"Germany under a white blanket"

Winter | Germany | 2010-12

After celebrating XMAS 2010 in Berlin we took the ICE train to return to Ubstadt. Here are some pics from the trip. Note that the pics were taken through the ICE windows during a speed from about 200 km/h (125 mph).

"XMAS 2010 in icy Berlin"

XMAS | Berlin | Germany | 2010-12

The whole december 2010 will get into the german anuals as the month with the big snow. After being in Vienna I flew directly to Berlin (luckily during a period where planes could start and land). And so here are the results of some walks through winter wonderland.

"Where Sissi met Franz"

Schoenbrunn Palace | Vienna | Austria | 2010-12

The Palace Schoenbrunn is Vienna's most popular tourist destination, attended by 2,467,000 visitors in 2009. The whole Schoenbrunn complex with Tiergarten Schoenbrunn, Palmenhaus, Wuestenhaus and the Wagenburg, accounted for more than five million visitors. Palace Schoenbrunn is one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria.

"A warm place in a cold surrounding"

Palmenhaus Schoenbrunn | Vienna | Austria | 2010-12

The Palmenhaus Schönbrunn is a large greenhouse in Vienna, Austria, featuring plants from around the world. Opened in 1882, it is the most prominent of the four greenhouses in Schönbrunn Palace Park. It is also among the largest botanical exhibits of its kind in the world, with around 4,500 plant species.

"The illumination of an old era"

Nighttime | Vienna | Austria | 2010-12

Some days before Christmas 2010 the nights in Vienna were very cold and frozen. So taking pictures was a very sportive moment. Nevertheless I shoot some nice pics from the inner city of Vienna.

"When you have taken the 71" - Part 2

Zentralfriedhof | Vienna | Austria | 2010-12

Opened in 1874 the cemetery spans 2.4 square kilometres with 3.3 million interred here. It is also second largest cemetery, after Hamburg's Ohlsdorf Cemetery (more than 4 km²), by area and largest by number of interred in Europe. The most popular route to the cemetery using public transport is the electric tram numbered "71". Among the Viennese, a popular euphemism for a death is that the deceased person "has taken the 71".

"When you have taken the 71" - Part 1

Zentralfriedhof | Vienna | Austria | 2010-12

Opened in 1874 the cemetery spans 2.4 square kilometres with 3.3 million interred here. It is also second largest cemetery, after Hamburg's Ohlsdorf Cemetery (more than 4 km²), by area and largest by number of interred in Europe. The most popular route to the cemetery using public transport is the electric tram numbered "71". Among the Viennese, a popular euphemism for a death is that the deceased person "has taken the 71".

"The most famous ferris wheel in the World"

Riesenrad | Prater | Vienna | Austria | 2010-12

The Wiener Riesenrad (German for "Viennese giant wheel") is a Ferris wheel at the entrance of the Prater amusement park in Leopoldstadt, the 2nd district of Austria's capital Vienna. It is now one of Vienna's most popular tourist attractions. The Riesenrad was one of the earliest Ferris wheels, erected in 1897 to celebrate Emperor Franz Josef I's golden Jubilee, and has an overall height of 64.75 meters (212.4 ft).

"Christmas Market in wonderful Surroundings"

Town Hall | Vienna | Austria | 2010-12

The Rathaus (Town Hall) was designed by Friedrich von Schmidt in the Gothic style, and built between 1872 and 1883. On the top of the tower is the Rathausmann, one of the symbols of Vienna. Facing the Rathaus is a large park, the Rathauspark, in which every advent there is a large well-known Christmas Market.

"... can be seen on the 20-Euro-Cent from Austria"

Belvedere | Vienna | Austria | 2010-12

The Baroque palace complex was built as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy. The extensive Belvedere complex consists of two magnificent Baroque palaces the Upper and Lower Belvedere, the Orangery, and the Palace Stables. The buildings are set in a stunning Baroque park landscape in the 3rd district of Vienna, south-east of the city centre.

"Being Guest in Mozart City"

Mix | Vienna | Austria | 2010-12

Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.7 million, more than 25% of Austria's population, and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre. It is the 10th-largest city by population in the European Union. Vienna is host to many major international organizations, such as the United Nations and OPEC.