Carnival Rides

Winter 2012 - Edinburgh Winter Festival

These are some long exposures of lights on carnival rides in the Edinburgh Winter festival. I love the  glow of lights on wintry nights! 

Charlottenburg

Winter 2011 - Berlin

These photos are from of the Charlottenburg Palace in Germany and it's surrounding Christmas markets. The family of one of my closest friends from high school are from Berlin, and when we told them that we were going to be there in December, they told us not to miss this market. Though it's a little bit of a trek, (probably a 20 min U - Bahn ride and another 15 min walk,) the trip was definitely worth it. 

This market is huge, with a wonderful range of food stalls and other great items. I am not sure if the palace is usually lit up so beautifully, but I can guess that there's usually not a snowflake present! 

Berlin at Christmas

Winter 2011 - Berlin

Every year my family and I go to Christmas markets in Germany.

 There is nothing better than eating a German wurst while drinking Gluhwein (mulled wine) in the chilly days leading up to Christmas. Being in a city as diverse and unique as Berlin only made it better. 

One of the things I absolutely love about Christmas markets, though, are the way they light up in the evening. The glow of twinkle lights somehow does manage to warm your heart, even on the coldest of nights.

Winter Walk

December 2010 - Wassenaar

All of these are within a five minute walk of my house.

Christmas

Christmas 2010 - Wassenaar

It was icy outside, the presents were wrapped, and the kitties were content.

What more could we ask for? 

Munich - Christmas Markets

Winter 2010 - Munich

Around the Christmas Markets

 These are just a few of the many lovely things one can buy at Christmas Markets.
Of course, all too soon, It was time to go home.. 

Munich - Traveling

Munich - Winter 2010 

On our way there

Our first night exploring:

My mother and a giant smoker.
Under the giant smoker was a food stand :)

Getting Home

Winter 2010 - Train Ride

Getting home at the end of my first semester in Dublin was... and Adventure. Many people studying abroad had trouble getting back to America, but there I was, having just as much trouble getting back to Holland.

My flight out of Dublin was canceled due to a huge snowstorm in The Netherlands and they were projecting that the Dublin Airport would be shut the next day. So, I flew to London on a flight that was delayed due to snow in London, arrived at about 1:30am, took the Gatwick Express into London, then took a too expensive taxi to the Hotel I was supposed to stay in overnight. By that time it was 3:30, and I had to be in the station ready to catch the Euro Rail at 6:30. I took a nap. The Euro Rail took me through France and Belgium, where I transferred to a local train to The Netherlands. Finally, exhausted, but amazed at the sights outside my window I pulled out my camera.

 Less than 24 hours after I left, and after traveling through five countries, (Ireland, The UK, France, Belgium, The Netherlands,) I was home. The next day, I got on a plane to Germany.

Munster

As I previously mentioned, we went to Munster over Christmas break.

Our main purpouse in going was to visit the Christmas Markets Germany is famous for :)
The main purpose of these markets (to me) is to eat wonderful German Christmas foods.
So you'll notice in a lot of these photos, people are holding something that they're in the process of eating. Yum!




Munster is also known for it's beautiful gabled houses



And it's Cathedral


And I loved it's Christmas Decorations :)

Christmastime in (almost) Feburary

Right after I arrived in Holland (about a month and a half ago ...) It began to snow.

So I took some photographs. Naturally. This one is from my window.



Kato (my cat!) was not a big fan.

The next day, we planned on going to Germany. This is what we woke up to.



Beautiful, but the Dutch Transportation system could not handle it.
I must remind you it never snows in Holland. But look how much there is:



You can't even see the sidewalk!
Unfortunately, we had to wait a day to head to Germany.
So I took pictures of the Christmas-y inside of our house :)




Happy Winter!