On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
Good Morning All,
Have a wonderful day, and enjoy the pictures!
Today, pictures from valued commenter otmar.
Some more pictures from life in Europe: this one is a mixed bag from early July 2018.
Right after school closed for summer, we brought the kids to my MiL in Carinthia. This picture is from the train back to Vienna. The track snuggles along the north coast of Lake Wörthersee. You can see the viewing tower on the Pyramidenkogel in the background.
The runners in the foreground are taking part in the yearly Ironman competition around the lake. See http://eu.ironman.com/triathlon/events/emea/ironman/austria.aspx
Before entering the lowlands around Vienna the train needs to pass the Semmering: the gate between Lower Austria an Styria. Historically speaking, this is one of the oldest mountain railroads still in operation. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway
It was built 1848 – 1854 and features lots of viaducts, tunnels, and turns. Yes, it can be very scenic, but it’s also very slow. So, finally, they are building a tunnel to bypass the whole thing.
Now for a change in scenery: I needed to fly to a meeting in Brussels a few days later. This here is the iconic building of the EU Commission. As you can see, this area is still on elevated security footing.
Around the corner, just an average Brussels view.
Nestled in the European quarters in Brussels is Parc Leopold. It’s an isle of quiet just next to the main buildings of the Commission, the Council and the Parliament.
Btw EU Parliament: there it is.
I had time to grab a bite at the airport before flying back. Leffe is my favorite Belgian beer, so if there is a chance to get it fresh from the tap, I go for it.
Thank you so much otmar, do send us more when you can.
Travel safely everybody, and do share some stories in the comments, even if you’re joining the conversation late. Many folks confide that they go back and read old threads, one reason these are available on the Quick Links menu.
One again, to submit pictures: Use the Form or Send an Email
otmar
Alain, thanks for posting this set.
There is still one set of pictures missing: the sculptures from Oslo. Or are they not safe for this blog?
Mary G
Always a treat to see otmar posts. I would love to see Europe again. How do the other countries feel about the Brexit situation? Is Britain welcome to stay if they come to their senses or is it too bad, so sad, don’t let the door hit you on the way out?
JPL
Beautiful pictures! My son spent a few months in Brussels and really enjoyed it.
Amir Khalid
I was surprised at first that the text on the place mat and menu is in English, then I remembered that this is at the airport. Who knew there were so many steps to pouring out and serving a simple glass of beer?
Sad to hear that the scenic route to the Semmering is going to be bypassed. Will it still be kept open for travellers on holiday who prefer scenery to haste?
waratah
I have always wanted to see Austria and Vienna. Our stay in Cittavechia Italy (sp?) I had a wonderful sachet torte and now have to try the best.
I agree with Amir I hope they still keep the scenic railroad open.
otmar
@Mary G: my guess is that the EU is very willing to have them stay if the UK backs out of Brexit.
It won’t be the same as before: I doubt they’d get back their special perks and I’m not sure if the move of EU agencies out of the UK would be reversed, too.
otmar
@Amir Khalid: I don’t think they’ll close the old line. The tunnel will bypass a number of villages.
My guess is that they’ll do the same as with the new high speed line from Vienna towards Linz: the fast long distance passenger trains + freight train will use the new line, commuter trains and stopping trains will stay one the old line.
Mr. Prosser
Will definitely sample Leffe beers if I can find them in western Colorado. The sausage and baguette look great also.
J R in WV
Otmar, I can’t imagine statuary in public wouldn’t be suitable for an already adult blog… perhaps Alain’s computer woes have lost that? I for one would really like to see it. Did you catch the statue I photographed at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles?
Hey, regarding the beer and small sandwich, is the sandwich really small, or the bier really big? ;-)
Keep up the great work, I want to visit Europe again soon, so far we’ve visited NE Spain, SW France and Paris (very briefly, two dinners) and Italian Tuscany, all wonderful. So Much History!!!
stinger
I’ve been to the British Isles but not mainland Europe. (Yet???)
I love seeing all these photos!
otmar
@J R in WV: Ad statues, try a Google pictures search for “vigeland”. Don’t assume that everything that is in public view in Europe is considered safe for work/children in the States.
The sandwich was small. But the beer packs a lot more punch than your average American beer.
Ad history: yes, for Americans, medieval stuff is ancient. Then you travel to Rome, and the old ruins there are a thousand years older. Then you visit Egypt, and the sights there are a thousand years older still. It’s all relative.
Ken B
@otmar:
Ad history: yes, for Americans, medieval stuff is ancient. Then you travel to Rome, and the old ruins there are a thousand years older. Then you visit Egypt, and the sights there are a thousand years older still. It’s all relative.
Almost 500 years more time passed between the building of the Great Pyramid ( probably between about 2580-2540 BCE, though some estimates move that up to a century or so one way or the other and a few, uh, let’s call them ‘colorful and unorthodox thinkers.’ want to make them a lot older, as in 10,000 years older ) and the life of Cleopatra ( born 69 BCE, died 30 BCE) than between the live of Cleopatra and now.
And Narmer, the first pharaoh of the First Dynasty, probably ruled about a thousand years before the Great Pyramid was built ( ~3050 BCE)