Wordless Wednesday

20 februari, 2019 / Leya / 21 kommentarer

Friendly Friday – Contrasts

19 februari, 2019 / Leya / 19 kommentarer

For Friendly Friday this week – a drink of contrasts!

Tuesday Photo Challenge – Surface

19 februari, 2019 / Leya / 20 kommentarer

For Frank at Dutch Goes The Photo – Ripples on the Surface

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #33 – Nature

19 februari, 20198 mars, 2020 / Leya / 73 kommentarer

Patti’s challenge this week is Nature. I have spent most of my spare time in nature – and that is where I belong. The Galapagos Islands have been a dream ever since I was a child.

And in 2016 we went for Ecuador, the Amazon and Galapagos.

As all 19 islands are of volcanic origin, every island is different and many of their inhabitants are endemic to just that island. Harsh nature, but life thrives.

Among cacti and volcanic ground, birds and plants can live their lives without human interference. As a child I thought this must be a true Paradise.

In fact it is. Here you come close to nature and the animals, because they are not afraid of humans – they have no reason to be.

You can watch them hunt…like this Yellow -crowned night heron,

and fight – be it the giant land iguanas (stay clear here!)…

or the graceful Swallow-tailed Gulls.

Red-footed Boobies

The birds also allow you to watch them building their nests. I was 10 centimeters from the Red-footed Boobies – and they just kept courting and building without minding me.

The Marine Iguanas displayed their grandest costumes while sunbathing…

…and even let you get close-ups while lying on the ground, contemplating life.

It is the co-existing human – nature that fascinates me. It could be so easy…but we humans make it so difficult…

Why not walk the endless beaches together? There is room for us, if we only let there be…

If we are respectful,

and stay 2 meters away (the limit here on the islands),

then the animals might even come up to you. We are all curious creatures if we have nothing to fear. One of Nature’s little wonders – my favorite..

…the simple beauty of a Mockingbird

So, if you tread lightly and show respect…

we can live together, love together, and let Mother Nature thrive.

I will always love these islands – where Nature rules, and man is only a grateful guest.

Thank you to Patti for this wonderful challenge – and for the chance to present my view of Paradise.

Macro Monday – Spring Colours

18 februari, 2019 / Leya / 22 kommentarer

The sun is shining in, and the colours are returning to my home. In the header a Tradescantia, or Wandering Jew, and here a Hatiora Salicornioides (Both from Brazil). The English name is said to be bottle plant, drunkard’s dream!