Berlin Winter Sky

In order to show the first blue sky in weeks in its true blue color I used the Photomatix software. Looks way too artificial, though. But anyway, it brings colors to the blog during these grey days, so in this case the end justifies the means :-)

The Bode-Museum (shown here, too, and I guess some other times as well)...

 ..and the Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral).

Homeless Orphans

Once happy members of beautiful forests, later the pride and joy of the human homes and center of family joy and children excitement - now, only days later, all of them have been thrown out into the chilly winter streets, like trash, to die from starving or to be blown away by storms in the lonely nights outside, not even supplied with water or shelter ;-)

Some of them at least found partners in suffering and have huddled against each other...

New Years Eve - Leipzig

Arrived in Leipzig in the evening of December 30th, it was dark already. So main activity of that evening was visiting the several old trading houses with its passageways, for which Leipzig is famous. 

Then to the fine hotel for a good sleep.

From the 15th floor window there was a perfect view of the last sunset of 2011...

..which brought a rather fine day with a blue sky in the early hours.

'Whoever reads this is happy!'

Several old buildings make one feel as being back in former times..

..like this old coffee house: Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum...where even old Bach might have had coffee some centuries ago :-)

...but we went to somewhere else which was very good as well, had coffee with Cointreau against the chilly wind outside..

And another one later...

Then to the Thomas(!!!)-Church, where the famous Thomas(!!!)-Choir performed something in front of the statue of good old Johann Sebastian Bach. As I learned Bach not only was a very productive composer and musician, he also was a father of 20 children from several wifes. Impressive...

Here's the church from outside and inside. Later there was a Organ concert....

....and finally the year was over and Leipzig celebrated a hopefully good beginning of 2012. Unfortunately the fireworks smoke made further photo shooting impossible....Happy New Year everyone...

Rolling Hills

A typical sight in the low hills of the Crete Senesi, Tuscany, south of Siena. Just to post something sunny these days...