peacock butterfly on dry earth.
finally, spring showed its brightly coloured head around these regions. after it had been snowing way into mid-march, i was eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring. and when it finally made its yearly debut i headed out to bathe in the rays of the sun and enjoy all the little signs that pop up and tell you that winter is finally done and over. and what better way to celebrate the arrival of spring with a walk? i chose to drive to oestrich ( a district of the oestrich-winkel commune ) in the rheingau area. even though nature still was pretty bare, you still could find all kinds of spring things, like crocuses, butterflies and lovely cats enjoying a sun bath! all things that literally scream that it's about to warm up and that soon enough earth will explode in colours again. spring is such a hopeful & positive time. for me, it's comparable to autumn, as this season as well brings so much joy to my heart. even though autumn has this melancholic-sweet vibe going on, something that lingers in your every fiber and gives you a certain kind of nostalgia that's not comparable to the atmosphere of departure spring has to offer. spring is awakening, is the breaking open of earth, is the blossoming of life. autumn is different, is going up in flames before dieing, is spicy & warm-coloured atrabiliousness. it's death, but it's wrapping you up in warm blankets and provides you with the strength to overcome suffering.
but anyways, back to spring days! it's hard talking about spring when my reality is currently autumn, but i still have a good concept of what spring feels like ( obviously being another favourite season of mine ;) ) and am able to continue to write & show you more of the spring of 2018.
the peacock butterfly was the very first sign of spring at the start of my walk! i love the colours & patterns on its wings, and especially the iridiscent blue dots on the outer tips.
sometimes facades mean nothing to you and you will think: what is the special thing she wanted to capture here? even though this facade might look underwhelming, i see an art nouveau villa! the clue is in the three oval windows in the gable of the house - these are typical for art nouveau architecture. but even if you aren't interested in architecture: isn't the shadow the trees cast on the wall of the house precious? because for me it is and i'm a sucker for shadows.
somewhere near the house i found this cat lounging outside on a pylon. we exchanged some cuddle moments - something that fills me with bliss whenever a cat returns my cuddle advances ;)
she looks a bit grumpy, but don't let that look fool you! she was a real cuddle bug.
i love meandering around neighborhoods and finding random colourful art. there's so much interesting stuff out there and it always brings back the realization that people brighten up their lives with art & colours and it helps me with connecting to them again, even though i sometimes have a hard time liking human beings. if we are capable to create such hopeful & bright art, why do we struggle so much with being decent people?
the big wine barrel bar on the banks of the rhine river in oestrich. i loved all the crocuses & narcissuses & stripes squills.
they made the flowers grow in huge accurate bands.
haus rheinblick. the big window and the symmetric ones on each side indicate a house of early 20th century existence - which falls into the time of art nouveau quite frankly ;) from the looks of it, it didn't seem inhabited.
it might be a beautiful house, if someone would take a heart and renovate it.
remnants of overgrowth.
little tiny hut randomly found on my walking path.
you can find those old stone walls everywhere in the rheingau region, it's one of the things that comes to my mind when i think of special & distinctive images to use when to describe this particular area. they are always overgrown with shrubberies and sometimes you can find a lizard or two hiding inside the cracks of the walls.
and smileys engraved into stones! loved this :)
the evangelical church of mittelheim, another district of oestrich-winkel. it was built in 1957 according to plans of the architect hans günther hofmann. so, i found a true mid-century church! i absolute loved the campanile ( the bell tower ) and you will soon see why.
it was overgrown with vine! it surely is a pretty picture in summer or autumn, and i hope to get to see it around those seasons sometimes.
there was also a cherry tree right next to the tower and it made for a perfect motive, especially with the concrete in the background. sometimes i feel like nature & concrete are perfect for each other, they complement each other so well.
do you glimpse the tiny sun flare? to be honest, this detail alone makes this picture so special. and the shadows of the cherry tree against the bell tower wall.
in the entrance area some more creeping plants made nice patterns on the ceiling.
the huge window front. i wish i could see this church from the inside one day, i have the feeling the light might be magical from within.
the view from the church down onto the rhein river. what a sight!
some super old pylon with a bishop statue on it. no more info, i'm afraid :(
majestic trees in front yards.
wayside cross and boundary stone ( from 1706 ).
a beautiful villa - the villa stosch. it was first erected in 1860, but later altered in 1880 by heinrich velde. it's called villa stosch because a german general of the same name bought the estate in 1871.
probably looks way better all green, but then you couldn't see the hidden lettering! it indicates that the very well-established restaurant 'grüner baum' ( green tree ) is located in this building's walls. this is the back of the restaurant, i didn't take a picture of the front. you can see it here.
this incredible church in late gothic architecture is st. martin's church! its beginnings date back to the 12th century, but the church you see here basically was erected in 1508.
it's a white & rose pastel dream!
the other side with the main entry. this church is such a gem, don't you think? i again missed out on entering it, but i think it wasn't open that day anyway?
oh, those gothic portals & windows 😍
the bell tower.
basically in the back yard of the church you can find this crucifixion group.
and some beautifully withered gravestones with interesting engravings.
when i moved onward this house made me want to move in immediately! isn't it simply gorgeous?
i was really smitten with the timber-frame details, such as these funny faces in the corner supports.
and this coat of arms.
also, this beautiful ironwork!
my last picture is of this yellow blooming plant - a mahonia. i love finding all the new flower buds that are about to explode ❤ thus, spring finally came around!
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