📷 An Eye for Life #18 🇦🇹 Let's go to Austria

you aren’t alone. In fact you have as company some 80% of my followers on Instagram who must have missed the last time I visited in 2017 when I shared posts such as this and this.

It’s a state in westernmost Austria, bordering Switzerland and Lichtenstein; with soaring mountain peaks and deep valleys into which picturesque villages filled with wälderhaus are tucked in between emerald meadows home to grazing cows and alpine streams whose watery melodies echo amongst the streets and walking paths. A place where locals are proud to welcome visitors for hiking, skiing, culinary experiences, spa time, themed walking trails & more. Where views from the ground are nearly as good as the views from Vorarlberg’s many cable cars. If it sounds at all similar to Switzerland or Germany, that’s because it certainly can be. As one example, you can find delectable Käsespätzle not just in Vorarlberg but also in Swabia, Baden, Allgäu, Tyrol, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

While Vorarlberg shares similarities to other areas in Europe, which were once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the people and the place have qualities and facets that are singular onto themselves and not as easy for a storyteller such as myself to encompass with words or images. Both must be experienced firsthand to be understood fully. It’s that unquantifiable quality which begs the storyteller in me, to return again and again.

I thought I would let the Mayor of Mellau tell you in his words about one of my favorite aspects of Vorarlberg, Umgang, which is related to architecture and the history of buildings:

This visit to Austria coincided with the 10 year anniversary of my first ever trip to the country, to Innsbruck and Seefeld in Tyrol. Since then I have returned to cruise the Rhine and Danube rivers, trace the Sound of Music in Salzburg, shop at the Christmas Markets in Vienna and weep at the sound of Mozart live in a former palace dripping in gold leaf. No matter how many times I have returned, I still find my soul wanting for more.

Dutch artist Theodorus Gerardus Jozef “Theo” Jansen has been creating incredible strandbeeste [“beach animals”] since the 90s but I only discovered the video above, this week. His often wind-powered, moving kinetic structures resemble walking animals. Subscribe to his YouTube for more.

⬆️ that was for my UK readers, can you do this so I can live vicariously through you?! 💛 [it sounds and looks terrific!]

about People: by making a purchase from a super small business this week. Like maybe these gold oyster shells to hold flaky salt made by Alicia’s mom? Or these sassy stickers made by my friend Dani! Check out these 13 ways you can advance social justice and read + ruminate on this ⤵️ [sometimes the lessons we need most, are the hardest to hear]:

about Planet: pre-order the new zine from Intersectional Environmentalist, subscribe with me to Tomorrow’s Air [yes, I mention this one a lot but it’s because I really do believe it’s one small thing that makes a big difference], and check off some of these actionable items.

Muraho! ລາກ່ອນ! Merci for reading. I hope to see you back here in two weeks for the 19th edition of An Eye for Life. 💛 ✨

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