Throwback Thursday and Lens-Artists Photo Challenge 193: “birthday”

This week, John Steiner is looking forward to celebrating his birthday, so I’m happy to join the LAPC party. In some families and in some cultures, birthdays are a reason for huge celebrations. So, I picked up this post published first back in 2013.

There is a certain habit in Cuba of celebrating a girl’s 15th birthday.

The girl gets special clothing, is dressed up, and gets perfect makeup. Then they go to a photographer to take beautiful photographs.

According to our guide, some girls are dressed like a bride for these sessions, others wear cocktail dresses and I also noticed photographs showing a girl dressed like a female version of an old-fashioned, Spanish caballero. The photographs are usually taken in a park or in the streets and not in a studio.

Two weeks later, the parents and the girl have a party with all of her friends, and an album, containing the photos, which is a real eyecatcher for that party. Also, the parents put framed photos from that session on their walls.

I like that idea. (OK, maybe, because I’m a photographer).

We met this young lady in the old town of Havana. Her mother was with her and took care of her hairstyle and her makeup, while the photographer directed his assistant to adjust the reflector.

So, we can congratulate her on her 15th birthday.

Are there any similar habits, where you live or coming from?

While waiting for my next post you can have a look at the previous posts and maybe drop me a note in the comments section below.

 

In the meantime, the girl is a young woman. As I said, I took these photos back in 2013. So, she’s already 24. How much must have changed for her in her life.

As I’m always interested in getting to know habits from other countries, regions, or cultures, drop me a note in the comments and tell me, how do you celebrate birthdays. I’m interested in your personal celebration as well as in general habits and traditions.

Take care!

Lens-Artists Challenge #108 – “sanctuary”

My pause lasted a bit longer than expected, but I’m back for the next Lens-Artists Challenge. This time, we have a guest host. It’s Xenia from tranature and she asks for our understanding of “sanctuary”. In her own post, she showed us a couple of images where nature is the main part. Preservation of nature and animal shelter came up time my mind right after the original meaning of a holy place, i.e. the sanctuarium in a medieval cloister.

 

Each harbor is a sanctuary for the ships. As soon as a ship leaves the port behind, the seamen are on their own to make the trip a success. Nature has such mighty forces to bring even huge modern supertankers, freighters or container ships to the edge of their possibilities and to jeopardize the success of their journey.

Take care

Lens-Artists Challenge #101 – “one single flower”

Today, we have a guest host for Lens-Artists Challenge. Cee is our host and she asks for one single flower.

For this challenge, I limit myself to only one image.

 

This schlumbergera (I guess it’s a Schlumbergera truncata) grows well in our living room. I love the intense red color. As the window in our living room goes to the north, it’s not hot and not too bright. So, each year we’re getting some wonderful blossoms around Christmas (mostly in early January). We have a second one with pink blossoms. But I like the red one more.

In German it’s called Gliederkatus or Weihnachtskaktus. Translating it literally, the first one would translate to element or rank cactus and the second one Christmas cactus.

When photographing blossoms, it’s sometimes hard to limit yourself to only one blossom. But in this case the single blossom stands for its own and can be admired without getting distracted.

I guess, I need to pause for the next 2 weeks, because I’m going on a trip on Monday morning ’til the end of June. My regular posts are pre-scheduled.

Take care

Lens-Artists Challenge #100 – “The Long and Winding Road”

Today, it’s Tina’s turn to challenge us and the asks for long and winding roads.

Come, follow me to the fantastic island located in the nothern Atlantic: Iceland

even this is a road for cars

I love this image very much. The tiny car crossing the river in the front part of the image isn’t a toy car. It’s a big offroad van instead.

 

Or do you prefer Scotland?

Now, we’re on the Isle of Skye:

 

 

 

You can also travel in Wales.

 

Maybe you like a railrod more than a paved or a gravel road

A short trip to the Czech Republic for visiting their nice capitol: Praque

In the Alpes, like here in Switzerland, you can find lots of winding roads .

Sometimes, roads don’t look like a road, but they are like here in the wonderful Valley de Viñales in the north of Cuba

 

Also, rivers are roads:

 

You can see the roads even better from above by getting in an hot-air ballon:

Now, lets sing together with Louis Armstrong “(What a) Wonderful World”!

