Pictures sent to group Aug-sept, 2025

No  pictures for Aug. 20 or 27

Sent with poems for Sept. 3 

I am writing just after sunrise looking out at three magnificent mountain peaks in Altaussee, known as "a treasure of a place" in the Salzkammergut area of Austria.  Two photos from yesterday morning capture part of the magic of the region

Sent with poems for 9/10: So... yesterday, we spent about 5 hours in the Vienna Kunsthistorische Museum, built in 1891 in a lavish Rococo style!  The museum coffeeshop allows you to have a verlänger kaffee mit apfel strudel  gazing out at tall polished marbel columns, sweeping staircases and frescoed ceilings that rival the height of cathedrals!

We caught a glimpse of a bride and groom and their photographer before the crowds began!

sent with poems for 9/17: Greetings from Bled, (in Slovenia)-- yesterday it was raining cats and dogs (we say in French, "il pleut à verses" -- and I joke, "qu'il pleuve des poèmes!" (let it rain poems!)-

an excuse to rewrite the  19th century Slovenian poem extolling  the lake of Bled with its island and magical church,  legend of the wish-granting bell inspired by the usual picturebook image.

sent with Poems for Sept. 24: Today's  hike!  (9/17) (close to the final scramble to the summit of this mountain nicknamed Matterhorn of Bovec!)  Spectacular views of the Julian alps in this part of Slovenia on the border of Italy and Austria.  A Peace trail runs through this area, proud to proclaim NO BORDERLINES are here

Sent with poems for Oct. 1

Sent with poems for Oct. 8

(Not really chosen to illustrate the lines in Heaney's poem Oysters... about crossing the Alps.  We already miss these beautiful mountains deeply...)

But who can argue about winding streets echoing centuries of stories?

I hope this message finds everyone well.  Again, I thank all the generous souls who accepted to moderate discussions, and contribute ideas for poems.  I miss our weekly give and take where we practice attentive listening and sharpen curiosity