This Window

Mondays in Paris ::: Paris in the Fall

2011-11-07T21:45:00.000+01:00

We spent most of your weekend just walking around

and taking in our favorite spots -

all with a completely new look to me,

as I was lucky enough to spend some of spring and summer there,

but never fall.

Let me tell you,

it is just as lovely now

with grey skies and golden leaves

as it was when the flowers were out

and the sun was still going strong.

I'm sure this doesn't surprise you.

I hope you have a great start to the new week!

Friday in Paris ::: On the Road

2011-10-28T10:54:00.001+02:00

This post should actually be titled

Friday on the way to Paris

because I am about to get into the car

and drive off...

... to Paris.

My boyfriend's time there is up

and we are going on a roadtrip

to get his things.

If our internet cooperates,

the next Monday in Paris

will be live.

:-)

Berlin Moments

2011-10-26T13:12:00.001+02:00

This time in Berlin was a bit different,

as sightseeing was mostly replaced by

time spent with friends

busily chatting away,

catching up on all that's been going on

and swooning over

a former classmate's new baby.

So the pictures I have for you today

are just a few quick impressions

from along the way...

Remember Glücklich am Park?

This time we stopped by its sister café

Kauf dich Glücklich

which means "Buy yourself happy."

I'm not so sure about buying happiness,

but sitting in this adorable café,

sipping hot drinks with friends

and telling our stories

definitely made all of us happy.

As did the fun little touches,

like selling

"Nothing!"

for 0 Euros

and a lounge area by the toilet.

Walking along the streets of Berlin

there is never a dull moment

and I discovered this sweet

question on a wall:

"When will you finally kiss me?"

Someone added the answer beneath in the red heart:

"Now."

Berlin Is Waiting

2011-10-20T17:55:00.000+02:00

I am off to Berlin today!

A reunion with my

best friends from high school awaits,

lucky me.

In the meantime,

here are some other Berlin posts of mine.

*******

Mondays in Paris

will be a few days late next week,

I hope you won't mind

a Thursday or Friday in Paris instead.

Have a lovely weekend!

Mondays in Paris ::: Reading Material

2011-10-17T22:27:00.000+02:00

It's that time of year

that makes you want to

curl up with a good book.

So why not do that in Paris for today?

Have a wonderful Monday

and a great week!

Mondays in Paris ::: Je suis désolée.

2011-10-10T23:41:00.000+02:00

Sacre bleu,

it's Monday already?

Where did the last week go?

I'm sorry,

all I have to offer today is a sweet spring rose

and a view of the Pont des Arts...

Have a great start to your week!

Mondays in Paris ::: A Quick Walk

2011-10-03T23:24:00.000+02:00

Monday has arrived once again,

the sun is shining

and all I want to do is stroll through

beautiful neighborhoods.

So today I have a simple post

with a few favorite Paris moments.

I am dreaming of

favorite boutiques

merry-go-rounds

those omnipresent chestnut trees

white and beige facades

colorful store fronts

beauty in the everyday

yellow roses, blue fences

striped umbrellas

and that rooftop balcony in the sun.

Have a lovely Monday,

I hope you enjoy this first week of October!

Please click on each picture

to continue today's Paris journey.

Mondays in Paris ::: Bird's Eye View

2011-09-26T12:14:00.000+02:00

Another weekend has come and gone

and I thought we'd spend this Monday

floating above Paris,

on top of the Eiffel Tower.

Enjoy the views!

By the way,
it is not only the breathtaking views
that await you at the top...

*******

Happy Monday,

I wish you a great start to your week!

*******

Bidding Summer Farewell

2011-09-25T22:09:00.001+02:00

September has treated us well

and given us the gift of a perfect last month of summer.

So even though the calendar has welcomed fall

and that cozy autumn feeling is arriving bit by bit,

yesterday we enjoyed one more day of blissful summer.

