An Organist's Adventures

2007-08-02T01:53:00.000-05:00

Arizona sunset as seem from a parking garage. You can find beauty anywhere.

2007-07-31T17:27:00.000-05:00

Saturday afternoon found us heading east to go hiking. Where we had intended to go was closed because of so much rain the road had washed out, so we made a detour and found a different area. Because of all the rain it actually was quite cool while we were climbing. Everything is so different out here. Dad thought he would pick a cactus to take home and found out that the cactus decided to pick him instead!

2007-07-31T17:19:00.000-05:00

As we were driving south from Flagstaff to Phoenix we went through a mountain range. Made for very slow climbing on one side and then as we headed down the other side we picked up speed. Just at that point Dad spotted this rain storm off in a valley. Then it disappeared behind a hill. So around the next corner I yelled "STOP STOP" and jumped out to grab the picture. It's so curious how all around it can be sunny and then in the middle it's pouring.

2007-07-31T17:16:00.000-05:00

Ted and Dad demonstrating how Indians used to keep a roof over their head.

2007-07-31T17:12:00.000-05:00

This one speaks for itself. Some teamster as he made the long trek west realized that he was at an important point and sacrificed his wagon for the cause. Or maybe not.

2007-07-31T17:01:00.000-05:00

Morning in New Mexico. We ended up driving through the night because by the time we all took turns the night was over, so why stop? I was driving as the sun came up over Albuquerque and not long after I stopped to take this picture.

2007-07-31T16:49:00.000-05:00

So, after much thought and a little research, I decided to pack up my bags and head west. Well, it's amazing how many bags a person can fill, as evidenced by our trusty truck. So, accompanied by my father and Ted, I made the voyage across the miles.

2007-07-19T23:47:00.000-05:00

Lest you worry that just because I'm not in Austria (but I will be visiting soon!) that I therefore haven't been continuing my adventures with organs, allow me to set your mind at ease. Recently one of my best friends, Josh, and I went to Knoxville to check out the new Richards & Fowkes at UTK. The professor graciously gave us as much time as we wanted, and we stayed for about 5 hours. Even though it is in an auditorium that used to house basketball games, it sounds amazing. We had so much fun playing that the only thing that pulled us away was the growling of our stomachs trying to out-sing the growling posaune.

2007-07-14T19:48:00.000-05:00

It's been awhile since I've posted here. Since being back in the US I have stayed busy visiting friends and family, but nothing really exciting has inspired me to write. I haven't been really working, but I have been spending a lot of time organizing the next phase of my life. I am planning to move to Phoenix the end of this month. Since the passing of Gustl I haven't been exactly sure what I want to do, but I think this is the right move. I took this picture on July 4th. I went to see the fireworks in Nashville and it was an awesome show!

2007-04-10T16:15:00.000-05:00

When I arrived in the US I landed in Chicago. I must say I'm not really in love with the city, but there was one highlight. This modern art piece in Millenium Park drew me in like a magnet and I didn't want to leave. No matter what angle I looked at it something different and interesting was happening.

2007-03-25T13:16:00.000-05:00

Canals and dykes are a common sight in the Netherlands. They are used not only to keep the land from being completely unusable, but also for security. I took this picture at the Bourtange Fortress, which was used to protect the area to the west from invasion from the east. The stronghold is laid out in the shape of a star. So in order for someone to invade they had to not only cross a set of double canals but as they approached they could be fired at from two sides due to the shape of the dykes. I saw an aerial photo of the area and couldn't believe how perfectly shaped it was even though it was built long before the invention of laser and satellite and other technology that would help to design such a structure.

2007-03-25T13:02:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Netherlands! This was my first time to visit the land of windmills and organs and so many other things. I came into the country by train, and the sun was coming up and things were just beginning to get light. The first thing I noticed was how flat it was! I thought I had seen flat land before, but this was really flat. The second thing I noticed was that Holland was made up of three basic colors, and occasionally a fourth. You can see these colors in this picture. Blue, brown, green, and sometimes gray. Most of the countries I have traveled in have been largely catholic, which might account for the colorful buildings. But here the Reformation cast a very long shadow and most everything is built of brick and very plain.