 

btw. some guys really love winding roads:

 

Take care

Lens-Artists Challenge #99 – “old an new”

Today, it’s Amy’s turn to challenge us. And she did.  She was thinking of people wearing traditional clothes in a modern city or using modern machines. Another idea she told us, is a cityscape taken in a city with a history where new building standing beside old buildings or modern vehicles in front of historic buildings.

Here are my images for this challenge. As usual: click on the images to enlarge them.

I want to show you modern machine digging in the ground for coal, cerated eons ago.

Modern art in the middle of the king’s castle of an old kingdom?

Coal made the Ruhr area rich. Nowadays only the once dirty but now the remaining symbols are keeping the memory alive.

Some ancient traditions are kept alive by modern soldiers in traditional uniforms to keep the memory alive.

Once this was a dirty and busy harbor. Now startups, expensive restaurants, media agencies and hotels residing in the brick stone buildings as well as in the modern glass-and-steel buildings.

Even when visiting tiny greek islands you will stumble upon the achievements of modern society.

 

Have a nice weekend and

Take care

Monochrome Monday 6-42

For a long time, I wanted to go out photographing this bus station at night. Different from other photos taken of illuminated buildings, I opted for going out late to make sure to have a black sky. You know, usually, I go out at “blue hour” for taking such photos. I’m quite happy with the results. I really like the kind of graphical look.

Take care!

Throwback Thursday: Carnival Season

Here in my area we have two of the German carnival capitols: Cologne and Duesseldorf. Carnival festivities take place in the public as well as in many indoor locations. Carnival season starts on November 11th and lasts until Ash Wednesday (the exact date differs each year, because carnival depends on Easter. On that day the Lenten season starts for 40 days ’til Easter)

How are these festivities related? The bible tells us the background.

Easter = resurrection = Jesus Christ rose from his grave
Good Friday = Jesus was nailed on the cross, died and was buried

This festivity is the most important celebration in Christian believes.

Because of Jesus himself lentened for 40 days to strengthen his own belief, there is a 40 day Lenten period.

The word ‘carnival’ has it’s origin in Latin: carne = meat + val = without. It marks the beginning of the 40 day Lenten period.

In medieval times, people started to celebrate before the Lenten period started and to use up nearly all of the food remaining from last year. So, these supplies were used for big festivities (also celebrating the end of the winter). During these days, the established hirachy were turned upside down: the fool became mayor and everyone masqueraded. For one of the days, the Thursday I mentioned in the first paragraph, even became power: they were allowed to reign for 1 day (Altweiber / Weiberfastnacht). All of these isn’t meant serious, but foolish, because everything is turned upside down.

The magic number of carnival is the 11, because you can turn it upside down and it’s still the same.

Over the centuries, carnival starts now on November 11th at 11:11. On that date, the indoor festivities start. These are meetings with a president, a meeting committee and lots of speeches (all funny but usually political). This type of carnival was a foolish reaction to the strict government by the Pruss and Napoleons France. The participants wear costumes inspired by official uniforms of that times soldiers, but with a funny skirt or flouncy sleeves. They also play special music. Often played by marching bands looking like they were kidnapped from the 17th century. Simple melodies and very foolish lyrics (easy to remember, even when drunk).

Starting from Altweiber, the carnival festivities encroach to the streets. Carnival music floods the streets and the radio stations. Carnival meetings are broadcasted by some TV stations. While you won’t remark all of this during winter, is nearly impossible to ignore it during the last week before Rosenmontag (Carnival Monday).

Not everyone likes this!
One of my friends works in the middle of Cologne. Even during the days marking the summit of the carnival festivities (Thursday to Tuesday), when the silly music with their haunting melodies creating earworms to eat up the remains of your mind. Most of the businesses in areas with such a long tradition of celebrating carnival that intense, are closed for these days, because no customer would come, the employees won’t be usable (too tired and drunk) and drunk people probably would trash the unsecured rooms.

His company does not close, because they have also to support customers in areas, where carnival isn’t a topic at all. So, he goes on vacation. Some other friends of us, also working in similar areas, where they don’t have to work. My company office at that time was located in Duesseldorf, but a bit out of the center. So, I left the office always early to avoid encountering with drunk people.

