When I think of Austria I think of “The Sound of Music”. I should probably be embarrassed to admit that, but it is what it is. I think of the hills where Julie Andrews did her little song and dance at the beginning of the film. I think of Captain Von Trapp calling his children with the whistle and the children running out of their rooms and marching down the stairs to be introduced to fräulein Maria. Beyond that I know nothing about Austria except that the capital city is Vienna.

Image details:

• St Anton from Hotel Arlberg by chelmsfordblue via Flickr
• Heiligenblut – the most beautiful village in Austria by Peter Giger via Flickr
• Horse-drawn carriage Vienna Austria by Glen Edelson via Flickr
• Buildings in Vienna Austria by Glen Edelson via Flickr
• Buildings in Salzburg Austria by evanden via Flickr
• View of an Austrian village by kippster via Flickr
• Say, “AUstria” by .A.A. via Flickr

For information about Austria check out the wikipedia entry Austria where you’ll learn that the official name for Austria is the Republic of Austria; that the country, located in Europe of course, is landlocked with Germany and the Czech Republic bordering on the north, Slovakia and Hungary bordering on the east, Slovenia and Italy bordering on the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein bordering on the west.

Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic, and according to various reports it is one of the prettiest places in the world or at the very least one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Here are some aspects of Prague as captured in photographic format:

• Prague River Boat Elbis: david.nikonvscanon
• Prague Main Square with Gothic Church: NoblePiranha
• Quaint Prague: kyle simourd
• The Charles Bridge, Prague: JL2003
• A view of from Prague Castle: fooboarder
• Prague City – as seen from Town Hall: Carolyn Coles
• People walking on a street in Prague: Phillie Casablanca
• Prague Architecture: Life in LDN
• Prague Castle guard: Life in LDN

For more information about Prague, read wikipedia’s Prague entry

Here are 6 reasons I plan to visit Portofino, Italy some time in the near future. They say Portofino is the resort of the rich and famous. People go there hoping to see celebrities I guess, but I am more interested in seeing and photographing the gorgeous pastel houses all along the shore of the harbor.

It’s such a gorgeous place.

Images: Aloa | Boss Tweed |Sonietta46 | edwardbertozzi | tearsandrain | jameswight

Amsterdam is in the Netherlands which is in Western Europe. It is the capital city of the Netherlands, which by the way is the official name of Holland. Amsterdam is the largest and most visited city in the Netherlands with 3.5 million people visiting Amsterdam every year.

Photos: amsterdam.info | wiki commons

Sweden is located in Northern Europe on the Scandinavian Peninsula. It is a Nordic country bordered by Norway and Finland, and connected to Denmark by the Oresund Bridge. The capital of Sweden is Stockholm. The country is officially named the Kingdom of Sweden and is the largest country in square miles in Northern Europe (7th largest in the whole of Europe).

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The University Library in Lund. Image Credit: Anton Holmquist Soasta	Stockholm is the capital and largest city in Sweden. Riddarholmen and Old Town in Stockholm
Typical traditional red Swedish houses in Stockholm.	Uppsala Cathedral (Lutheran) in December 2007. Photograph taken by Mark A. Wilson (Department of Geology, The College of Wooster
Landscape on Hälsö island, Öckerö Municipality, Sweden. Image Credit: Michal Pise, Michal.Pise	Riksdag building on Helgeandsholmen in Stockholm, Sweden. Image Credit: Photograph: Andreas Ribbefjord on May 9, 2004

Traveling to the city of love otherwise known as Paris France? Be sure to check out the famous Notre Dame de Paris. Used as a Roman Catholic Cathedral, Notre Dame is located on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in Paris.

Architectural style: French Gothic

Date Built: Started in 1863 completed in 1345

Information about Notre Dame de Paris

Image Credit: Cezary Piwowarski