Birds' eyes, appleyards and Alps

[selenak]

This last week I was in Southern Tyrolia with the APs, and returned home yesterday, exhausted, but happy. On a personal level, that is. Politics both on a national and international level still make me furious, but it helps sometimes to be able to look around and admire the beauty. I mean, how could you not?





First stop for our September week in Southern Tyrolia is usually Bozen, aka Bolzano:




But we're never staying there. We're staying in a village above the town of Meran, or Merano. This is Meran:



Still one of my all time favourite castles: the castle of Tirol. Currently hosting an exhibition about Frederick of the empty Pocket, who has one of the best nicknames of an Austrian duke ever.



Same castle, only from the other side:



We do a lot of hiking on this traditional September trip. Here we are on a mountain called the Hirtzer, looking down on Meran again:




Where they have Alpacas in addition to the traditional cows.



One of the charms of Southern Tyrolia is that you can walk along so called "Waale". A Waal is not a whale (that's a Wal in German) or an election (which is a Wahl in German), it's this:




(One of the best Waal paths, the Kuenser Waal. Note the red mushrooms:



The Marlinger Waal:



The Partschins Waal:





While walking along a Waal, you're treated to views like this (from the Marlinger Waal):



Or you can get up a bit higher, and admire this view of the Partschins valley:



Reverse view:



And then there's the waterfall, which I didn't get quite as close to the last time I was there:



One day, we interrupted our hiking routine for a trip to Verona, one and a half hours away.



That's the Ponte Pietra. Check out a closer look:







The best view over Verona (that we could achieve within a few hours of time) was to be had from the Torre dei Lamberti, this tower there:



And once you've reached the top, you see this:





And if you have an eye for detail, you'll spot the famous amphitheatre, the Arena, scene of many an opera performance these days:



(More arena to come later.)

The Piazza delle Erbe from above:



And from the ground:



Around the corner is the Piazza dei Signori, with its Dante statue:





While in a small street leaving the Piazza:



On to the Arena. This is what it looks like from outside:





And within:








Verona's shopping road, the Via Mazzini, ends here:



And yes, of course we went to...





Getting that balcony without anyone on it is a matter of using the seconds, I tell you.

On our last day, we visited the castle again, to say hello to the birds.

This Tengmalm's Owl is not impressed:



Nor is this Eagle Owl:




Him I nicknamed Dumbledore:



And of course there was a snow owl as well:



Meanwhile, a Hogwarts student:



And then we watched them fly:





(That's a black kite, according to my notes, though not particularly black.)



*reads notes* Vulture?



Tengmalm's Owl again:



Of course there was an eagle:



And a snow owl. You bet every child in the vicinity called: "Hedwig!"



What it looks like if a snow owl lands:



And thus another perfect week in Southern Tyrolia ended:

Comments

[laurashapiro]

These are amazing, especially all the bird shots! Thank you so much for sharing them!

[selenak]

You're very welcome!

[trobadora]

Gorgeous photos, wow! The birds are particularly impressive.

A Waal is not a whale (that's a Wal in German) or an election (which is a Wahl in German)

LOL! Language, right?

[selenak]

I loved the birds. And the wonders of a modern camera. :)

[sovay]

but it helps sometimes to be able to look around and admire the beauty. I mean, how could you not?

Thanks for that hawk, and all the air and light and sky.

[selenak]

You're very welcome.

[blueswan]

I always enjoy your photographs. Thanks for sharing!

[selenak]

You're welcome!

[monanotlisa]

Amazing!

[selenak]

I love that part of the world.

[dhampyresa]

So pretty! Love the birds.

[selenak]

They're really something. I melted.

[lilacsigil]

What gorgeous photos! I'm always surprised when someone's in one country and then suddenly they're in another one because I have the instinct that other countries are many hours in a plane away!

[selenak]

*g* Whereas I think of Australia and New Zealand as next door neighbours who are constantly visiting.

Seriously, though, I think the fact that Munich, where I live, is just one hour away from another country (Austria) and three from another country with a different language (Italy), that no matter where you are in Germany, you're bound to be relatively close to some other coutnry, enough for a car or train drive of a few hours, be it France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, the former Czecheslowakia, Luxembourg etc. ensures that traveling to another country doesn't feel exotic or difficult (well, post Iron Curtain anyway).

[ffutures]

The bird photos are lovely - especially with that scenery. Best I can manage in London is swans and ducks on the ponds and canals and occasional feral parakeets.

[selenak]

Come on, you also have flamingoes in ST. James Park. I saw them! :)

[thawrecka]

That's beautiful!

[selenak]

*beams*

[watervole]

Definitely not a vulture.

BTW, snowy owl, not snow owl.

what is the purpose of the waals? Irrigation? Mill stream?

The geology of Tirol castle looks interesting. I wonder how much the shape of that rock outcrop is natural and how much assisted by masons.

[selenak]

Waals: to ensure the water supply of all the vineyards and appleyards, taking water from mountain springs and dispensing it.

[lokifan]

Wow so gorgeous! And that first photo especially is AMAZING.

[lokifan]

Wow so gorgeous! Especially that first photo.

[selenak]

*curtsies* Glad you like.