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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge # 82 – Capital

Posted on February 3, 2020 by Miriam Hurdle 54 comments

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.

Beijing shopping

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.

b19 Windsor Castle1

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.”

Berlin Wall Memorial

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.

Johann Strauss II

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.

IMG_6999 Madrid

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.

DSC00604 Bangkok

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

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #79: A Window With A View

Posted on January 12, 2020 by Miriam Hurdle 48 comments

This week, Amy invites us to explore “A Window With A View” and asks us to share some photos we’ve captured through windows.

“Throw open your window and let the scenery of clouds and sky enter your room!” – Yosa Buson

Summer Palace, Beijing, China

Several years ago, nine people from our extended family traveled to China and Hong Kong. While in China, we visited Beijing, Xi’an and Guilin. This photo was the view from looking out the window of the Summer Palace.

Great Wall, China

The tour guide took us to one entrance where some of us went to a steep side of the Great Wall and some went on the other side for a leisure walk. The Wall seems to go on forever from the view of the Wall window. As of Jul 31, 2019, the length of the Great Wall is 13,170 miles (21,196 kilometers).

“I feel that it is healthier to look out at the world through a window than through a mirror. Otherwise, all you see is yourself and whatever is behind you.” – Bill Withers

I saw this beautiful design of a mirror at Laguna Beach, California where we visit often. After positioning myself several times, I found an angle to take this photo without seeing my reflection in the mirror.

“The window of opportunity opens and closes as fast as a camera’s shutter.” – Warren Criswell

Alhambra, Granada, Spain

Hubby and I went to Spain three years ago for our anniversary. We visited Madrid, Toledo, Seville, Granada, Valencia and Barcelona in that order of our itinerary. I love the architecture in Spain.

Alhambra is the palace and fortress of the Moorish monarchs of Granada. The name Alhambra, signifying in Arabic “the red,” is probably derived from the reddish color of the tapia (rammed earth) of which the outer walls were built.

“My favorite journey is looking out the window.” – Edward Gorey

Our hotel room in Innsbruck, Austria

Hubby enjoyed the view from our hotel room in Innsbruck, Austria.

When we travel, hubby likes to have a hotel room with a nice view. I argue that we don’t stay in the room long enough to enjoy the view. Eventually, I understand that we are not “on the go” all the time during the trip. A window with a nice view makes our stay pleasant.