1 May – day off
The first of May, so
Nothing on today
Hurray
30 April Austrian Sculpture Park
Today we went by bus to the Austrian Sculpture Park.
Erwin Wurm‘s “Fat House”. When you go inside, the humour doesn’t stop.
Every fat house needs a fat car. Let’s not talk about what sort of driver it needs.
A couple of chips off the old block.
Werner Reiterer „gesture“. In the background Peter Weibel “our planet as a suitcase”
Fractal fun with cubes.
A ship which will eventually be made up of living trees!
Everything is green and luscious.
Who nests in that?
29 April Graz
Nice old house which plays a merry tune occasionally with two twirling figures.
YouTube video of the glockenspiel
Quite human these lions.
Flying ploughs which enticed us into a friendly garden cafe. Gatto im Volksmuseum
Tricky drinking coffee when you’re swinging back & forth.
This guy was very quiet.
Interesting sculpture from just after the war. Wiki article.
Unkind to fish!
I‘m the king of the castle …
28 April Kunsthaus Graz & Dada Zirkus
Today we looked inside the Friendly Alien aka the Kunsthaus Graz.
Why paint a picture if you can weave it?
Look at all of that work!
Nice work, but it will need mowing now and then.
Collage by Peter Kogler.
Indicating Apparent, True and Absent Colors by Lisa Truttmann.
Stupid artist, look what a big nose he gave me! Pity, no rain today.
Beautiful door.
The fantastic Dada Zirkus https://www.dadazirkus.at/
27 April Graz
Good web site https://www.graztourismus.at/en
The entrance to our camp site.
They like gold leaf in Graz.
We climbed up the hill with the castle on top.
Graz is very proud of this clock, high up on the hill for everyone to see.
What is that black thing?
A „friendly alien“, designed by Peter Cook & Colin Fournier from London.
Coffee and cake here in the middle of the river Mur.
I think street corners in Berlin ought to have elephants too.
Gerhild likes this angel.
Kim prefers this one.
26 April Gut Gasteil sculptures & move to Graz
On the way to Graz we stopped at Gut Gasteil to stroll around their open air sculptures.
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Nice signs to tell you what’s what.
So what’s in the big white box?
Not just a free sit-down, but gratis books too!
We gratefully took one each.
What are the deer looking at?
Gerhild playing a wind harp.
The middle one isn’t a sculpture, it’s Kim.
Interesting.
Father & son.
The view is not bad even on a grey day like today.
Nice work. The trees are impatient for spring too, just like us.
Our camp site in Graz http://www.reisemobilstellplatz-graz.at/ €34 per night.
25 April Kiki Kogelnik
Today we went to the Kunstforum to discover Kiki Kogelnik.
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Nice shoes!
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Nice Turkish cavalry man decorating a street corner.
24 April wash day
The weather forecast was quite right and it has rained today, so we had a domestic day. Did some washing, emptied the waste water tank, filled the fresh water tank, emptied our on board toilet cassette, wrote some messages and did a bit of reading.
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23 April Wiener Schnitzel & the Karl-Marx-Hof
Beautiful day today.
How could we visit Vienna without Kim eating Wienerschnitzel? Meierei Diglas in the Türkenschanzpark was just perfect.
ZiegenKäse-WaffelBurger | Rucola | BalsamKarotten | BärlauchDip
ErdbeerTopfenKnödel | ButterBrösel | VanilleSauce
Unsere Selbstgemachten Ingwer-Limetten-Limonade und Basilikum-Lavendel-Limonade
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Next stop Karl-Marx-Hof and the Waschsalon
Viennese communism after they kicked the emperor out. Tax the rich to build for the poor.
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Great fish!
“So a boy borrows a book, sits down on the library steps, reads his book, and before the library closes, he has finished it and asks for a new one!”
22 April Zentralfriedhof
Child labour in the Viennese architecture!
The Karlskirche
Friendly sculpture near the enormous Russian war memorial, but what’s it made of?
One million copper Euro coins. Friendship made of money? https://www.raisinghands.net/
Today we took the famous no. 71 tram to the Zentralfriedhof
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Blessed disinfectant to keep evil at bay.
