisation period would also be changed in favour of the borrower.

The Lender, however, suggested that 'a deal is a deal' and there would be no reduction in principal nor in the already very low interest rate. An extension of four month, however, was granted.

So, the Greeks announced in their country: „The battle has been won, but the war is far from over.“

Is this really the way to talk about the outcome of negotiations between an impoverished country, Greece, and the Lenders, the rest of Europe, who came to its rescue with substantial infusions of cash and credits?

This kind of bravado, of misrepresenting the facts shows a lack of integrity but also a large degree of political acumen. He knows what his electorate wants to hear and, true or not, he gives it to them.

Oh Aristotle, Plato and Socrates, where are you ?

BRYCE CANYON

In the South/West corner of the State of Utah lies the 56 square miles of Bryce Canyon National Park.
The main feature of this protected area are the astonishing array of hoodoos
In the true sense of the word it is not a "Canyon" but an erosion caused collection of  'hoodoos,' caused by weathering, frost, and stream erosion. 
The visitor is faced with a grouping of columns, ranging in colour from beige to deep red and in shape from single columns to "cathedrals" and "Greek temples."

In the 1850s,  Mormon pioneers were the first white men to have seen this phenomenon and one of them, Ebenezer Bryce, settled in the vicinity and thereby gave this natural wonder its name.

Little is known about earliest human settlements. 
Archeologists, however, have found artifacts, at least 10,000 years old and ascribe them to the people of the "Anasazi".

From the "Rainbow Point" this visitor surveys this breath-taking natural wonder. 

The rim of the 'Canyon' ranges from a bout 2000 to 2700  meters in elevation.

From white to deep red 'hoodoos' almost as far

 as the eyes can reach.

In some areas, Calcium deposits resisted the erosion and remained on top of the hoodoos.

This one is called "the alligator"

Top-center is surely a greek temple

 and from both sides

 there are  people lining up to go to Sunday Service.

At the South end of Bryce Canyon the twin towers 

stand like two sentinels.

I hope that you viewd these pictures in the largest possible format, by just clicking on them.

Victor Hugo said

"When a dictatorship has become a fact,
Revolution has become a right."

Think about it

Think about it !!!

A few posts ago I spoke of what I consider inefficiencies in the administration of Austrian health services and the multitude of publicly operated meteorological services.

I said then and I will repeat now, that these are but some few areas where tax Euros could be saved.

Of course, Austria is not alone in this type of wasteful behaviour. I am certain that one could find this in every Democracy, including the rest of Europe and to a lesser degree in all of North America.

Since, after having lived in Canada for 53 years, I now live in Austria, the country of my birth, I will, now and then, glance at its inefficient behaviour. Why do I do this ? Because, in order to indulge into its largess with which it handles the Tax-Euro, it is forced to continually increase its revenue by any and all means.

One rarely, if ever, hears a Government official talking about „how to reduce expenditures“.

The talk always is about „how to obtain more income“.

So, we talk about „Increasing Realty Taxes, „Inheritance Tax“ and „Gift Tax“ and „Tax the Rich“ …

Oh, yes... particularly about the last of the three above. It is, if you listen to the Socialist Party of Austria, almost a crime to have been successful and to have invested for your future.

Dividends, paid to you by a successful company into which you have invested, is often referred to as „unearned income,“ because, it is claimed, you have not worked for these dividends and therefore they are „unearned“ and are viewed by some with disdain, as if this income had been earned somehow dishonestly.

Those who use this terminology simply reveal their political ideology and their total lack of understanding of the meaning of this accounting term, or of how the economy in a free society works, should work, must work.

Back to the wasteful disposal of Tax revenues:

Austria, a country of about 84,000 sq.km has, in fact, nine (9) different Provincial governments.

