Ropes on Boat
Hjo, Sweden – 2015
Just a rope on an old boat in the harbor. Click on it to appreciate the full size image.
City Architecture 2 – New York
New York City – 2015
If you look closely, I believe that you can see Batman descending the fire escape.
Brooklyn Bridge – New York
Brooklyn – 2015
The Brooklyn Bridge is a hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge which connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn over the East River. Completed in 1883, it is one of the oldest of either type bridge in the United States.When the Brooklyn Bridge first opened, it cost a penny to cross by foot, 5 cents for a horse and rider and 10 cents for a horse and wagon. Farm animals were allowed at a price of 5 cents per cow and 2 cents per sheep or hog. It is now free for all beasts and vehicles to cross.
Baby Flinging – New York
Brooklyn, New York 2015
Shoe flinging is the practice of throwing shoes whose laces have been tied together so that they hang from overhead power lines or telephone cables. Shoe flinging is thought to have many purposes, some examples are to define street gang territories, to pinpoint a drug dealing zone, or to commemorate a life or death event. Baby flinging, on the other hand, is a newer practice, which many believe is being used to mark the boundaries of rogue evil clown gangs in the rougher sections of Brooklyn.
Nightmares
Have you ever had one of those REALLY scary nightmares that you were certain was not a dream?
Footsteps
La Gomera, Spain
This shot was taken on the beach of the island of La Gomera, the second smallest of Spanish Canary Islands located off the western coast of Africa
Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, 30 km North of Berlin
“Work Makes You Free”
Sachsenhausen was a Nazi concentration camp 30 km north of Berlin and was used from 1936 to the end of the Third Reich in 1945. Its close proximity to the capital gave it special status as the place to train camp guards and test new procedures. It was designed as a model camp and became one of the most notorious concentration camps of the Third Reich. It was also the site of the Third Reich’s massive counterfeiting operation, Operation Bernhard, in which inmates artisans were forced to produce forged American and British currency. This was one of the largest counterfeiting operations in history and was designed to undermine the British and United States’ economies during the war. Operation Bernhard was depicted in the Oscar-winning 2007 movie The Counterfeiters. Visiting this camp has the most gut wrenching rip at the soul and it is almost unbearable to bear witness to the absolute atrocities that were committed during this horrible era of the Third Reich.
Prisoner’s entrance, “Tower A”
Death Strip
There were few successful escapes. The perimeter consisted of a 3m high wall. Within that there was a space that was patrolled by guards and dogs. This was bordered on the inside by a lethal electric fence; inside that was a gravel “death strip” forbidden to the prisoners. Any prisoner venturing onto the “death strip” would be shot by the guards without warning. Rewards such as extra leave were offered to guards who successfully shot and killed any prisoner who entered onto the death zone. Ultimately, too many prisoners decided to “escape” by suicide by stepping into the “death strip”, so the guards were then ordered to “shot to maim” rather than “shoot to kill”. The maimed were then further tortured.
Sink in the Pathology Building and Cellar Mortuary.
Execution Trench
Used mostly but not exclusively for execution by gunfire of prisoners sentenced to death by the National Socialist courts. This was also the site of a gallows that could hang three people at a time.
Crematorium Oven
Prison Building
The Prison Building within the camp was built in 1936 and was used as a prison and by the gestapo for additional purposes. The prison was a place of secrets, abuse, and murder. The SS used the building to house camp prisoners but also other special prisoners sent from outside of the camp that the SS wished to isolate.
Street Musician – Prague
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
Every Old World capital city has their favorite local homegrown composer who’s music you can hear throughout the town in flavors ranging from cathedral performances to street string quartets to wandering minstrels, and Prague is no exception. This street musician on the Charles Bridge was ringing out some hauntingly beautiful Antonin Dvořák pieces, who was from Nelahozeves (near Prague, then part of Bohemia in the Austrian Empire, now Czech Republic).
Early Morning Stroll
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
Very early morning stroller through the empty cobbled streets of Prague. This was a little bonus shot for me that I captured after taking sunrise pictures on the Charles Bridge (check back for them). I think that the leading lines of the white window grates directed straight at the stroller work well to make this simple shot very visually engaging.
Back to the Future: Onion Dome in Valašské Klobouky, Czech Republic.
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
Tools, Pumps, and Hoses
Tools, Pumps, and Hoses in Hjo, Sweden.
I <3 This WC!
Decorative WC Door
Finding relief at Hätteboda Wilderness Campground in the Småland region of southern Sweden.
