rene bauer photography

Within The Mighty Walls of Akko

Akko, also known as Acre, has a rich history for around 5000 years. Many folks and and groups fought for it, because of its strategic location at the sea with a calm bay.

However, who is interested in history, please use the link provided (as usual 😉 )

My first day in Akko startet with a little breakfast surprise from my host. After that first coffee i was ready to explore the strong city walls and the areas within.

In the morning i found it quite empty. Happily, i walked around, found some small alleys, walked trough the market or watched the kids playing soccer between the mighty walls. Sometimes a stop for a coffee or a small bite. Just enjoying myself and imagine the life in times of the crusaders…

März 6, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, landscape, portrait, reportage, roadtrip, travel, Uncategorized, urbanlifeTags: acre, akko, ancient, city, citywalls, door, grafiti, history, israel, market, medievaltown, middleeast, people, port, renebauerphotography, sea, streetphotography, town, Travel, walls Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Haifa, Israel – The Hanging Gardens Of Baha’i

My plan was a nice picnic and some rest in the famous gardens of Baha’i.

The Hanging Gardens of Baha’i are on the slopes of Carmel mountains and overlooking Haifa and its bay.

They surrounds the Shrine of Bab, where the founder of the Baha’i Faith is buried.

Unfortunately, only a small part of the gardens are open for the public. The shrine itself was not to enter.

However, i could had a little stroll in quite, peaceful surroundings and took some picturres.

März 5, 2023März 5, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, flower, HOPE, humansofplanetearth, landscape, reportage, travel, urbanlifeTags: bahai, bay, garden, gardensodbahai, green, haifa, hanginggardens, israel, landscape, lookout, middleeast, park, renebauerphotography, sea, shrineofbab, teracces, Travel, tree, view Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Caesarea Maritima, Israel – Ancient Roman Life At The Sea

It’s not the most impressive Roman remains. Neither by its size, nor its preservation or buildings. The location is it, what makes it for a nice stop on my way up north along the coast.

And the location gave this town also the name: Caesarea Maritima For more details to its history follow the link i provide.

Altough there was already a few bus loads of tourists, the site wasn’t overrun. At the amphitheatre, overlooking the sea, a group of young Americans sang even a few short songs for the audience. I enjoyed it with the crowd, but later i went my own way.

The trick is, to bring patience and let pass the tour groups, try to move between the groups and find farther niches, which let me imagine how the life was around 2000 years ago.

Looking over the mosaic floor trough the archway and stepping out on the terrace to catch some sea breeze. Life wasn’t that bad here 2000 years ago…

März 4, 2023März 3, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, history, reportage, roadtrip, UncategorizedTags: amphitheatre, ancient, archeologicalsite, archeology, byzantine, caesarea, coast, israel, livingatthesea, middleeast, mosaics, renebauerphotography, roman, romanempire, ruins, seaside, telaviv, Travel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Tel Aviv – Beachlife

Talking about beaches i’d rather prefer a lonely spot under a palm tree, where i could read and enjoy a sea breeze.

The city beaches of Tel Aviv are certainly different. That means not less interesting. In the opposite, it’s not even mainly a beach to sunbathe and for swimming. The latter is officially forbidden on many stretches anyway. But it’s the place to meet people, going for a run or any other sporty activity, including playing ball sports with friends.

On a Shabbat, the Judaism day of rest, commonly known as Saturday, the public transport aren’t working and most shops, bars and restaurants are closed as well. The beaches, on the other hand, are always open. So they become the meeting points. People come with friends or family to picnic, roam in the park, listen to street musician or gathering for whatever their interest is.

A group placed a huge tripod on a place, attached ropes and rings on it and started doing acrobatic performances for the spectators.

A bit further i heard drums and followed the beat sound. At least a half dozen men practicing Capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian martial art, where the participants rather dance than really fight. It looks spectacular anyway.

More peaceful sounds from a saxophonist, who’s sending the descending sun his last greetings.

It doesn’t mean the day comes to an end quickly now, but while in some places another party starts, i join a group of sunset watchers on a quite corner and look back on another beautiful day in Tel Aviv.

März 3, 2023März 1, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: HOPE, humansofplanetearth, portrait, reportage, roadtrip, tradition, travel, Uncategorized, urbanlifeTags: acrobatic, beach, beachlife, beachvolleyball, capoeira, family, friends, fun, gathering, israel, life, middleeast, people, performance, renebauerphotography, sport, streetmusician, streetperformance, sundowner, sunset, telaviv, Travel, weekend Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Tel Aviv – Old Jaffa

Where all began. Old Jaffa is the oldest part of the region and nowadays a main tourist attraction.

From far I can see the impressive silhouette of the old city and its strong wall towards the sea. I approach it along the beach. Suddenly i stood in front of these walls, on a square with little shops, bars, cafes, galleries and street musicians. Not only the tourists, but also the locals like this place to go out and enjoy the almost medieval atmosphere.

A board over a small entrance to steep staircase says ‚Welcome to Old Jaffa‘ and indicates an entrance to he small alleys of the old town. I tried to hide from the many trippers. Indeed i found some lonely, nice corners to enjoy some minutes of solitude.

