An illuminated landscape

On the first day of Christmas, between rain and wind and darkness, suddenly there was some sun in the afternoon. The perfect time to go outside for some fresh air.




















The light was sharp from under huge clouds. Colors were deep and saturated.

Blue sky reflected in the water.



















































Overhead these geese were probably going somewhere warmer.



























The paths were muddy and soft.








































Sometimes the light was blinding turning colors almost into black and white.













There were wet patches in the floodplains of the river, but the water in the river Rhine was not yet high enough to flow over the low summer dikes.

Soon enough the clouds came back in full force. On he way home, the last sun fell on the mossy green trees.
This lovely afternoon was already gone and turned into another early evening.

A low sun.....

I just bought a new camera  ( Lumix FZ 200) and I had to try it out. The sky was looking almost blue and the sun was shining low on the horizon. Walking in the polder, finally I saw these small greenhouses on some allotments. They looked enchanted by the light.

And this is what modern , professional, high tech, greenhouses look like...

No romantic rubbish around. Sharp lines, but it has a certain charm of its own.

Autumn on the verge of winter.....

The water of a canal brightly reflects an old bridge in the sunshine.

Going from November to December there is a major change in the weather.  The red and gold of autumn fades away to the black and white of winter. 

Many nights it rains. Everything is wet. At the building site there are also interesting reflections. What will they be doing with these stairs...  They look like giant hurdles. 

Overnight, the bags and iron hooks turn into a still life.

But the mornings get foggy. Sometimes there is already a thin layer of ice on the water.

When the fog gets thicker the world gets smaller and more quiet. 

Along the river the light is bleak.

And then we have the first snow. Early this year. Less trains, so longer waiting in the cold.

But in the city everyone prepares for Christmas. Canals are lined with lights. People are busy shopping. There is a festive feeling in the air...

 And in a few weeks we will have real snow, and maybe even a white Christmas.

May I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

An igloo in the sunshine ....

You will find this shiny white igloo in Brasilia, the warm and sunny capital of Brazil. It is the National Museum of Brazil, with the signature of the great Oscar Niemeyer all over it. 

An amazing sight, like many of his creations. 

The entrance to the museum.

Inside the museum. The curves keep winding. Not a straight line in sight.

Fluently going up ...

And then looking down... 

Oscar Niemeyer has died on the 5th of December 2012. Just 10 days before his 105th birthday.
But his fantastic buildings are there for us to enjoy.....

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