I love photographing Epcot's Illuminations from the Japan Pavilion area. It then gives me a chance to slowly meander towards the front of the park at the end of the fireworks show. Most people leave the park, and I slowly make my way around taking photos of an empty playground, er, World Showcase.

On this particular evening, after Illuminations: Reflections of Earth ended, I headed towards the Mexico Pavilion. I have made this journey along these paths many evenings, and it is always enjoyable. I spend my time walking around looking for new ways to see what is there to get new photos, or maybe see something familiar in a new way to get a better photo. For me, that is a magical, pixie dust filled evening. 

I was walking out of the Germany Pavilion and I headed towards the World Showcase Lagoon. I had got a glimps of Space Ship Earth from there, a scene I had seen many times, but thought I'd go check out how the view looked from close to the waterfront on this evening. It didn't give me anything that I wanted on that evening, so I slowly turned around and headed back towards the main walkway towards the Mexico Pavilion. And that is when it happened.

I saw this perfect little cottage from the Germany Pavilion with it's perfect little Christmas decorations, and it the entire scene was perfectly framed by two of the trees that are planted around the lagoon. The scene took my breath away. And for a brief moment I continued on my slow stroll around the World Showcase. It was just a very brief moment and then I matter of factly remembered "hey, you, that's a pretty dang nice camera and tripod that you're carrying aroud with you. It would be a pitty if you missed out on a photo like that."

So, I retraced my steps and set up to take this photo. And I am extremely happy about that. The shot turned out better than I could have ever imaged.

This Germany Christmas Cottage is a very beautiful place to be.