The Content Reader

A new year is upon us, and how fast the old year disappeared! From a reading point of view it was a good year for me, managed to read over 100 books. More on my reading and statistics in another post. Just wanted to check in and wish you a new good blogging year, with lots of reviews and posts about what we like to do. I feel privileged to share your blogging events from all over the world. What books you are reading, which trips you do, the challenges and memes. You are a great community and I am happy to be part of it. I celebrated new year in Innsbruck, Austria with a firework in the city. On New Year's Day we attended the New Year's Concert (Neujahrskonzert) in the Congress hall. It was a fantastic concert. The theme was Maximiliam Ist. 2019 it celebrating the 500 years since his death, and events will unfold through the year. The music chosen was from his time and forward towards the famous Strauss, father and son. Beautiful music all through. It was managed by the ...

Recently, while in Innsbruck, Austria, we went to pay a visit to the Hofkirche. Our aim was to see if we could find any traces or remembrances of the time when Queen Kristina of Sweden converted to Catholicism here.  She had abdicated her throne in 1654, travelled through Europe to Antwerp, Belgium where she began her conversion. In the autumn of 1655 she left Belgium to travel to Rome. On her way she stopped over in Innsbruck and on November 3, she officially converted to Catholicism in the Hofkirche. Inner yard of the Hofkirche The Hofkirche is now a museum and Kristina's conversion is not the most important thing here. No, it is something much more spectacular. We started with an audio show which gave us a short background to the life and deeds of Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519). From 1508 until his death he was 'The Holy Roman Emperor'. He expanded the Habsburg influence, through war and marriage to include among other areas the Duchy of Burgundy and through the ...

A room with a view in Verona! Back home after an intensive week of travelling. On Monday 3 August I flew to Verona, Italy, where Martin met me. One evening and a day in Verona doing all the musts there. Just strolling around is like walking in a museum! On to Lake Garda for one night in Lazise and its beautiful old town. The next day driving along the Lake Garda coast up towards its northern tip, where we went over the mountains and headed for South Tirol, Bozen/Bolzano. Continued north towards Innsbruck where we stayed two night with Martin's parents, and then on back home! Imagine doing this in degrees between 30 and 40 with humidity...it was a challenge, believe me. Especially for me who can't take heat that well. But considering the cold summer, I am not complaining. Lake Garda There will be posts coming on Verona, Lake Garda, South Tirol and Innsbruck. Posts about 'Wining and Dining', literature along the way and, I hope, some nice photos to go with it...