There is a unique quality to the early green of spring. The leaves seem brighter under the morning light, and the colors are fresher than in later months. Everything just seems alive and thriving after the prolonged hardships of winter.
Spring is a particular time in the Netherlands. It is the season of the tulips, and the whole country seems to be in bloom. I always wanted to do a biking trip in Holland around this time of the year and I finally managed to do it in April of 2017. It all started where it always starts – in the awesome city of Amsterdam, right strictly at the time when the place was waking up from its winter sleep.
After the devastations of World War I and facing enormous societal and economic challenges, the people of Vienna craved change. A particular problem was the working class’s poor living conditions; they often lived in large tenements without warm water and communal toilets in the corridors. Large families lived in small apartments, and they often had to accommodate additional roomers to afford the overpriced rent. For these and other reasons, the Socialist Party of Austria (SPÖ) was voted into power and planned a radical rethinking of the city in the 1920s. Large and modern communal buildings called Gemeindebauten were to be built with large inner yards for the workers to gather and thick walls to protect them. Among the first ones made was the Rabenhof in the 3rd Viennese district. Today, it is known among Austrians mainly for the theater with the same name, where the workers’ gathering hall used to be. The rent in these buildings was much lower and affordable; at the same time, the standard of living was much higher, with private toilets, launderettes, private parks, and a kindergarten. The same is true today: every 4th Viennese of different economic backgrounds lives in a Gemeindewohnung, around 3.500 in the Rabenhof building.
Less than a week ago, I returned from a short trip to the magnificent Istanbul. It was the first time I visited an Islamic country and the first time I experienced a megalopolis with a staggering 16 million people! So, it was a very insightful and exciting trip. We enjoyed the beginning of spring in the Gardens of the Saray, drank tea served traditionally above the city skyline, and paved our way through the busy streets of the Old Bazar. We saw the last station of the Orient Express (sadly not existing anymore), found a feline friend on the Prince Islands (which should be called Cat Islands instead), and explored the nightlife of Galata. In short, the city on the Bosporus was beautiful and unique!
Michael Hoffman Photography 