Monday 6 January 2014

Fond farewell, Christmas time

Doing this recap and looking through all the photos has really allowed for all the memories to settle in. I can honestly say that this year, I've made the most of Christmas time. I built the tree early in December, watched all my favourite festive films, got some nice R&R, but most of all got to see a lot of my family and friends. I walked the Viennese Market stalls and Rathausplatz, a place so festive it feels Christmas was born there. I discovered authentic Austrian chocolates of way too many flavours and had the best espresso with apricot liqueur in Julius Meinl shop. All the while I couldn't get Billy Joel's Vienna song in my head.



Slow down, you crazy child.
You're so ambitious for a juvenile.
But then if you're so smart, tell me why are you still so afraid?
Where's the fire? What's the hurry about?
You better cool it off before you burn it out.
You got so much to do and only so many hours in a day.

Don't you know that when the truth is told
That you can get what you want or you can just get old?
You're gonna kick off before you even get halfway through.
When will you realize Vienna waits for you?


Back in my sweet, small hometown of Prešov, the old water tower was resurrected, offering a neat new lookout point. Ever since I was wee I had hoped that that would happen so it was a nicely surreal moment. My granny baked wayyy too many cookies, as is tradition and my mom made the Christmas magic happen, like in the old days, with her cute touches of decor and her air of enviable calmness at all times. With my dad and my other granny we celebrated granny's belated 75th birthday. To my delight, on Christmas day, we went through staches of her old family photographs, which brought home the importance of making prints of my own photos this year. Just before I headed back to my second home, I met up with a few of my old friends who immediately made me feel like I was back in high school again, in the best possible way. 




Although it was bittersweet leaving all that behind, on my way back to Galway, flying over the thick, heavy clouds, overlooking the familiar green pastures, I got a jolt of happiness. Ireland does that to me. It's home.

2013, you've been a good year. Slán. 

4 comments:

  1. oh your Mama looks so beautiful in these, esp in the venice ones! They are so gorgeous! The perfect Christmas Images !

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    1. Aw thanks Saibh. Mami is in sparkling form indeed! :)

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