Built in 1886 the Dom Luis I bridge, spanning approx. 400 metres across the Duoro river in Porto, conveying light rail, general traffic and pedestrians over two levels appears to be way ahead of it’s time. Both decks are suspended by a central arch of 173m in diameter. Originally used as a toll bridge, which changed in 1944, when the bridge was incorporated into the City infrastructure.
……..the journey continues………….
I’ve often written about travelling to Europe during Winter, and the more often than not inclement weather. Grey skies, cold, rain etc on a constant basis can have a damping effect on your state of mind. So when I saw the “state of mind prompt” prompt for the weekly photo challenge this week, I looked at a selection of my images from my recent “winter” trip to Portugal. Images that were taken during or after particularly inclement weather, always seemed to have bright coloured elements in the image, perhaps my subconscious or maybe even conscious way of colouring up that dampened state of mind :-). Some of these images are my response to this weeks prompt.
….the journey continues………..
State of Mind
When doing research for a trip to Northern Portugal, I looked at a few travel guides for an overview of what the weather was like in December and January. Sure it was Winter, in the North at that time, but Portugal is still a little further South than the Countries that experience seriously cold winters. I glanced over the rainfall stats, not expecting all 14 days of expected rain over the period to happen consecutively over the 10 days I was there :-):-), resulting in a rather rainy Season 🙂 . But, I tried to look on the bright side and took some pictures of the reflections after the rain 🙂 🙂 .
Season is the prompt on the Weekly Photo Challenge this week, and images of my Rainy Season trip are my response to the prompt…
…………the journey continues…….
When I saw the prompt for the Weekly Photo Challenge this week, Life imitates Art, it reminded me of instances when I encounter building art, street art or graffiti while I am walking around with my camera. Perhaps, its just me, but I try and look for a composition that includes something or someone that would complement that piece of Artwork in a way that it could be portrayed within it… 🙂 Hope that description makes sense 🙂 :-). Either way, its all subjective, and everyone’s perception is different. Have a look, maybe you’ll see what I saw 🙂
My response to this week’s prompt are a few of those images taken on my recent trip to Portugal.
………. the journey continues………….
It’s more than likely that most people will have some recollection of at least a few New Years happenings during their lives, if not most of them (maybe not in chronological order 🙂 🙂 .) Perhaps it was with a special person, or a special place, or a significant moment, or a specific incident, ..whatever it may be, but that single moment in every year when the clock strikes midnight and heralds in the New Year, somehow remains more easily rememberable. (hmmm.. not sure if that’s a word 🙂 🙂 ).
So, do you remember where you were on the most recent New Years Eve? I do 🙂 I was in Porto overlooking the City, the Douro River and the Ponte Luis I bridge that crosses it, Fireworks lit up the sky as the clock struck midnight, and a New Year had arrived :-). Time is the prompt on the Weekly Photo Challenge this week, and images of the New Year fireworks at Porto are my response to the prompt…………
…..the journey continues……………..
I recently stumbled upon an article in the online version of the Daily Mail about the N222 from Peso de Regua to Pinhao in Northern Portugal being voted as the Worlds best road “for it’s location, cutting through the heart of the Douro Valley and the spectacular views it provides of the Valley below.” http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3052472/The-world-s-best-road-voted-Portugal-s-wine-region.html
So it’s pretty significant when you are from South Africa, some 10 000 km away, and just happen to be on a road trip in the area. So during my trip a few weeks ago, I did a bit more research and decided to organise an itinerary that include the N222. Travelling in Europe during Winter, one is somewhat prepared for encountering some unpleasant weather, but not necessarily all the time !!. Well, during the two weeks that I was in Northern Portugal, it felt as though the entire winter rainfall happened in 10 consecutive days :-(. Despite this, I tried to remain optimistic, that every now and then, the weather would abate, and there would be an opportunity to shoot some images. Fortunately, some of this optimism came to fruition while driving along the N222. There were short periods of time when the rain would subside and the low level fog would lift to reveal the wonderful terraced landscape, before closing in again minutes later.
Optimistic is the prompt on the Weekly Photo Challenge this week, and images I shot along the N222 are my response to the prompt…..
………….the journey continues…………………..
4otomo 