The Military Bridge, Tavira
Seen from the quayside
And I guess you all know this one? Ponte Romana.
But this is my favourite. The umbrellas look like ghosts.
I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist being drawn into this week’s photo challenge. As soon as I saw the theme I was back on that riverbank in my head. Hope you like the results.
Who wouldn’t want to take photos at this delectable time of day? Check out the numerous wonderful entries at The Golden Hour.
Tavira council organises Verão em Tavira, a running programme of free outdoor events in the evenings over the Summer months. Just as the day starts to cool a little, the whole world takes to the streets. Click on the gallery above for a closer look.
And when your holiday is enlivened by the presence of another blogger- well, more of that to follow, but here’s my favourite photo of Cathy.
We went birdwatching on the Ria Formosa boat tour
Appropriate really for someone who calls herself Catbird. She was great company. She flies back to the States on 25th July so I hope she’s enjoying every last moment of Portugal. Wish I was still there.
Thanks Cate, at Show My Face, for being my kind hostess again on Six word Saturday this week. I’ll be round later to see what you’ve all been up to while I was away. Wonder what next week will bring?
Funny how often two challenges collide, or rub shoulders. I had barely posted Urban Design on Friday when the Weekly Photo Challenge loomed into view : Nostalgic. Old films and Nat King Cole. But that very morning I’d been reliving nostalgia at the top of Christ Church tower.
I’d been on a mission to purchase a few “surprises” for my husband’s birthday next week. The sky was blue. My camera was in hand. What better time to climb the tower for the promised “bird’s eye view” of Hartlepool? I reached the top and was just starting to take some shots when I heard the door open behind me. Darn, I thought. It wasn’t a large space and I greedily wanted it all to myself.
The lady smiled at me, and of course, I smiled back, and as I never can resist doing, slipped into conversation. She had been born and raised in the town, but had later married an American and now lived in the States. Over the years she had visited mum and dad in Hartlepool, but now both were dead, and after settling their affairs she was saying a final farewell to the town. She had climbed the tower because at last she could, knee surgery having given her back that ability.
Looking at the town below us, we traded memories. Do you remember Lynn Street? The Indoor Market with it’s treasure trove of stalls? Corned beef slices, fresh from the tray? The sweet shop with chunky “rhubard and custards”? The docks were over there- do you remember the chain links and gangways? Hasn’t the town changed?
On and on we went, reminiscing, exchanging snippets of our lives. We parted, finally, and I made my way back down to the ground, full of nostalgia for what had been, but a little proud of the survivor that Hartlepool still is. I can’t show you the past, but I can show you the now.
I don’t want to repeat the photos you can see on Urban Design, but I did want to share the experience. I wish the lady the very best for the future. I so enjoyed our memories. This is my entry for Weekly Photo Challenge : Nostalgic.
From here
Hartlepool, viewed from Christ Church tower, on a sunny day!
Tavira, in the Eastern Algarve- not quite so sunny!
In fact, a little moody.
But with a strong promise of blue.
As you can see from the centre photos, the weather was quite temperamental when we were last in the Algarve. I suspect that will not be the case this trip, as it’s in the 30’s currently. Oddly enough the Summer has arrived in the UK too (yes, even the north east!) so I won’t have to feel guilty about leaving my English friends shivering. It’s a win! win! situation.
So looking forward to dabbling my toes, and sharing special birthday celebrations with my husband. (his- I’m just a youngster- secret smile ) I also have a treat in store. For a couple of days I’m playing hostess to Cathy or Catbird as some of you will know her. Having left Oman she is now romping her way around Spain, and then Portugal, before returning home to the States. Her exhausting itinerary is here, but won’t it be fun?
Enjoy Six word Saturday, as well as the weather, while I’m gone. Many thanks to Cate at Show My Face. Back soon!
View from Christ Church tower over Hartlepool
I walked into town today, thinking about Jakesprinter’s theme for this week’s Sunday Post, Urban Design. I live on a green and leafy estate, with a variety of housing styles. Some of the older properties are full of character, but, as you approach the centre, many of them are rundown in appearance.
I was randomly taking photographs, and writing the captions in my head. As often happens, the shopping I had set out to do was on the back burner. We have a state of the art college of further education and I was thinking what a fine photo it would make, with the multi-national flags flying outside. Alas, the flags weren’t flying today, but the sky was a beautiful shade of blue. It struck me that it was the perfect day for something I had meant to do for quite a while- climbing Christ Church tower.
As a girl, I attended Sunday School at this church. Over time it fell into disuse, but then was given a brilliant new lease of life as an art gallery. A new stairwell has been constructed for safe access to the tower, from which the views were said to be wonderful. I was warned that the church bells would chime noisily every 15 minutes, and off I went.
Looking down on the bells and hoping they won’t chime just yet.
Almost there!
Wonderful to look through the old walls to newer Hartlepool.
Looking down Church Street to what used to be the docks.
The railway station, and beyond, the Historic Quay and marina.
That shiny new College of Further Ed I told you about.
My husband’s beloved football ground- Hartlepool FC.
But never far away, a little industry and the sea.
And there you have it- a beautiful use for an unwanted church, and the town planners current version of Hartlepool.
I’m a little late with this challenge, but I always love to support Jake. Come with me to look at his wonderful graphics, and check out the other entries. The lucky snake or any of the links will take you there.
A rainy day on Durham Cathedral roof, looking down on the Castle.
Maybe not quite window in the conventional sense, but I could, and did, look through it. Some of you wandered Durham’s riverbanks with me earlier this week, and I make no apologies for taking you back again today.
