City

Thursday Thoughts: Sofia – City Trees and Wildlife

/ Leya / 15 kommentarer

Sofia’s many parks offer beauty and relaxation, but also the streets and separate old houses are accompanied by trees – now in autumn clothes.

Many people in Sofia and Plovdiv care for the wild animals, birds, dogs and cats, feed them and seem to want them in their city. In one of the Sofia parks, about 5-10 dogs were lying in the grass, sleeping. Suddenly one of them heard my camera snapping and looked up. When I later uploaded the photos, I noticed his ear – he was marked. Hopefully that means the dogs are somehow supervised and taken some care of.

Finally, people also activated their own dogs and we never saw starving or badly treated animals. The conclusion is – the cats own Plovdiv, and the dogs own Sofia!

 

It is All About Cats…

/ Leya / 16 kommentarer

In Plovdiv, the old capital of Bulgaria, it was all about culture and – cats. Everywhere in the streets, on window sills and in the parks.

And it seemed the yellow ones were those who ”owned the place…”

Others were peacefully sleeping on the window sills – at least in the old town.

In the newer part of the city, the competition was heavier…and the master himself both fighter and supervisor.

The captain…
…supervising the poor little ones who had to secretly crawl out to steal apiece of bread
The bold breadwinner –
…you would not be there for long…

 

 

The Prettiest Town in Ireland

/ Leya / 35 kommentarer

According to the tourist information, the small town of Adare (/æˈdeɪr/; Irish: Áth Dara, meaning ”ford of [the] oak”) in County Limerick, Ireland, is one of Ireland’s prettiest towns.

When we visited, the weather was, as I guess the weather is most here, rainy with short glimpses of sun. And the village is pretty – with thatched roofs and brightly coloured houses. About 3000 inhabitants, so I felt rather at home – the same size as the village I live in. Above is the main street.

A couple of beautiful churches and monasteries
Old houses …
…and modern ones
The most strange veranda…
The disadvantage with thached roofs…

Despite the rain, we ventured out towards Desmond Castle, on the north bank of the river Maigue. And we were lucky – the sun came through!

 I will be away for a couple of days – see you soon!

Thursday Thoughts – Framed

/ Leya / 15 kommentarer

Why do many/most people like…frames? (Or maybe not?) And what defines a frame?

This window photo displays some frames – photographed when I was looking out of my own hotel window. I like it, despite its drabness and ordinariness.

Many city windows look just like the one above…or like this one…

But a frame does not have to look like a window frame or a door frame…or a painting frame – it can be…different.

How many frames can you find in this photo?

And frames can be – very different!

It can stare at you in night light…

…or give you an irregular, sunlit moment.

So – what do you think about frames? Are you a compulsive frame user, or not? Do we need them at all?

Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge: Indoor Walkways/Hallways/Elevators

/ Leya / 15 kommentarer

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Indoor Walkways, Hallways, Elevators

Cee’s challenge means fun for me – and Viveka – in the new railway station in Łódź!

Lodz 2017 459

 

Thursday Thoughts – Marvellous Murals

/ Leya / 18 kommentarer

Several street art festivals are hosted by Łódź, and luckily, many of the murals are permanent. Some of them has got the artist’s name on, some not. Anyway – I hope you will ENJOY just as much as I and Viveka did! In her blog, Myguiltypleasures, you will get more interesting facts!

In the header is my favourite piece, and in case you should want more of this from Łódź – just click the links here, here or here.

 

 

 

 

Parks and Alleys – Light is Everywhere

/ Leya / 9 kommentarer

For five years Łódź has been hosting the Light Move Festival, and last year there were 50 000 visitors. I can understand why. Let us count down…and walk with the crowd!

Many planets and clouds moving –

And, let us count down again…and have a spooky walk in the park…with wild animals, hanging tree witches and other creatures!

Detta bildspel kräver JavaScript.

What about giant shining flowers made of plastic bottles? Or the traditional balloons!

In the big square we enjoyed the Grand Finale – The Rossman Building and the cathedral, dancing and moving in spectacular light shows …The short movies are on my Facebook and on Instagram – it is not possible to transmit the feeling with only photos…

My favourite birds though…over there to the right. Then we finished off with our own ”Rosegarden”, sparkling in the darkness. It has got a special and very touching story – go to Viveka at Myguiltypleasures to read it! Good night to you all!

 

The Light Move Festival

/ Leya / 15 kommentarer

The Light Move Festival – the name says what it is about. Moving lights, dancing, changing – together with catchy music. The first night we went out only on our own street. And we loved it.

The gear and the people guarding it were very friendly and helpful –  they even tried to walk us to the restaurant we could not find…

I was happy to see our own Sven Nykvist in the street!

This first night, before the big crowds, we could stroll and only enjoy. Saturday night there was really too much people around, and Viveka and I lost each other several times.

…and children wore red horns and anything full of ligh
On the walls of some houses there were spectacular light shows going on in 5 minute intervalls – grrreat music as well!

So, photographing is not the best thing to do here…instead I filmed some with my phone. Spectacular – but as my site does not let me show movies, I put the films on my Instagram and on Facebook. That is where you should go if you want to really understand what this festival is all about!

There are other things to show than the street lights though…I will be back with more glimpses of light inventiveness and fantasy from the parks and alleys!

 

 

 

WPC: Pedestrian

/ Leya / 25 kommentarer

Walking down Piotrkowska – our street (the 5 km main street) in Łódź – we met many lovely pedestrians. This lady was no exception, only a very bright and colourful one. Maybe the background might be called a bit pedestrian (adj), though?

Streets of London – Love and Love Not

/ Leya / 31 kommentarer

Big cities demand a lot of walking – London is no exception. The Underground might be the fastest, but the Overground for certain is the nicest. Let’s go for a walk and a ride…and look upon the city with fresh eyes…Today – What do I still love about it and what do I not love that much?

 

…the old Michelin building turned into a restaurant
I love the taxis…
…and I love the bridges too.
But…this new landmark…on Trafagar Square, among lions and old heroes….nooooooo

London is a city I will always come back to. Not in the way I used to as a young girl and woman, I know that. Today it is more of the atmosphere…the walks and the talks. The friendly people. No need for many musicals or concerts or exhibitions…How do You feel about London? Do you go often? Why/why not?