Yes, I am a Women, but...

...I am definitely not always in the mood of making extended shopping trips. Especially not before Christmas, but well, this year I had to face it for not buying all the presents in time. So, one could say: Your fault!

But you can do a lot more in big shopping malls than only shopping. Taking photos of hurried people for example. These pictures are taken on the 22. December in a big shopping mall near Graz.  

Ghosts appear and fade away...

Not everyone is moving.

moving stairway...

... well, not to heaven, I suppose.

Poor accessoire looking not amused.

Track to the Trip:

Overkill by Colin Hay

The Day after Christmas...

On the day after Christmas Eve we finally got snow (how accurate...). It is not the amount that I had wished for but you got to take what you get (my granny would say: Don't look a gift horse in the mouth). 

So perfect for Bernis short return: Berni, we ordered the snow exclusively for you!!!

Statue in our garden.

Not only human like snow...

Don't ask what he (by the way, he is called Torres) is doing...

Contrast...

Track of the day:

Letters from the Wasteland by The Wallflowers

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Wünsche zum Neuen Jahr

Ein bisschen mehr Friede und weniger Streit

EIn bisschen mehr Güte und weniger Neid

Ein bisschen mehr Liebe und weniger Hass

Ein bisschen mehr Wahrheit -  das wäre was

Statt so viel Unrast ein bisschen mehr Ruh

Statt immer nur Ich ein bisschen mehr Du

Statt Angst und Hemmung ein bisschen mehr Mut

Und Kraft zum Hadern - das wäre gut

In Trübsal und Dunkel ein bisschen mehr Licht

Kein quälend Verlangen, ein bisschen Verzicht

Und viel mehr Blumen, solange es geht

Nicht erst an Gräbern - da ist es zu spät

Ziel sei der Friede des Herzens

Besseres weiß ich nicht

Peter Rosegger

Track of the day: 

River by Joni Mitchell 

(best "Christmas-song" ever)

As the Night Falls...

Playing a bit with the light exposure of my camera leads to quite interesting photos. This one is taken from a bridge standing beyond a highway kepping the aperture open for more than 15 seconds.

Track to the trip:

Never Seen the Light of Day by Mando Diao

Less cars and less seconds.

A little bit closer to the cars...

It's me just looking like an angel...

Still Waiting for the Snow in the South...

21. December 2008

Just to let you know how we are forced to spend the Christmas-holidays. As I said before: We are missing the snow... But at least we have the sun on our side!

Track to the trip:

Amadeur by Nada Surf

On a little trip into the forrest for feeding pheasants you discover places that are suffused with light. Beautiful and peaceful.

Looking a little bit like spring (or autumn).

Frosted holly in my garden. Leastwise it is cold to form ice crystals.

Sunrise: Early in the morning on a sunny sunday in december.

Hunting Snow in the North...

08. December 2008

Some people say that the south of styria is the "toscana of austria". Well, this is possibly true for summer but when it comes to winter, we are not that blessed. Most of the time we lack spectacular natural events like snow. That means for testing your camera under such conditions, you'll have to travel across styria to get satisfying pictures. In my case i followed a kind hint and took the long way up to Mürzzuschlag. And I have to say, it was definitely worthwhile!!! Maybe the photos are not that perfect, but the feeling was...

Track to the trip

My Body is a Cage by Arcade Fire

rusty barbed wire

Not permitted to drive without snow chains... Well, I had to walk then.

The nearer I got to the top, the better the weather got. A little blink of the sun.

After walking for about two hours I stopped at the "Schnoaß'n Hütte" and decided to go back down...

Icy...

Sharing pictures...

Having just started to take photos in a - well let's call it - more advances way, I would like to share my first steps with you. 

Every photo tells a little story and what could be better than using a blog to tell them all? So, let us have a try...

This blog is dedicated to Berni, who left the country to follow her heart and to Biji, who is still here with always an open ear.

Well, Berni, I'm trying to show you the best sides of Austria, so that you'll never forget how lovely it is here (and maybe consider to come back again) :)