We are pleased to have Donna of Wind Kisses as our guest host this week, and she wonders what ”Over The Hill” means to us. Please visit her wonderful site for some more inspiration!
My interpretation is mostly an intuitional one…and my first thought was of The Great Wall of China. Climbing all those hills and mountains, at the cost of thousands of lives. And they were all buried in that great wall…
I think that I cannot preserve my health and spirits, unless I spend four hours a day at least – and it is commonly more than that – sauntering through the woods and over the hills and fields, absolutely free from all worldly engagements.
– Henry David Thoreau
Literally…these children are walking over that hill.
”Over the hill” also means the hardest climb is over and the view is terrific. So, after 12 years at school – you are over the hill too!
Just remember, once you’re over the hill you begin to pick up speed.
– Arthur Schopenhauer
Hiking in the mountains often brings amazingly magical views. Again and again…
After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.
– Nelson Mandela
In Switzerland we saw this nun contemplating the grandness of God’s Creation, and maybe the road meandering over that hill.
Over some hills you don’t reach another hill – but something totally different – maybe a volcano abyss…like this one in Iceland.
And after a volcano eruption, there are endless lavafields covering the land – the plains, hills and mountains.
I will turn 65 next week…and as I’m ageing I often wonder… when I finally have struggled up that hill – will I see The Light? The Light that our religion talks about?
And what about our animal friends? They must be even more overwhelmed by the vast views from up there…especially if you are a cat on a (hot) tin roof…
And what an impossible task for the tiny scarabs climbing this seemingly endless hill of sand.
But remember:
It is easier to go down a hill than up, but the view is from the top.
– Arnold Bennett
Thank you, Tina, for last weeks fun challenge of Opposites! So many clever and mindblowing examples. Hope to see you all this week as well. Tag your entry and link to Donna’s original post.
Next week, Tina will lead us again – on a treasure hunt…Until then, please stay safe and kind.
Leya 
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Such amazing photos of your travels. A visual delight. ❤
I am glad you enjoyed, thank you!
Happy Birthday for next week, Ane-Christine
Thank you, Woolly!
Have a happy birthday and the photo of the nun is straight out of The Sound of Music
Thank you, Ali – and yes, a bit of Sound of Music maybe!
🙂
Lovely post, and a couple of especially-great quotes that I’ll hopefully come back to so I can write them down 🙂
Thank you, Liz!
Ohh….I almost forgot…a very happy birthday!!
Thank you!
Your images are stunning, AC. The scarabs in the desert, the cat on the hot roof, the children climbing over the hill…..Just wonderful. It made me happy just to look at them! 😀😀
I am so glad they made you happy, Patti. It was a fun challenge too.
Beautiful thoughts and photos. (I think it’s #218. 🤔😂)
Thank you, John! I remember you have corrected this before…I am always lost in those numbers…thanks again!
Gosh, you have been to some amazing places A-C and have the most beautiful landscapes in your portfolio. I’m like Margaret, coming down a hill is more painful than going up. Happy birthday for next week, mine too on the 4th, but I am a little ahead of you.
Ah, thank you – and Happy Birthday in advance! I wrote to Margaret about my eating rosehips’ powder. It has helped me much, and I no longer have that much pain walking downhill. Try it!
Mmm… I wonder if that is available here.
Rosa canina it is. Tell me if you cannot find it. It is a purely natural product and well tried out and renowned – here at least.
Ann-Christine, this is such a thought provoking post beginning with The Great Wall. I have never been there, and to see your photo meander over the hills brings meaning to this theme. That could be a post in itself.
I love that most of your photos had people in them. They help tell the story. The children on the hillside to mimic the Thoreau quote, and the celebrations of the graduates both over the hill in a different way. The nun on the hillside was mesmerizing. It generated curiosity and wonder. Was she on a pilgrimage? Just contemplating? I am sure you loved coming upon her on this hillside. Its a beauty of a photo and I didn’t notice the road/path until you mentioned it.
I was glad you included the abyss. I tried to fit Crater Lake into my original post, and it didn’t work out, so thank you for that.
My favorite photo is of the two men going up the hill. This speaks volumes about life, the climb, the simple things, the time, the relationships. Thank you so much for this brilliant post. And think you for your encouragement in this journey of mine.
Happy birthday. I do believe we should love every age we walk into. Do that. I wish we lived closer and we could enjoy toast together. Donna
I so loved your post, Donna, your beautiful landscape photos and words…and the whole challenge. And I must agree – I would have loved to meet you for a toast or too, and a chat over life…in a comfortable place in nature.
Your favourite photo is one of my all time favourites too. Life. And I did love the nun…we saw her as we arrived and walked out of the cabin lift. She was standing there alone. When we came back from the hike, she was gone. I never saw her face. I would have loved to…
Thank you also for the birthday wishes. I will eat out with my family and then celebrate together with best friends. Hopefully it will be a peaceful and lovely day.
”…we should love every age we walk into.” That is something to live by.
Ann-Christine
hugs.
Gorgeous images. Have a wonderful birthday next week
Thank you so much, Karina!
I love your ”sound of music” photo with the nun. What grand scenery. I am also in love the your iceland photos. 😀 😀
Thank you so much, Cee! And yes, maybe a bit of ”Sound of Music” there…
Loved the picture of the nun taking in a gorgeous view, Ann-Christine. Also liked the texture in your lava fields photo.
I am glad they resonated with you!
Such beautiful places. Thank you for sharing.
I am glad you liked them! Thank you.
