Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but I'm back now

Contrary to common belief that I have disappeared and/or fallen off the deep end, I am very much alive and kicking if not a tiny bit overwhelmed.We got back from our whirlwind trip to Israel and hit the ground running but made it to Friday just in time for an awesome visit with a cousin who I don't get to see often enough.
The weekend was full of long walks around Hamburg*,
discovering oddities and curiosities
(like this over the top writing utensil atelier below)
the juiciest of burgers,
some serious photo booth artistic direction ,
an out of body Saturday night Biergarten experience
and a little bit of exploring around Hamburg's beautiful Harbor.

*Somehow when we take guests out for a look around the city  the walks always start out lovely but slowly morph into endless forced marches traumatizing our guests for life ....

Hamburg-> Zürich->Tel Aviv

Happy Passover !

If everything goes smoothly we should be home just in time for the Seder...

חג שמח!

Escapism and the 20x200 project

I should actually be packing, but because of my mega multitasking skills (#adhd) I am also doing laundry, practicing, writing emails and blogging a little. Anyways , I just wanted to share this quick before I'm off...

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes 

but in having new eyes.” 

— Marcel Proust

                    I came across this quote from Proust via Christian Chaize, explaining his beautiful series "Praia Piquinia" on 20x200. (The 20x200 project is pretty fantastic, they offer limited editions of original artwork starting at insanely affordable prices... have a look and read more about it  here )

Because good art truly is transporting.

 
Ferry from Ardrossan Harbor , Laura Bell. Also on 20x200.

666, Too many rehearsals, and a love letter from Dresden

So, it seems like we might just have made it safely to the end of an epically long week. First there were concerts.The 6th symphony program of the season was cheekily titled "The Sixth Sense" and we played Beethoven's 6th and Sibelius 6th but none of this rather creepy/inappropriate numerology seemed to really bother anybody.Then I schlepped myself to Leipzig for a marathon of rehearsals,lessons, and a concert/exam
(Stravinsky!Schubert!Bach! Brahms!...Migraine!)

After that I hopped right back on the train back to Hamburg for a new project this morning.Then the weather messed with our minds and played nasty tricks ... It was spring and everything was warm and lovely and optimistic-and then it snowed and it wasn't anymore. Another highlight was a letter we got from our friends at the Oberlandesgericht Dresden who you might remember from previous posts about our various attempts at civil marriage. (which you can read about here and here) Anyhow, in a rather round about way of congratulating us, they sent us a 50 Euro fine. Apparently, once you start THE PROCESS, there are no backsies.You can't just go to Cyprus and get married on your own just because you feel like it. (or they make it impossible etc. etc.) Very classy Dagmar! next time a Hallmark card will do just fine.

And so, I am currently much in need of a stiff drink, exotic vacation, or some sort of nice therapy where they let you paint or play the xylophone in a sunny room or just hang out and talk to farm animals...or all of the above. Have a wonderful weekend!

One of the things that I love about using my Holga, is that the film usually ends up turning into a mini time capsule...by the time I finish a roll and take it to be developed, I've completely forgotten and am wonderfully surprised by the random collection  inside. This time I found sunny pictures from the Amalfi Coast,

and a heard of sheep roaming the Negev.

Sunday afternoon in Leipzig, because more often than not, coffee breaks make everything better. Now back to the rehearsal Gulag...

*curtesy of Ms. Feinschmecker

If you ever find your self wandering around Israel and hungry, a trip to Rama's Kitchen in Nataf is definitely in order*...we were there in September and I've been waiting to go back ever since.

The food is fresh , seasonal, and has the kind of surprising flavors that really make you wish you had thought of that yourself. The place itself is simple - perched on on a mountainside with a breathtaking view and surrounded by flowers and herbs .

 I noticed that  the dishes were unique handmade stoneware, and when I asked about them I found out that they are all made by local ceramic artist Rony Armoza. This visit home I finally made it to his shop and picked up a few small pieces to bring back with me. I especially loved some of the simpler pieces that combine rough earthy tones with beautiful blues and greens (created by double firing in a gas kiln). While I was there Rony mentioned that he just opened a new Etsy shop and will be slowly adding more pieces.

* Rama's kitchen is open on weekends and  special events, 

and it's usually worth calling ahead to reserve a table

** The last photo is from Rony's website.

 

Scenes from a short visit home

Nuclear ducks and other troubling current events aside, our short trip was divine. We played a concert up North, spent time with family and friends, and ate insanely good food. My favorite moment on any flight home is always about 5 minutes before landing, when Tel Aviv suddenly appears on the horizon out of nowhere ...

We spent the first few days in rehearsals, eating way too much Hummous, reading newspapers right to left, and drinking good coffee.

We watched blue skies after a storm in Jaffa,

where I took many pictures, fueling my blue door addiction.

Later we spent time in Jerusalem where I stalked Persian ceramics in the Old City,

and found the perfect Bedouin carpet for Schumann Str.

Next up : A perfect meal in the Judean Hills, and a new ceramics obsession.

Tschüß Hamburg, I will not miss your gray and rainy skies.

You know how if you don't have anything nice to say, you shouldn't say anything at all? This sums up how I feel about February. It is just not a good month. All traces off holiday goodwill and cheer are long gone, people are cranky, cabin fever peaks and the weather is downright nasty.

All that said, lets do a quick recap so we can move on...

...jetlag overcome, I played in an Israeli music festival here in hamburg where we did a concert with Achinoam Nini, and I had the surreal pleasure of  watching my German colleagues tapping their feet to Yeminite rhythms and Israeli pop music.

Then there was a whole lot of Wagner, with a massive orchestra and the fabulous Deborah Voigt. The rehearsals and concerts were all filmed for a DVD...

Then Hamburg froze  (along with the rest of Europe).The harbor was beautiful and looked like the arctic circle with huge ice flows rushing down the river. All the canals froze over and throughout the city people skated , played hockey and strolled down the river.

Thankfully there's only one week to go, and then we head east to the Holy land for much awaited sunshine, hummus and loved ones...



* All photo's by me, with the help of my trusty iphone (with the exception of Mr. Wagner of course)