Lüneburger Heide

Heide just as its English equivalent, heath can mean two different things: it can either be the natural habitat for low-growing evergreen shrubs or the plant of the genus Erica. The Lüneburger Heide (Lunenburg Heath) is the largest heath area in Central Europe and most of it is a nature reserve. Ideally, it is the best to visit around late August when the Scotch heather is in full bloom; we were a bit late so its bright pink color had already turned into brownish. Nevertheless, we very much enjoyed the special charm of the scenery ("Heidelandschaft") from a horse-drawn carriage (thank you, Mario and Diego for the hard work!) and the little feast of local specialties (Frikadeller in a bun, pea stew, buttermilk, coffee and buckwheat cake) we had at a guest house halfway through our journey.

On the Lüneburg Heath
In that beautiful land
I went up and I went down
All sorts on the way I found
Valleri Vallera ha ha ha

And yoohirassah
Dearest love
For you know it sure

Hortobágy

For years, the Hungarian tourism has tried to move away from the image of Puszta-Paprika-Piroschka. But why fix something that works? While I certainly agree that Hungary has so much more to offer than paprika, goulash, gypsy music and the usual clichés, I think that every country needs some iconic images to be identified with. Sadly, modern art is seriously underpromoted in Hungary, and it would definitely deserve a lot more exposure, still it could hardly be used as a staple symbol of the country.
I have visited the Puszta for the first time and was absolutely fascinated by the landscape and its magical colors. No wonder that the Hortobágy National Park (an archetype of the traditional Hungarian landscape) has been inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO. This is the largest continuous steppe of Europe with a seemingly endless horizon that mesmerizes all who see it. There are 342 bird species known to be resident here and the vegetation offers a variety of habitats also for snakes, but only one species, the common viper, possesses venom that is harmful to humans (though their bites are often not deadly). So, it might not have been entirely correct from me to attribute a painful insect bite on my foot to a rattlesnake.

At the Hungarian Sea

This year, we have taken a lot of mini vacations and long weekends to make up for the summer holiday we did not have. The summer months were really hectic and we seemed to be on the go all the time, which allowed us to see a lot but without the fairy dust of being real tourists.
The boat trip on Lake Balaton (from Balatonfüred to Tihany) was maybe one of those occasions when the holiday mood kicked in. The lake is breathtakingly beautiful, especially in early autumn when the bathing season is over.

The Living Nightlights in the Prater

The Wiener Riesenrad (Viennese Big Wheel) in the Prater is a ferris wheel spinning with 15 gondolas and when they mount to the top of the wheel, one can enjoy a sweeping view of the city. I was a tad nervous before getting in the cabin but the ride was nothing like those experienced on the loop-the-loops roller coasters. I kind of expected the wheel to stop though (like it did in the Bond film, The Living Daylights) but I was told, if anything gets stopped for me, it should be the London Eye (twice as large as the Riesenrad), just to make it count.

Here's To You, my Blog!

I write five posts each month, with this being the 61st. It all means that my blog just turned 1. Wow. I came a long way during the past 12 months, travelled far and wide but the initial aims have remained unchanged: through this blog, I would like to share all those beautiful things that inspire and fascinate me during my journey in life. If the success of a blog is to be measured by the number of followers, comments and citations/link backs, then my blog is the biggest nonstarter in the existence of blogkind. It has, however, been rather meant for an online journal written to myself, having some fun during the process. Have I enjoyed it? Immensely. So then, for me, this is success. A success that is to be celebrated with a cup of peppermint tea and strawberry pancakes. Many happy returns of the day.
P.S. And I still have not quite given up on a publishing offer and/or a Hollywood movie contract. Just kidding. Well, give me the leading role in the film, and I might reconsider selling the rights. (I wonder if peppermint tea makes one delusional...)

Engineering Wonders

The Scharnebeck twin ship lift is far from being described as "oh-so-cute", but the time spent with technical translation has given me a sense of appreciation for such impressive engineering structures. The ship lift is situated 10km to the north-east of Lunenburg, on the Elbe Lateral Canal which connects the Midland Canal with the River Elbe. The 61m height difference between the water levels is overcome by a lock in Uelzen, and the boat lift in Scharnebeck. More than 21,000 ships with a maximum displacement of 1,350 tonnes pass through the lift each year.

Boden's Fine Line

There are so many signs indicating that the summer is at an end. One of them is that the autumn Boden catalogue (employing a dainty combination of drawings and photos) has arrived. It is as amazing as ever. While I admit that the brand seems to have a bit of a "Yummy-Mummy-meets-Stepford-Wives" vibe, I do not share the revulsion of those being offended by Boden's alleged middle-class smugness and Sloaney superiority. I really love their signature, bright colors and bold patterns and the fact that their clothing items stand the test of time and refuse to follow the ephemeral trends dictated on catwalks, then ripped off and mass-produced by fast-fashion retail giants. Those with a positive outlook on life and an appreciation for simple pleasures will like Boden's happy, peppy style. As with anything, less is more though, so do not attempt to wear it from head to toe.