Up North it goes!

Jul 25, 2017 | After The Great Journey, Photos, Trips

I often tell people that I come from the North of Germany. That is as true as it is relative. Because last weekend I went north.
My mission: Relaxation, experience, reuniting with friends.

One of the nights I spent inside a lovely caravan of the old make and the other one amongst my friends in Hamburg. Mission relaxation I could carry out well at the caravan’s and some experience I was presented with when having breakfast inside the ecological convenience store next to it.
Hamburg itself, for two half days, offered next to the fundamental relaxation a number of experiences. We looked at the Elbphilharmonie close up, we posed as spectators at a track and field competition, we walked much and we talked even more.

I would change nothing, maybe only the amount of time spent.

At the moment I am in Frankfurt. After the High Impact Presentation course from Dale Carnegie I have a little time left before my train arrives. Or before I arrive at the station. 🙂 This time I used to complete this article.

Content of two demanding days: Analyzing the own presentation skills and improve on it. On different kinds of presenting something we were filmed and coached alongside.
A great way to succeed! Now I know exactly where my strengths and weaknesses lie and after seeing myself, I can now begin to see others see me.

Long Weekend with Friends

Jun 11, 2017 | After The Great Journey, Photos, Trips

Even though this blog post has more pictures than words in it, the actual weekend has been full of experiences.

Do you remember Tina, with whom I had the ‘Adventure Couchsurfing’ and the ‘Authentic Kiwi Day’? 🙂
Exactly the same and her boyfriend I visited. So I went for a long weekend to Franconia.

The most amazing hosts in one picture!

One day we went into Swiss Franconia, from where I brought you some pictures of a dragonfly, mainly:

 

 

Bamberg. Just as the pictures show, a multi-layered city. She rewarded our visit with sun and a feast for the eyes and the belly.

 

 

One special attraction was so-called ‘Lesser Venice’.

 

 

As a highlight the visit of the ‘Teegießerei’  stood out. Tina went for a hot chocolate with chili and I wisely chose right, ordering some China Milky Oolong. A tea, fermented by using milk and being all deliiiicious! Including the second brew. 🙂

 

 

After Bamberg we strolled along the meadows around and the pavement inside Erlangen. And, oh well; it looked all very beautiful once more:

 

 

I am Groot.

Have you ever wanted to know what a Ferris wheel looks like through long exposure? Tadaaa:

 

 

A breeze of New Zealand came up, walking through the botanic gardens. Of course, those are to be told apart by their very plants…

 

 

 

 

As many pretty pictures arose, as many enjoyable moments there have been.
Friendship made them possible, in the first place.

One Year Home

May 10, 2017 | After The Great Journey, Thoughts, Updates

Not at all an unusual day, today.

We had our more intense school day of the week, then I got somewhat busy with my online freelance job, ordered parts for the car repair, read through scripts for the upcoming stage plays, made some wondrous guacamole with mum and dad, listened to a lot of music, looked forward to going to work and being with my colleagues and still. Still, this day is a special one.

Today, exactly one year ago, I arrived. Back in Germany. After 17 months. Long months, well lived.
In all the everyday struggle you hardly get to thinking back.

In this past year I ‘arrived’ in many ways. Have not only found a cool new job in shape of the apprenticeship, but also a company that I can call myself a part of.
I picked up some hobbies, got to know anew and to value some aspects of live, have traveled (smaller style) and kept on sharing it all with you.

Of course not as high frequented as back then, as every other day there were new things to experience. These days, my routine and also my plans have become more long-term-ish. And it wasn’t to be expected otherwise.

I want to make it about a picture, which illustrates my trail of thought well:

In the middle of December 2014 I stood in this exact place for the first time.

Back then I walked up Mount Victoria in Wellington and always marveled at the fantastic view you got when surpassing a crest on your way up.

As are these days not always made from sugar, but there are plenty of these crests along the way, after which you are presented with a splendorous panorama. And I want to rise up, want to see more of them and to go up the mountain to the very summit.
Up there, you can stay for a while, take in the view and enjoy. And from that point, you can look out for the next mountain you want to climb…

You will hear from me. 🙂

Skiing School Trip II

Apr 8, 2017 | After The Great Journey, Photos, Trips

You read right: The second one!

But if you look around my blog for the first one, you might be left empty-handed.
As the same took place long before. This blog began at the end of my first apprenticeship back then.
And the week I am about to tell you all about has actually happened just like that already.

For we went on a school trip. After a better half of a year into the apprenticeship we went to South Tirol to partake in the late skiing season! Just as we did back in the day…

One difference there was though, for sure: My camera was with me and I made good use of it!

Rest stop ambiance.

 

 

After a long bus ride we finally arrived in Ahrntal and moved into the fine rooms. 5 days we then spent in mostly harsh sunlight on the slopes.
The weather was almost too nice, as snow likes to melt. You can picture it; it is not as nice underneath your skis. Nevertheless, it was a splendid blast of a time, to shed the dust from the skills with the slats.

One day I felt as good, back from the slopes, as to have myself a little walk. Come with me!

The loud chatter of these cuties might be the last thing you want to hear in your afternoon nap. 🙂

Only at the end of it I came to notice the name of this hiking track. How fitting! 😀
(Translation: Way of Reflexion)

What time is it??

Of course my camera had to go to the top of the mountain, how else would I capture all those impressions?

It pays off to look out towards the valley inside the gondola.

Even musical accompaniment was provided!

This day, we stayed in the mountains to the late hour, because of the hike at dusk.

Already before that I had noticed the appropriately brute snow grooming machinery.
They are in charge of reshaping the ridden slopes to be all smooth and hard in the next morning.
And they day’s work I wanted to capture by all means:

 

 

This is what it looks like, then… 🙂

Until the shadows had reached the terrace, we stayed outside. After dinner, we went on our way into the valley. Where in colder months you can go down hill on a sled, we hiked down on foot in the end…

 

 

And here the spectacular picture of proof:

YEEEEEAAAAAH!!

So, this trip was a striking success! From a photogenic point of view, and also from the classmateship perspective. For you get closer, when spending more time together than those few hours in school only. 🙂

So, this trip was a striking success! From a photogenic point of view, and also from the classmateship perspective. For you get closer, when spending more time together than those few hours in school only. 🙂

You could really think about starting an apprenticeship solely for skiing trips like this. 😀 As it is worth it!

Pictures from Zurich

Feb 28, 2017 | After The Great Journey, Photos, Trips

February is going towards its end and I don’t want to let him go without a blog blog post.
The highlight of this short month was very much a weekend, which didn’t take place in Germany, but in Switzerland.

After New Zealand my group of friends has spread over a vast area, so that meeting often come with visits of bigger cities. As was this time. And you can come with me on the picture journey to Zurich: