Snow in Vienna　ウイーンの雪

Yesterday in Vienna there was quite a lot of snow. In the morning around 5 AM I was somehow awake and noticed looking outside through the blinds that it was somehow brighter. I went to the window to look outside and as I had thought it was snowing. The opposite rooftop was already covered in white and large snowflakes were falling. The sky had a dim white colour and seemed to have much more snow which could have been sent down on us. In the afternoon the snow stock apparently got low and subsided and so I went out to get some groceries. In some parts the snow had already melted and it was not difficult to walk. The mood in the city was somehow different than usual. Since I come from a warmer region of Japan, snow is always something special for me. No matter how many times I experience it, together with the cold air I get a fresh feeling.

　昨日、ウイーンはたくさん雪が降りました。早朝5時ごろ目が覚めた時、すでにブラインドの隙間から白く鈍い光が覗いているのが見えていました。窓まで行って外を見てみると、思った通り、雪が降っていたのでした。向かいの屋根は白く覆われ、なおも大きな雪がボサボサと降り続いています。空はどんより薄白く、いっぱい抱え込んだ雪をこれからも私達に降り下ろすつもりのようです。しかし午後にはその蓄えも少なくなったらしく、ちらちらと降る程度だったので、私は日用品を買いに出かけました。雪はすでに大分溶けていて、歩くのはさほど困難ではありませんでした。街はいつもと少し違う雰囲気のようでした。私は日本でも「南国」と呼ばれる高知の出身なので、雪は特別なことのように感じます。何度、雪を経験しても、冷たい空気もあいまって、気持ちが引き締まるように思います。

Pictures by Yuka Simeno, December 9, 2021 in Vienna