We each walk our own paths in life with a mixture of purpose, pleasure and pain. It seems as though we all “float” along in our journey with each step a temporary moment in time. Both images were captured on the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain. The two hikers are passing through while the floating image is farm woman in Galicia. As I write this, I’m thinking I should reverse these images. Hmmm…?
(Click on image for a larger viewing window)
The run-down streets portray struggle, while the earth can feel the pulse of a proud ancestry.
HDR image of a neighborhood street in Playa del Carmen, Mexico blended with an image of a costumed Mayan gentleman taken at the Chichen Itza archeological site. Blended image layer transformed to appear to be part of the earth. Click on image for a larger viewing window.
~ The Beatles
The couple captured in this image appear so passionate for one another and oblivious to the world around them. Photo was taken in Salamanca, Spain with a little point and shoot camera. Nothing fancy. Blended in Photoshop CS5 with prairie grasses captured against the summer sun.
Yep… all you need is love.
Life can be harsh for the disabled begging on the church steps of the Cathedral de San Gervasio in Valladolid, Mexico. This is the real deal and not a scam as the locals also give money to these individuals according to Mark Moxon’s Travel Writing.
In turn, life can be harsh for the working class protecting their modest stucco homes and belongings with broken glass ledges in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
By the grace of God…
The past has floated away like fluff on a dandelion as the prairie winds blow across the old abandoned yard. The young girl’s grandmother has long since passed away, but the old house from her childhood still stands as if to be a testament to her very existence.
The skeleton of a house is what remains, but in the mind are memories… laughter, tears, struggle and joy are carried by the wind as it flows through the empty windows. Heat radiating from the wood burning stove, smells of fresh baked bread permeating the air, the cluck of chickens in the coop to the sound of chicken sizzling as it fries in the old cast iron skillet…
Escape…
In the deepest, darkest days of Minnesota winter, I feel the need to escape. It is often not practical to escape in the physical sense, but an escape inside the mind is possible anytime.
When you think about it, the sky is the limit whether reading a compelling novel, historical account of days gone by or fulfilling love of travel with reading and exploring travel blogs. Mix it together and winter isn’t so bad.
Below are some links to explore:
University of Minnesota Alumni Reading List
We Made it Through Winter Memoir of Mr. O’Meara’s 9th year – 1906 – in the timber-logging town of Cloquet, Minnesota.
Best Travel Blogs and Websites
Fashion and history buff? Try FashionBackwards for a unique , quirky and historical take on fashion trends.
Read about the Deadly Children’s Blizzard of 1887-1888
Does yoga sound appealing? Try Yoga For Beginners at DoYogaWith Me.com
Netflix has some interesting documentaries involving cultures around the world, thought-provoking topics and history. I especially enjoyed Living On One Dollar a Day, an inspiring film of life in Guatemala.
Cuba has been in the news lately with a lifting of travel restrictions and Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations, also on Netflix, shows us life inside of Cuba, as well as delicious food choices.
Combine an interesting program with the treadmill or exercise bike and you have a double delightful day.
Yes… the sky is the limit. Now, excuse me while I dream of faraway lands and exotic places.
Where does the time go? A few of my favorite images from 2014:
https://animoto.com/play/QZmn9rbzC8AgRQHz406WHg
All images by Joyce Meyer (O.K., the spider web is Randy’s, but other than that…)
A mother’s wish…
Happy Halloween from the Meyer Family and the spider guarding the bin door! You have to have a little fun in life, right?
Canon 5D Mark 2 ~ Blend of Sunset at the Slough and three layers of the same spider image tweaked with saturation and color adjustments.
Yes, reality tells me that fairy tales are not really all that important in the whole scheme of life, but it is fun to dream. It’s just that all of us have different ideas of what really defines a fairy tale. Adventures and exploration can take place in my own neighborhood or the other side of the globe.
I’ve always said that I’m lucky that I’m easily amused and could entertain myself in a cardboard box. After all, lots of dreaming can be done inside a box.
Click on image for a larger view
RJMeyerArts 