2007-03-20T13:43:00.000-05:00

Well, the day has come. I leave my beautiful town of Linz in about 2 hours to go to Holland and visit some friends before continuing my journey to the US. People ask if I'm excited. People ask if I'm sad. The answer is I feel a little lost. I'm leaving a place that has been my home for almost two years, and all the friends and things that go along with that. I am returning to a place I once called home, but in many ways I feel like a stranger there now. I don't know exactly what I will do. Everything is a bit unstable, but I do feel that it is the right choice, so I trust it will all work out. And I know that I will return again. I love Austria, the land, the people, the food, the music. I want to thank everyone that has made my time here so enjoyable and hope we can stay in touch. I won't say good bye, because it's not good bye. It is just 'til we meet again!

2007-03-16T17:02:00.000-05:00

Place me on Sunium's marbled steep,

Where nothing, save the waves and I,

May hear our mutual murmurs sweep;

There, swan-like, let me sing and die...

- Lord Byron

2007-03-16T16:19:00.000-05:00

We hiked away from the temple enjoying the view and the very warm sun.

2007-03-16T16:09:00.000-05:00

The view from the end of the mainland of Greece.

2007-03-16T15:59:00.000-05:00

We added a new side trip after arriving in Greece. We decided to take a bus down to Cape Sounion and see the Temple of Poseidon. It was a beautiful ride from Athens along the coast. And it was very cool to see one of the most complete ruins in Greece. The Greeks sure knew how to pick beautiful places to build!

2007-03-12T14:40:00.000-05:00

Across the bay from the port town of Skala. They told us that during the tourist season up to eight cruise ships are docked in that harbor on any given day! Call me crazy, but I was glad to be there while it was quiet and relaxed.

2007-03-12T14:21:00.000-05:00

There are four hundred churches on the island of Patmos, none of them very large. The monk we talked to at the monestary told us that the Sunday before we were there was a very important holiday for the church and that on Sunday morning as a procession passed through the streets of the island all the churches rang their bells. It must have been a glorious sound!

2007-03-12T14:14:00.000-05:00

View out of a window near the cave.

2007-03-12T13:59:00.000-05:00

This structure has been built over the cave. After you go through this door you have to go down many steep flights of stairs to get to the cave, which has been closed in and has a lock on it. We were in the cave during a service and decided to come back later and try to get some pictures, but of course it wasn't open due to the tourist season not having yet begun. But as we were standing at the door a man carrying a carpet came past and held up two fingers, so we decided to wait two minutes and see. Sure enough, he returned with a key and let us in and nodded that we could take pictures and smiled when we expressed in English our appreciation for his kindess. We didn't stay long, but it was nice to spend a few minutes inside.

2007-03-12T13:53:00.000-05:00

Inside the Cave of the Apocalypse, where it is said John received the revelation. They have turned it into a chaple and when we went in Sunday morning they were holding a service and some boys were chanting and people were lighting candles. It was a very interesting experience.

2007-03-12T13:39:00.000-05:00

We walked into the monestary because the front door was open, thinking that it was nothing uncommon. But as we followed the signs that said Museum we were stopped by two gentleman speaking Greek, which of course was Greek to us! So this gentleman asked if we spoke English and engaged us in conversation. Apparently the monestary is only open during the tourist season, a common theme on the island. But this monk was very kind and unlocked the church and gave a very detailed and personal tour of the church, giving us the history of the monestary and church.

2007-03-12T13:35:00.000-05:00

A mosaic on the inside of the monestary.

2007-03-12T13:30:00.000-05:00

Some of the frescoes on the outside of the church. The inside is even more vivid but of course I wasn't allowed to take pictures. They have only recently discovered these frescoes and are working to restore them. Over the years they had been covered by paint and dirt and even plaster.

2007-03-12T13:17:00.000-05:00

View looking down into the courtyard of the monestary. The monestary was built in stages beginning with the church and working it's way out. It was originally a pagan temple from the 4th century B. C. and you can still see some of the marble in various places.

2007-03-12T13:12:00.000-05:00

One of the doorways in the little town of Chora surrounding the monestary. Apparently in the 17th and 18th centuries this town was a favorite location for wealthy Greeks to build.

2007-03-12T13:01:00.000-05:00

Looking up at the Monestary of St. John the Theologian from where we parked. The streets in the town surrounding the fortified monestary are very narrow and designed for foot traffic only, but occasionally you will meet a scooter coming around the corner and with the way Greek people drive it is best to jump into a doorway first and ask questions later.

