Lens-Artists Photo Challenge # 82 – Capital
This week, the guest host for Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #82 is Viveka at My Guilty Pleasure. She chose Capital as the theme.
We have traveled to many countries but not all the places we’ve gone were capitals. We did visited several capital cities.
When we were in Beijing, China, in addition to sightseeing, we went shopping. At this shop, we saw this magnificent sculpture with one hundred horses carved out of one gigantic piece of jade.
We visited the Windsor Castle in London, England, on this hazy day. The sky opened up later in the day. Of course we were not expecting to have a glimpse of Her Majesty, but the girl who assisted us at the entrance said, “I’m working here today, but the Queen went to visit my college.”
We learned a lot of the history about Berlin, Germany, at this Berlin Wall Memorial. Large photo replicas and documents were on display on this side of the Wall.
This is the statute of Johann Strauss II in Vienna, Austria. I also took a photo of Mozart when we were there. They are two of my favorite composers. Our tour guide took us to a concert with the performance of music pieces from both composers.
There was a bullfighting going on in Plaza De Toros (Bullfighting Ring) in the month we visited Madrid, Spain. When we traveled to Barcelona, we were told that Barcelona had banned bullfighting in July 2010. The ban came into effect on January 1, 2012. I was happy to hear the news because the bulls were raised with no idea of fighting until they were put in the ring and got killed.
Buddhism was originated in Thailand. Temples large and small were everywhere as we toured the city of Bangkok.
lens-artists photo challenge # 82 – cap·i·tal
The Showers of Blessings 
Great gallery around the world, Miriam! Wonderful images and a lot of memories. I agree with so many others here – that piece of art is outstanding! I wonder how big that piece of jade was – and its weight. Not to talk about its value!
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wonderful
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Thank you!
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Beautiful Photos ! You have done some extensive traveling!
I have a new book on Kindle about my grandfather. A Life Well Lived
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We enjoy traveling, Dwight. At least go international travel once a year.
I made note of your book and will get in soon.
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Thanks!
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You’re welcome!
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So beautiful 💕
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Thank you, Saania. ❤
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My pleasure!
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🙂 🙂
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Wonderful tour, Miriam! Amazing art and architecture photos…
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Thank you, Bette! Yes, art and architecture always attract me during our travel.
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All beautiful pictures. I especially loved the sculpture.
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Thank you, Denise. That sculpture is my favorite too.
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Amazing memories you have there Miriam. Thank you for sharing them.
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Thank you, Pete. We had wonderful trips to many places!
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A sculpture with one hundred horses is quite stunning! Great photos of these magnificent capital cities. 🙂
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I know, Amy. It was quite an attractive piece of art. The images of the horses are amazing. 🙂
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Miriam, great entry …. an around the world trip. That piece of art … is something. I share all your capitals with you … all amazing cities. Beijing I visited just after Mao’s death … in 1978. There was department stores, but no shopping malls then. The Vienna images – beautiful. Thank you so much for playing with me.
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Oh, Viveka, I went to China with my brother in 1975. We heard the propaganda at every corner of the city. Every person wore the same colors. Their eyes were dull. When we went again several years ago, the change was drastic.
Thank you for hosting!
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Yes, you are right we were the first cruise liner ever to Shanghai .. that was in 1978 – we came back in April 1979 and it all had change .. the girls wore make up and had flowered blouses. The change happened so quickly, but still few cars and millions of bikes and god they were notice, all ringing all the time. *smile – My pleasure … and honor to be guest host … lot of fun and commenting. *smile
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Yes, it didn’t take long for the girls to merge into fashion.
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Wow awesome 👍👍👍 pictures Miriam and nice to hear on banning bullfighting even I completely agree with you. Thanks for your beautiful share
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You’re welcome, Kamal. I surely hope more cities will ban the bullfighting. Thank you for your comment. 🙂
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Yes I completely agree with you, Miriam. 😊😊😊😊
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Great photos, Miriam. You’ve visited a lot of capitals.
I was captivated by the horses. I always thought jade was green.
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I thought so too, Norah. Apparently there are many colors of jade. I love horses. I’ll be going to a Arabian horse show in March.
https://www.masonkay.com/colors-of-jade
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That’s sounds fun, Miriam. Enjoy!
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I think so, Norah!
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Wonderful Photos Miriam and took us around the world in a few minutes.. briliant.. hugs
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Thank you so much for stopping by, Sally! I’m warming up with blogging after a long break. ❤
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A great warm up Miriam.. ♥
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Yes, I’m adding a little every day. ❤
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Miriam, a fascinating post and the photos are fantastic! The jade is truly amazing and what a wondrous sculpture! I walked along the Berlin Wall just after its fall but when still in place … I’m glad they’ve built a memorial section. Oh, the girl at Windsor castle made me laugh … how typical! 😀
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Thank you, Annika. I don’t know if anyone could afford to buy the sculpture. I guess there are people with such wealth. Our tour started from Berlin and travel southbound, ended in Vienna. I remember my heart was so heavy when we were in Berlin. Our tour guide said she was one of the people pounding on the Wall with a hammer. Then we visited the concentration camp in Munich which was bombed to the ground but a demonstration model cabin was built. We saw the gas chamber and couldn’t shake of the horrible images. My heart was lightened when we got to Salzburg and Vienna.
Yes, the girl at Windsor Castle was funny. 🙂
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Love your interpretation and all the different capitals Miriam. Wonderful pics
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Thank you, Miriam. you had a post once with the photos of huge lilies. I would like to know where the lily pond is. Is it in Tasmania?
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Hi Miriam. That lily pond was actually in the Yarra Valley at the lotus water gardens, in Victoria.
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Thank you, Miriam. I’ll look it up and give the info to my sister-in-law who is doing the planning.
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I hope she has a great trip!
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Yes, we will. It will be a family trip!
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Oh wonderful, you’re all going! Well, enjoy every minute
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Thank you!
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Great selection of place Miriam 🙂
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Thank you, Brian. 🙂
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That sculpture with the horses is incredible, Miriam. You have visited some wonderful places.
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Yes, Robbie, it was an amazing piece of art. Each horse has different position and expression!
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A beautiful set of capitals Miriam. That Chinese Art is amazing!
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Thank you, Tina. I agree that the Chinese Art is amazing!
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I love the Windsor Castle shot. Do you know if bullfighting is banned throughout Spain? I never attended a bullfight because it sounded barbaric to me.
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No, only Barcelona did. I didn’t know the bills were so innocent until death. It was horrible.
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Interesting variety Miriam. Love the carved horses. Amazing.
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Thank you, John. It was an amazing piece of art!
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