From the two smallest „Provinces“ Vorarlberg with 2,600 sq.km. and 376,000 inhabitants and Burgenland with 3,962 sq.km and 287,600 inhabitants to the two largest Provinces, being „Lower Austria“ with 19,186 sq.km and 1,629,000 inhabitants and Styria, with 16,400 sq.km and 1,217,000 inhabitants. Then there is Vienna, Capital City of the Country, also enjoying Provincial Status.

Each of the 9 Provinces ( Bundesländer ) of course has a fully functioning, democratically elected government, including opposition parties and all that this entails.

I therefore recommend an amalgamation of Vorarlberg, Tyrol, Salzburg, Carinthia and Upper Austria into, let's call it, Austria West, and Styria, Lower Austria and the Burgenland into „Austria East“, two units of about equal size in area and population.

Vienna must remain a separate political entity in order to govern the country as a whole in an impartial manner.

Voila, we now have two separate units, each with Provincial Status, instead of nine.

Two democratically elected Provincial Governments instead of nine, plus one Federal Government in Vienna. ( Bundesregierung )

In fact, Vienna could be governed by its mayor and would not need a Premier (Landeshauptmann).

The reduction in administrative cost, together with the increased efficiency would be well worth the hurt feelings, for instance of the Vorarlbergers who would find themselves in the same administrative and electoral compound with the Tyrolians. Their „hurt feelings“ would heal in a minute, when they realize that because of this amalgamation they now pay less in taxes.

I know that this will never happen, but it's fun to consider the implications.

An economic expert should figure out the degree of long range TAX REDUCTION this would make possible.

All the now redundant personnel could be sent home with full pay, until they reach retirement age, or find other employment.

No-one would suffer, everyone would gain.

I understand that culturally a Tyroler, will always remain a Tyroler, a person from Salzburg will for ever remain a „Salzburger“. 

I am not speaking of the elimination of cultural differences.

These are a part of what makes Austria such an interesting country.

I am speaking of the simplified administration of the country.

Two „Provincial Governments“ and their Premiers, and Ministers, their offices and their staff, instead of Nine.

Two of absolutely everything, instead of Nine

The potential savings would boggle the mind.

Compared to Austria, the approximately 10 times more populous country of Germany could have 90 Provinces ! It makes do with 16!

Or, put it another way: If Germany can govern 81 Million people within 16 Provinces, then Austria's population of 8.5 Million should be able to be governed within fewer than 2 Provinces. My example above provides for a generous 2 Provincial Governments.

Now, having examined the body of Government and its inherent wastefulness, let us look at  „Subsidies“ . 

In some ways, subsidies are necessary because, in certain cases, they enliven an activity which is beneficial to the country, and which otherwise would wither on the vine. These cases, however, are extremely rare and therefore subsidies should only be extended with great caution. 

Reading a list of them, as they exist now, could make an average taxpayer break out in a cold sweat of anger.

If you would like to see the never ending list, just of Farm Subsidies, go to Google and enter:

AustriaFarmSubsidy.Org.

You will read a staggering list, page upon page, headed by „Rauch Fruchtsäfte GmbH“, a recipient of at least 20 Million Euros in three tranches. Can the leading fruit juice producer not survive in an open market, without dipping in the public cash box to the tune of 20 Millions ?

Is there something I do not understand ? Please explain it to me..

This „Farm Subsidies List“ shows at the very top the following head line:

295.5 Billion Euros (that's Billion with a „B“) paid to 23,110,639 recipients, including amounts paid in 2013

( the year 2014 is not yet accounted for )

Fundamental changes in the Government structure and a radical trimming of Subsidies alone could lower the burden on the long suffering tax payer.

I know full well, that this is never ever going to happen. 

If Austria cannot decide to amalgamate five weather services into one, it surely will not be able to do what I suggested herein.

It was fun thinking about it and imagining what might happen to the economy of Austria if every dollar saved would result in a tax reduction. This money would flow into new and expanded enterprises, providing uncountable new work places.

A lean, mean working machine...

Bertstravels

likes to dream.

