Violet Dawn.

Finding myself - yet again- widely awake yesterday at the crack of dawn, as the birds welcomed the daylight, I decided not to go back to sleep. Instead I left the comforts of my warm bed in order to enjoy an extended, laid back morning, turning my dismay into a lovely, simple pleasure.
As I opened my bedroom window, these images of an extraordinary reward met my gaze.

The sky was painted in every shade of violet and purple, fading into cranberry red just above the horizon, where a round, fiery sun was rising. A rare sight indeed.

Sunset views are common at this time of the year, even though they never seize to amaze me. Every time I see one, I stand in awe. Getting a glimpse of a sunrise is though extraordinary.
Why? In winter and late autumn sun lies ever so low over the horizon, barely visible. In spring and summer, it rises early in the morning, while I am sound asleep.

Thus my recent insomnia was a blessing in disguise. I was gifted with a view of a violet dawn.