Ho,ho,ho were you good or naughty this year??? Luckily for our team, everyone was doing their best and that means TIME FOR PRESENTS!!! We had so much fun theorizing about who was whose Secret Santa. Moreover, this winter we organized a true feast that included food from all around the world. Delightful cuisine, lots of smiles and meaningful gifts made us immerse into cozy holiday atmosphere.

This winter we decided to visit Salzburg Christmas Market on the Dom- and Residenzplatz. After delicious lunch at “Zum Zirkelwirt” restaurant we went to explore the local fair. The historic Salzburg Christmas Market is among the oldest and most beautiful in the world. Set in the heart of Salzburg’s UNESCO World Heritage Old Town, its traditional stalls and rich history make it truly exceptional.

Have you ever tried to break into Tutankhamun’s tomb or perhaps attempted to steal rare piece of art? Well, on the chilly autumn day our group decided to test luck and dared to commit not one but two heists. When we first met beside the Escape Rooms, we had no idea what awaited us. Divided by the fate into two groups, we were challenged to solve riddles, unravel the truth and finally find a way out. A chase, a curse ...

This autumn our lab had a retreat with our dear colleagues from Harbauer Lab at TUM Forschungsstation Friedrich N. Schwarz in in the district of Berchtesgadener Land. We presented our talks and posters on the first day. Next day we went on the boat tour towards Salet and had a small hike to waterfall.

Today we gathered to celebrate Vanessa and thank her for being an important part of our team for many years. While we will truly miss having her around, we’re grateful for the memories, teamwork, and moments we shared. What made the farewell even more special was that it was also a joyful baby shower. We wish Vanessa every success and happiness in the next chapter of her journey.

Hip, Hip, Hooray for the Hot Summer Day! On the colorful summer morning our team gathered together for the strawberry hunting. We were caught by the gentle rain in the process but it mattered little to us since we were super excited to fill our baskets with fragrant berries. We had really fun time trying to find the best strawberries. After our successful hunt we had a comfy lunch in a welcoming beer garden.

We engaged in a thrilling lab activity at an escape room. The setting immersed us into a mysterious scenario where we woke up in a private psychiatric ward, barely remembering our first names. Dividing into two teams for a friendly competition, we unraveled hidden clues, working together to regain our freedom and memories. Solving puzzles alongside teammates made the experience incredibly enjoyable. After our escape room adventure, we headed to a restaurant for a delicious Middle Eastern-inspired lunch.

During the holiday season, Christmas markets are lively events that are usually hosted in town squares or other public areas, particularly in Europe. With stalls offering a range of seasonal goods like handcrafted items, ornaments, gifts, and traditional snacks and beverages like Glühwein, gingerbread, roasted chestnuts, and sausages, these markets are well-known for their quaint atmosphere. They frequently feature sparkling lights, vibrantly painted stalls, and perhaps even live entertainment or music. A trip to a Christmas market can be a ...

Today, we had our first Secret Santa event. We enjoyed the food together first and opened our own mysterious gifts with excitement. The funniest part was when we tried to guess who had prepared the gift. Everyone was like an experienced detective, trying to seize any clues to get answers. It was really a nice experience for everyone.

We finally managed to be lucky with the weather to perform a hike with the whole lab near Garmisch-Patenkirchen. After we left foggy Munich, Garmisch welcomed us with blue sky and sunny weather. During the hike we could enjoy the autumn atmosphere and colours, good discussions and special homemade Chinese sweets.