P.S. Similar comments could be written  about most other countries.

Althofen...

... is a small town in Carinthia, famous for its Rehabilitation Centre.
Christin, having spent a terrible year with failing health has already spent one week and will spend another two weeks there. She will receive Physiotherapy of all kinds to strengthen her musculature.
I have visited her three times already and will do so again. While there we had lunch and the next time dinner together in one of the Institutes's dining rooms. The quality of the food, served by competent and friendly staff is at least of the 4 star variety.
Their reputation for medical success is international.
So, I thought I will let you see a few images of the town of Althofen (from a distance ) and the 
Rehab Center itself.

The "Humanomed Rehabilitation Centre"

in the town of Althofen features a fabulous location

and superb facilities, including swimming pool

and a variety of gymnasia.

Staffed by medical specialists.

Close by is the sleepy little town of Althofen. 

MOTHER LOVE

Most mammals show what we, the human mammal,  would call "love" toward their off-spring.
It may not be "love" in the traditional sense. It probably is a programmed reflex, insuring the survival of the species. Maybe even our  "human emotion"  is also just a programmed reflex.
I don't know. I just think about it now and then.

When I see this behaviour in the wild, which seemingly has nothing to do with "the survival of the species" but in which the mother shows a patience and devotion to its babies which comes close to our concept of Love, I begin to wonder....

A mother Cheetah and her babies in the Serengeti, Tanzania.

Mother Love ? Mother Patience ?

So, what else is new in Austria ?

Winston Churchill is reported to have said this:

Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.

Some time ago I wrote about the number of Government operated Health Insurance Schemes.

If I remember correctly, there are something like 12 of them. One for each of the Provinces,

one for Civil Servants, one for Farmers and God only knows for what else.

In a small country of about 8 Million inhabitants, ONE Health Insurance Organisation should suffice. Can you imagine the amount of money which could be saved through a combining of all twelve into one ?

In today's Newspaper they tell me that Austria has, believe it or not, 4 different Government operated „Weather Services“.

There is the „Central Office for Metereology“, there is „Austrocontrol“, as well as „Weatherservice of the Armed Forces“ and finally there is „Meteoserve“.

In 1996, fully 19 years ago, the „Rechnungshof“ who functions as the watch dog of Government expenditures suggested that an amalgamation of the four existing into one meterological service would suffice for a small country, the size of Austria, and would save about 23 Million Euros per annum.

However, instead of instigating such efficiency, the staff of the four services has grown since 1996 and an amalgamation would likely save even more tax-euros than projected.

Such a grotesque condition clearly shows the Government's inability and/or unwillingnes to reform.

One of my neighbours, Mr X, whom I met this morning in the coffe shop, when I asked him about this waste of tax-euros, looked at me sadly, shrugged his shoulders and said: „What can you do ? These are all former politicians, or friends of politicians who occupy leadership chairs in those institutes. They will not relinquish their cushy jobs without a fight. Why should they ?“

Mr X is a very intelligent man, who knows full well, that this over population of Civil Servants permeates each and every one of all Government Departments, and that, if a thorough reform would take place, taxes could be lowered substantially. (High end of Taxes at present ranges at about 50%)

Mr X also is a typical Austrian: Friendly, kind, honest,

He also has, in his treasury of sayings two which are typically Austrian:

1. Do muas was g'schehn ! ( something must be done about this )
   and the seemingly contradictory:
2. Do kannst nix machen ! ( there is nothing you can do about this )

( Please do not search for the German quoted here in any dictionary, since I've spelled them the way they sound in Carinthia and several other localities.)

If the above quoted waste of tax-euros were the only one, Austria would be in fine financial condition.

Unfortunately, this practice permeates throughout all government levels.

Bertstravels

coluld tell you many more such instances of wanton treatment of the tax payers.

