cedar tree

Suffering from hay fever I'm still confined indoor. The cedar tree, viewed from the windowsill, is doing fine.

Readings: The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh

The thread of a family in the course of the last century displayed on the background of the history of India, Burma and Malaya during the last period of colonialism and after. Interested as I am in history as well as in cultural anthropology, this has been a truly amazing reading - an outstanding book.
About half a year ago I read an other book by the same author: In an Antiqe Land. Centered on Cairo and Northern Egypt it gives a picture of the world at another time: what was life like between India and the Straits of Gibraltar some 600 to 800 years ago, i.e. before colonialism set in at about AD 1500. Maybe it also gives you some clue about islam nowadays and about western politics in the Near East today. This book is truly outstanding.

(r)evolution ...

April 27

April 28
"Supplantation" is now being completed

(r)evolution

March 27

April 22

April 26

old plants (they are'nt old, really), somebody told me, have to "supplanted" by newer ones
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Views from my window

Today has been a very sonny day. Hay fever is holding me inside. Above you see the old acacia tree, right before my window, in the morning sun - at last he too is putting on fresh leaves. Above some other view shortly before sunset.
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Easter

"Holy Grave" in a church (catholic) near Bressanone

Nearing Easter

Though the mountains are still covered with snow, spring is going on, slopes around Bolzano are showing some green now.

Nearing Easter the moon is becoming full.

The village of Steinegg - in the background the famous Rosengarten.

The village of Oberbozen and, beyond, the Sciliar glowing in the evening sun.
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Forsythia

Forsythia has come through, finally!



























A view from my office

Snapshots 2005

Sorting through photographs of last year I selected these for today
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Spring is late

Spring is late this year and so are flowers. I wonder when I'll be able to take again pictures like the following.




Chelidonium majus, one of my favourite healing plants (but beware - it's quite poisonous!)


Did you notice the perfect pentagonal pattern on this tiny flower?

Readings: Rapids by Tim Parks

I began to read this novel last Sunday. The action takes place in the same valley I told you about in the last two postings (Skiing in the Pusteria Valley and Winter strikes again).

Winter strikes again

Heavy snowfall yesterday in Dobbiaco (Toblach), in the Pusteria Valley, near the Austrian border.

(click on image to enlarge!)

Skiing in the Pusteria Valley

In the Gailtal, Obertilliach, in the eastern part of the Pusteria Valley (Austria)

A very special dish in Lienz, covered with carob powder and grinded poppy seeds (mhm!!!)

S. Gimignano (one more picture)

Typical silhouette of San Gimignano (click on inage to enlarge!)

Places visited 2005 - San Gimignano

visited in May (click on image to enlarge)

Places visited 2005 - Rome

to Asklepio the Saviour


Recent addition in the park of Villa Borghese