Try the following exercise: Walk around a neighborhood, and look for beautiful objects. Because every neighborhood has beauty, if you know where to look. You could walk around your own neighborhood, or someone else's; it doesn't matter.
These pictures were taken in the generally non-descript neighborhood around São Domingos de Benfica. I'd never given much though to Benfica, until I ended up there for half a month. Now I see it in a new light. It's not on the tourist track, and there are reasons for this. But, the more I looked, the more I saw.
A fountain, off of what has to be one of Lisbon's ugliest streets. Traditional buildings, a traditional street lined with identical houses. And, high off of the main road, a park with an azulejo-covered mansion.
Now, I'm looking forward to one day going back and seeing it again. If you had told me before, that I would one day have Benfica on my Lisbon list of places to go, I would not have believed you.
Here, a photo of Estrada da Benfica. All of the photos were taken on or (in the case of the fountain) very near this road.
Try the following exercise: Walk around a neighborhood, and look for beautiful objects. Because every neighborhood has beauty, if you know where to look. You could walk around your own neighborhood, or someone else's; it doesn't matter.
These pictures were taken in the generally non-descript neighborhood around São Domingos de Benfica. I'd never given much though to Benfica, until I ended up there for half a month. Now I see it in a new light. It's not on the tourist track, and there are reasons for this. But, the more I looked, the more I saw.
A fountain, off of what has to be one of Lisbon's ugliest streets. Traditional buildings, a traditional street lined with identical houses. And, high off of the main road, a park with an azulejo-covered mansion.
Now, I'm looking forward to one day going back and seeing it again. If you had told me before, that I would one day have Benfica on my Lisbon list of places to go, I would not have believed you.
Here, a photo of Estrada da Benfica. All of the photos were taken on or (in the case of the fountain) very near this road.
10 kommentarer:
The fountain is beautiful, and I'm not sure why but I'm always drawn to photos of doorways.
Today I saw the biggest dragobfly I have seen for a long time. That is beauty. Also the sky here is a deep, clear blue.
I really like the colour of the house in the second photo :)
Lovely photos! I believe that there is always value to be had from wandering around random places.
Beautiful photos!
My wife and I love to wander through our neighborhood at night and watch people watch TV.
Beautiful pics. Thanks for sharing them. I love looking at other countries.
Beauty is all around us that's true...even in the herb garden. I found a dill plant that had gone to seed with feathery round lacy seed pods which looked exactly like fireworks exploding in the sky.
Vanessa, thank you...I am forever taking photos of doors and windows...there must some psychological connection there, doors to adventure or some such.
The Al-ferengi formerly known as Ms. Scorpio, that sounds wonderful...I am also always taking photos (that usually don't turn out) of insects and other small creatures.
James, I agree, though I don't always give myself time to explore that way.
Sonia, thank you! :-)
Connie, me too! It's amazing what you can find.
Helen, I recommend it...I plan to do a bit more exploring also when I get back to Denmark...I work in some pretty out of the way suburbs, and am really looking forward to exploring them a bit.
Greg, but aren't you sometimes scared at the kind of stuff they're watching?
Rosa, thanks! I like seeing how the beauty of each country is individual, too...but yet still equally beautiful.
Mr. Lehane, my theory is train the eyes and the heart will follow, but then I'm a bit of a cynic that way.
Mary, that sounds beatiful...I sometimes think that I don't pay enough attention to flowers and plants, because when I do, the results almost always justify the effort expended.
El G, actually it was you in your response to my comment on your blog that got me to check and fix what was wrong with the post, so thanks! I agree totally about the details in non-touristy areas which make a place livable...when I think about the 4 cities I've lived in, they've all had this charm. As for Denmark being the happiest country, I haven't read the article, but have seen some response to it in some lists that I'm on. The response seems to be one of rather amused disbelief, but I can sort of see it. The Danes I know have a way of confronting stress which is quite effective...it makes sense that they would be happier. They also have more holidays (as you've noted), and more importantly, the work day is very intense, but very compact (the standard is to enter work at around 8 or so, have a very short lunch, and to leave at around 4), which gives them more overall time for family, friends, hobbies, etc. I may add this one to my ever-growing list of things I'd like to write posts about!
Gorgeous pictures-that fountain is so pretty!
Etchen, thanks! Actually, the whole exercise was started because I kept passing by the fountain and thinking, 'I really must take a photo of that', and then moved on from that.
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