2007-03-12T08:27:00.000-05:00

The sun rushing towards the horizon reminding us that our time on Patmos was coming to a close.

2007-03-12T08:20:00.000-05:00

A chair, kilometers from the closest house, sitting next to a very typical stone wall.

2007-03-12T08:13:00.000-05:00

We drove out to an uninhabited part of the island. It was so beautiful, in an empty sort of way. I wonder if this is maybe what it looked like when John was here?

2007-03-12T08:06:00.000-05:00

The dark structure at the top of the hill is the Monestary of St. John the Theologian. Originally the entire island of Patmos belonged to the monestary and the only other buildings were things used by the monks to maintain their existance. But during the Turkish occupation the monks sold off land piece by piece to pay taxes to the Turks to keep them from hurting the monestary, so now there are small communities dotting the island such as you can see in the foreground.

2007-03-12T07:59:00.000-05:00

I had been admiring the beautiful water ever since arriving in Greece and here on Patmos I finally had a chance to take off my shoes and sink my toes into the salty sand of the sea. It was a little cool, but that didn't stop me from doing it several more times throughout the day as we visited different beaches.

2007-03-12T07:57:00.000-05:00

Some of you may know of my passion for old, cute cars, so I couldn't help but take a picture of this MG spending a relaxing morning by the sea. He couldn't have picked a more picturesque place. Kind of makes you wonder where he sent his owner, though.

2007-03-12T07:45:00.000-05:00

Another common critter on the island is the goat. The land is quite sparse and the hills very steep, so the easiest way to maintain it is just let a bunch of goats roam around, and roam they do. We saw a couple guard dogs lounging on the road, but that doesn't keep the goats from wandering across. I heard one of the most amazing sounds as we drove down this particular road. There were probably 200 goats of different shapes and sizes grazing between the valley and the top of the hill, and every one of them was wearing a bell. We just stopped the car and listened. The closest thing I can compare it to would be standing in the shop of a windchime maker when a very gentle breeze is blowing. It was a very cool experience and I wish I had had my recorder with me!

2007-03-12T07:43:00.000-05:00

Creatures by far outnumber people on the island. We saw many donkeys, often with this odd attachment, but I never saw them being used to pull or ride. Not sure why they leave it on when they aren't being used.

2007-03-12T06:45:00.000-05:00

We decided that since we had a full day on the island it might be nice to have some transportation. We had read in the guide book that there were many places to rent scooters, so that was what we were planning to do. Well, we arrived on Sunday morning about 8am, and with the exception of some people huddled around the port, it was very quiet. The entire population of Patmos is about 3,000, and I don't think we saw 10% of them the whole day. We walked up the main street and saw lots of signs advertising scooters for rent, but of course they were all closed. As we were standing in front of one of the last buildings on the street wondering what to do a man came up to us asking what we needed. We explained and he said "they are closed". Well, we already knew this, but we asked when they would open. He gave a chuckle and said, "oh, 1 or 2 months". Apparently the island operates around the tourist season. "But", he continued, "I have a car you can rent for the day, just put the keys under the mat when you are finished". So we rented a car for an amazing deal, and spent the day exploring. I wonder what he thought when he saw we put 90 Kilometers on his car?!

2007-03-12T06:41:00.000-05:00

Disembarking on Patmos. As you can see our ship was quite large and I don't know how many trucks and cars we had on board, not to mention people. Only a few of us got off on Patmos and the rest were continuing on to Rhodes.

2007-03-09T05:58:00.000-06:00

The view from outside the stadium. I know I keep saying how beautiful it was at Delphi, but it really was.

2007-03-09T05:12:00.000-06:00

As we hiked through the ruins at Delphi we found signs pointing upwards to a stadium, so we decided to see what it was. As we hiked higher and higher we passed people stopping and turning around before reaching the top. By the time we arrived there were only about 3 other people who had also made the trek. But it was worth the work when we stepped into a huge stadium. It was built in the 5th c. B.C. and it was remodeled several times during the centuries. Its present form is from the 2nd c. A.D. It could seat around 6500 spectators, and it was used for athletic events and for music festivals. Its track is about 550 feet long.

2007-03-08T15:47:00.000-06:00

Looking down on the theatre and the Temple of Apollo.

