Like Flower Seeds

A while ago this lovely card landed in my mailbox. Delighted by its playful design and uplifting message, I’ve kept that little treasure tucked away in my drawer, yet from time to time I’ve pulled it out, reflecting on the ancient wisdom of nature: how indeed we’ll find the seeds of our thoughts and wishes…

Where Has The Year Gone?

‘Where has the year gone?’ That’s the million-dollar question many of us toss around when the old year rolls out and a new one comes in. And the many times I’ve crossed that threshold, the answer has been elusive like a dream. So, what is ‘time’? I’ve pondered over and over, leaving my thoughts drifting…

Sweet Slice of Austria

Although Austria is famous for the timeless music of Strauss and Mozart, the breathtaking mountain vistas, and The Sound of Music, the crisp apple strudel stands out as one of the most favorite culinary delights this Alpine nation smack in the heart of Europe has to offer. Considered the “King of the Viennese Pastries,” the…

Beim Heurigen

No visit to Vienna is complete without a visit to the picturesque town of Grinzing nestled amidst vineyards and rolling hills on the outkirts of Austria’s capital city. So, on my last visit to Vienna I headed out to this charming community famous for its tasty wines and many cozy tasting places, called “Heuriger.” “Heuriger”…

Some Enchanted Evening

  Springtime. Season of awakening, season of bright colored blossoms, season of new life. That’s what unfolded on stage at the Popejoy Hall in Albuquerque one evening in early March. 5,000 Years of Chinese civilization presented by Shen Yun Performing Arts. www.shenyun.com From the moment the curtains were drawn, an all-Chinese male and female dance…

Wild West Wagon Trail

In 1821, with Mexico’s independence from Spain, a vital trading route was established between Independence, Missouri and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Coming to be known as the Santa Fe Trail, this only thoroughfare out to the Wild West was America’s first commercial highway west of the Mississippi River, stretching 900 miles across Kansas, the Great…

Rumi Magic

Rumi. The great Persian mystic who walked the earth way back in the 13th century. Over the course of seven centuries, his teachings have had universal appeal, spreading across national borders and ethnic discords with Muslim communities throughout Central and South Asia having embraced his spiritual legacy. Today his inspirational poems can be appreciated in…

Crystal Lakes & Dreamy Valleys

Salzkammergut. Austria’s famous region of spectacular Alpine lakes, scenic valleys, and rugged mountain peaks stretches from Salzburg to the east into parts of Upper Austria and Styria. https://www.austria.info › … › Lakes & Nature › Salzkammergut – Lake District https://www.salzkammergut.at/en Since the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” I will leave the…

Alpine Gold

Buried deep within the famous mountain ranges of the Austrian Alps lies a precious commodity. White gold. This mineral rich mountain salt has been the main income source for eons, generating a flourishing mining history dating back 7,000 years. At the center of it all sits the fairytale lake community Hallstatt. www.hallstatt.net/home-en-US/ A Unesco World Heritage site,…

Imperial Splendor

Vienna owes much of her imperial glory and splendor to the grand Habsburg Dynasty, which ruled a vast stretch of central Europe for six centuries from its capital city Vienna. www.aboutvienna.org. Germans by origin, the Habsburg family gained power when Pope Gregory X needed support for a new crusade. To secure a counterweight to the…