[the journey of the finch]

autumn moisture, originally uploaded by Hyperfinch.

so autumn is coming up really fast ...

Shopwindow freakshow, originally uploaded by Hyperfinch.

... so the voice right next to me, assuming we would not understand a word, murmured in Slovak: "those Germans really photograph everything !" -
Admitted, but, hey - gimme a break! - have you EVER seen this style of shopwindow decoration west of Bratislava??
(Remark: The shop sells kitchenware, not dead animals)

Spišský hrad Panorama, originally uploaded by Hyperfinch.

... been around mid and eastern Slovakia for a couple of weeks and came back with a lot of new insights and 1000+ photos ...

four layers (zoom), originally uploaded by Hyperfinch.

... it groes in large bushes, looks like a bunch of snowballs during wintertime. Someone suspected it being a climatis. It's very commonly seen in huge numbers in some countryside areas and seems to be literally indestructible.

dramatic Gundelsheim, originally uploaded by Hyperfinch.

Happy New Year to everybody frequently or unfrequently looking into "what nobody really wants to know".
May everything you long and wish for come true!

cloudscraper, originally uploaded by Hyperfinch.

Cloudscraper is a soltaire standing about 100 yards next to my balcony. One of his tops had to be cut off after an autumn storm last year, but he generally is in a pretty good shape.
After a long and grey and colorless morning, a bright light suddenly appeared outside, right in front of the window. I rushed on the balcony, looked right, and there he was - cloudscraper taking care of at least some sun for the day.
Good job, old mate. And thanks for the snapshot

City Hall Window, originally uploaded by Hyperfinch.

(view through the windows of the historic city hall at Ochsenfurt, Lower Franconia, Germany)

it was "Weihnachtsmarkt" ('christmas fair') and the city elders had opened the assembly hall of the "New City Hall" (that is the one that opened for business in 1496 - the "Old City Hall" is down the street).
The view through the window, however, proved intruiging and I was curious to see how the camera would the large contrast of the motive. It did quite well.

Bau-Mobst, originally uploaded by Hyperfinch.

... des Jahres ist es sicherlich nicht, der da am Baum in Brüllweite der A3 hing, aber bestimmt einer der letzten.

Inzwischen habe ich gelernt, dass die Wiesen, auf denen diese Apfelbäume stehen, Streuobstwiesen heißen und dass der größte Teil der hiesigen Apfelweinproduktion angeblich mit Früchten von diesen Wiesen bestritten wird.

Warum gerade dieser - inzwischen wurmstichige - kleine Kerl partout nicht vom Baume fallen wollte, weiß ich nicht, aber irgendwie bewundere ich ihn auch.
Wie er da so hängt.
Rot und stolz.

Hallburg Mansion, originally uploaded by Hyperfinch.

Gutshaus des Anwesens der Hallburg in Unterfranken