Sunday Snapshots - Emerald

Robert Redford once said that tourism is wonderful if you seek places that are unspoiled and expose yourself to the experience of beautiful destinations, yet if all of us do just that it will ruin it for us all.  I guess we all have responsibility when traveling and exploring.
This place has been a jewel for the longest time. Now on weekends you must get in line surrounding the lake behind bus loads of people. Rarely you see it untouched as we did today.

I have never in my life seen such a color in a lake and such visibility! Up to 50 m you can see under water. The water collects here from the snow melt each spring. It almost disappears till autumn. Breathtaking views and a true happy maker.

Oh he know about his looks!

Can you find the three benches on this photo?

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

I observed three male ducks diving for food back side up, when a male and a female duck approached those youngsters took off and gave it a try, if they could win the lady over I cannot tell. But you can see the bold approach and the shy girl taking off with her mate in the pursuit. Could he get rid off the Casanova of a duckling?

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice:
"Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."

John 7:37-38

Magnolia Mania

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

God's gift for a mother is a daughter.
In her face she can see the beauty of youth, the beauty of the love for life 
and the beauty of tenderness of a mother towards her child -
the care she gave continues to live on in her daughters love for her grandchild.

Empty Met Museum of New York

What do you say when one of your close friends invites you to wander through one of the world's most famous museums before opening hours? You say yes. Within seconds. Then you spend the next week not being able to sleep at night. When the day of the tour finally arrived, I walked through the museum left speechless and as if for the very first time. I wish you could all experience the Met while empty, but for now these pictures will have to suffice.

Sunday Snapshots - Spring

As I wandered the forest,
The green leaves among,
I heard a Wild Flower
Singing a song.

'I slept in the earth
In the silent night,
I murmured my fears
And I felt delight. 

'In the morning I went
As rosy as morn,
To seek for new joy;
                                       But oh! met with scorn.'                                      
 William Blake

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink; or about your body,
what you will wear. Is not life more than food,
and the body more than clothes? 
Look at the birds of the air;
they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they?
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
                                                                                                      Matthew 6:25-27

I am the lover's gift; I am the wedding wreath;
I am the memory of a moment of happiness;
I am the last gift of the living to the dead;
I am a part of joy and a part of sorrow.

But I look up high to see only the light,
And never look down to see my shadow.
This is wisdom which man must learn.

                                                                                Khalil Gibran

Spring is a miraculous experience.
The whole world comes alive after the winter
in which it seemed that everything was dead.

The world comes filled with color
and the scent of delicious greenery.
The world that seemed so dull
and cold has come alive once again.
Little did we know that beneath the cold hard ground
the plants and trees were preparing for rebirth.
Spring gives us hope
for rejuvenation in our own lives as well.
Spring is a time to renew the excitement
and zest for life that lives inside.
                                                                                                              by familyfriend Poems

Sunday Snapshots - Vatican City

In order to avoid the crowds that storm Vatican City and especially St Peter's Basilica every day, we got up at 6 am and ended up being the first people climbing to the top of the dome. The light was still slanted creating a beautiful haze for these pictures. Standing at the top of the dome, Rome truly felt like an eternal city, with gorgeous rooftops as far as my eyes could see.

Women make great friends

Because you are special and caring. You inspire me with your kindness and thoughtfulness.
You rock ! Most of all because of each one of you I am able to be strong and confident.
Being around you feels great ! Thank you for sharing and investing in our friendship.

Arlberg - skiing paradise

After many many years of visiting the skiing paradise of the Arlberg, we need to pay it a well deserved tribute.

Among all the celebrities who choose to spend their winter vacation here like Tom Cruise, the Royal British Family, the Royal Dutch family, some Austrian politicians and Hannes Androsch, we feel quite at home here and despite its fame Lech is and will always be a place where one can - with the help of a little extra spending money - enjoy the season at its finest.

It’s posh but not pretentious, chic but not showy.
~ the Independent wrote today

As soon as it snows, the off piste areas will be tried and tested by those knowledgeable of the terrain and when the sun comes out and you and I would like to try the powder off the beaten track we must realize, someone was here before ... Skiing was invented here, this is the birthplace of the best winter sport ever and the Arlberg skiing school is known worldwide for its excellency.

There are skiing instructors, most of them being fluent in broken English :) and the mountain guides, who are allowed to lead one responsibly into the more challenging off piste routes and make one climb over a safety rope or lead their guests for a hike up to the peak after a heated chairlift took them already to the top. The top is not the top, there is more behind the visible. Higher and higher we are prepared to hike up, for the one ride that will make us yodel when our joy is complete, the line we leave behind in the fresh snow looking perfect! It is addictive to cut through the powdery snow - never becoming boring!

In Lech, Zürs and St. Christophen the hotels and restaurants know how to make you feel like royalty and the level of cuisinart is absolulty top here. Our favorite is by far that special place below: The Almhof Schneider and its excellent gastronomy. Being fortunate to be able to stay in one of these prestigious hotels requires a known status of a periodic guest and it is recommended to book the following year when departing. 

Helicopter skiing in Austria is a lot different from the States and Canada. but it is for sure worth a try if you are fit and skilled for the challenge. The best part is when the Helicopter leaves you behind, you look around and that 360° panoramic view of mountain tops and peacefulness leaves you speechless.

The Austrians are funny when it comes to self announced hymns as this one by an our pop legend Wolfgang Ambros. Everyone knows the lyrics and has sung it at least once in their life. It means probably nothing to you but if I would translate it: you will understand the heart of the Austrian.

I just want to ski !

Photos by jsvob, my husband and me.

Sunday Snapshots - Financial District

I rarely ever make my way down to Financial District, but I really love the little old streets around Delmonico's restaurant, especially in the late afternoon when all the lights turn on. I'm currently in Austria on my skiing vacation, but I haven't had much time to take pictures as of yet and I wanted to share these ones I took on one of my walks last week. You can follow along on current adventures on instagram as always!

Wishing you all a lovely and restful weekend!

New York Post Blizzard

Taken after the somewhat underwhelming New York Blizzard of 2015 "Juno".

Dance with me until the sun kisses the night Good-bye and I will show you new shores and greater things.

I saw you standing at the crossroad - no time to evaluate - when I promised to go with you anywhere you choose, anytime, for always .... You won't be alone and my light will shine upon your path.

I heard you well when you thought that all your past and present will be covered up by time so why do we both see you carrying such a heavy burden? Cant you see it is not time that heals but forgiveness?

Has there been ever a greater love, a better sacrifice, a stronger friend, a sweeter welcome and a more joyful You?

Hong Kong Temples

While in Hong Kong, I loved exploring the temples so rich in culture and expression in the middle of skyscrapers and the urban density of this vibrant city. In this particular temple I was left speechless by the way the light hit the incense. It's incredible how much perspective you gain on your own culture when viewed in contrast of the culture of others. Be sure to visit Pak Tai Temple when you visit Hong Kong!