*******

Ilmitz by Lake Neusiedl,

Burgenland

September 2011

Mondays in Paris ::: La Tour Eiffel

2011-09-19T11:31:00.001+02:00

Today's Monday dreams

are of Paris' most famous monument,

with its intricate details,

it is the perfect backdrop to just about anything.

It seems like no matter where you are in Paris,

the Eiffel Tower is bound to pop up at some point

and one is always happy to discover it yet again.

I am saving the views from the top

for another Monday excursion.

I hope you have a wonderful week,

it's starting to feel very much like fall here in Vienna.

Please click on each picture

to continue today's Paris journey.

Coffee Break

2011-09-16T18:26:00.001+02:00

A good morning coffee

and the cake I am still dreaming about.

Tuesday in Enns,

Upper Austria

Mondays in Paris ::: The Sky's the Limit

2011-09-12T16:16:00.000+02:00

"Look at the sky..."

Obeying the street art

can really pay off.

Happy Monday,

I hope you have a lovely week!

Click on each picture

to continue today's Paris journey!

Mondays in Paris

2011-09-05T12:56:00.002+02:00

Sometimes, Mondays make me want to

hop on a bike and drive off into the distance.

Sometimes all you want to do,

is fly away to foreign places.

And since I still have lots of Paris memories to share,

I've decided to take you here ...

on Mondays.

So come away with me,

close your eyes and relax for a moment,

treat yourself to your favorites,

and let your thoughts take you on a quick journey to this magical city

that is Paris.

Have a lovely Monday

and a great start to the new week!

*******

Rue Saint-Antoine

Arc de Triomphe

View of Notre Dame from the Seine

Boutique Les Touristes

Paris Metro

Champs de Mars

Music by the Seine

A quick espresso

Café Coquelicot in Montmarte

Ladurée

Parc de Bercy

Click on each picture

to continue today's Paris journey.

Lake Views...By Night

2011-08-31T10:13:00.000+02:00

- Rowing by moonlight -

Wolfgangsee

July 2011

Lake Views

2011-08-29T22:13:00.000+02:00

These views keep me coming back...

*******

Wolfgangsee

July 2011

Where I spent four weeks

working for my favorite summer camp

with 400 amazing kids :-)

Summer Simplicity

2011-08-25T18:21:00.001+02:00

After a beautiful spring,

summer has been tricky here in Austria.

Weeks of chilliness and rain for most of July,

followed be sweltering heat this week,

just as everyone was getting ready

to say goodbye to the season.

I spent the chilly weeks at my beloved Wolfgangsee,

followed by vacation days in the French Provence

and a quick weekend stop in Paris.

No matter where I am,

no matter what the weather holds in store,

it's the little things that make each day and each season

perfect just the way it is.

*******

Vienna and Graz

August 2011

Summer White

2011-06-30T11:54:00.001+02:00

*******

Vienna

June 2011

I like Vienna, too.

2011-06-29T17:05:00.002+02:00

I love Paris,

and there are many more pictures to come.

But Vienna is quite nice, too.

Volksgarten, Vienna

May 2011

Not Paris

2011-06-06T10:45:00.001+02:00

Mont Saint Michel

It may look very grey,

but it was perfect.

*******

May 7th, 2011

Le Fin

2011-05-28T16:17:00.001+02:00

One last stroll through our neighborhood,

one last treat,

the last few glimpses of the sights,

a last sunset walk along the Seine
and across Pont Neuf.

A perfect last day,

a perfect last evening,
the perfect ending
to six dreamlike weeks.

Paris, I miss you already.

Two Days

2011-05-18T09:42:00.000+02:00

Two days,

that is all I have left

here in Paris.

So I will leave you with some evening sun,

as I head out for some last discoveries.

Parisian Peony Mystery

2011-05-12T20:06:00.000+02:00

I almost went inside to ask if these belonged to anyone.

I could have given them a great home.