2007-03-08T15:28:00.000-06:00

The theatre at Delphi.

2007-03-08T15:17:00.000-06:00

The Treasury of the Athenians at Delphi.

2007-03-08T15:03:00.000-06:00

As we arrived in Delphi I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the area! I had heard that it was a must-see, but I didn't know just how much of a must! The town was charming, and the area of the ruins seemed completely untouched by time. The views were worth all the hiking involved.

2007-03-08T14:54:00.000-06:00

Our bus ride to Delphi was very enjoyable. The scenery changed from the flatter land near Athens to the mountains you can see in the distance. We passed many olive groves and you can see one on the left of this picture.

2007-03-08T12:21:00.000-06:00

Night view of the Acropolis. The weather was just lovely even in the evenings. The Greeks are night people, and the town was very alive up until the early hours of the morning.

2007-03-08T12:02:00.000-06:00

A closer shot of the Temple of Hephaistos, still in remarkable condition. It has been used for everything from a temple to a church to political headquarters and finally a museum. Sadly, they no longer let people inside it.

2007-03-08T11:29:00.000-06:00

The Agora, the main town area, in the foreground with the Temple of Hephaistos on the hill. This temple was built between 460 and 415 BC and was in continuous use until the 1930s. It is probably the most well preserved piece from that time.

2007-03-08T09:52:00.000-06:00

After we left the Acropolis we hiked another small hill, The Areopagus, which used to be covered by homes of the wealthy in Greece. It is said that Paul spoke to the people who lived on this hill and many were converted to Christianity.

2007-03-08T03:54:00.000-06:00

Temple of The Erechtheion. The ladies supporting the roof on this side are casts of the originals, 5 of which are in the Acropolis Museum and we saw them, and the 6th is in the British Museum.

2007-03-08T03:33:00.000-06:00

Looking out across part of Athens from the Acropolis. This is what it looks like 360 degrees around the Acropolis. Athens has a population of over 5 million. People everywhere! But I still found it to be a very clean and friendly city, and the public transportation system is very efficient and incredibly clean.

2007-03-07T14:52:00.000-06:00

The Parthenon atop the Acropolis. I couldn't believe how big it was.

2007-03-07T14:31:00.000-06:00

The new finding life in the shadow of the old.

2007-03-07T14:14:00.000-06:00

Best seats in the house in the Theatre of Dionysus. This theatre was designed to hold 17,000!

2007-03-07T13:45:00.000-06:00

The Theatre of Herodes Atticus, set into the hill below the Acropolis. It has been partially restored and they now use it again for plays and things. It was built between 161 and 174 AD and holds about 5,000.

2007-03-07T12:21:00.000-06:00

The sun setting across the bay from Santorini. The islands you see are uninhabited, formed completely of lava from various volcanic actions.

2007-03-07T12:15:00.000-06:00

Hotel on Santorini. These stairs are representative of what it is like to walk around Fira. Everything is either up or down. The island is a volcanic island which has had several serious eruptions over the years, so there has been a lot of building and rebuilding. You can also see things that have been built out of the volcanic rock that has formed from the lava.

2007-03-07T12:05:00.000-06:00

Church on Santorini. We heard the bells ring while we were walking past.

2007-03-07T11:43:00.000-06:00

Fira, the capital city of Santorini, and a very pretty city at that. Perched on a hill overlooking the sea, the streets are designedfor foot travel only. I have never been in a place so geared towards the tourism trade. More signs were in English than in Greek, I had to keep reminding myself that I actually was in Greece. A lot of the hotels and shops were closed until the tourist season. But I actually enjoyed being able to experience the local charm without the place being full of foreigners. The architecture and the views were simply breathtaking.

2007-03-07T11:40:00.000-06:00

Finally setting eyes on Santorini, our island destination. The sky was beginning to look stormy and I was worried we might not get to spend as much time outside, but it turned out to be pretty nice, although very windy.

2007-03-07T10:45:00.000-06:00

Leaving the port of Ios. Look at how beautiful the water is! Made me want to just jump overboard and go for a swim.

2007-03-07T10:39:00.000-06:00

The Greek flag waving in the breeze behind the ferry as we leave the port of Paros on our way to Santorini. We traveled by ship to 2 different islands on 2 seperate occasions, and really enjoyed it. This day we left the port of Piraeus, Athens, around 7:30am and were on the ship until almost 4, stopping at various ports on our way and enjoying the sun and the views.