Because all of this, he got the idea, to use these days for a short trip and our annual carnival escape was born.

Over the years we usually visited a famous city in the south, but also Berlin and London. Not everyone was able to take part in every trip. So you won’t find all of them here.

This time was different. Despite we were traveling south, we didn’t the reach the warmer mediterranean countries. Instead, we stopped in the Bavarian Alps for a hot-air balloon flight.

Take care!

Liebster Award!

Last week I got a notification from a fellow blogger, Rashmi Kashyap. She nominated me for an award: Liebster Award

Although I don’t know the origin of the word ‘Liebster’ in this particular case, I assume it is German, because it is a German word meaning ‘most beloved’ and can mean a person as well as a thing or a place. In this context, this award could be donated to a blog, that the donator loves most. So, I’m very honoured by getting this award. Thanks you very much, Rashmi.

As the other awards, this one is connected to some rules:

Here goes the rules of this award, let me do the needful:

1. Link and thank the person who nominated you   – done

2. Answer the questions they asked you – done, scroll down

3. Pick eleven awesome bloggers to nominate ( preferably those with less than or around 200 followers ) – done

4. Ask them eleven questions – done

5. Let them know by commenting on one of their posts  – done

 

These are my answers on Rashmi’s questions:

What was your reaction to this award nomination?

As I wrote above, I’m very honored and pleased by getting the nomination.

 

Why people  should visit your blog?

See some photos taken in interesting places showing the beauty of nature and differences in culture. Get in touch with interesting places.

 

Share with us your most happiest moment.

There are so many memories of very happy moments in my life. I guess, the happiest moment was when I held my first-born child in my arms.

 

What prompted you to become a blogger?

The usual photo galleries don’t allow to write more than a title for a photo and my aim was to write a bit more on them, thus a wordpress blog became the appropriate platform.

 

Given an opportunity to pursue your hobby, what it would be?

No choise: catching light with my camera. 🙂

 

What do you prefer? A loner, lost in your own dream world or a popular bee surrounded with fans.

I like to be in company with a few good friends, but I’d prefer being alone with the beauty of nature, than being surrounded by dull and annoying blatherers.

 

Which has been your most successful post so far?

This one

 

Which is the first thing you look for as soon as you log in to your blog?

I don’t give much on statistics. I respond to every like or comment, at least I check every likers blog. But, my usual login is for writing a new post. I have a shortcut bringing me directly to the editing page.

 

Do you need prompts to motivate you? If yes, which was that?

No. As long as I have enough stuff for my regular schedule, I don’t need such prompts. But I like the weekly photo contest organized by The Daily Prompt, because I get a different view on my own portfolio.

 

Have you ever experienced writer’s block? How did you deal with it?

No. I usually write about trips. Thus, the photos and / or the locations give enough to tell.

 

Which is your favorite book and why?

There are a few of them:
amongst others

– The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.
– The mists of Avalon by M. Zimmer-Bradley- World of Tiers by P.J. Farmer
– World of Tiers by P.J. Farmer
– Shogun by J. Clavell

All of these have in common, their authors were able to invent a complete independent world following its own rules and creating a kind of addiction. They describe their worlds so three-dimensional that I feel, being part of the story. Not only a reader, but also a character inside the story: to be in the thick of it instead of near by!

 

Here are my eleven questions:

1. What was your reaction to this award nomination?
2. Why people  should visit your blog?
3. What prompted you to become a blogger?
4. Do you need prompts to motivate you? If yes, which was that?
5. Which is the first thing you look for as soon as you log in to your blog?
6. Given an opportunity to pursue your hobby, what it would be?
7. Have you ever experienced writer’s block? How did you deal with it?
8. Would you like to be someone else (alive or death)? And if so, who?
9. What do you lack most in your skills?
10. Which of your skills do you like most?
11. Which advise do you have for a new blogger?

 

And finally here are my nominees:

1. Leanne Cole from Australia

2. Léa from France

3. Emerald Wake from Poland

4. Odile from France

5. Stéphane from France

6. Sharika from South Africa

7. Jeff Sinon from the US

8. Mark Kertesz

9. Robert from Germany

10. Liz from the UK

11. Lignum Draco from Australia

 

All of them inspire me with their photos. They are all very talented photographers, each on his/her own field.

