Sunset Saturday XXXXVI

Another wintery evening sky in Bavaria. The last couple of days were sunny and rather cold but still no snow down here. We're flying back to Botswana today, saying goodbye to winter and hello to summer in the Southern hemisphere!

Plaisir d'Hiver

Before I leave, I wanted to spend some more time in the mountains. In the past few days it snowed a lot in the Alps and today it was sunny, so I went on a day trip with my dad. We drove to Spitzing and hiked up to the Firstalm with our sleighs.
There we sat in the plain sun and watched the panorama and the skiiers before tobogganing downhill all the way back to the car - yay!

Chiemsee-Bankerl

Greetings from Bavaria!
We went on a family day trip to Chiemsee shortly after Christmas and I loved to be near the mountains. During the summer it is also beautiful there, but during the winter months it is more peaceful and quiet, and the views are just as nice.

Sunset Saturday XXXXIII

A winter sunset near my parents' house in Bavaria. The sun is gone as early as 4pm at this time of the year, making the days quite short, and it is way too warm for snow at the moment, which makes it even darker during the long nights. At least we got to see some blue sky and sunrays today!

Christmas time

Christmas traditionally is a family holiday, and so we left Gaborone to spend some time with my family in Bavaria, and to celebrate my grandmother's birthday. It was great to catch up with everyone, who has travelled from various parts of the world to our hometown, and to eat lots of homemade, delicious food...
Hope everyone had a peaceful Christmas!

Sunset Saturday XXXIII

Autumn evening sky in my hometown. Because of the clear days, I got to see some really nice sunsets. I was walking home and watched the colors and the sky behind a field against the dark trees. It still takes quite some time for the sun to completely set, but already the days are becoming shorter and shorter.

on identity, home and switching between worlds

During our trip to Italy, I spent some time to think and reflect on Europe, my roots and the big or not so big differences between life here and life in Botswana, and I must say, it felt like a pretty big culture shock to be back in Europe after some time abroad. Tuscany, with all its history, monuments and century-old culture, was probably the most contrasting place we could go to from the empty lands of the Kalahari, and I felt how strongly my own identity is impacted by European culture, history and whatever values come with it.

Coming back to Europe often leaves me a little bit lost, but at the same time every time I come back to my hometown, I feel like the place absorbs me, devouring my personality, and twisting it back to the standards and drawers that seem so eminent in German society - at least when entering it as a sort of outsider. I felt really out of place for the first couple of days in Germany, questioning my origin, my direction and missing my freedom, but then I somehow snapped back into the mode and adapted to the pace of life, knowing it will be a different life again soon.
Now, being back in Gabs, it feels good to be here, but part of myself is still in Germany, and so it will probably again take some time before I have arrived fully...

bei Kaiserwetter auf der Wiesn

The weather during the Oktoberfest was exceptionally nice and so we enjoyed the sunshine and warm temperatures.

I went there with dear friends from Austria and we walked around the Theresienwiese, where the Oktoberfest is taking place, before we entered one of the beer tents. In the afternoon, we went for a ride on the "Wiesn-Rad" and had a beautiful view of the Oktoberfest, the masses of visitors, and Munich, and it felt really good to be home.

a whirlwind of weeks

These past weeks in Germany have been great and extremely busy - especially compared to the pace of life back in Gabs - and we were traveling from South to North and back to meet family, friends and colleagues. It was really nice to be back home, but it took a while to get used to the speed. It always feels like time is running way too fast, and there is never enough time to see everyone and do everything, but now I am also looking forward to flying back to Africa tonight.

Sunset Saturday XXXI

Sonnenuntergang an der Hackerbrücke.

We were on our way back home from the Oktoberfest and saw the sunset over the train tracks near Munich main station. For the past week, the days were full of glorious sunshine and blue skies, and it was so nice to be around at this time of the year!

counting down

(picture: Wiesn 2006)
This week was the last week before our big holiday and so I was busy finishing stuff for work, and meeting people before we leave for Munich tomorrow.

The Oktoberfest is starting tomorrow as well, and since it's been three years that I've last been there, I am kind of excited for this as well (I even had a dress made ;) Plus, I am really looking forward to seeing my family and friends back home, and hopefully we'll get some nice, relaxing days in sunny Italy, too.

signs of winter

Over the last couple of weeks, winter has arrived over here.
The trees are shedding their leaves, the ants have disappeared and my alpaca jumper is my favorite piece to wear right now.
It still feels weird to be in the middle of the cold season when in the rest of the world (most notably home in Bavaria) everyone is taking out their summer clothes & flip-flops, and enjoying long days full of light while here, the sun sets as early as 5pm.

However, even in the middle of winter it is usually warm enough to have lunch outside.

That's not too bad for winter, right??

Comfort Food

My mother brought us some "Milchreis" from Germany and with the evenings getting colder and colder over here, it was time for some comfort food. And so we heated up some milk and sugar, added the rice and stirred diligently for about 30 minutes. Served with some fruits and cinnamon it was a delicious dinner!

a day with flowers, letters & cupcakes

I wanted flowers in the house, so I picked some from the roadside on my way home.

The afternoon I spent with the children at Happy Home and they wrote colorful answers to their pen pals. Their letters are really sweet and they even try to teach them some words in Setswana!

The day ended with cupcakes and a little bit of home - podcasts are king!

happy holidays!

our beloved locally-grown Christmas tree, decorated in beautiful Bavarian colors

hope you all have a wonderful time

merry X-mas!

let it snow

it is snowing and snowing and snowing. and it's cold. like real winter.

everything is covered in white and all the trees and shrubs have big snowy caps.
when the sun comes out and the snow is sparkling it truly feels like a winterwonderland!
looks like we'll have a white X-mas!

in the kitchen

Ever since I made it to my parents' place I've been busy baking (and eating) X-mas biscuits. Outside it is freezing and it has been snowing for the past days, but in our kitchen it is warm and cosy, and this is where I am spending a lot of time these days, watching the snow fall and enjoying a hot cup of tea. It's good to be home for Christmas!

stopover in winter wonderland

On my journey to Cancun I got to spend one day in Bavaria. And guess what: I was just in time for the first snow! Hurra!
Everything was covered with a nice white blanket and the snow was sparkling in the pale sunshine.

I must say (despite all the troubles winter is causing these days) I am looking forward to some more snow, powder and winter sunshine!

Most Liveable City

Monocle has voted Munich the most liveable city in 2010!

As a native to this beautiful city, of course I've always known this ;)

And it’s good to see that also other people share this opinion…

pics: Rathaus at Marienplatz, Maibaum at Viktualienmarkt, Hofgarten of the Residenz

Farewell Munich

After about 4 weeks in my beloved Bavaria I am leaving again tonight. So I spent the last days saying goodbye to Munich, great friends and my family. Of course, I am also pretty excited to see my favorite person again and to get to know a new country. Therefore I once more packed my life in suitcases and will board a plane tonight to start a new adventure in Botswana!