Thursday Thoughts: Sofia – City Trees and Wildlife

2 november, 20172 november, 2017 / 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!

Thursday Thoughts – Framed

19 oktober, 201720 oktober, 2017 / 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?

Thursday Thoughts – Marvellous Murals

12 oktober, 201720 oktober, 2017 / 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.

Thursday Thoughts – Piotrkowska Street

5 oktober, 20175 oktober, 2017 / Leya / 30 kommentarer

Today Piotrkowska Street is the axis of Łódź. Here, in its proximity, almost all of the most important administrative offices, banks, shops, restaurants and pubs are situated. Most events (- like The Light Move Festival we came for -), outdoor parties, marches and official celebrations, organized by the city of Łódź, are taking place – here:

Bicycles, bicycles…

The Light Move Festival Headquarters

The glassed café…

…and books, of course

Evening – athmospheric light

Nr 91 was our hotel

The Piotrkowska Street is also known as the ”Łódź Walk of Fame”.

Between Tuwima Street and Nawrot Street there is the Monument of Łódź Citizens of Millennium Change, which is a nominal surface covering the part of Piotrkowska Street. This is probably the only monument of this kind in the world, consisting of 13.454 nominal cobblestones.

Some of the very special things I noticed were:

Very few people were busy using their cell phones

Each day there was a wedding photographing going on…

The rickshaws are colourful and frequently used

We had fantastic weather!

Miś Uszatek!

This is the popular Teddy Floppy-ear, a Polish character from the stop motion-animated TV series of the same name.Whenever we passed by (and that was often…) he had admirers around…

But, it is getting late, so I say good night for now…See you in the alleyways of colour and art – maybe tomorrow?

Thursday Thoughts – Avenues

21 september, 201722 september, 2017 / Leya / 15 kommentarer

Avenues…trees. In spring, summer, autumn or winter… They inspire and give comfort. The closeness, the narrow path or road in between…

They make me – they force me – to stop and feel the athmosphere, take a photo, enjoy.

I love all constellations. firs, pine trees, birches, aspen, oak trees… I do not have to walk in there, I am completely satisfied with standing still, breathing the air and the feeling…

…letting my imagination run free. How do you feel?

Thursday Thoughts

7 september, 20177 september, 2017 / Leya / 17 kommentarer

On my way to Varekai – Cirque Soleil. Hopefully an evening of wonders, colours, beauty, laughs and good food.

Have a great Thursday all – My thoughts also go to all those people waiting for Irma. Take care.

Thursday Thoughts – Granddaughters!

31 augusti, 201731 augusti, 2017 / Leya / 12 kommentarer

What’s in the picture? Well, today I had the honour of two granddaughters visiting – and I was totally overjoyed!

Even if they were much faster than me…and a bit more… agile? Youngsters – they do keep you alive and kicking, don’t they! They were both in for a haircut, though…but looked cool and modern with heavy curls hiding their eyes…Esther looks very much like her mother, Ella: White body and dark head. Mira has a wash of golden locks on top of her head…apparently inherited her father’s good looks. Welcome back you two!

Thursday Thoughts – Another View of Kew

24 augusti, 201724 augusti, 2017 / Leya / 12 kommentarer

I had not been to Kew for some years…about 35-40 I would guess – and when I finally returned some weeks ago, there were some surprises awaiting. The Hive was one of them, and another one was the Treetop Walkway. 18 metres up in the canopy, you could get a closer look at lime, sweet chestnut and oak trees – as well as a bird’s-eye view of Kew Gardens.

Take the lift up with me to the canopy! Not quite like the Amazon in December, but still great.

Thursday Thoughts – In the Hive

17 augusti, 201717 augusti, 2017 / Leya / 18 kommentarer

My number one goal with the London trip was Kew Gardens. I think the year was 1977 last time, or maybe 1979. As you who read this blog will know, I love gardens and flowers. Maybe especially English gardens, because of their soft and soothing architecture and lines. But this time, I also found the most mindful spot – The Hive.

A well thought through installation, and a high quality space for mindfulness.

The Hive stands 17 metres high, set in a meadow of wild flowers. The installation is connected to a real beehive, from where you, through several canals, are able to follow the sounds and vibrations of the bees.

We all know the importance of bees, and as scientists have proved – without bees we will not survive on this planet.

In this structure, you cannot shut out the light – you cannot stop it from seeping in. Looking straight up from the ground beneath, there are also… feet to be seen…

…and inside the construction, the blue sky is visible from every corner. Slow down and listen to the bees working, humming soothingly. Add some distant music… and this will be your reaction…

Meditative moments…Mindfulness…

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Thursday Thoughts – Hasse & Tage – (‘Swedish Words Ltd’)

3 augusti, 20173 augusti, 2017 / Leya / 6 kommentarer

This tiny exhibition at Kulturen in Lund was a real hit for me. I only took a few photos, but hopefully they convey something of what and who they were. Some of their movies are still on TV every year…and Hasse is still here, even if he does not write or perform anymore. The Apple War and The Simple-Minded Murderer are my absolute favourites.

Nostalgia…yes, but they will never die! Hans Alfredsson and Tage Danielsson – the number one comic artists of Sweden, the best critics of politics and politicians, the front figures working for a better world and environmental awareness. They brought out the best in people…by using their extreme talent for words.

Unfortunately this kind of sophisticated humour does no longer exist. (People are not good at words anymore…) Word jugglers, enthusiasts – ask any Swede my age, and they can recite something from ”Om sannolikhet” (”On Likelyhood”)