We visited the local zoo, Tierpark Herberstein
These are caller Erdbeerkoepfchen
Klaus always wanted a white donkey. I hope this visit reminds him and he’ll buy one now :-)
The animals have huge enclosures, especially the big cats like the cheethas.
Leilani loves wolves, but we could not see most of them, only the white ones were out, far away though.
Day: October 23, 2012
Andy and Gerd went bicycling again 2 days later. I hope Andy comments, as I know nothing about these trips…
This time we went 39km in a loop towards the Schoeckel mountain that is near Graz. Again, we rode home on the tops of the hill with some great views.
Schloss Dornhofen, an old fortified farm or manor where Gerd said they now have concerts and banquets:
These were near the town of Kumberg, where we turned around and headed up into the hills; Sonja says: The storks should be in Africa by now…
Once were were on top of the hills, we could see all around. Here is the Schoeckel in the distance:
There were also some goats that stood around on their roof and came looking for handouts (hungry cyclists didn’t have anything for them):
On the south and west slopes of the hills, and under rows of netting, they grow the apples and apricots that this area of Styria is famous for:
The little old farmhouses and their yards are well kept and very pretty:
This is the traditional Johannes farmhouse architecture introduced by Archduke John of Austria in the 1800’s.
Close, it’s called Erzherzog Johann house, no omitting titles here :-)
Thanks, I just couldn’t remember how to say archduke in German–or rather I never knew.
It’s not one of those everyday words.
Schloss Freiberg, is a small castle or manor house close to Gleisdorf, but hidden in the forest.
What goes up, must come down:
We went to visit Fritz Opa and Christine
Leilani drew Opa
Detail
Andy photographed some of the clay-art I had made a long time ago, the first one was a relief of Opa’s ship
I made the turtle, which is a butter dish and the cat and the little gem-stone tree
Opa gave us Isabella grapes, which I love very much.
At my mom’s and Gerd’s house…
The Winter-Garden
Andy (working) with Lara
All 3 animals took turns drinking from the watering can. Kia is behind… next to the watering can is their bowl, with fresh water and energizing stones.
Emma loves the bathroom, but I think it disappoints her that we now close the toilet…
Kia is very pretty, but not as photogenic as the others, and much more shy.
Andy and Gerd went bicycling on 2 mornings. This was their first trip, 37 km to a nearby town called Weiz and back over a hill with a baroque pilgrim’s church in Breitegg.
Gleisdorf grocery store:
Albersdorf or Wollsdorf:
The countryside between Gleisdorf and Weiz:
Leaving Weiz and looking back on the town and old fortified Weizbergkirche (Weiz hill church):
Rustic old farm buildings, the first is a Kellerstöckel, a storage celler with a barn on top:
The church at the top of the hill:
Descent into Sankt Ruprecht, where Leilani went to school:
