butterflyeffect’s Neighborhood

For the past days my nose has been as drippy as my window pane. This morning we had about 20 minutes of sun. I climbed a stepladder to hold my hands out of the hopper window in my bedroom, just to feel some light and warmth on my skin. I felt like the Count of Monte Christo after years in his dungeon. Don't listen to me, this is the whining of an ill head. I am returning to my couch, to pile damp hills of Kleenex around me. Sniff.

I like the new building of Cologne's Wallraf-Richartz-Museum very much.
Well, it's relatively "new". Until 2001, the Wallraf-Richartz was in the same building as Museum Ludwig, the latter housing 20th century's and contemporary art.

I tend to find modern architecture aloof and not very inviting, but the building's vast space and bold color choices for the exhibition rooms with paintings of the old masters are very appealing.

One of the two current special exhibitions shows just one painting.
Van Gogh's "Shoes".
You can read a little about the backround of the exhibition here.
I have to admit, I was too lazy to follow through all the art theory and philosophical theses circling around this picture.

After taking three photos an attendant told me, photographing was allowed only for the permanent exhibition. As she didn't ask me to delete the photos I had already taken, I may as well share them with you.

Some 15th century flat screens:

They say, wherever in Cologne you scratch off 10cm of surface, you'll find an ancient site.
Out of Museum Wallraf-Richartz you have a wonderful view onto the excavation of the ancient synagogue.

On this very site there had been standing four synagogues over the centuries. The first documentation of Jewish life in Cologne dates back to 321 (I didn't forget a "1" at the beginning of this date - it's a long time ago).

I suppose, what you are seeing in this photo are parts of the upper and "youngest" synagogue, built in the 14th century. They still have a long way to carefully dig down to the most ancient parts.

The museum shop is also worth visiting, as well as the reading room.

Pop art Christmas decoration

reading room

Thinking about it, I'm really fortunate having access to such cultural treasures. I'm not speaking about the Christmas decoration, here. I can find all of this a five minute walk away from my job.

Of course, I also had to stop by at the botanic garden, as we were having sunshine for the first time in quite a while.

Japanese cornel

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November Rose

I took this one a while ago, but it goes with today's weather. Fortunately, the weather doesn't go with my mood.

Perseverance

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Shot early this morning, before the rain set in. Cold rains will stay for a while, says the weatherman.

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Note on the photo above:
This one made me think of some of the fishes on my dear neighbor's Butterflyeffect blog.

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"Fig" leaf

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Achilles' heel

November arrived with its grayness and rain. I stole some sunny hours to tank light and colors for the coming weeks.

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BFFs and puppy-dog

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I might be addicted to my camera. Near sunset, I felt the urge to grab it again and hasten to the botanic garden.

I must be serious about photographing. This morning, I got up at 6 a.m., took the train, made a long walk to return to Wahner Heide on my own, just to take photos in the sunrise.
I found handling morning light much trickier than evening light. With more than 80% of the photos I totally failed. The finder was steaming up all the time, my fingers were cramped from the cold, my eyesight in half-light is poor, so I couldn't focus properly.
Still, I just think it was worth it, for I took one photo I deeply enjoy:

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