Reached the top, there’s another square. A big fountain and the St Peter’s church on one side, more bars and souvenirs on the other. A small bridge leads to the Abrasha Park, with a beautiful view over the city and beaches. Time to go back there, i decided

März 2, 2023März 1, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: history, reportage, roadtrip, travel, urbanlifeTags: citywalk, curch, israel, jaffa, medievaltown, middleeast, oldjaffa, park, people, renebauerphotography, sightseeing, streetart, streetlife, streetphotography, telaviv, Travel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Tel Aviv – Carmel Market

It’s a must, they said.

My first impression was, it’s just another market like so many other ones.

But when you look bit closer, you find many local specialities, worth to try or consider to take as a souvenir.

Just a few photo impressions:

März 1, 2023Februar 28, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, food, gastronomy, HOPE, humansofplanetearth, reportage, tradition, travel, Uncategorized, urbanlifeTags: carmelmarket, food, fruits, halva, herbs, humus, israel, jaffa, local, market, middleeast, people, renebauerphotography, souvenirs, specialities, street, sweets, telaviv, Travel, urbanlife Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Tel Aviv – Urbanlife

Tel Aviv.

A vibrant city indeed. People strolling along the pedestrian zones, sitting in one of the many cafes at a square or in a park or just going shopping in one of the big malls. The mild climate makes it even more comfortable to be in the streets and parks, especially now in the wintertime.

So far not really different to many other modern cities on the world. But then, there’s that mix of smaller, older buildings between big, modern skyscrapers. I can’t make it out a clear line between living area and business district. It’s all fluently.

It’s also lively and colorful, as i find bigger or smaller graffiti everywhere. And a lot of movement too, not only by car, but many by bicycle and e-scooter. A network of bicycle paths makes it easy to navigate trough the city. It’s fun to take one of the rental e-scooter and roaming trough the neighborhood. From time to time i have to stop for a photo or a nice cup of cappuccino, of course.

Februar 28, 2023Februar 28, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: HOPE, humansofplanetearth, reportage, roadtrip, travel, Uncategorized, urbanlifeTags: architecture, bauhaus, bicycle, cafe, city, citylife, downtown, grafiti, israel, jaffa, middleeast, mountedpolice, people, renebauerphotography, reportage, shopping, streetart, streetlife, streetphotography, telaviv, Travel, urbanlife, yafo Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Tel Aviv – Marathon 2023

It was pure coincidence i was on side of the track of the annual Tel Aviv Marathon yesterday.

The blocked road and a water supply station got my attention when i was wandering along the seaside.

The marathon is started just now, i got informed. So, i took my camera out and started to shoot.

And i keep pressing the shutter since there was so many motivated, smiling, waving, thumb-ups and even hearts.

You all guys get my fully respect!

I decided to publish the pictures on my blog. If anyone recognize him-/herself and want that photo, just send a message.

Februar 25, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: HOPE, humansofplanetearth, reportage, roadtrip, tradition, travel, Uncategorized, urbanlifeTags: event, fun, israel, jogging, marathon, motivation, renebauerphotography, run, smile, sport, telavibmarathon2023, telaviv, telavivmarathon, TelAvivPlaytikamarathon, Travel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Roma – A Glimpse Of Eternity

A winter day in Rome, known as the eternal city, is perfect for sightseeing. If the sun is shining and the temperatures are mild, even better.

I was surprised how quick i went trough all the entrances and security checks on the main tourist spots.

I’ll spare you all the details of the history and backgrounds, but will link the main attractions to Wikipedia for all those who seek more informations for their own trip to Rome.

For all those ones interested in some pictures, just do it my way: grab a coffee and enjoy what you’ll see:

Februar 25, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, europe, history, reportage, roadtrip, travel, urbanlifeTags: amphitheatre, ancientrome, citylife, colosseum, eternity, europe, italy, pantheon, people, portraits, renebauerphotography, reportage, roma, romanforum, rome, sighseeing, spanishsteps, streetlife, Travel, trevifountain Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

The Vatican Museum

If in Vatican, or Rome respectively, you must go to the Vatican Museum, they said.

But be prepared for very long queue in front of the entrance, they warned me too.

Well, when i arrived there on this cold, but beautiful winter morning, there was only a few people wanting into the museum. I just could walk trough the entrance, literally.

And so i got a glimpse of all the treasures the Catholic church collected over the past centuries and the art, sculptures and paintings they got from various artists in many of the rooms and halls.

The first section i visited was the Egyptian museum. Does these even belongs here to the Vatican, i’ve been thinking. But then more and more sculptures, paintings, mosaics and huge tapestry followed on the other rooms.

The tourists been waving with their phones, tried to capture the beauty of art in their pockets. So did i, more or less. But honestly, it’s hard to get a proper picture from the huge paintings in the wall, if you can’t inhale the spirit of the hall. In this way, it was just right to forbid to make photos in the amazing and world famous „Sistine Chapel“ There are guards, who not only watch out for illegal photographers, but also remind the visitors to be silent.