When it comes to photography, there are specific times of the day, and certain weather conditions that make a photographer excited. In Amsterdam, I was so excited when I woke up to a misty morning when the water in the canals were as smooth as glass and the narrow streets were silent! It was like the mist just seemed to hang onto every thing it touched.
When it comes to traveling, there are certain times which make the adventure extra special. In Amsterdam, I was able to enjoy this fantastic city with a great friend. Clara and I share a love for all things travel, and this trip did not disappoint. Together we enjoyed enthusiastic shopping days, phenomenal food, inspiring galleries, sensational wines, and of course a lot of laughter!
Amsterdam is a city not to be missed. While this was my second time, it definitely won't be my last! The architecture and the general city scape just make this city a pure pleasure to be in.
I am counting down the days until my next travel adventure. In a month I will be off to exotic Morocco and Spain. This time I won't be the only photographer....very exciting!!
It feels so great to get out from under the constant pressure and guilt of my comp's and start to enjoy my weekends and to take pictures again. Another great weekend was spent at the cottage enjoying family, the outdoors, great food and great memories. 
Once again, the dogs thoroughly enjoyed the lake and this time Ally did too :-)
Speaking of my ultra-adorable little niece Ally, a new blog post is in the making documenting all her cuteness over the past 2 months. She truly is what Thanksgiving is all about.
I was originally in Vienna over 15 years ago, however, this past visit felt like I was seeing the city again for the first time. One of the best memories that I had of Vienna was of the KunstHausWien and the Hundertwasser House, created by the contemporary painter and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser. 
His work encapsulates environmentalism, philosophy, and design through his boldly-coloured paintings and irregular formed architecture projects. Today's reality was as good as my memory remembered it to be!
Cafe Hawelka is a gem! It exemplifies a warm and peaceful coffee retreat practically untouched since the mid-sixties. As a phd student, I find myself spending many hours in coffee shops working away and the historic vibe of this place just felt like a little slice of academic familiarity. 
It has often been said that coffee is the Viennese drink of choice, and with the many types to choose from you soon realize that the coffee ritual in Vienna is much more than coffee with a bit of milk or sugar. 
The Stephansdom is a stunning Gothic cathedral in the heart of the city centre. During my travels I have been to many places of worship, and the interior of this church was truly breathtaking with its intricate interior structure and artistry.
Vienna is such a walkable city and as you explore on foot you stroll past the Karlskirche church, many museums and can easily imagine what it must have been like hundreds of years ago.
After my time in Vienna, it was off to Amsterdam....more on that part of the trip soon!
So here is my second installment of pics from my recent trip down under. Constantly surprised how quickly time passes, as it feels like ages ago that I was there. Almost time for another adventure.....
So after some R&R in the Abel Tasman National Park, I headed east to Christchurch. Christchurch is such a lovely place.....so green and pretty! It is filled with wandering parks along the Avon River. But what I loved the most was the really artisan feel this city has. 
I am a huge fan of structure....so my camera could hear this building calling from miles away.
After Christchurch I headed over to Aussie-land! I had never been outside of the Sydney airport before so I was quite excited. Plus, I was able to spend time with a great friend of mine who lives there...so that is always a bonus. Unfortunately, was only there for a couple of days....but will definitely be going back. Sydney exceeded my expectations and I was really impressed with the city.
This final shop just made me shake my head....a woman's touch is always a good thing ;) but whether or not it has to be a "white" lady is a bit problematic!
