But there is something special, the design of the ceiling is remarkable and I like it. It gets an architectural award from me: "best terminal ceiling of 2008" :-)
...and the color matches to this blog design, this earns an extra special award!! :-)
December 09, 2008
Airport series: Madrid
Sunrise at Madrid airport, again the look of it is pretty similar to almost every airport in the world.
But there is something special, the design of the ceiling is remarkable and I like it. It gets an architectural award from me: "best terminal ceiling of 2008" :-)
...and the color matches to this blog design, this earns an extra special award!! :-)
But there is something special, the design of the ceiling is remarkable and I like it. It gets an architectural award from me: "best terminal ceiling of 2008" :-)...and the color matches to this blog design, this earns an extra special award!! :-)
December 02, 2008
Dining out in Santiago
Well, the first picture is made earlier in the afternoon, when the sun poked through the rain clouds to everybodys surprise. Whithin minutes every available chair of every pavewalk cafe was occupied.
Around lunch time you get a free dish of fingerfood if you order a beer, great idea, miss that in Germany.
Evening in the old part of the city, it looks pretty medieval.
Lots of Tapas bars, my favorite Spanish kind of restaurant.
Many of the rather serious restaurants displayed some food in the windows, it looked interesting. Although I wouldn't actually eat something which supposedly stayed a couple of days in the window display.
Sometimes the food was even alive. Or at least it moved...
Around lunch time you get a free dish of fingerfood if you order a beer, great idea, miss that in Germany.
Evening in the old part of the city, it looks pretty medieval.
Lots of Tapas bars, my favorite Spanish kind of restaurant.
Many of the rather serious restaurants displayed some food in the windows, it looked interesting. Although I wouldn't actually eat something which supposedly stayed a couple of days in the window display.
Sometimes the food was even alive. Or at least it moved...
Shopping in Santiago
Some more pictures from the Santiago weekend. I had intended to buy a couple of things there, mainly winter season clothes. Unfortunately shopping time was quite limited because of the public holiday celebrating All Saints. 
However, I came across some open shops...
...like the Chocolate Factory. 
Must be a sweet life to work there with all this sweet stuff around...and this nice shop assistant staff ;-)
I even got a first look of the 2009 bride fashion, pretty nice. Strange, this beautiful looking dresses are made for just a single day, it's a pity. I guess at least for the male half of mankind it would be okay to have as many weddings as one like to have in his life :-) (of course just for re-using these dresses ;-)
However, I came across some open shops... 
...like the Chocolate Factory. 
Must be a sweet life to work there with all this sweet stuff around...and this nice shop assistant staff ;-)
I even got a first look of the 2009 bride fashion, pretty nice. Strange, this beautiful looking dresses are made for just a single day, it's a pity. I guess at least for the male half of mankind it would be okay to have as many weddings as one like to have in his life :-) (of course just for re-using these dresses ;-)
December 01, 2008
Italian fast food
Probably fast food is a wrong wording, they call it system gastronomy. The price is almost equal, taste and place are WAY better than the usual American fast food chains.
November 21, 2008
First snow
First snow of the year this morning. After a couple of hours nothing is left, the ground is dry again...
November 19, 2008
Holy Door
The Holy Door to the cathedral opens only in Holy Years, when the saints day of St. James happens to be a Sunday. According to Wikipedia the right to have a Holy Year was granted to Santiago by the Pope way back in 1119. Entering the cathedral through the Holy Door cleans you from all sins (so they say). Unfortunately this year isn't a Holy one.
The door itself is very small but the window above is amazing. Just by looking at it I felt as if I've been forgiven at least some of my lesser sins ;-)
The door itself is very small but the window above is amazing. Just by looking at it I felt as if I've been forgiven at least some of my lesser sins ;-)
Swinging service
Another device the cathedral of Santiago is famous for is the Botafumeiro. Special occasions like the All Saints holiday a couple of weeks ago are celebrated by swinging a metal container loaded with burning incense all the way through the cathedral on a very long rope. 
There is a team of 4 monks (or similar) who are trained to swing it carefully to reach a maximum height without touching the ceiling.
It looks amazing and creates a smell and light fog which enhances the already supernaturally looking interior of the house. I saw many visitors praying, some of them probably praying that the rope will hold the weight... :-) 
The majority of the visitors left after the swinging part. I stayed through the whole service, though. It included some touching songs by an elder nun and we all had to stand up from the bench several times which was sort of strange but certainly has some deeper catholic sense besides keeping people from taking a nap ;-) 
There is a team of 4 monks (or similar) who are trained to swing it carefully to reach a maximum height without touching the ceiling.
It looks amazing and creates a smell and light fog which enhances the already supernaturally looking interior of the house. I saw many visitors praying, some of them probably praying that the rope will hold the weight... :-) 
The majority of the visitors left after the swinging part. I stayed through the whole service, though. It included some touching songs by an elder nun and we all had to stand up from the bench several times which was sort of strange but certainly has some deeper catholic sense besides keeping people from taking a nap ;-) 
Relic
The remains of St. James are the main attraction of the Cathedral of Santiago. Surely they have a spiritual power, but I still don't know what I felt next to it. Maybe I wasn't ready.... 
November 18, 2008
Like a tourist
Once a year it has to be an American style coffee shop next corner, even without papercups. Well, what can I say, at least it looked great, but I still prefer the Spanish coffee culture... 
St James the Moorslayer
Not only his remains are in Santiago the Compostela, he's visible on every corner, fighting against the Moors (wiki).
Even inside the Cathedral the Apostle is active as well. Please note the head behind the flowers in the bottom of the picture...
Even inside the Cathedral the Apostle is active as well. Please note the head behind the flowers in the bottom of the picture...
November 17, 2008
Tapas
Probably the most famous invention of the Spanish cuisine is the Tapas system, I love it! Even if it isn't exactly diet food, I usually cannot stop to order just another small portion, then another..and another..and so on... 
The perfect finish of a Tapas feast is a glass of Cardenal Mendoza, a masterpiece..or better THE masterpiece of brandy-making from Jerez.
The perfect finish of a Tapas feast is a glass of Cardenal Mendoza, a masterpiece..or better THE masterpiece of brandy-making from Jerez.
Desayuno en Santiago
It looks quite ancient, but Cafe Paradiso served the best breakfast and even the best coffee in town.
The Tostadas (picture) are highly recommendable, later we had Boccadillo con Tortilla Francese, a scrambled egg sandwich.
The Tostadas (picture) are highly recommendable, later we had Boccadillo con Tortilla Francese, a scrambled egg sandwich.
Airport series: Santiago de Compostela
At 5:30 in the morning it is as unwelcoming as any other airport. There were days when travelling by flight was regarded as luxury...long time ago...
October 30, 2008
October 28, 2008
Hairy thing from NZ
After a journey of more than 23.000 km around the world it still looks fresh. Did it fly first class? Thank you New Zealand for supplying me :-)
October 27, 2008
Monday morning blues
Berlin, Monday morning 9:30am. The weather perfectly reflects my state of mind this Monday morning.... PLEASE, bring back the SUMMER!!!! :-) 
October 14, 2008
Hinteres Schöneck 3134 m
Following the gurgling sound of the water from the glacier we went for the Hinteres Schöneck, although I prefer the beautiful melodic Italian name Dosso Bello di Sentro to the sharp German words. 
Most part of the trail was quite easy - if you don't think about the abyss right next to you :-) But the last couple of hundred meters was serious climbing, at least to me as a beginner it felt like climbing, I had to use the hands too :-)
Then, again, it was a great moment on top, above the surroundings.
Reaching the top makes happy, partly because of the achievment and partly because from that moment on it's only downhill :-)
Back at the timberline....
...we took a rest at the Kälberalm, a place where the humans are fenced in and the cows with their cowbells live a happy life..
Most part of the trail was quite easy - if you don't think about the abyss right next to you :-) But the last couple of hundred meters was serious climbing, at least to me as a beginner it felt like climbing, I had to use the hands too :-)
Then, again, it was a great moment on top, above the surroundings.
Reaching the top makes happy, partly because of the achievment and partly because from that moment on it's only downhill :-) 
Back at the timberline....
...we took a rest at the Kälberalm, a place where the humans are fenced in and the cows with their cowbells live a happy life..
Hintere Schöntaufspitze 3325 m
It's located in a rather rocky part of the mountains around Sulden. We had to pass the Madritschjoch, then climb a short way up.
Not many trees in sight at that height... A couple of days later fresh snow covered the rock, about 30-40 centimeters, made it difficult to reach then.
We weren't the only ones on top of it, several more groups enjoyed the view during their rest. Some of them even had a bottle of wine as a small celebration.. :-)
Not many trees in sight at that height... A couple of days later fresh snow covered the rock, about 30-40 centimeters, made it difficult to reach then.
We weren't the only ones on top of it, several more groups enjoyed the view during their rest. Some of them even had a bottle of wine as a small celebration.. :-)
The visitor...
...made a show of itself, but wasn't able to deliver the message...probably it was meant as a demand to share my back-from-hiking-pre-dinner-at-the-balcony-in-the-sun beer :-)
October 02, 2008
Pretty high vista point
The view is breathtaking. But I hesitated to step forward to get more of the valley into the picture :-)
This day was a tough one, we went uphill to the Rifugio Julius Payer, a hut at 3029 meters, in a lofty position. This meant a difference of 1150 meters in altitude.
This day was a tough one, we went uphill to the Rifugio Julius Payer, a hut at 3029 meters, in a lofty position. This meant a difference of 1150 meters in altitude.
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