Jour de Marché

2011-05-08T07:00:00.003+02:00

A tiny glimpse of what is offered at

Marché Bastille,

which is full of delicious and beautiful treats

and the perfect place

to practice one's French,

as everything is labelled.

Favorite new word:

la pivoine

Autant en emporte le vent

2011-05-07T00:10:00.001+02:00

Gone with the wind.

*******

Rue Neuve Saint-Pierre

4e arrondissement

Macaron Daydreams

2011-05-05T21:49:00.002+02:00

How about some May daydreams from Ladurée?

Spring green and whimsical lilac,

what more could you ask for?

And the best part is,

you can actually go inside!

No need to stay infront of the windows and stare and dream,

if you want a taste.

And THEN...

... then you get to order some for yourself.

My pick:

chocolat, café, pistache et caramel fleur de sel,

each one more delicious than the last.

Here is my conclusion:

I am sure that Café Diglas and Café Demel wouldn't mind

a new neighbor in Vienna.

Something to consider, don't you think, Ladurée?

********

Thank you, Merisi, for the treat!

:-)

Views from the Promenade Plantée

2011-04-30T21:08:00.000+02:00

*******

La Promenade Plantée

is a lovely elevated park

on an abandoned 19th-century railway viaduct.

As you can see,

the views include the perfect combination of

old and new buildings

with quite a bit of greenery added in.

Images are in the order in which I took them...

Paris Moments

2011-04-26T00:32:00.001+02:00

Happy Easter :: Joyeuses Pâques :: Frohe Ostern

2011-04-24T11:55:00.000+02:00

These Windows

2011-04-22T22:54:00.001+02:00

I can't help but notice

the little touches

that Parisians add to their windows.

Jardin du Luxembourg

2011-04-19T21:10:00.001+02:00

Des fleurs,

des enfants,

des bateaux,

le soleil.

Aujourd'hui.

Walking

2011-04-18T19:15:00.001+02:00

Come along with me
on my second stroll through Paris,

which includes

some people watching,

a stop at the Centre Pompidou,

interesting discoveries,

April flowers,

and the first glimpse

of more sights to see.

******

Last Wednesday

in Paris

In the Springtime...

2011-04-13T21:00:00.000+02:00

Getting to know the neighborhood.

4e arrondissement

*******

Surprise, it's Paris.

For 6 weeks.

With a new camera.

This is going to be fun.

The Promised Snow

2011-03-04T23:18:00.000+01:00

Let's pretend it's not March yet.

Let's pretend I haven't neglected my blog for months.

Let's pretend we're still in the winter mood.

Hey, at least I keep my promises, right?

The End of Fall

2010-11-28T22:57:00.001+01:00

Since it's snowing outside at this very moment,

I figured it's time

to quickly share some fall impressions

before the wintery images appear.

More to Dream About

2010-09-18T21:40:00.015+02:00

Old town Ribeira,

views of the river,

a waterfront dinner,

strolling across that towering bridge,

delicious port wine,

charm around every corner.

Porto, Portugal

August 2010

Do Fun Stuff

2010-08-30T15:00:00.005+02:00

Do Fun Stuff is a kids record for parents - music for kids that will not drive their parents crazy. Great idea, right? Not only is this great music, but 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this album goes to a grant fund established with PRISMS. The money will be made available to grad students who wish to make Smith Magenis Syndrome (a rare genetic disorder) their field of choice, the benefit of this is more hard research being done, which leads to more case studies, which leads to more answers for parents and researchers.

This whole initiative was started by Ryan Marshall, married to the lovely Cole whose six-year-old has Smith Magenis Syndrome. Please join in to help by buying this album on iTunes or making a donation.

PS: If you'd like a cool widget like this of your own, click where it says "Share the Widget".

