Surprisingly this year weather in Austria decided to skip spring and switch directly from an extended long version of winter to summer. Before we left to Finland it was about 10°C in Linz (about 5°C in Finland) and right after coming back in the beginning of the last week we experienced constant warm weather from 15 to 20°C. The last days were exceptional sunny and I am happy we could officially announce the beginning of BBQ season.

Maybe you want to try some sausages - worufu style?

Today the climax was reached so far. Again 100% sun, no clouds, more than 20°C. There was the local city marathon going on and we went to the main square in the city center to watch the arrival of the runners. To compensate our excitement we decided to grudge us some icecream.

More than a year ago we went from warm and sunny Barcelona back home to cold and cloudy Austria. Due to our jobs we decided to stay in Linz which we begin to know better every day now. We even are starting to figure out who the famous people of Linz were and what the sights are. You have to know that in comparison to the big cities in this world Linz is pretty small and you don’t recognize the sights immediately. But today I am proud to be able to present to you the most famous musician who was living in Linz and to whome some places in Linz are still connected with today.

Anton Bruckner that is. He was living from 1824 to 1896 (the first half of his life near and in Linz) and developed his musical genius in the second half of his life. He was born in Anselden, a small Town near Linz and this article is linked to this town. By clicking on the location map link you can see where it is. You can read more info about the person by following the links posted below. There is only one anecdote from wikipedia which I want to add

Bruckner was a very simple man, and numerous anecdotes abound as to his dogged pursuit of his chosen craft and his humble acceptance of the fame that eventually came his way. Once, after a rehearsal of his Fourth Symphony, the well-meaning Bruckner tipped the conductor Hans Richter: “When the symphony was over,” Richter related, “Bruckner came to me, his face beaming with enthusiasm and joy. I felt him press a coin into my hand. ‘Take this’ he said, ‘and drink a glass of beer to my health.’” Richter, of course, accepted the coin, a Maria Theresa thaler, and wore it on his watch-chain ever after.

Anton Bruckner Links

• Austrian encyclopedia AEIOU.at
• Wikipedia entry
• Bruckner conservatory in Linz
• link to the bakery

I took some photos of buildings in Linz which are related to Bruckner. The bakery exists since 1570 and was officially allowed to deliver the royal family in 1903. That means during Bruckners lifetime it was not delivering bread and sweets to the royal family but it existed already. There is also a little cafe inside where you can see lots of old photographs. Probably even Bruckner himself was there buying his favourite bread.

Yes… this year we had time… for Carneval in Venice! Luckily there was even time to explore another two Italian cities: Udine and Grado. And last but not least we could take a look at Carneval in Villach.

Visit the image gallery to see some extraordinary masks in Venice and enjoy the panorama from the Campanile tower. Weather was not so nice but Venice is always worth it.

The last weeks it was constantly cold in central Europe and so it continues this week (and probably the next weeks too). Some minutes ago I decided to put some new images into the gallery to show you what it looks like having from -5 to -12?C over a longer period.