Details of the Gaudi’s Nativity Facade on the Sagrada Familia Basilica
Details of the east facing Nativity Facade, Sagrada Familia Basilica, Barcelona, Spain
Constructed between 1894 and 1930, the Nativity façade was the first façade to be completed. Dedicated to the birth of Jesus, it is decorated with scenes reminiscent of elements of life. Characteristic of Gaudí’s naturalistic style, the sculptures are ornately arranged and decorated with scenes and images from nature, each a symbol in their own manner.
The Final Chapter of The Tour of The Motherland
Cefalù, Sicily (Motherland Tour Stop 8)
Finally, we make it to the last stop on the Motherland Tour of Sicliy, Cefalù. Cefalù is a small beach town nestled between a beautiful bay and the rocky granite cliffs of La Rocca. Located an hour east of Palermo on the northern coast of Sicily, Cefalù was a wonderful surprise at the end of our tour. A small town of winding Medieval streets and alleyways full of shops and restaurants serving FABULOUSLY fresh fish. Unfortunately, we only had time for a delicious dinner one evening and a quick dip in the sea the following morning before heading back to Palermo to catch our flight home. This town is definitely worth a one night stop if you have to fly in or out of Palermo, and is a nice alternative to staying in Palermo to begin or end your journey.
Ciao per ora Sicilia! Mi manchi già!
Don Cannoli
Taormina, From Ancient Greece to Modern Day Tourist Magnet (Motherland Tour Stop 6)
(Click here to redirect to Stop #1)
I like to refer to this gentleman as “Don Cannoli”. He is the patriarch of the Laboratorio Pasticceria Roberto , a cute little pastry shop which we found tucked away on a side street in Taormina. We had a quite a few of his cannoli while we were in Taormina, and they left us speechless. By far the best cannoli I have ever had!! The combination of the freshness of the cheese, the crispness of the shell, and ideal degree of sweetness…not to mention that fact that each cannolo is filled to order, guaranteeing ideal crispness. This is the cannolo that I have tried to imitate in my few attempts to make them myself. If you are in Taormina, I highly recommend you hunt this little bakery shop down and sample his delicious sweets!
What is a Sicilian mans second favorite pasttime?
Taormina, From Ancient Greece to Modern Day Tourist Magnet (Motherland Tour Stop 6)
(Click here to redirect to Stop #1)
All over Sicily I found older men practicing there second favorite pasttime…. sitting around and enjoying the company of old friends.
Timeless Streets of Syracuse, Sicily
Ortygia, Syracuse’s Historic Center (Motherland Tour Stop 5)
(Click here to redirect to Stop #1)
Once the largest city in the ancient world, Syracuse now encapsulates Sicily’s timeless beauty. And no part of Syracuse does this better than the Ortygia, the cities historic center and most atmospheric neighborhood. It is an island separated from the mainland by a few bridges, and teems with medieval lanes and cafes which spill out onto dazzling baroque piazzas. Walk in any direction, and you are ultimately greeted with fabulous views of the surrounding sparkling blue sea. Stroll the streets, take in a puppet show at the famous Piccolo Teatro dei Pupi, and have some of THE BEST seafood in Europe!
Rainy Night Shadows in Piazza Armerina, Sicily
Piazza Amerina (Motherland Tour Stop 4)
(Click here to redirect to Stop #1)
Happy New Year!
Visiting The Center For The Cult Of Venus.
f/3.5 ISO 400 1/125 Nikkor 50mm
Eeerie Erice, Sicily (Motherland Tour Stop 2)
Next stop on the Motherland Tour of Sicily was Erice, a small medieval town situated high atop the legendary mountain of Eryx. This village supposedly has fabulous views looking west over the port of Trapani, but we were caught overnight and the next morning in the thickest and eeriest fog I have ever seen, and we were lucky to not bump into walls as we toured the streets. We were, however, able to locate the world-famous pasticceria “Maria Grammatico“, who is Siciliy’s most famous pastry chef and the subject of Mary Taylor Simeti’s book Bitter Almonds. I have to admit, though..although her cannoli were heavenly, the best cannolli were yet to be had until we reached the east coast of Sicily (check back for details!!).
Modernista Flavor in Barcelona
ISO100 f/10 1/100 Nikkor 10-24 mm @15mm
Modernista Lamp Post designed by architect Pere Falqués for the city of Barcelona in 1906. Gaudí’s Casa Milá can be seen in the background. Image converted to B&W with Silver Efex Pro, touched up with Aperture, decreased noise with DFine 2.
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