21 April Belvedere
Today we went to the Belvedere, to see some Gustav Klimt. https://www.belvedere.at/ (6 videos)
Gustav Klimt
Gustav Klimt
Gustav Klimt
Gustav Klimt
Not Gustav Klimt
Lion-hearted woman in the garden.
20 April Vienna Ankeruhr & Café Sperl
We came across the Ankeruhr just as it was starting its special 12 o’clock sequence.
The Ankeruhr.
This isn‘t the Secession is it?
Nope, something for tourists to play with.
Something‘s not quite right here.
The golden cabbage aka the Secession.
University library with huge owl.
Lovey-dovey traffic lights.
The renowned Café Sperl.
Place for a good chat.
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In the underground.
19 April drive to Vienna
Paid €29 for 2 months on Austria‘s motorways. A nice Austrian policeman directed us to a weighbridge – 3.6 tonnes, which exceeds our 3.5 nominal weight. „Camper“ he said and waived us on…
Camping Neue Donau €30,60/night. A 15 min. Walk from Donaustadtbrücke U station.
18 April Walk around Prague
Look at the decoration!
One hundred years later…
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Who needs house numbers if you’ve got these?
Heavy metal girl.
Next to the underground station.
We enjoyed the evening with Leah and Mirek.
17 April the IMAGINÁRIUM in Chvalský zámek
Today we went to see an exhibition of Czech toys in Chvalský castle. http://www.chvalskyzamek.cz/.
Pavel Macek showed some „Twistoscopes“ and „Inspectacles“ – Boxes with a scene which the spectator can set in motion with a handle. A sort of free penny arcade machine, or an inside out automaton.
The boxes have been repurposed e.g. From an old sewing machine cover.
Peer inside and you might see this
Or this
Or this
All moving of course. In this case the rats fleeing Hamelin, following the pied piper.
DIY puppet show. Kim hasn’t learned to keep his head down yet.
There’s no strings on them!
Ironing the Czech way.
All of the best toys wear hats.
A pipe-smoking donkey riding a scooter, an everyday sight in Prague?
Kim as a Bohemian officer.
Coronavirus cake in the Legion Bank (Legionářská banka).
Very elegant way to keep the weather at bay.
16 April Puppets in Prague
Today we went for a walk along the Moldau. Then we visited Puppets in Prague.
We saw some women carrying baskets around covered with heavily embroidered cloths. All for Ukrainian Easter!
This inspires me to make my own version – passing the baby.
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Mirek‘s work is always an inspiration.
15 April Prague
Today we popped in to the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague.
This fearsome feline guards the entrance.
We visited the poster exhibition.
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This is the way to go shopping!
This is how to sell chocolate.
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Well, who wouldn‘t prefer an adding machine to a big kiss?
Contemporary shop window for a very expensive shop.
Old Prague has some pretty flashy buildings.
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Palác Archa — Radiobeitrag über die Bank
Inside the bank.
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In the evening we went to see „Black Theatre“ in the srnec theatre
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14 April go to Prague
It’s a rainy day today, so we moved to Prague.
€20 for È-toll for 10 days on Czech motorways.
Campsite €35,87/night
129, Trojská 357, 171 00 Praha-Troja, Czechia
+420 283 850 482
www.campdana.cz
🌧️ Too wet to walk about so get creative instead. 🌧️
13 April a border walk
Today we walked to the border between Germany & the Czech Republic.
This is a national park but no one told the bark beetles.
The trees are sad, but the tree fungus is happy.
Kim is happy too.
First sight of the border.
The left bank is Czech Republic, the right bank is Germany. The boat is for tired walkers.
Lots of rocky faces if you squint your eyes a bit.
Quite steep going up.
Almost home after 11 km.
12 April Drive to Sächsische Schweiz
Time to leave Berlin for Camping “Thorwaldblick” in Hinterhermsdorf.
Schandauer Str. 37, 01855 Sebnitz
+493597450648
www.thorwaldblick.de €31/night
Umgebindehaus!
