Zürich is a modern town with a historic heart in the centre. The city is a perfect blend of contemporary office buildings and historic housing from many different epochs, such as baroque, classicism and gothic. On days with good weather conditions and perfectly blue skies Zürich shines and shows off its variety and history, while still remaining relevant in the modern world.
The city of Zürich is the largest town of Switzerland, situated in the heart of the country. Albeit not the formal capital, Zürich is the economic center of the country and constitutes the most important transportation hub. Moreover, it is a rich city with a rich a wide range of cultural venues and a high quality of life overall.
The European Alps consist of countless valleys, plateaus, mountain ranges and lakes. It is a vast landscape covering large parts of Central Europe. In between all of this, streams make their way through the gorges and passes. Some of them, such as the Sigmund-Thun-Klamm close to Kaprun, can be visited. Wooden walkways span this gorge surmounting several waterfalls. In general, the network of walking trails in the Alps is rich and far reaching. It spans all of the different terrains, so the region can be experienced from all different perspectives and habitats.
A couple of months ago I had the chance to travel to a part of Central Europe I haven’t been to before. The initial plan was to travel around Northern Bohemia in the Czech Republic. At last we ventured into the neighbouring region of Southern Saxonia too, as the borderlands are historically and geologically intertwined. The region is shaped by the Elbe river, one of the longest in Europe. Along the river you’ll find many towns, some are charming and touristy, while others are more industrial in nature (pictures 2, 3, 6). The highlight though is the magnificent landscape shaped by sandstone (picture 5). Climb one of the many mountaintops around sunset and enjoy the great view (last picture).
Most people know that Lisbon is situated on the shore of the Atlantic ocean, not so widely known though is the fact that the longest river of the Iberian peninsula is floating through the city (well, technically on the side of it). While definitely not a recommandable place to take a swim, a walk at the Tejo (or Tajo as the Spanish say) has it’s merits – particularly for enthusiasts of modern architecture. The Vasco da Gama tower (1,10, last picture) being a prime example. But the most interesting sight, majestic and intriguing at the same time, is the Vasco da Gama bridge (2, 6, 8, 9, 11, 14) . Spanning over 17 km it is the longest bridge of Europe. The slight couverture of the structure allows for interesting photographic angles. I’ll invite you for a walk.
A couple of shots from the last months.
Michael Hoffman Photography 