It’s quite a special week for Durham because the Lindisfarne Gospels have been returned, for a short while, to their rightful home in the north east. Created 1,300 years ago, in honour of St. Cuthbert, they are on loan from the British Library and will be on display until 30th September. Palace Green, in front of the Cathedral, is a deservedly beautiful location. Ticket sales are booming. The link above will show you why. Meantime, a few more Durham windows.
How lucky are the students at Durham University? They get to use the castle as “digs” and dine in the fabulous Great Hall. Taking photos isn’t allowed but I would suggest you take the tour if you’re in Durham to see the Gospels. It’s bookable in the same building. My post Discovering Durham will give you a lot more information.
Next week I shall be gazing through some real windows in the Algarve, so won’t be taking part in this challenge. But I expect I’ll have a few shots to bring back.
Off now to check out the other entries at Lingering Visions. Have you a few windows you’d like to share? Dawn will be delighted.
A romantic view of Durham
Durham is a city of many bridges. The River Wear threads its way backwards and forwards between the historic houses, and it’s quite hard NOT to take a photo of a bridge or two.
Here we have two bridges for the price of one. Agree?
County Durham is known as the Land of the Prince Bishops and gets a small mention in the Wikipedia link. The “Prince Bishop” river cruiser has been tootling up and down a short stretch of this river for as long as I can remember.
Under the road bridge, looking back at “Prince Bishop” and the Cathedral.
I rarely visit Durham without strolling along the riverside path. The bustle of the Market Square and always busy Cathedral seem a world away.
This is the classic view, seen on numerous postcards.
The river has paths on both banks for some of its passage through the city, so you can meander like the river, and choose which bridge you want to cross.
Milburngate Bridge with castle and cathedral above.
Some years the weir is filled to the brim. Sadly, this year, erosion has affected the riverbanks in a few places. Part of our constant battle with nature.
There are always rowing boats tethered by Framwellgate Bridge.
Durham has a famous university, and for much of the year students can be seen sculling rapidly along the water’s surface. In June the regatta gives them the chance to show off their skills, and it’s a fun day out.
I’m normally very much a Summer person, but there is one event that takes place in Durham every second November that I hate to miss. During “Lumiere” many of the bridges are spectacularly lit. You can see this in full colour in my recent post Water under the bridge, but for this challenge I have to stick with black and white.
Trying to find the best vantage point to take the shot.
How about this one?
So that’s my take on Sonel’s Black and White photo challenge this week. I hope you enjoyed wandering the riverbanks of Durham with me. Let’s do it in colour another time, shall we?
I’m off to check out the other entries to the challenge. Sonel has given us quite a wide brief. The main stipulation is that we work with black and white only- no shades, which means my sepia friend is not allowed. The button below will take you to the home page of the challenge.
Castle Eden “bottle bank”?
As I was updating my Six word Saturday page yesterday I realised that this is my 70th Six word Saturday post. Amazing! It started out as a bit of fun, and I hope it still is? I posted my round up of the scarecrow festival in the villages on Tuesday, but I think I might just have a few more photos to share.
A “snorting good time” in Elwick
Elwick’s a nice looking village with a well-kept green. (and Bertie Bassett!)
But there were some rough-looking individuals there on Sunday!
Here’s a pretty lady! Midsummer Madness? That was the theme.
A little nonchalant fishing was going on elsewhere in the village.
But a good time was being had by all.
There was even pizza for the hungry.
And Laurel and Hardy seemed to approve.
But everyone was agreed- they all loved the caterpillar!
To see the full parade of scarecrows, click on It’s Show Time! Wishing you a fun week too!
Meantime I should say thanks to Cate at Show My Face for hosting all my Six word Saturdays. Don’t forget to pay her a visit, and if you’ve any spare time you can look back at my 70 by clicking on the button below.
See you next week for number 71!
Sunrise framed in my front window
I’m staying local with my windows again this week. In fact, some of them are downright personal! You want to look through my windows? I’m warning you- I’m a very slovenly housewife. You may need to bring your own duster.
This is the view from our kitchen window through the conservatory
The view from the conservatory into the garden. Watch out for spiders!
Our front window reflected in the mirror (no, I never clean that!)
Our bedroom window. Sorry- I’m blocking the view.
Gorgeous end of day photo from the bedroom window. Hello neighbours!
And speaking of the neighbours, isn’t this sweet?
I took some nice window photos in Durham yesterday, but I think I’d better save them for next week. You can have too much of a good thing you know. Incidentally, anyone know of a good window cleaner?
Please excuse my slightly frivolous contribution to Lingering look at Windows this week. Thanks Dawn. I’ll be round to check out some more entries later.
Hartlepool marina
I didn’t really expect to take part in Sonel’s Black and White photo challenge again this week. Then I saw the subject matter and just couldn’t resist having a little play around.
I have an awful lot of shots of my neighbourhood, so the real challenge was in finding out which ones might best convert to black and white. I find I have a preference for sepia. How about you?
I love the hunched shadow at the rails on this photo.
The sky on this particular day was practically black already!
How wild and angry does this look? The houses are huddled against it!
I can watch the sea trying to leap the pier all day.
But this is undoubtedly one of my favourite shots from Hartlepool Headland.
Thanks again, Sonel, for getting me to look at my world a little differently. I rather like what I see. This challenge business is a little addictive, isn’t it? I’ve seen some wonderful entries already. Come with me to Sonel’s Corner and take a look. How about these for a start?
http://travelwithintent.com/2013/06/26/el-born-barcelona/
http://marantophotography.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/a-beautiful-spot-in-the-neighborhood/
http://bopaula.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/black-white-photo-challenge-neighbourhood/
http://weliveinaflat.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/abandoned-but-for-the-sun-and-moon-above/
restlessjo 
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