Thank you all for inspiring me.

Take care!

 

The Barcelona Cathedral

The cathedral of Barcelona is located at a huge square in the old town, but it is jammed between other houses and stands behind in the dark. On the stairs in front of the portal are the usual suspects: beggars, tourist guides with umbrellas and other funny marks to get the attention of their groups to get them all together, artists and musicians. All in all, a very unpleasant environment for a cathedral.

Even the inside is kind of crowded. Many visitors walking slowly up and down the aisles, chatting and taking photographs. Beside the altar the choir impressed me most. It is completely segregated from the rest of the cathedral, just like a church inside the church. Only monks and priests are allowed to take their place inside the choir (and tourists as part of a guided tour). All the others can look inside through the grid at the altar side of the choir (photo above).

When inside, pay attention to the carved hand plates between the wooden chairs in the choir. As far as I was able to see them, each one is different from the others. I included some in my gallery below.

Once the cathedral was part of a monastery. Although the buildings still exist, but, as far as I know, their isn’t any monk living anymore.

As you can see from the building style, the cathedral is quite old. It was founded back in the 11th century and is donated to St. Eulalia, the patron of Barcelona and a martyr in late roman times. She is buried under the altar and her martyrdom is engraved above the door of the choir. The Legend says, she was killed 4 times in a row.

You can also visit the cloister (I’ll show you the hidden secret of the cathedral in an other post) and the roof.

Visiting the roof costs you a small fee. Depending on the visiting time, you also have to pay an entrance fee for the cathedral itself. Visiting the choir also costs you a fee, but, I don’t know, where to pay.

To give praying room to the believers, there is a separate chapel right behind the main entrance on the right.

Now, feel free and look around by using my photographs.

Take care!

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Weekly Photo Challenge : contrast

This week’s assignment for the photo challenge by The Daily Post is quit hard, but I like it. It’s “contrast”.

At once I got several ideas, but none of them are currently in my photo bucket (although some of them are on my wish list). Though I have to pick something else.

After some considerations I came to a decision, as you can see in the photo above.

Light and dark, fire and ice, solid or liquid, black and white, male and female, old and young and examples for a contrast. But, the biggest contrast is IMHO between live and death.

I met the two girls above a few weeks ago on Japantag in Düsseldorf. They arranged their costumes in a way to fit perfectly together. When I looked at them, I notices a similar style, but completely different. On the second look, I noticed a few of their accessories brining me on the right track: I asked them, if they are Demeter and Persephone, mother and daughter from the ancient greek mythology. They told my, not knowing the two divines and they were Nature and Death.

Now, I knew I was right and told them the story: Demeter the goddess of the nature, responsible for the harvest had a daughter named Persephone. She married Hades, the god of the underworld where all death people live after death for ever and get punished for their doing and behavior. When Persephone followed her husband in his realm, the mother became deeply depressed from the lost of here daughter and neglect her duty. So, the earth became devastated and all plants dried up. As a result of Demeter’s neglect the people started starving because they didn’t have and fruits, vegetables and crops. So they started praying the Zeus, the gods boss to help. He found a solution for the problem: Persephone was allowed to stay half a year with her mother, while she stays the other half with her husband in the underworld. And that’s the reason, why we have summer and winter.

You might have guessed it:

– summer is, when Persephone is with her mother
– spring starts, when Persephone arrives at her mother
– late fall is, when Persephone leaves her mother to go to her husband Hades
– and finally winter is, when Demeter is so depressed about her missed daughter

This family tragedy might still occur when kids grow up and leave their parents to stand on their own feet. Encourage parents to let their kids go, when it is time!

Take care!

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Split-scecond Story

This weeks assignment for photographers at The Daily Post is again very challenging. They asked to tell stories at several layers of the photo. This is what I picked from my archive. It’s taken at a soap box car derby.

The one driver has beaten his opponent, and looks back, where he is. But he has steered his car in the side fixing and it looks like he wants to flee.

Have you ever visited such a race? Our neighbor town organizes one every year in fall.

Take care!

remains of Sandy

Do you remember Sandy, the heavy hurricane in the Caribbean from December 2012? Well, Cayo Levisa also was hit quite hard. Many mangroves were removed from the shore, trees were cut and several other damages. The hotel, consisting of about 80 log cabins and a central house of stone with the reception and the dining room, didn’t show any damages.

