S.P.Q.R. I | Are You Not Entertained?!

Step back nearly two millennia with me to another place. This past sunny week-end, I visited an event hosted by the Museum of London at Guildhall Yard. It was an exhibit featuring Imperial Roman era  re-enactors engaged in gladiatorial combat. The following is only a taste of more stuff I'll be posting as the week goes by. From them, you'll get an intimation of the dream that was Rome or perhaps--some would say--nightmare. Enjoy these first fruits...mores's on the way. Oh and Roma Victa. ;)






Stonehenge | Avebury

Here's the photos of both the Stonehenge & Avebury sites...very cool places...nice bunch o' rocks.









I must say I really love the next two...



And lastly...my buddy Josh's a nice guy but one hell of a camera hog. :D
He can't resist gettin' his big ol' head into one o' my shots!!
Here's the bucolic and ancient setting with and without my crazy @$$ bro's head.  ;)


Longleat Safari

Long time since I've posted...a while back--'round Easter--I hung out with my friend Josh 'n' his family 'n' took a tour of a safari park named Longleat, here in the UK. Spiffy place I must say! :)

I also scoped out the globally famous UNESCO world heritage site of Stonehenge for the first time; plus the similar site of Avebury. Just beautiful places. I took snaps of 'em with a cool camera my friend had recommended: the Canon IXUS 130. Here are some snaps, hope you enjoy.






























...Lest We Forget...

It's been nearly a century since the "War to End All Wars". We're now some 4 generations removed from the Second World War. Nearly all those who fought in those two wars have crossed Onward. We have to remember the blood that was shed for the freedoms we now enjoy through those conflicts.

To remember not just soldiers, but resistance fighters and ordinary men and women and children who did what they could to keep the light of Humanity shining in its own darkest hours. Not too long ago, I was privileged to visit several memorial sites in Normandy. I thought it timely to mount some images of those locations; including a ceremony with actual veterans.

As you look at them, do remember the current wars that rage around the globe. Many of our brothers, sons, daughters, sisters and mothers and fathers and friends fight in them, have been maimed by them...and have died in them. Please...let's just pause to remember those who's blood has been shed fighting for our sakes; regardless of politics. As Time moves forward--leaving its winnowing marks on our current generations--we must pledge to never ever forget...















On The Eve of All Saints' Day - Sacred Spaces Con't

To push things into the sphere of the sacrosanct.; here are some more snaps of the Cathedral of Coutances in northern France. It's a part of the Sacred Spaces series that I am working on. All Saints' Day (also called All Hallows or Hallowmas) commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in Heaven in Western Christianity. The day is observed principally in the Roman Catholic Church; as well as some branches of the Anglican denomination on November 1st. Enjoy.










The Normandy Cat Story

So I, and my buddy Josh, are traveling along the highways and byways of Normandy and stumble upon a WWII site that has trenches and old war equipment on display. Figuring it'd be a great photo op; we decide to stop. On site, we see all this cool military equipement and stuff. I'm taking photos like a man possessed.







As I take a photo of a trench, my pal Josh decides to stride into my shot...yet (expletive-ing) again; with his usual "too-cool-for-school" attitude in full effect to boot. I mean, honestly! (chuckle) The jerk. Lol! I yelled at him to get outta my shot. He made some kind of gesture after this photo was taken. One which I took and may publish later--or better yet--use for blackmail purposes. Hmmm...I'll figure it out eventually. Heh-heh...





In any event, we make our way 'round the trenches and bunkers...awesome stuff...




only then to behold the following around a turn in the trench...a family of seemingly orphaned kittens. Right in the middle of a old battlefiled. Now both I and JK are thinkin': "Odd! But cool photo op."




Soon enough, the Mom shows up and has a mouse in her mouth--family dinner presumably--and is mewling for her kids. It's an oddly bucolic event in the middle of a place with such dark history.






However, in the rush to photograph this little family, I failed to see one of the little tykes was right near my leg just behind me. I stepped back and felt the ground softer than it should've been. Black on Black violence is so sad. It really has got to stop. Heh-heh. Well, the poor thing yeowled in pain and the mom hissed and almost was ready to scratch my eyes out. Don't mess with a mama and her baby. In any case, as you can see below, the little wee one was none the worse for wear. And Mom and I made peace. I don't have a photo of it but she'd even came and rubbed up against my legs twice and purred...so all's forgiven.



So in the end, Josh and I, hit the road and left this little feral family to itself in the middle of the WWII trenches. With a parting photographic shot, mom gave me a last look of admonition; as her family sat down to fresh mouse for dinner. Feeling sheepish, I promised her I'll do penance and do better by my four-legged friends.

Normandy, France - October 2010

I've just gotten back from a good holiday with a great old friend. Took a thousand plus snaps. I went to Granville, Mount Saint-Michel, Coutances, Caen, Omaha/Juno/Utah Beaches, Dieppe, Vimy Ridge and more. Met some interesting people along the way...one of whom said she was a young child participant in the French resistance during WWII. It was an absolutely great and fun trip; full of history. 'Cept my friend Josh always got in the way o' my shots. LOL! The damn camera hog. ;)
Anyway, enjoy some of the photos.