PPS: Somehow, I can't get the widget to fit, but the most important part is down there in the bottom left corner: "Buy this album on iTunes." ;-)

You can also visit their website at www.dofunstuff.net

Dreamy Lisbon

2010-08-28T18:56:00.001+02:00

Pastel houses

Hearts on walls

Hilltop cafes

Rickety trams

Blissful Pasteis

Ocean breeze

Sun on your skin

Did I dream it all?

Lisbon, Portugal

August 2010

Summer Escapes

2010-08-22T20:33:00.009+02:00

Two days.

Two bikes.

100 km.

One idea:

Bike helmet

with integrated camera.

I wish.

*****

June 2010

Wachau

Berlin

2010-07-30T17:00:00.000+02:00

In 2007

I fell in love with Berlin.

Three years later,

I was finally back

for a much too short weekend trip.

I am still in love.

The soccer World Cup

(or as we call it in German: WM)

was going strong,

and Germany still had high hopes.

When a game was on,

the entire city watched, captivated.

I have vowed

that I will not let three years pass

before I go back.

******

For more Berlin posts, click

here

and

here.

Summer evenings...

2010-07-29T19:20:00.000+02:00

... there are never enough of them.

Vienna

June 2010

Enjoying Summer

2010-07-28T23:11:00.001+02:00

I Have No Excuse For This

2010-07-22T18:36:00.003+02:00

I don't know what happened.

I blinked,

and then it was the end of July.

I'm going to blame it on life.

I'll try to get back on track now.

Upper Austria

Mother's Day 2010

Hi!

2010-05-05T23:06:00.002+02:00

By the Sea

2010-03-31T07:00:00.000+02:00

Early March

Charleston, South Carolina

Time, It Flies

2010-03-29T16:07:00.008+02:00

Spring is here -

which means it's time

for me to head back to Austria.

Today.

Has it really been three months?

Evening Light

2010-03-14T11:17:00.000+01:00

Washington, DC - February 2010

Washington Monument

Jefferson Memorial

Tidal Basin

New York Minute

2010-03-12T22:59:00.014+01:00

New York on Valentine's Day weekend.

New York Public Library

The original Winnie-the-Pooh and friends

Chrysler Building

Austrian Cultural Forum

Top of the Rock

Staten Island Ferry

United Nations

Central Park

Levain Bakery

And So It Snows

2010-02-06T22:03:00.003+01:00

It snowed yesterday.

It snowed last night.

And it snowed some more today.

They called it Snowmageddon.

It was the perfect excuse to head out on skis,

to play tackle football infront of the Washington Monument,

and for a giant snowball fight

on the National Mall.

Some went for a stroll down Constitution Avenue,

while others stuck to skis and snowshoes.

Either way,

the wintry views were lovely.

And to top it all off:

Sledding by the Capitol.

They don't call it The Hill for nothing.

Great Giveaway!

2010-02-05T01:43:00.003+01:00

Just wanted to let you know that there is a great giveaway going on at the Creature Comforts blog. You could win a Fuji Instax Mini Camera or an SLR Sloop Camera Bag. For details and to enter the contest, click here.

Streets of Philadelphia

2010-02-04T23:30:00.001+01:00

Come and take a walk with me.

A long walk.

20 years in Washington, DC and I never made it to Philadelphia.

(Shame on me.)

At least this time it only took me 20 days.

We had a perfect day, perfect weather, a perfect walk.

*****

Fiaker in Philadelphia? * Liberty Hall * inspiring murals * 9th Street * Philly cheese steak * City Hall * LOVE * Philadelphia Museum of Art a.k.a. The Rocky Steps * Rocky himself * evening skyline

DC From Above

2010-02-04T11:30:00.000+01:00

May I present:

The view from the top of

the Old Post Office Tower.

27 and 5

2010-02-03T00:26:00.002+01:00

This past week I celebrated my Golden Birthday and turned 27,

while my humble little blog here turned 5.

Happy Birthday to us!

:-)

Now who can guess from where these pictures were taken?

Hint: Not prison.

Calling DC Home Again

2010-01-20T17:24:00.000+01:00

Guess where I am.

