winter

View of Vík í Mýrdal in Iceland with Vík Church

Vík í Mýrdal | Iceland

Vík í Mýrdal (or simply Vík) is a village in the very south of Iceland. It has only 750 inhabitants but is nevertheless a very

Vestrahorn in the south of Iceland during winter

Vestrahorn | Iceland

Vestrahorn, Vesturhorn, and Stokksnes – these are the three names of the same mountain in Iceland. It is not so easily accessible – it is

Cascais during a sunny day - Praia da Rainha (Queen’s Beach); Portugal.

Praia da Rainha | Cascais, Portugal

Praia da Rainha, translated – The Queen’s Beach, is the smallest beach in Cascais, and most definitely one of the most scenic. The story tells us that the last Queen of Portugal, Queen Amelia, was so charmed by it that she proclaimed this place to be her own, hence the name.

Porto City Centre, clear sky and the Porto sign; Portugal

Porto sign | Porto, Portugal

This sign was placed just in front of the Portuguese Centre of Photography, which gave the image a very special meaning. This winter morning before the sunrise, was a perfect time to capture the installation in Porto city centre, which during the day would usually be very packed.

The Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos) in Lisbon; Portugal

The Monument to the Discoveries | Lisbon, Portugal

We were very lucky to see the Monument to the Discoveries following its renovation, which was accomplished a few years ago. This shot was taken during a winter sunrise; when the sun was rising just behind the monument, softly enlightening the limestone statues. You could almost imagine the Portuguese discoverers, setting sails early in the morning and leaving the safe Lisbon shores to explore the new lands.

Vilnius winter photo of The Church of St Anne; Lithuania.

Church of St Anne | Vilnius, Lithuania

The Church of St Anne is famous for its representation of a flamboyant and brick gothic architectural style in Lithuania. What was fascinating was that the exterior of the church had remained almost unchanged since the 15th century, when it was erected. Thanks to St Anne Church, the old town of Vilnius can potentially be signed to the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Vilnius Skyline on a winter evening, Lithuania

Vilnius Skyline | Lithuania

Minus 23°C…. It was this cold for almost a week and then – the river stopped moving entirely! And now, Vilnius was calmer again – the ice bumping sounds now disappearing into itself. It was a weird feeling to stand up there on the hill of Vilnius Castle and suddenly enjoying complete silence.

Panorama of Vilnius, Lithuania, with a focus on the Gedimias’ Tower.

Vilnius Castle | Vilnius, Lithuania

Being a symbol not only of the city but also of the state, Gediminas’ Tower is mentioned in traditional Lithuanian poems and songs. It all started with the Grand Duke of Lithuania – Gediminas, who had a dream, hinting that he should start building a city in this place. First, he erected wooden fortifications, which later were turned into construction, made of bricks.

The Trakai Island Castle in Lithuania, which is close to the capital Vilnius during a winter evening.

Winter Fairy Tale In The Trakai Castle | Trakai, Lithuania

The Trakai Island Castle is an unusual place from both historical and architectural point of view. It has been built in the 14th century as a construction with strategic importance. Not only Lithuanians but also people from other nationalities, such as the Karaim community, are part of its history.