Thu 09.July.2020
California
Images - Europe 2019
Midsummer in Slovakia! The old heart of Bratislava bubbles over
with cafes, street entertainment and people - both locals and visitors.
Central European climate means icy Winters, and hot Summers.
Fortunately, the humidity is moderate enough that a misty arch feels great.
Whimsically watching trams pass this mirrored sculpture in a square near my
apartment.
More than ten years ago, a cab brought me in from the airport for my first
look at Bratislava, and set me down right here, in front of the old Slovak National
Theater building.. It was the start of the nicest first impression I can
remember of a new city.
September ...
back in California, for checkups, scopes, scans,
visits with friends. And the occasional big bird wandering the neighborhood.
Late September ...
a goof off day in Paris to break the long
journey to Greece. A leisurely hour or so of coffee and people watching
on the Place de la Contrescarpe.
Don't forget to run up to Rue
Daguerre afterward, to get get a couple of frommages for the flight to
Rhodes the next day!
End of September ...
settling in to Rhodes, Greece for the Winter.
This far south, there are still weeks of Summer temperatures to go, and most
of the Summer throng of vacationing humanity is still on hand.
It is always a hoot to be back in the medieval Old City. Better now than
back in the days of sieges when these massive fortifications were built!
During the medieval sieges, somebody had to hoist these massive mortar
balls into their mortars, and fire them toward the besiegers. Were the balls fired
into the moat? Or were they collected there afterward as part of the cleaning up?
As November rolls along, the crowds fade quickly. Soon the Old City is back
to Cast Members Only, as the signs at Disneyland would say.
Although the medieval moat is an official historical site, people use it
as a leisure park. Dog parks, a theater stage, a popular route for jogging and
walking... and you can't beat the historical surroundings.
A day trip to Kalymnos island shows us that the light reflects nicely on
their harbor ...
... as it does in Rhodes on a different day.
This business closed up when the tourists left at the end of the season.
The sign remained through the Winter, speaking multiple languages to nobody
in particular.
Home away from home,
with a friend in the doorway.