Looks like a nice place to eat.
Parachuting Easter bunny
4 April time to get ready
These baby sycamore trees who have made themselves at home on our camper obviously think that spring has arrived so it must be time to set off!
Postcards
Kim und Gerhild haben gehofft, dass das berühmte schottische Loch Ness Monster aus dem Wasser auftaucht. Sie haben es aber leider nicht entdeckt. Enttäuscht gingen sie zum Camper zurück.
Als sie weg waren kam eine kleine Stimme und sagte: „Sind sie weg?“.
„Ja“ sagte eine andere, noch piepsigere Stimme.
„Dann haben wir wieder unsere Ruhe“ sagte eine dritte, sogar noch piepsigere Stimme, „Die Menschen schauen immer in die Ferne, nie in die Nähe.“
„Zum Glück“ sagte die erste Stimme.
Und dann kicherten sie alle zusammen.
Heute haben wir ein kleines, geheimnisvolles Häuschen entdeckt. Kim hat geklopft und ein Bär im Schottenrock hat aufgemacht. „Wir kommen aus Berlin“ sagte ich. „Bärlin!“ sagte der Bär „Toll, willkommen in Schottland. Kommt rein, wir trinken eine Tasse Tee zusammen.“ Schön gemütlich war es und es gab auch noch schottische Shortbread-Kekse dazu.
Liebe Grüße von
deinem grünen Bärchen
Eines Tages war Gerhild so müde, dass sie nicht weiter laufen konnte. Im Wald gab es zum Glück viele freundliche schottische Tiere.
„Zu groß“ piepste der Otter.
„Zu schwer“ seufzte die Eule.
„Zu dick“ knurrte der Baummarder.
„Ich schaffe es“ sagte der Fuchs.
Und so kam Gerhild blitzschnell zum Camper und Kim hechelte langsam hinterher. Er hat schließlich nur zwei Beine.
Als er am Camper ankam haben Gerhild und der Fuchs Tee getrunken und ein Stück Kuchen geteilt.
Schottland ist ein magischer Ort. Heute, unser letzter Tag in Schottland, waren Gerhild und ich spazieren und wir haben diesen tollen Vogel getroffen. „Hallo“, sagte ich, „ich bin ein Engländer“. „Angenehm“ sagte der Vogel, „ich bin ein Fasan“. „Warum bist Du so groß?“ fragte ich. „Warum bist Du so klein?“ antwortete der Vogel und kicherte laut als er wegflog. Vielleicht habe ich es geträumt, aber ich glaube es war Zauberei.
Heute waren wir im wunderschönen Himalaya Garten und haben viel blauen Klatschmohn gesehen. Gerhild hat gefragt „Wieso blau und nicht rot?“.
„Weil ich sie angemalt habe“ sagte eine Stimme von oben aus dem Baum. Es war ein Eichhörnchen und es hieß Emil. „Ich bin hoch geklettert und habe mit meinem Schwanz Farbe vom Himmel geholt“ erzählte es. „Jetzt sind die Blumen herrlich, himmlisch, himalayisch.“
Gerhild sagte „wie schön, danke Emil“.
„Gern geschehen“ sagte Emil und verschwand in der Baumkrone.
5 October move closer to Berlin
This is our last stop (Campingplatz Räbke) before Berlin to make ourselves presentable and the camper fit for winter.
One more sunny afternoon as we arrived.
Autumn has arrived and we will arrive tomorrow.
4 October ferry to Holland
Parked overnight in the ferry terminal and then chugged over to Hook of Holland.
Good camp site, plenty of our feathered friends think it’s a great place for the night too.
I have to admit, that they got an earlier start than we did.
3 October drive to Harwich via Colchester
Today we stopped at Colchester to buy some food and then had a look around.
Willow sculpture of a royal coat of arms.
Sign for the George Inn. I don’t know if the dog or the man is called George.
Odd to see an estate agent in a historic building like this.
It was a surprise to find such a smart art gallery here. https://firstsite.uk/
Two cars by Julian Opie.
DIY design a house project.