2007-03-07T00:45:00.000-06:00

The Olympic Stadium with the torch in the middle. This is where a soccer game was taking place. I couldn't believe how many riot police where there. I bet security was crazy during the Olympics.

2007-03-07T00:37:00.000-06:00

When the Olympics came to Athens the city spent a great deal of money to prepare. One of the things they did was install a metro stop at the olympic complex. So one evening when we had some free time we popped on and went to investigate. I didn't realize just how huge an area it covered. Here is the entrance architecture. Not very funtional, but certainly makes a statement. While we were there there was swimming training taking place as well as a soccer game in the big stadium, so we were able to experience a small touch of the excitement which must have filled that area during the games.

2007-03-06T14:24:00.000-06:00

We caught a bus from Athens to Delphi, which I would have to say was one of my favorite places. It is hidden up in the mountains and there are so many remains! I honestly felt like I was stepping back in time, because as far as the eye could see was only nature and ruins, not a touch of modernization. The higher up we hiked the warmer it became and the more awesome the view.

2007-03-06T14:19:00.000-06:00

Temple of the Olympian Zeus, Athens. I discovered the advantage to being a student while in Greece. Of all the places I went I only had to pay once, and that was half price. It does pay to go to school! This particular ruin had very odd opening hours and we missed it a couple times, and on the day we did get in we were running to catch a bus, but it was still very cool. It must have been a huge temple when it was all standing.

2007-03-06T13:55:00.000-06:00

Once again there has been a long span of time since I posted. Many things have been going on in my life, but that is not what this and the following posts are about. I just returned a few hours ago from Greece!! Land of sun and ruins and friendly people. My feelings were similar to when I was in Rome, amazed that things could be so old and thinking back to what it might have been like to actually be there during the same time as these buildings were in their prime. We took over 2,000 pictures during our 10 days there, so I will gradually be sorting through and posting some here, so keep checking back.

2007-02-05T17:34:00.000-06:00

Looking back towards Linz from a hill north west of town.

2007-02-04T09:13:00.000-06:00

Sometimes it takes a little work to find a new perspective. This morning when I woke up early and glanced out the window it looked like a nice day to go photo chasing. I set my goal for an area of Linz I hadn't yet explored, and wasn't disappointed. This was taken from a knoll on the north side of the Danube looking west. It was sort of scary to look down between your feet and see a little road and then the river.

2007-01-28T05:45:00.000-06:00

August Humer would have turned 60 today. He passed away just 10 days short. The services this weekend were crowded with friends, colleagues and loved ones from all over. Friday evening there was a special prayer service involving music and readings and people who were close to him sharing a few words. Yesterday was the funeral and burial and the church was crowded. The aisles were shoulder to shoulder with people and the door was open and there were people standing outside also. I think Gustl would have enjoyed the service. The music included choir and soloists with ensemble and, of course, organ. Many people spoke and it was challenging for me to understand everything, but what I did understand seemed to be very fitting to the life he lived. One person spoke about how Gustl was like an organ. He had so many interests and such a vast knowledge, just as there are many sounds and pipes in an organ, and he was able to make everything work together in harmony. I thought it was a nice analogy.

A plain wooden box, in keeping with the way he lived his life, serves as his resting place. It was a very emotional moment looking down at him and realizing that it would be the last time I would see him in this life. He didn't look like himself, laying so quiet and still. But I am thankful that he no longer has to struggle with the cancer that took away his ability to lead an active life. As we all followed the casket out to be buried in the graveyard beside the church it started to snow very hard. The snow and wind seemed to me to be similar to death. So cold and cruel and yet peaceful and with hope of a spring to follow. With the hundreds of people passing by to pay their last respects and perhaps leave a flower the ground surrounding the grave became quite icy and slippery. I was standing back with a friend watching as one person slipped and almost fell into the grave. I laughed and then stopped myself because it seemed irreverant. She smiled and said "Gustl would have laughed too".