A thirsty Lion

After having eaten a whole Warthog a Lion gets mighty thirsty.
Warthogs must be very spicy meat.
We watched this King of the Beasts for half an hour and you could hear the noise of his slurping right up to our land-cruiser.

In rapid succession he sticks his rough tongue into the water

 and thereby draws the liquid into his mouth. 

It's no wonder that it takes quite a while to quench a mighty thirst.

Having finished his drink, "Shumba" eyes us with some suspicion.

A failed attempt.

I tried to post a video on this Blog. Unfortunately it does not seem to work.
The video shows the opening image, but refuses to move.
Sorry, I would have had several good videos.

Bertstravels

SILVER

Congratulations to Team Canada.
In the Alpine World Championships only the powerful Austrian Team was able to defeat
Team Canada.
With a Silver Medal in the "Nations Cup" the Maple Leaf waves proudly.

Bertstravel
was nervous to the end.

The Two Faces of HSBC

This past Monday I wrote to you about the unquestionable, indisputable, astonishing in depth degree of honesty of HSBC. 
I told you that it is the second richest bank in all the world with gazillions of Dollars, Euros, Pounds
etc on deposit from untold oodles of depositors.
And, most important, I told you that they admitted "in writing" that they owed me money and that I could have it back simply by calling them or writing them a letter.
This debt is at the very least over 10 years old and must have accumulated substantial interest by now.
I had forgotten that I have a credit balance in my HSBC MasterCard account.
Fortunately, HSBC did not forget and with this unfathomable degree of honesty they offered to re-imburse me.

What do I read in today's Newspaper ?
I cannot believe such an accusation: It is claimed that they assisted thousands of depositors to evade Taxes, which they ( the depositors )  would have had to pay to their own Governments.
Apparently we are talking about BILLIONS  of Dollars owed to various European countries.
And, so it is claimed, HSBC set up its modus operandi specifically to the end effect to assist Tax evaders from various countries to cheat their own folk.
We are talking here about simple individuals, corporations, drug dealers, money launderers, crime-syndicates and who knows what other nefarious shady customers.

If you read today's papers, listen to the News casts on radio and television today and surely for the next little while and compare this to HSBC's offer to send me a refund of my credit, you will end up shaking your head in disbelief. 
Who is HSBC ? Saint or Sinner ?
The Titan of Integrity, a Saint ?,  or the Financial Devil Incarnate ?

Bertstravels
can only shrug his shoulders and/or shake his wise old head.

H S B C

These initials stand for the "Hongkong Shanghai Banking Corporation".
It is the World's second largest Bank, and  has in excess of 2.671 Trillion Dollars. 
(that's Trillions) on deposit from over 60 million  customers.

More than 10 years ago, I was one of those customers and my deposit there formed a part of the total deposits, too tiny to measure or too insignificant to express in numbers. 
Yet today I received a letter from their office in Montreal, a letter, opened by me with some trepidation and wildest expectations.

What could it be ? 
Did I win the "Least Important Customer" Award ? 
Or could it be that they found an error in one of my transactions, which, with compound interest now amounts to a huge sum ?
Which I owe them ?
Or they owe me ?

The envelope carried, in red capital letters this bilingual imprint:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ENCLOSED  * RENSEIGNEMENTS IMPORTANTS A L'INTERIEUR


With somewhat shaking hands I opened this ominous looking envelope.
Then I put it down on the top of my desk.
For a few minutes I could not get myself to remove the content (one sheet of paper) from the torn envelope.

I poured myself a glass of good wine. A Chardonnay from the Napa Valley, which I had kept for just such an occasion. I first took a little sip of the wine, then, in one fell swoop I emptied the whole glass.
Then I leaned back in my swivel chair and slowly I withdrew this thrice folded sheet of paper.
With eyes closed, I held it tenderly between thumbs and first fingers of both hands.