Colourful cafe for a break in between.
2 October old haunts
Delicious lunch in the Soho Masala Zone then we wandered about.
Soho wall map.
Striding down Carnaby Street with Julian Opie’s “Shaida Walking”.
Golden Square being polished up.
What’s this street called?
Never get tyred of the Bibendum building.
Nice head in Chelsea by Emily Young in Portuguese rose marble.
1 October old friends & 37 bus
Today we went to see Peter & Anne.
Amazingly, on the way to Peckham, we got to ride in an antique London bus today – for free and with a bus conductor!
City of London 2022.
30 September Sculptures in Regents Park & old friends
Before going to see Camilla & Mario, we strolled through Regents Park
Hercules Meets Galatea by Matthew Darbyshire.
Tunnel-Tell (Ceci Sera) by Alicja Kwade.
Dubito Ergo Cogito by Ron Arad.
Kim thinks therefore he doubts.
Vertical Plane Me by Jordy Kerwick.
Sim and the Yellow Glass Birds by Peju Alatise.
Big Time by Emma Hart.
29 September old friends
Today we travelled by bus (1/2 hour) and Underground (Victoria line) into London to see Renate.
The 215 bus stop is right outside the camp site.
28 September Burghley House then London
On the way to London, we stopped here, https://www.burghley.co.uk/, to visit the sculpture garden. Wikipedia article.
Burghley House.
Bit larger than life rabbit.
Also a rabbit, but a slightly different species.
This horse must have been eating the same magic mushroom as the rabbits.
Not to mention this supersnail.
Nice face.
Not quite sure what this is. What do you think?
This is one very funny tree trunk.
Where does this mysterious entrance lead?
Here!
This tree is watching me!
Our camp site in Lee Valley https://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/lee-valley-campsite-sewardstone
27 September walk to Hulme End
Today we did a short but pretty walk across the fields to Hulme End
The view from our camp site.
Gerhild climbs a dry stone wall.
Look at the moss on the wall.
Very secluded path.
Å Staffordshire farmhouse.
Kim trying to talk with the sheep.
26 September corduroy and Peak District
https://www.brisbanemoss.co.uk/our-story/
Is this the place?
Yes that’s it with trees growing out of the roof.
The sales room.
Photos from the startup phase.
The stockroom in 2022 with our super salesman.
Gerhild with her corduroy swatches for Susann.
Nice camp site https://www.upperhurstfarm.com/ in a beautiful landscape.
24 September friends & the banquet hall
Look who’s popped along to see us!
The banqueting hall at Naburn Lock (https://www.teabythelock.co.uk/)
Great place for a relaxed chat with a nice pot of tea.
Two happy girls.
With their best feet forwards.
23 September move to York
Today we moved to Naburn Lock camp site. It‘s close to the river Ouse.
Naburn lock.
The 42 bus takes you to York in about 20 minutes.
We bought some food and returned to Naburn.
22 September lazy, moist day
Read most of the day –
Kim „Here lie the dead“ by J D Kirk
Gerhild „Der Fengshui-Detektiv“ by Nury Vittachi
21 September The Himalayan Garden
https://www.himalayangarden.com/
A happy hare in the garden.
Who‘d be a mouse if this is around?
Ceramic tree mould.
Looks spooky somehow, but it’s based on pollen. It’s called Rhodi Torana.
Fabulous piece by Subodh Kerkar.
This is by the same guy.
Goats will eat anything.
New garden furniture anyone?
This was interesting. I didn’t know that they used to call cotton „tree wool“. (Baumwolle)
Gerhild joining in the dialog (sic).
Nature‘s not bad at this art lark either.
Himalayan Blue Poppies flowing through the landscape by Anna Whitehouse from Harrogate.
19 September walk along the coastal path
This way to the beach.
That’s quite some beach.
Cult object made by the natives. I hope they’re friendly.
Up into the dunes.
Looks like a visitor from another planet.
You have to imagine the honking yourself.
18 September walk around Hodbarrow Lagoon
Tide’s out again.
An old steel lighthouse reflecting darkly on its glory days.