After everything was finished everyone was invited to go to the fellowship hall to dry off and have something to drink and eat. It was nice to visit with others who had also been touched by his life. I met his children and was able to share with them a little of how much he had taught me. I didn't realize just how many people I had met while being here in Austria. It is kind of sad that it takes an event like this to bring everyone together, but it also is comforting to know that there is a network of friends out there willing to support you when you need it. It is with tears that I finish this chapter of my life, but with a new found confidence that I don't believe I would have gained anywhere else.

Ich bleibe hier. Ihr wandert weit, Nehmt mit von mir Standhaftigkeit.

-Hermann Broch

(This was part of a text used at the funeral and it translates something like "I will stay here. You wander further, take from me steadfastness.")

2007-01-19T10:47:00.000-06:00

I lost a teacher this week. Words seem inadequate to express my feelings at the moment, but I want to just take a moment to honor the man who gave so much of himself to others and especially to me. August Humer was a man who lived what he believed. He turned music into something exciting and enjoyed doing it. I feel privileged to have been able to spend these last months of his life with him drawing from his wealth of knowledge and I hope that I will be able to carry on the tradition in my life of making music come alive and sharing that with those around me. He was such an inspiration to watch. Even struggling with cancer and pain he never let it get him down and continued to teach and play as much as he could. He often reminded me that we only have today, so live it to the fullest, and he certainly did that. He played that way too. No holding back. If you are afraid to live (play) then what is the point? Life is a journey; make sure you are headed in the right direction, enjoy the things you pass, don't worry about not knowing exactly where you are, and, most of all, don't fear the final destination. Gustl, thank you.

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

2007-01-18T08:47:00.000-06:00

Schloss Charlottenburg at dusk

2007-01-16T16:26:00.000-06:00

Pathway to ...

2007-01-15T13:23:00.000-06:00

Berlin in a nutshell. It's a very unique blend of old and new. But the atmosphere of the city is contagious.

Blue Skies over Germany

2007-01-15T12:47:00.000-06:00

We were pleasantly surprised to have beautiful weather during our visit to Berlin. The only time it rained was while we were sitting safe and dry inside a concert.

2007-01-14T12:14:00.000-06:00

Columns in Berlin.

2007-01-14T12:01:00.000-06:00

Red and green building during a red and green time of year.

2007-01-05T10:22:00.000-06:00

The airways over DC may be restricted, but that doesn't keep the geese from passing through on their way to warmer camping grounds.

2007-01-05T10:12:00.000-06:00

We saw a beautiful sunset near the World War II memorial looking towards the Washington Monument. It was interesting to learn that nothing can be built in the DC area that is taller than this monument.

2007-01-04T11:07:00.000-06:00

A visit to the Whitehouse left me a little disappointed. Yes, it's a nice house by most standards, but it seemed very small to me after visiting various palaces. But I guess it shows the difference in government styles.

2007-01-04T10:04:00.000-06:00

Happy 2007! Another year has begun, ready or not. And it has been a long time since I posted. I have, however, been taking pictures, so I will try to catch up. I have been back in the US for a surprise visit and having a lot of fun. I decided that since I have been all over Europe visiting the capitals and important cities that I should spend some time in my nation's capital. The weather has been very cooperative for the middle of winter, so I have some cool pictures to post over the next few weeks.

2006-11-17T13:33:00.000-06:00

Nothing in life is static. That has been the recurring theme of this week. We learn from the people who have gone before, and we teach those who are coming after. In life you can't stand still, so you need to make sure you are moving in the right direction. As my teacher said in one of my lessons this week "even though you might not know the road and you may not recognize anything around you, if you are going the right direction you can be confident that you'll end up in the right place".

2006-11-14T09:52:00.000-06:00

Fall is basically gone, and with all the wind and rain and snow most of the leaves are gone, so I thought I would post one more picture in honor of the colors of Autumn.

2006-11-13T14:15:00.000-06:00

I was in Vienna not long ago and took quite a few pictures, but it's hard to post everything all at once. I guess that's a good thing because I have pictures to spread out over the times when I don't take many pictures. This evening I was working on a new photoshop technique brought to my attention by An Enlightened Fellow. I thought this was interesting so I decided to share.

2006-11-10T14:33:00.000-06:00

Someone important for some reason on some horse somewhere in Vienna.

2006-11-09T12:47:00.000-06:00

Did I mention it gets windy in Vienna? This poor little house didn't even see it coming and then suddenly there it was, perched atop the modern art museum.