I swallowed hard and slowly I began to read:

Dear Egbert H Reitter,
(so far, so good.. they knew my First Name, my middle initial and spelled my name with 2 ts )

This surely was a promising beginning and, as it behoves a British Banking Corporation they came right to the crux, the point, the issue of this entire mega transaction:

... and then the opening sentence, which must be the opening sentence of every letter, ever written by any banker:

"A review of our records show...."

Ha! I caught them at a grammatical error. so, if they want Zillions of Dollars from me, I can prolong the issue ad infinitum, due to such a glaring mistake:
"A revue" is singular... there was evidently just one revue...  therefore it should be: "shows"...
with an "s" at the end of "show". ( third person singular )
I breathed a little easier. Any Corporation, even a bank, even the second largest bank in the world, if it can make such a mistake, can be defeated. 

I rolled up my shirt sleeves, ready to do battle.

Then I read on and it became evident to me that nobody, but absolutely nobody ( with the possible exception of a Banker ) would believe me: I decided right then and there to photograph this letter and the envelope and post it here as proof of the absolute integrity and honesty of HSBC, the second largest bank in the entire world... with ZigZillions of Dollars on deposit from "a whole bunch of people like you and me" as well as from super large Corporations !

Back to the letter:

A review of our records show(!) that there is a credit balance of $0.01 on your HSBC Master Card account, which has been inactive for some time.
To request a refund, you can contact us by phone at 1-866-406-4722 or write to us at the following address.
HSBC Bank Canada
PO Box 100
Station M
Montreal, Quebec
H1V 3L6

We appreciate your time and hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely


Edgar Barbosa.
Head of Credit Cards and Unsecured Lending
HSBC Bank Canada.

Can you imagine ? The world's second largest Bank with untold Zillions of $$$ on deposit, serving 60 Million customers in 6600 branches, all over the world... owes me money.
They do business in the USA, Canada, Mexico, in every country in south America, including Fire Island (?)
in Africa, ( I know that they are present in Kenia, Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa, because I have seen their offices in these places ) of course in every country in Europe and everywhere in Asia as well as Australia....   did I forget anybody or have I mentioned every nook and cranny in the world ? 
This Bank, which is the second largest in the w.....
owes me money ! Sure it's only one miserable Cent, but... they admit that they owe me money...

Anyway, they are everywhere and therefore they cannot escape me.
I've got them cornered. 
If they won't pay up in Austria, I will serve them a writ of collection in Zimbabwe when next I go there....   or in Canada, I'll be there all of July...
I shall follow them into the remotest corner of this globe.

You hear ? HSBC !

You cannot escape... you might as well give up and send me the $0.01 by certified cheque....
or deliver it in CASH to Bleiburg in Lower Carinthia...  that's right next to a place called Raune in Slovenia.

Bertstravels
is prepared to accept Euros, Can$  or US$... no Rubels please.

the images above and below are genuine documents

received yesterday. Sent by HSBC at a cost of about $2.00.

Mona - translated -

A stunning multitude of my readers , well some of them, actually my daughter, demanded that I translate the Poems about Mona Lisa, which appear below in German, into English.
I attempted to do this and thereby confirmed a discovery, made many years ago.
I cannot just decide to "sit down and write a poem or an essay".
When i do this it normally comes out a bit stilted and with little flow.

The Originals, in German and in English, flowed without effort as a consequence of a discussion.
The translations below.....     well, let's say ...  well, let's say nothing...  it's better that way.

The Painter and his hungry Model.

Lenny mixes white and black

while Mona's looking for a snack.

What is this constant cry of hunger?

Lenny asks with look of anger

The painting hasn't started yet

you want already to be fed

I did not bring you cheeze and bread.

Come back next week on Wed-nes-day

when I shall cook with much Hurray

„Last Supper“ showing food and drink

a work of art, in just a blink.

The Gap

A little smile ! Yes ! Just like that!

I'd rather paint you with no hat.

Close your lips! Your teeth, don't show them

the gap in front could be a problem

Thus spake Lenny in Verona

to his model called just „Mona“.