Wonderful scenes here. As someone who survived their 65th birthday I can assure you that it won’t change a thing! Age is after all just a number 😃
Thank you, Sarah! And yes, we are beyond the age of contemplating age as more than a number!
Well A-C if I were giving prizes you’d be well in the running for first although Donna’s original would give you stiff competition! seriously I always love your posts but this one is among my favorites ever. So much variety in the landscapes you’ve so beautifully captured, and I especially love those with people contemplating the landscapes beyond. And your Great Wall image as so moody and perfect. Marvelous post!!
Thank you so much, Tina, for a lovely comment. So glad you liked the post, I really enjoyed the challenge. And I loved Donna’s post! The two men walking are among my absolute favourites ever.
Beautiful clicks.
Love the volcano shot.
Thank you!
You are welcome AC
These views are seriously dramatic, but many of them also exude a sense of calmness, especially the view over the lakes with other peaks looming in the distance. May I have the name of the location? I really enjoyed how you showed us various kinds of hills, Ann-Christine. My other favorite photos are the lava fields and the crater lake in Iceland. I’m amazed people are allowed to go down and get that close to the lake. Currently, the only country I have to been to with crater lakes is Japan, but I haven’t seen it’s allowed anywhere there. Maybe it’s normal elsewhere if it’s safe and I want to try walking near crater lakes.
Thank you for an interesting comment! In Iceland you can go near, but you have to know about the landscape and have some common sense.
I see. It’s definitely the kind of places we need to be extra careful when visiting. Still glad they allow visitors to get closer!
🙂
Incredible photos of thr mountains and vistas, Ann- Christine!
Thank you, Aletta!
Brilliant images, AC…the nun and the two men in Switzerland, and the lakes….?Azores? Have a lovely birthday next week
Thank you, Sue! Iceland and Lofoten, Norway! Hopefully I will have a lovely day in the rain.
Day in the rain?
It’s been raining for a week now…
Oh no! 🙁
What a great take in the topic. Such wonderful landscapes ❤️ I love the nun the best!
I love her too! Thanks!
Fantastic images! The nun in Switzerland is stunning. The cat on the hot tin roof made me smile!
I am glad it made you smile too! The nun was indeed a lucky sight and capture too. Went to my heart.
I’m gathering speed on the way back down again! At 65 you’re just a youngster. Many more hills to enjoy climbing. I hope you’re having a fabulous time in the Douro. The evidence on Instagram is looking good. My favourite of these is the 3rd, with the lake and surrounding hazy hills, but I love the couple walking over the hill too. Happy birthday for next week!
Thank you, Jo – I had a fabulous time in Porto! I think we found that fish restaurant, or maybe they are all good over there! The Douro trip was amazingly beautiful, and the wine – glorious. You were right, I loved Porto. It was perfect for us.
So happy to hear that 🤗💗
♥Thank you for the tip!
If ever proof were needed that it’s always worth the climb to reach the top, the proof is in your photos. Those two volcanic-action shots were particularly arresting. And sadly, for me, coming down is always worse than climbing up. Oooh, my poor knees!
Margaret…I have the same problem with my knees – going down can take a long time…and painful it is. The pain has been eased with eating rosehips’ powder. Have you tried that?
I’d not heard of that, it definitely sounds worth a try. Thanks! And enjoy the rest of the holiday.
Please try it, it works!
Such variety of wonderful photos, all in their own way. I’m always impressed by what you capture and the way you do it. The desert one is my favourite, although I do love the lava one too.
Thank you, Sofia! Always lovely comments from you. It truly is impressive seeing the tiny scarabs and their ”footsteps” climbing that sand dune. If you look closely you will see the dune is completely dotted with their traces.
That was I was impressed with, such an unique moment.
That Thoreau quote reminded me how his ideas and approach is timeless and more folks need to follow his lead and get outside more – and go up and over hold
–
And what a nice array of beautiful photos and had to smile at the cat on a tin roof – looking over the hill!
Where was that taken ??
Thanks, yes, I love that quote and its meaning. I totally agree. That little cat? Georgia (not the American georgia, but the country!).
🙂 thanks!
What a wonderful group of hills you have photographed. I liked the way you told a story in Switzerland.
I am glad you liked the post, Marlene! And what luck finding the nun up there in the Swiss mountains. Touched my heart.
Our hills do not compare, but still we have rugged ranges and the going is generally not easy. Perhaps this is how it is meant to be and that is the light or the realisation that we are meant to see. Such a thoughtful post, Ann-Christine. The dunes, patterns in the lava field and the imposing peaks really speak to me, and us all. It is a mighty world world and sometimes we conquer it and sometimes we don’t. Happy birthday for next week. 65 is a good number. May it grow with you.
You are always thoughtful and kind, Tracy. Much appreciated thoughts and comments. Hope you are all doing well now in the summer coming. We will have to enjoy this mighty world as long as it lasts.
Thank you for the well wishes for my birth day as well ♥
Beautiful photographic examples and I enjoyed the quotes but the photo that touched me the most was that of the two men, one older one with a cane, walking with that magnificent background of mountains!
I am glad you enjoyed them, Janet, and that photo of the two men is one of my all time favourites. Touching, as you commented.
The volcano lake is amazing – that must of been quite a site
Yes, it was. But not that easy to walk down to…
Gorgeous landscape photos! I love them all, and I appreciate that you showcase different parts of the world.
Hope you have a great birthday next week!
Thank you, Dawn, much appreciated comment. Hopefully my day will be just fine.
Methinks you saw The Light a long, long time ago . . . . shall send you a huge hug closer to the day . . .
♥♥♥♥♥ Hugs back to you, Eha.