If you think about paradise, the national park of Plitvice in central Croatia comes pretty close to it. A marvelous place of nature it encompasses 296,85 square kilometers of pure wild. The forests seem to be endless, and the gentle hills make for some beautiful curves in the panorama. Here and there, you find a castle, a water mill, or a trail leading to a lake with some stunning waterfalls.
Although I traveled to Portugal extensively, curiously, I had never been to the Algarve, the southern coast of the country, before. I must admit I had my prejudices. It seemed to me that this part of the country was reserved for the sun-seeking mass tourist. Northern Portugal seemed much more mysterious and exciting to me. It was the road less traveled. But boy – was I missing out! The Algarve, with its white architecture glowing in the sunlight, seems like a natural extension of the Portugal I know. Sure, there are tourists at this time of the year (beginning of May), but there are not more than in Lisboa. Give it a try!
Over the years, Portugal became a country and a topic I revisit now and then. Again, I had the chance to travel to this beautiful Iberian country and shoot some photographs there. This time, though, I had no access to my usual setup (Canon 70D with Tamron lens) and had to borrow equipment from my girlfriend. It was interesting to shoot with a camera different from the one I was used to. The Sony SLT-a77 is not as advanced as my Canon, but it has some merits. I liked the viewfinder, and the shots are wider by default, making them slightly more cinematic. The first series is a highlight reel of the week I spent in different parts of the country. From the first to last picture, the locations are Lisboa (bridge of the 25th of April), Capo da Rocca, Cascais, Fatimá, Óbidos.
When traveling to Holland, you notice a lot of beautiful landscapes, endless tulip fields, and scenic views on windmills. But the towns are as exciting and pretty as the nature surrounding them. The following pictures were shot in Leiden, Gouda, Woerden, and Delft.
The scenery of Innsbruck in the western part of Austria is simply stunning. The capital of the historical region of Tyrol is situated in the Inn River Valley between two mountain ranges in the north and south. No wonder Innsbruck is also known as the capital of the Alps in Austria; there is just no place in the city streets where you don’t constantly see them. Innsbruck itself is also beautiful, a colorful medieval and gothic town with beautiful sacral and civic buildings and the “Golden Roof,” the city’s most famous symbol with 2,657 fire-gilded copper tiles. Take a look!
During the Bosnian War 1992 – 1995, the historic city of Mostar found itself at the center of fights, first between Bosnianak-Croation and Serbian troops and later between Muslims and Catholics. During the conflict, large parts of the city were destroyed, and many civilians lost their lives. The destroyed bridge of Mostar especially became a well-known symbol of the dispute. It was built by the Ottomans and stood here for hundreds of years, connecting the Muslim and Christian parts of the city before being blown to pieces for unknown reasons. The Mostar bridge was rebuilt a couple of years ago, but many remnants of the war remain in the city, making it an eerie but exciting place to visit. The wounds are healing slowly, but still, Mostar is a visible example of what can happen when once peaceful neighbors suddenly turn against each other for religious or ethnic reasons. Up until today, the city remains divided.
Michael Hoffman Photography 