Småland

Nestled deep in the forests of Småland, we had found the perfect escape – a cozy cabin by a pristine lake. The days had been simple but unforgettable. Each morning, we woke up surrounded by the beautiful landscape and took a refreshing swim in the clear, cool waters of the lake. The peacefulness of the early hours, with only the sounds of nature around, had made it the perfect way to start the day. In the evenings, we gathered around a campfire just outside the cabin. The crackling fire, surrounded by tall trees, had created a magical atmosphere as we shared stories. It had been a true retreat into nature, where time seemed to slow down, and we could simply enjoy the beauty of the Swedish wilderness.

The Treehouse

Hidden deep within the forests of Småland, we had discovered a magical treehouse. Elevated among the trees, it had offered us a peaceful retreat far from the hustle of daily life. During the days, we wandered through the forest, collecting wild mushrooms, blueberries, and lingonberries. The forest had been rich with them, and the simple joy of foraging had added to the serenity of our stay. The experience of living so close to nature, high in the trees, surrounded by the tranquility of the woods, had been unforgettable.

Dalsland

Our trip to Dalsland had been the perfect escape into nature. We had stayed in a small cabin by the edge of a serene lake, surrounded by the beauty of the Swedish countryside. The days had been simple, yet filled with moments of pure tranquility. We had spent most of our time kayaking on the lake, gliding through the calm waters and exploring the nearby islands. The silence of the lake, broken only by the sound of our paddles, had been incredibly peaceful. Each evening, we had watched the sunset over the water, soaking in the stillness and beauty of the surroundings. It had been a trip filled with quiet moments, where the connection to nature felt effortless and deeply calming.

After 2017, it was time for me to go to my favorite festival again. Discovering new music, being surrounded by music lovers and drifting from location to location at night - that’s exactly what I love. No other country in the world has a higher density of musicians and internationally renowned musicians per inhabitant, and that’s what you get to hear there. In addition to the local musicians, there are also a lot of other bands from other countries to see. When selecting the bands, the organizers pay particular attention to gender equality. 

IA - you are something special.

There are many beautiful places in Europe, but not many people think of Albania. However, we thought that this country with its mountains in the north and the beautiful coast is definitely worth a trip. 

In the north, in the Theth National Park, we stayed in an accommodation that was rented out by a family. A small schnapps was of course always included in the evening. This area was full of beautiful mountains, rivers and waterfalls. 

After some beautiful hikes, we headed south to the sea. In Ksamil we enjoyed our lazy side and spent two more days on the beach. All in all, a nice short trip. 

With Tobias, a buddy of mine, and his family I spent a few days in the Zillertal. I already know the Zillertal from various winter vacations in which I like to snowboard there. We were accommodated in Krimml (1067m), a place that is known as a climatic health resort because of its waterfalls. We spent the time with hikes and mountain biking while also flowed a lot of sweat - but vacation may also mean effort. 

Unfortunately, due to the Covid pandemic, it was not so easy to travel. The situation eased in summer, so I took the chance and flew to Madeira. For good reasons, Maderia is often called the Hawaii of Europe. Our first trip went directly to the highest elevation (1862m), to Pico Ruivo, from where we could enjoy a beautiful view of towns, the sea and the landscape. Every bead of sweat was worth it. The first days we spent in the Santana region, in the northeast of the island, with hikes such as the Levada Caldeirao Verde. 

We then spent the 2nd part of the trip in the southwest of the island. Here there are some great levada hikes, which you should not miss. But also the Vereda do Fanal with the beautiful fairy forest is worth a hike, especially when it is foggy. At the end of our trip we spent some time in the natural swimming pools of Porto Moniz.

What could I do with the last 3 days off this year? A short trip somewhere, of course! Nicole, who accompanied me also to California, was again with me, and we had two options in our mind - seaside or mountains. We decided to travel to the Mountains, more precisely the High Tatras in Poland. We went to Zakopane, where we had a beautiful Airbnb at a house called Ornak. From there, we started our hikes to Czarny Star-Morskie Oko and to Jaskania Mylna. In total, that made 45km in 2 days - but it was worth it.  

Once a year, we’re having an international photo gathering, and it’s always a great time. This year it took place in Lenzen, Germany - which is a roughly two-hour drive from Berlin. We spend our time with some yoga sessions, listing to the hottest 80s tracks and at the lakeside.
Here are some portrait photos of Clara, Isabella, Maren, and Rebecca. 

To be honest with every year, I’m less ambitious in taking staged photos because jumping in the lake or doing nothing seems, in the same way, fulfilling to me. May you can understand. 

AST third time in a row. Thanks to FKP Scorpio for being able to do two things I love at the same time - taking photos and listen to music. The AST is a calm and family-friendly festival with different workshops, readings, and music from soul to punk. It’s like a holiday for me. In the next year, the AST will have a one year break, and I’m curious if and how it will come back. Best Artists 2019: Suede, Michael Kiwanuka, Xavier Rudd.
Music is love that never fades away.  

When Chris and Betty moved to California, I promised them a visit. Roughly one year later, I was glad to keep my promise.

Together with Nicole, which is a great friend of mine, we organized an unnecessary large RV for the road trip. What were we meant to do? It was the cheapest.

Time flew way too fast, and I felt like a child during our daily trips. Discovering the surroundings, collecting impressions, and sharing time at firepits made me not wanna go home.

During our 3.500 km trip, we visited the Nationalparks Yosemite and Lassen, the Humboldt Redwood State Park, Lake Tahoe (not recommended), Silver Lake (highly recommended), Travertine Hot Springs, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz. Thanks to our American Krauts, we hardly had to spare thoughts on difficulties.

What a wonderful time!

It was time again to meet up with old friends and new people. The gathering took place in Dragun, next to Schwerin, in a big house surrounded by nature, with super calm human beings, delicious meals, good music, laughter lines and in the end, some more portraits in my pocket.

Exactly what I needed!

BTS - to keep some moments in mind