Photos and the City

Category: Nature

  • People who stare at baby seals

    Early morning I walked from my cosy Airbnb with a view to Queen Street Station in Glasgow and boarded the train to my second stop: Oban

    If you´re travelling by train, try to sit on the left side – until Loch Long the view is spectacular on this side! Then change to the right side and enjoy Loch Lochmond, after that, it more or less doesn´t matter as both sides are breathtaking. It takes about 3 hours and you won´t get bored just pressing your nose against the window.oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlands, trainStepping out of the train station I got greeted by a sign offering boat tours, the next one starting in about one hour – perfect! I had tried to book a long boat trip around the bay but that one didn´t take place, so this would be the ideal start for my day in Oban. It was just a short walk to my B & B, where I left my luggage, got a cup of tea and was ready to go.

    oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlandsThis was another company but we more or less took the same route.

    oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlandsView of Oban (with McCaig’s Tower on top) from the sea.

    oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlands oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlandsKerrera (island)

    oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlands

    On the other side of the bay: Dunollie Castle, once the seat of Clan MacDougall.

    oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlands oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlandsOn the other side of Kerrera Island – the first seals swam by and everyone got really excited – I kind of had forgotten that we were supposed the see some, I was happy enough to enjoy the ride and the landscape.

    People who stare at baby seals 1

    … and finding new dream houses, perfect for some alone time (very alone…)

     

    oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlands oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlandsAnd while they were talking about some of the birds, even more seals swam by and then we were at their favourite “hanging place”.

    oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlandsThis little guy was my favourite – he definitely enjoyed it being in the spotlight.

    oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlands oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlands

    Time to say good bye and go back to Oban

    oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlands

    oban, scotland, uk, bay of oban, seal, water, boat trip, my trip to the hightlands

    The tour lasted for about one hour and is more than worth taking it!

  • Fàilte!

    A day spent starring at baby seals is a day well spent!

    Hello from Scotland!

    oban, scotland, highlands, bay of oban, seal, baby, ocean, uk, cute

    This little guy was my favourite, he/she was a poser.

    oban, scotland, highlands, bay of oban, seal, baby, ocean, uk, cute

  • Kurhaus Semmering

    After visiting the Grande Dame Südbahnhotel  we went back to the Kurhaus Semmering – another stunning former Grande Hotel (Spa) of the region. Facing towards the south-east and surround by the forrest.kultursommer semmering, kurhaus, semmering, niederösterreich, austria, lost place, grand hotel, wes anderson kultursommer semmering, kurhaus, semmering, niederösterreich, austria, lost place, grand hotel, wes anderson

    In 1907 Karoline von Neumann, whose late husband architect Franz von Neumann built many of the villas in Semmering, and Dr. Franz Hansy proposed the building of a spa above the train station Wolfsbergkogel with view of the Sonnwennstein. Not only a beautiful area but also know for it´s therapeutic effects.

    Development and design was done by the two very known architects  Franz von Krauß und Josef Tölk. The building is made out of reinforced concrete, the out- and inside is a mixture of Jugendstil,  traditional and palace-inspired elements.

    kultursommer semmering, kurhaus, semmering, niederösterreich, austria, lost place, grand hotel, wes anderson kultursommer semmering, kurhaus, semmering, niederösterreich, austria, lost place, grand hotel, wes anderson kultursommer semmering, kurhaus, semmering, niederösterreich, austria, lost place, grand hotel, wes anderson

    The Kurhaus took up to 120 guests at once, who could choose between quite big rooms with bath en-suite in the mezzanine to smaller rooms with shared baths in the upper floors. There was a fitness, a reading, music and playing rooms, gymnastics and tennis outside.

    kultursommer semmering, kurhaus, semmering, niederösterreich, austria, lost place, grand hotel, wes andersonkultursommer semmering, kurhaus, semmering, niederösterreich, austria, lost place, grand hotel, wes andersonkultursommer semmering, kurhaus, semmering, niederösterreich, austria, lost place, grand hotel, wes andersonkultursommer semmering, kurhaus, semmering, niederösterreich, austria, lost place, grand hotel, wes anderson

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