I guess, it will last many years, until the nature recovers from that storm.

Take care!

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cooling down on Cayo Levisa

As I wrote in my last post, it was quite cool on Cayo Levisa because of the wind after the storm over the sea. As you can see in the photos nearly no-one is on the beach and the wind brings high waves. Also, the palm branches are bent by the heavy wind.

Our stay here was planed for being a beach holiday with swimming, diving and snorkeling. Instead, I walked around wearing more clothes as during the last days and enjoyed the nature.

I attached a few more photos than usual in this posts gallery at the end of this post. I hope, you enjoy them.

Take care!

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transit to Cayo Levisa

Cayo Levisa is a small island at the north shore of Cuba, right opposite to Florida. The bus needed more than two hours for the distance of about 50 kilometers from Viñales to the small ferry harbor, because of the very bad roads. The first 30 kilometers were quite fine, like most of the Cuban streets we saw. But, the remaining 20 kilometers were very bad.

We arrived quite early at the ferry harbor. While waiting for the ferry, we got notice of a  coming up very slowly. It seemed, the car’d have a technical problem. When the car finally arrived at the parking ground next to the bar where we were waiting, we noticed, the car was a rental car and 4 young ladies came off. They checked the engine and some more parts. Some Cuban people also looked for the car. As far as I understood, the front axle or a wheel was damaged because the driver didn’t pay enough attention to the street or was too careless. I don’t know about the end of the story, because the ferry arrived and we got on board for our passage to Cayo Levisa. About an hour later we arrive on Cayo Levisa.

Unfortunately the same afternoon we were able to see a heavy tropical storm on the sea and the sky became cloudy and gray – no more tropical feelings 😦 This kept on until the next afternoon, when the sun came back. But, with a strong and cold wind. Being at the beach was quite difficult. Strong tropical sun forced us to put some clothes away, but the wind forced us to up them on again. I’ll tell a bit more in my next post.

Take care!

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A hiking trip to Los Acuáticos

Los Acuáticos de Viñales is a tiny village at the side of one of the hills above the Valley of Viñales. The path to that village looks more like a dry riverbed than a path. It’s narrow, steep and stony. You really need solid shoes for that trip. And you need a local guid to find you way. Neither street signs nor direction signs will help you find this village. According to our guide, there are only about 12 people are still living in Los Acuáticos. 

The name was given to the village, when an old, wise woman lived there like a hermit. She was a healer and was assumed to be able to heal with water. In the rush time, there were 60 people living there. But now, since the old woman passed away several decades ago, more and more people moved away to find another place, where living is a bit easier. The remaining families are still farmer and work in their steep fields as you can see in the photo gallery at the end of the post.

typical November

You might wonder, what I mean, when I say “typical November”. Here in the northern hemisphere November means summer is definitely over, but winter hasn’t already started although up in the mountains they already fight against the snow.
November usually is quite cold, wet and windy, even stormy.
November is also the month with many memorial days dedicated to the past away or dead people.
– November 1st is dedicated to all saints (from the view of the catholic church)
– November 2nd is dedicated to all death people (All Souls Day)
– 2nd Sunday before 1st Advent we have people’s mourning day to remember all the soldiers of the World Wars and those who died due to the violence of an oppressive government.
– Sunday before 1st Advent we have Sunday of the Dead, also called Eternity Sunday. It’s also the last Sunday of the Christian or Church year. This protestant memorial day is similar to the catholic All Souls Day.

Are these or similar holidays common, where you live? Drop me a note in the comments area and tell us about.

As a long time reader you might remember, that I already showed photos taken in Paris and in Havana and explained, how interesting a visit on a cemetery in a foreign country is. And that I proposed to show photos taken on a German cemetery. So, here they are.

Usually German cemeteries are designed like parks.

A little break …

… on the beach. A lazy afternoon in the sun.

When in the Caribbean you have to go to the beach. In this time of the year, the beaches aren’t crowded. That’s because the locals don’t go to the beach during “winter”. Winter in the Caribbean? Are you kidding? No, I’m not. Although it was quite hot for me in February and March, the Cubans are used to much higher temperatures. So, they don’t go to the beach in this time of the year. But, they don’t call this time “winter”. It’s the dry season.

