Monday 14 July 2008


The Early Morning Sun
Heralding the city's slow awakening
From the shadows of the night.

First Rays
Alighting on oleander blossoms, while
Chestnut leaves are already basking
in full sun.

Caryatid
Being kissed tenderly into the light

Shadow Graffiti
Kunst des Augenblicks

Stone Flowers and Spheres
Caressed here and there
by forelorn rays

Peekaboo
Who's hiding under the bench?

White Hibiskus Flowers
Against blue-green fence

Die Strahlen der Sonne
Vertrieben die Nacht.
The rays of the sun
Drove away the night
.

There is more day to dawn.
Henry David Thoreau

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22 comments:

  1. Oh yes,
    go ahead and click to your heart's content. ;-)

    The quote under the last picture is from Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute" (Sarastro's aria "Die Strahlen der Sonne").
    I wish you all a wonderful week,
    Merisi

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  2. Strudel Steps and Caryatidies...
    Good luck ot both of them!

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  3. Another wonderful post. I have followed all the links.

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  4. If I could only just step into your photographs...

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  5. I give up! Who is hiding underneath the bench?

    I love these pictures, especially the one with the stone spheres. That is so artistic!

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  6. PARIS BREAKFAST:
    Can you see the caryatid, in the shadows, to the left of the second image, which shows the upper landing of the Strudlhof Steps?

    MAALIE:
    I hope you were not too exhausted, afterwards!

    RADIOGIRL:
    Oh, you should have come with me! ;-) I was a early for an 8am appointment, and decided to walk the steps down, and up again, to pass the time. ;-)

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  7. LORENZOTHELLAMA:
    A few sun rays, what else? ;-)))
    Thank you for your kind words! :-)

    Have you seen my comment regarding the pastry dough? I think if somebody like me can do it, it should be even easier for a girl like you. :-)

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  8. Anonymous14 July, 2008

    It all looks so serene. It would be a perfect morning walk. I'm off to check out the links.

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  9. Shadow graffiti.....I like that phrase and it suits the photo. Happy Monday!
    ~Allie

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  10. These photos are heavenly...love the balcony ...gorgeous...I will take my time here today my friend...blessings for the week...Dee Dee

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  11. What beautiful photos...I dare not call them pictures, they are more than that...lovely...I'm learning so much about this beautiful city I feel that were I to visit it would be deja vu!
    hugs
    Sandi

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  12. I cooked the tinned tomatoes!!

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  13. Serenity. But I bet it's noisy once everyone wakes up!

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  14. Anonymous15 July, 2008

    What, no cup of coffee for the last picture? For some reason I thought that would be the last picture. Excellent photos.

    www.thequietone.net

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  15. So magical, so beautiful, and as always, so drenched in history...magnificent history...

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  16. Beautiful thoughts and photos to go with them. I like how the sunlight caressed the buildings and you showed the soft shadows.

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  17. VICKIE:
    Yes, it's magical early in the morning, and so it is any time of the day, into the night.

    ALLIE:
    There was a light breeze, and the shadows were moving, it seemed as some invisible hands painting.

    DEE DEE:
    That balcony is located a few doors down, on Strudlhofgasse, at the approach to the upper landing of the steps. I always have to stop and look up there.

    SANDI MCBRIDE:
    Sometimes, when I have not passed by those steps for weeks, I get outright nostalgic for them. Too beautiful to miss too long. ;-)

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  18. CHARLES GRAMLICH:
    The light here in Vienna is fantastic, summers seem very mediterranean. Sometimes I turn a corner, and the sights are such that I have to remind myself, I am not in Italy! ;-)

    L.L.LAMA:
    Now you really make me wonder:
    Did you take the picture before or after? ;-)

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  19. EX-SHAMMICKITE:
    No, it is not noisy at any time of the day! The steps lead down to a quiet side street, with no through traffic. Downtown Vienna has vast pedestrian zones, and even though the area around the steps is accessible to cars, it seems far removed from the busy world. Walking down the steps, and looking straight ahead, Liechtenstein palace greets you straight ahead, where another beautiful large green park-oasis awaits.

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  20. CATHY:
    Oh, I shall make up for this little flaw at the earliest opportunity! :-)

    LAVINIA LADYSLIPPER:
    Ever since I actually walked those steps for the first time, I visualize the characters in Doderer's novel, named after the steps, busy walking up and down there. ;-)

    PHOTOWANNABE:
    It does feel special, being there and witnessing all this beauty. :-)

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  21. "Being kissed tenderly into the light"
    A phrase so evocative.
    So beautiful.

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