This simply expresses 

Bertstravels

suspicion that Mona Lisa was well on her way of getting fat through over-eating and that she had lost a tooth and the rest were rotten due to a case of scurvy.

Mona Lisa

A little while ago we had a conversation about the origin, or better, the reason for the creation of some of the major works of art. Inevitably the question of Mona Lisa's smile came up.
I think that any consideration of Mona Lisa's smile, (or is it a smirk?)  is a silly mental excersice in futility.
After all, I mean, who cares ? There she is and she smiles. Why should she frown ? It's not a terrible thing that's happening to her. She sits still for a few hours and gets her portait painted, and gets told by the artist, who isn't exactly an unknown amateur painter either, that she is absolutely beautiful and that her beauty is beyond compare.... and ladidadida...
He's Leonardo da Vinci, who even at the time of this painting was a famous artist, and I am sure was promised a big fat fee from Mona's husband, a rich merchant in Verona.

Anyway, this conversation urged me to write two or three little didis, which I want to let you read also.

The painter and the Model

Smile, for heaven's sake

don't always frown,

your angry looks

they get me down!

Don't laugh, don't grin

just smile a bit !

But also, do not stiffly sit!

You look as if you're in a Coma

So Lenny, said to Mona.

Der Maler und das hungrige Model

Lenny beugt sich über die Palette

und Mona gern ein Sandwich hätte.

Was ist's mit Dir und Hungerschrei ?

Kaum fängt sie an, die Malerei,

und schon verlangst Du was zum Essen

und ich hab Wurst und Brot vergessen.

Du musst hier sein, Mittwoch nächster Woche

weil dann, mit vielem Drum und Dran

Das „Letzte Abendmahl“ ich koche.

Die Scharte

Ein kleines Schmunzeln waere gut.

Ah, ich mal dich lieber ohne Hut!

Zeig nur die Zaehne nicht beim Lachen.

Die Lücke könnt uns Sorgen machen.

So sprach Lenny in Verona

zur Bürgersfrau mit Namen „Mona“


I am sorry, but the best are both written in German and therefore probably not understandable by my English speaking followers.
Particularly the last of the three, called "The Gap" explains the reason for her enigmatic smile.
She had one of her front teeth missing.
So now you know the secret.
Leonardo da Vinci was not a competent dentist.

so surmises
Bertstravels.

Some Like It Hot

It's still snowing off and on and it stops only when the temperature drops.
It's cold and the damn snow has to be shoveled from the sidewalk in front of the house.
I really do not like it.
Actually, I absolutely hate it.

I am watching the Australian Tennis Open.
Djokovitch and Andy Murray are in the Final.
After every exchange they wipe the sweat off their faces with towels handed to them by young attendants. They just toss the towels back and never say "thank you"...

I wish I could go outside and be hot, hot, hot... but outside it is cold, cold, cold.
So I seek refuge in some pictures which were taken in warmer climes and at warmer times.
In fact, it was outright sizzling then, and I liked it a lot better than the cold of today and yesterday and likely tomorrow.

So come with me to South-Eastern Zimbabwe, to the almost dry river bed of the Runde.
The sun is blazing from a cloudless sky.
A family of Impala find refreshment in the narrow, shallow rinnsal.
When a herd of buffalo appears, you see the dust cloud first.

to enjoy these pictures you had best view them in the largest possible format.

A small group of male Impala

 find water in a puddle of the Runde river.

Our guide, Ant, and John, my friend and travel companion

also seek refreshment in the less than knee deep water of the Runde.

(I think the hat on a stick in the r/l corner looks funny.)

At first you see dust rising above the bushes.

Then a herd of buffalo appears.

15 to 25 animals first then slowly 50 more until

finally we counted over 250 heads of  'Cape Buffalo'

During the wet season the Runde is a considerable river.

The dry season changes it into a rinnsal.