These photos are taken at the Trinidad beach. You can also find some hotels here, at the beach.

A few food dealers were walking around, trying to sell pastries, coconuts or drinks basing on rum (remember, we’re in Cuba). As I mentioned earlier, these people were not pushy. They were coming up slowly after a while for offering their products. After rejecting their offer politely, they always went back and left us alone.

Enjoy!

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A french market

Luckily the sun was back this morning. So, I was happily looking forward to the visit at the market scheduled for this morning. I guess, I won’t be fun, if it had rained like the day before, when we were in Paris.

When I was in Brittany and in the Normandie, we were looking for such a local market, but we were unable to find one or we were too late. So, I was quite happy, to have now the opportunity to visit a market. Stéphane at myfrenchheaven.com includes every now and than photos taken at his local market (i.e. here). So, I was quite curious, what I’d see.

Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh fish, seafood and meat, spicery, cheese, eggs, clothes, hats, shoes, jewelry, bakery products, coffee, tea, cooked meals, crepes, furniture and many more. I expected to find the fresh foods. and maybe clothes, but there were so many other things to buy (and to see). It was really amazing.  And it was very interesting.

Here we also have such markets held once or twice a week. But here the diversity of products is way smaller even on big markets. Here they usually focus on fresh stuff like fruits, vegetables, fish, cheese and meat. complemented by cleaning stuff and sometimes table cloths. Usually you can find two or tree stands of one kind, but that market had so many to offer. I guess, there were more than 5 stands offering fruits and vegetables and at least 5 other stands offering fresh fish. Nearly every product group was at least twice at that market, even the square isn’t that large. Wow!

Thus, today’s slideshow is quite long – sorry.

Enjoy!

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Watching the parade

Last week, I introduced you to the idea of a parade on the occasion of a fun fair. In my region it is usual, to hold a parade on Sunday afternoon. Many people collecting ideas, build wagons, tailor dresses for or volunteer for being part of the parade. The parade is usually supported by several marching bands and fire service bands. As usually, the night watchman led the parade this year, too.

There were 63 motives (groups, wagons, one person displays, bands) this year on the 4.5 km track around the inner city. The parade lasts about 2 hours, but I don’t know, how long the participants needed for the course. Fortunately, it wasn’t that hot and it wasn’t raining. So, there were many people in the streets watching and supporting the actors. It was warm enough, but not hot.

This time, the slide show is quite large. There are 63 photos in this slide show, so be prepared. It was hard, to decide, which motive was too bad, to be put in this selection. I skipped most of the marching bands and other “music only” displays and I even skipped some of the motives to keep it short.

For quite bigger photos, I recommend clicking on the photo above and use the clickable arrows below the photo for you further navigation.

Have fun!

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Another fun fair

As I told you in two of my last posts, I want to show you some more photos taken at a fun fair. Every year, there is a fun fair here, where I live. It’s always at the first weekend of September, starting on Friday early afternoon and lasting ’till Tuesday night.

As I mentioned before, I like the smell and the colorful lights, especially at night. So, I was this time also at night at the fun fair. Here you can find some impressions.

As you can see, It’s much smaller than Crange. And it’s located in the streets and a big parking ground of the inner city, instead of a big place.

I’ll write another post regarding the parade held on Sunday afternoon.

Have fun!

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Mother’s day

Today, we celebrate Mother’s day, a holiday to honor the mothers and her work for the family. It’s held on the second Sunday of May in most parts of the western world and is originating from the US in the early 20th century.

The mothers get flowers or chocolates from her older kids or if they are at younger ages (i.e. preschool) self-painted pictures or handicrafts. In case, the kids are grown up and live on their own or already have their own family, they visit their mother or invite her for tea time or for going out for lunch.

 

Happy birthday

There is a certain habit in cuba in celebrating a girl’s 15th birthday.

The girl gets special clothing, is dressed up and gets a perfect makeup. Then they go to a photographer to take beautiful photographs.

According to our guide, some girls are dressed like a bride, other wear cocktail dresses and I also noticed photographs showing a girl dressed like a female version of an old-fashioned, spanish caballero. The photographs are usually taken in a park or in the streets and not in a studio.

Two weeks later,