2006-11-08T15:51:00.000-06:00

When I took this picture I was just enjoying the day and the fountain, but when I looked at the finished product I was surprised to discover I had captured not only the sun and the water, but the combination of the two.

2006-11-07T14:15:00.000-06:00

Karlskirche in Vienna, Austria. On a warmer day I would have enjoyed spending more time photographing this unique church.

2006-11-05T04:59:00.000-06:00

Yesterday morning I woke up to this view out my window. I went to Innsbruck with some friends and we were guests of a family who live in the foothills of the Alps. I didn't want to get out of bed, I just wanted to lay there and look at the beautiful view. They were apologizing because it was a cloudy day, but I still thought it was lovely. It has become a joke between my friends here that I am always saying how beautiful everything is, so several times over the weekend when I would point at something and start to speak, two or three people would say in unison "Austria is sooo beautiful!". Hey, it's the truth!

2006-11-03T05:08:00.000-06:00

I began my last post, only a few days ago, with a statement about how Autumn was here. Well, that has past, and with the new month came new weather. We had snow on November 1 and 2 and we could get more today. Some friends of mine from the more temperate country of England thought that a trip to Austria at this time of year would be nice. So I joined them in being swept off their feet by the wind, err, beauty of Vienna. This is a picture of Schloss Belvedere, a very beautiful palace from the early 1700s. It is surrounded by gardens that were designed by a pupil of the gardens of Versailles. Visiting here was the coldest point of my visit, and I couldn't feel my fingers as I was taking this picture. But we had a nice visit together and maybe I'll be able to go back sometime when it's warmer and I can spend more time walking around the grounds.

2006-10-29T13:10:00.000-06:00

Fall is in full force here in Linz. Color is everywhere and the temperature is invigorating. A friend and I took the invitation of a beautiful day and hiked up to Postingberg. I now understand why they call it the pilgrim church! But it was nice to get some fresh air and sunshine, not to mention enjoy the artwork displayed on every tree.

2006-10-28T12:51:00.000-05:00

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

- Robert Frost

2006-10-27T16:41:00.000-05:00

Well, I didn't intend to do a study of paths, but it certainly looks like I have. They are such an integral part of our lives, both literally and metaphorically. Even if we venture off the 'beaten path' we will probably be following a deer trail or blazing our own that someone else will use. If you don't know where the path is leading, don't stress it. There's a text about the Bible being a light for the path, and they didn't have halogen, rechargeable-battery flashlights at that time. A lamp in the dark certainly wouldn't have illuminated more than a few feet in front. So all that is required is to keep moving. Makes the journey much less intimidating and also gives you a chance to enjoy what is passing instead of being so glued to the goal that you don't even realize there are beautiful and inspiring things alongside the path. And ultimately, may the footprints that we leave inspire those behind us to continue, one step at a time.

2006-10-26T12:44:00.000-05:00

Ever start up a path not knowing where it will end?

2006-10-25T18:00:00.000-05:00

Walking along the Danube are many rose bushes showing off for as long as possible before they have to go into hiding for winter. If you look closely you can see the dew still on the pedals.

2006-10-25T11:24:00.000-05:00

Climb every mountain, ford every stream

Follow every rainbow, till you find your dream

- Rodgers and Hammerstein

2006-10-23T14:41:00.000-05:00

This photo was taken as I explored a new part of Linz, near the castle. I found some new angles of the cathedrals, but the haze sort of obscured the view. There was the advantage of seeing things in a new way.

2006-10-22T14:57:00.000-05:00

This morning I arose a bit earlier than usual and hiked up to the castle for a concert. It was certainly worth the effort. La Divina Armonia making music by JS and CPE Bach. Today there was more fog than I've seen since I've been here, so it was almost like walking in another world. It was a very nice fall day to be out.

2006-10-20T13:26:00.000-05:00

Ever feel like just laying down on the soft grass on a warm fall evening? It was a very nice night to be out in Linz last night. And I had a couple questions running through my mind. If you have any insights feel free to share. What is loneliness? What is longing? Are they based on fact or emotion or what? Do they deserve to be listened to or told where their place is?

2006-10-16T16:36:00.000-05:00

Today in my lesson my teacher was talking about how basically all music is some type of religious experience and that how when we are playing we need to be thinking about lifting our thoughts and our music towards God. I thought this picture represented this idea in a unique way.