It was the coldest day of the year, but also the first when the sun shine again after many hard weeks full of darkness. Out on the ice of the largest lake, there is then no doubt: winter is not only dark and cold, frustrating and annoying.
It also has beautiful moments, when the ice shines in the sun under a thin layer of snow, skaters whiz by and a few very brave ones even jump into a hole in the ice head over heals in icy water.
But especially beautiful is the moment when you get very close to winter and its magic. Down there on the surface of the lake the wind has blown snow into an endless line, the sun has thawed it and the wintry cold of minus 17 degrees has immediately frozen it again.
The results are fantastic structures of crystals glued together millimeter-thin, which flash in the sunlight like high-carat diamonds. Between blue and white, the ice shines in the magical light, each finger prick breaking the tiny work of art. And so ephemeral.
