Meissen, Germany

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We spent a beautiful summer day climbing hidden stairs, wandering the narrow streets and sipping beer overlooking the sea of red roof tops.

Berlin Summer

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🇩🇪 Sommer in Berlin: von einer tollen Eisdiele zur nächsten schlendern, im Biergarten grüne Weisse schlürfen, unter pastellfarbenem Abendhimmel Popcorn futtern bis der Kinofilm anfängt, im Schlachtensee die Beine (und Seele) baumeln lassen, tanzende Sonnenstrahlen auf Gewässern und Gebäuden genießen ... Ich vermiss’ es schon jetzt.

🇬🇧 Summer in Berlin: stroll from one amazing gelato place to the next, slurp white Beer with woodruff syrup – a Berlin specialty – at one of the many beer gardens, munch popcorn under pastel evening skies at an outdoor theater, enjoy twinkling sun ray reflections on rivers, lakes and incredible architecture ... I miss it already.

Haleakalā, Maui, HI

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The trailhead lay in deep fog. I saw a boulder and a few feet of dirt. Beyond that, a wall of nothing. I stepped on the path and into the grey expanse, the air cool and wet. The trail descended gently but steadily. I’d have to conserve energy for the way back up. It’s easy to forget what it takes to ascend even a gradual slope when I’m distracted by the excitement of exploring further down. As we continued, more of the trail came into view, but the crater stayed invisible. Suddenly a movement caught my eye. A round bird, about the size of a cantaloupe, strutted up and down the path. I was amazed. It seemed unlikely this area could be home to any living being. So far, I hadn’t noticed any plants or bugs for it to consume, and the bird didn’t strike me as the type that flies to hunt. Within a few yards of it, we quietly sat on the ground to watch. The bird slowly meandered over to investigate. We spent a while with the partridge we later learned to call Chukar. When we moved on, the fog started to dissipate. Spread below us, the stunning view of Haleakalā crater.

Fox in the snow

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On winter mornings in Canada, we sprinkled seeds out for the birds. Pine grosbeaks, robins, squirrels and jays all came to feast – munching and calling and hopping around in the snow. Then a fox slowly walked into view. The birds flew off, the squirrel zoomed up the tree, squeaking loudly. I sat behind the glass door, a few meters away, kept my breath steady and my movement slow as I raised the camera. The fox locked eyes with me for a moment, then started nibbling sunflower seeds.