So, I don't think it's hard to figure out that I'm back in Washington, DC.

My boyfriend and I both have internships here

until the end of March.

Three months back in the place where I grew up!

This should be interesting.

These are some picture taken on our first afternoon in the city.

It was very, very cold.

But so nice to be back.

I'm Dreaming

2009-12-24T16:36:00.003+01:00

... of a white Christmas.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas

and a lovely Christmas Eve.

*****

Pictures taken at the Wolfgangsee,

once again.

:-)

Change

2009-12-08T15:10:00.004+01:00

Up until a few months ago, I spent a lot of my time working on the computer, writing my thesis and working at my university job. Now I'm done with my studies and am working somewhere that I enjoy immensely, but that also does not include sitting in front of a computer whatsoever. While I love the interaction with real live people, my blog is suffering. But the next big adventure is coming soon, so hopefully that will inspire me to take more pictures and come back here a bit more often...

*****

Pictures taken on a fall walk

at the end of October.

Wolfgangsee, Austria

Halong Bay

2009-11-16T19:14:00.005+01:00

Needless to say

I didn't want to get off that boat anymore.

Breathtaking Sapa

2009-10-26T19:51:00.009+01:00

We spent two days hiking in Sapa,

a small town in the north of Vietnam,

near the Chinese border.

It was absolutely beautiful,

I think the pictures speak for themselves.

Just For the Record

2009-10-15T17:42:00.001+02:00

It snowed today. Help.

Hello Hanoi

2009-10-10T17:21:00.004+02:00

They really do wear those hats!

Hoan Kiem Lake,

our first bowl of delicious Pho,

sunset from our balcony,

seeking some peace and quiet at the Temple of Literature,

Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum,

and discovering all the things

that can be transported on a motorbike

(hint: anything and everything!).

I am so good at just disappearing...

2009-10-05T16:20:00.007+02:00

September 8th

On the way to Vietnam

Over three weeks later

and all I need to do now is figure out where to start...

PS:

Click on the first picture for Track #1

from the playlist that accompanied us throughout our trip.

Vienna Vacation

2009-09-06T18:40:00.000+02:00

Months ago,

some girlfriends and I planned an August weekend by the lake.

But when the weather decided not to play along,

the six of us met at a lovely little "hostel" in Vienna instead,

also known as my apartment.

I admit that most of those rainy days were spent

in pajamas around our kitchen table,

eating breakfast for hours,

playing games,

eating Indian food that we ordered in,

chatting,

watching movies.

We did manage to leave the apartment

for dinner at a Viennese "Heuriger" and Sunday brunch.

I have to say,

a vacation at home can be quite the luxury.

Summer Times

2009-09-04T16:35:00.001+02:00

Summer is almost over here in Austria,

but I am far from done with sharing my summer memories.

All of these were taken on a hot and hazy day spent at my grandmother's.

Disappearing Brownie

2009-08-27T22:29:00.004+02:00

Ginger brownie

devoured at Hanoi Express

in Vienna

Easing Back Into This

2009-08-25T14:39:00.003+02:00

Tell me, how does this blogging thing work again? I've been gone too long, my friends! But I have to say, I've had a lovely couple of weeks. I think I will go backwards and gradually share some of my summer pictures with you. Here I was enjoying some afternoon coffee and a chat on my friend's lovely new balcony. I'll be back there soon, I can tell you that!

End of an Era

2009-06-19T00:29:00.003+02:00

I spent a lot of the past three years on trains. Almost every week I went from Vienna to Salzburg and back again. Three hours each way. While I hated the constant packing and unpacking, never being in one place for long, leaving people behind in each place - I always, always loved those three hours on the train. Those were six hours each week where I was forced to just sit still for a while and catch my breath. I read, I studied, I wrote my thesis, I looked out the window and daydreamed. And every week that view out the window looked different. There was always something new to spot, the changing seasons to observe. And now, I only have one more trip left. Next Friday will be my final exam and then I will have closed another chapter. For you it may simply mean the end of blurry pictures out the train window, for me it is the end of an era.

