First snow of the year

You guys. I can’t even tell you. Do you know how much I love snow? Of all the things I’d wish I’d have in common with the Gilmore Girls (do not. judge.), loving the snow is probably the only one I actually share with them. That, and my brilliant sense of humor. Not.

Aachen was blessed (hell yeah!) with more than 10cm (about 4 inches) of the beloved white, and most of it happened over night. They announced that a cold front will move into Europe this week with temperatures way below zero which of course increases the chances for snow so I’m gleefully awaiting the winter wonderland.

As usual I started snapping pictures from my bedroom window. I am so fascinated with snow. I open all the windows and just breathe in the cool air and listen to the gentle, hushed city noises. This was at about 10am.

At 10am the cathedral yard is still empty and the snow is still there and not trampled into a gray, ugly mass yet. I just love the cathedral in the snow. And I do realize that you have seen this particular shot a million times before if you visit this blog regularly – what can I say? I love sitting by the window and capture what to me is a perfect shot.

Now, only about half an hour later, what’ll happen is that people get back from running errands and stuff and they will park their cars right in front of their front doors. Usually, they’re not supposed to do this because it ruins the cathedral’s impression on tourists and so on (ever since the Aachen cathedral has been pronounced an UNESCO World Heritage Site, parking is strictly prohibited plus there’s a large, old gate that’s normally closed for this exact reason) but apparently, as soon as there’s a little snow, people turn into complete sissies and have to drive up into their living rooms.

I love this shot also. Again, it’s the cathedral. And part of my bedroom window. And part of all the other windows. I love snow. Don’t you?

Only minutes later, city service people come in and drive the snow aside and put salt out so that people won’t slip and hit their precious heads. The thing is – and I never understand this – if they would just leave the snow, it wouldn’t even be slippery in the first place! Instead they create a deadly mix of snow slush and water and salt and dirt which is not only as slick as can be but also looks disgusting.

I decided to walk to Saturn (kind of like RadioShack or Best Buy, for you Americans out there) and get one of the seasons of The Simpsons on DVD. Because, you know – it snowed. What other reason to you really need to spend money and have the best day ever?

This is the bank and some stores and whatnot right around the corner as I walk outside my house. Try to spot the mischievious in this.

Why, it’s the adorable street lamp, cocking its head to the side and grinning over at us! Only God knows why in Pete’s name it’s that crooked.

This is more or less the backside of the building I live in. Well, technically mine is the one on the left of the red one; back in the dark there. Anyhow, this is a cute little square right behind it with two restaurants, a tourist shop and a candle store. Of all things! They mainly sell these scary sect-like church candles with crosses on them and what have you. Makes sense since the cathedral is RIGHT THERE (not actually pictured but to your right if you’re wondering). My favorite thing about this shot? How much the red house stands out.

See the red house again in the background? And now this gigantic thing to your right is part of the cathedral. NOTICE THE SNOW PLEASE. On the trees? So gorgeous.

I kept walking. Of course the cathedral is so gigantic and so tall that it is impossible to fit it into one picture. It just doesn’t work. There’s no room to get far enough away from it. It’s also impossible to comprehend how they built this thing in 936 (!!!), or to take in every little roof or statue or separate little chamber. It did take them 600 years to complete, though, so maybe that explains some things.

I know that it looks very gray and gothic, and dare I say unimpressive? – but trust me, in person this fucker will blow your mind. Everytime I walk past it, I discover something new and I just stand there in awe. Happens to me a lot. In fact, people probably think I have some sort of mental disability because I just stop in the middle of streets and admire the beauty of the world. The small lighted windows all the way in the back there is one of the bakeries in the inner city, by the way. They’re ridiculously over-priced but it’s all about the atmosphere. I think.

At this point I left the general area of the cathedral and the squares around it and all and dove into traffic and the police trying to get things organized and people just running by carelessly all EW EW EW IT’S SNOWING! WHEN IS IT GOING TO BE A HUNDRED FUCKING DEGREES AGAIN SO I CAN GET SKIN CANCER WHILE STEWING IN MY OWN SWEAT OUT IN THE FUCKING SUN.

I love winter, man. Summer can just suck it. For all I care, we could just go from winter to spring to fall to winter again.

One last thing:

Remember those two towers I always photograph from my bedroom window (see very first picture of this post)? That’s the old city hall. And this is the front of it. Again, this looks gray and and kinda ugly but in reality it’s just impressive.

I’ll be making pizza now. Why? Because it is snowing and that kinda weather calls for that kinda favorite food. Snow literally LIFTS MY SPIRITS, I’m not kidding. It’s a wonderful phenomenon.

On a final note: the makers of the Simpsons DVD box sets deserve a hug and possibly applause and a complimentary blow job because they created the perfect box set. The German Friends box set, in contrast, doesn’t have any extras on it or any kind of episode guide – nothing. The Simpsons box set isn’t only designed beautifully, it folds out and there are funny little anecdotes printed all over AND THERE’S A BOOKLET. And it was much cheaper than Friends or Gilmore Girls box sets could ever hope to be. I bought season two and I think I’mma watch the first episode while I figure out how to make pizza without a baking sheet. (Damnit. Damnit.)

Uni starts tomorrow. Let’s not think about that today. Why?

IT IS SNOWING. Mary, Joseph, and sweet Holy Spirit alive, IT IS SNOWING.

PS – I am not as much of a crazy lunatic as you might think after reading this entry.