*****

On the train from Salzburg to Vienna

June 2009

*****

More train views here, here, here, here, and here.

Sunshine and Storm Clouds

2009-06-07T14:52:00.005+02:00

A week at the lake -

we had a day of sunshine

then lots of wind and rain.

We watched the storms,

we took walks in the rain,

we studied

(with the Emperor watching over us).

And loved every second of it.

******

Wolfgangsee, May 2009

Simplicity

2009-05-28T20:49:00.003+02:00

Not many words today.
I am at my favorite lake,
studying,
it is cold and windy,
and I am still daydreaming about the market.

Sunday Delight

2009-05-24T14:17:00.000+02:00

I couldn't leave the market

without some of these beauties.

I wish you all a lovely Sunday!

Morning Market Snippets

2009-05-23T14:55:00.026+02:00

And a peculiar love story.

Saturday.

Wake up.

Breakfast.

Time for a quick morning twirl.

What is this I spy?

Peonies?

But there's more:

Pumpkins, peonies, potatoes.

Simply delightful.

Next in line.

Waiting.

Preparing.

I keep coming back for more.

Sigh.

She's made her choice

and is ready to go.

Here's an interesting observation:

Peonies and potatoes

seem to have a certain chemistry.

Could it be more than pure coincidence?

Peonies and potatoes,

who knew one could not do without the other?

Plus golden onions.

This should be fun.

And wine.

Don't worry, dear.

We'll find some peonies for you.

Strike a pose.

Why, that green brings out the color of your leaves.

"Peonies? Yes, I've got them.

But they're insisting I bring along potatoes as well."

I'd like some, too, please.

Peonies are overrated.

A good chat and a cool beer,

that's what a Saturday morning needs.

And someone's got to take care of the Schnitzel.

Forget the potatoes, the Schnitzel, the beer,

come home with me.

But it always comes back to the potatoes.

And where there's a potato...

... you know what else will be waiting.

Although I do adore potatoes,

and everyone says true beauty is on the inside,

I'll readily admit

that my heart belongs to peonies.

This morning at Brunnenmarkt,

the farmer's market at

Yppenplatz in Vienna's 16th district.

*****

To see Merisi's perspective

of our morning outing,

visit her over here.

Life Is Good

2009-05-19T14:19:00.005+02:00

My thesis is done!

All that's left to do is study for my final exam

which will be the end of June.

And then:

Lucky me, the summer is going to be amazing.

The newest highlight added to my summer itinerary?

A trip to Vietnam and Cambodia!

Is it summer yet?

One Day Is Not Enough

2009-05-10T20:47:00.003+02:00

Thank you for everything, Mom.

Happy Mother's Day!

PS: I can only reemphasize everything I said here.

Hi. Remember me?

2009-05-04T15:37:00.003+02:00

Life has been crazy busy - but in a good way. I am supposed to hand in my final, corrected and bound thesis next week, I should be studying for my final exam in June, summer preparations are in full swing, I took over kid-duty for my cousin for two days last week and I should maybe, possibly attempt to plan for life after university...So here are some more Italian daydreams in the meantime. My poor camera has been extremely neglected lately!

In Love

2009-04-20T21:39:00.004+02:00

Evening reflections,

musicians who sing about the crowds passing by,

the perfect dinner with perfect friends,

as well as a perfect view,

a little bit of chaos,

many treats and treasures,

things to discover,

delight around every corner,

coffee in the sun.

What more could I possibly need?

*****

Florence, Italy
April 2009

Another Favorite

2009-04-17T10:00:00.000+02:00

Can I keep him?

Looking Up

2009-04-16T11:00:00.000+02:00

Looking up is something you should never forget to do.

Have I mentioned how much I love spring?