Dublin

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #102: A Quiet Moment

Mei-Mei10 Comments

One of my great joys of touring Europe was visiting churches and cathedrals, not just for the beautiful architecture but also the spiritual experience.  My favorite was La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain.

It’s funny right now to think of being in such a public space with so many people, but I don’t remember it feeling crowded at all.  I remember it feeling so peaceful with all the light and colors and forms of nature.  As a Catholic, I was very moved; this church helped me feel the presence of God.

I think of morning as being a quiet time, though I am not a morning person at all.  Taking an early morning walk down Grafton Street in Dublin was such a contrast to visiting the day before during shopping hours.

You can find more quiet moments at the original Lens-Artist challenge.

 

 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge#99: Old and New

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Rome is the most fascinating mix of old and new I have ever seen: thousands of years of history all on top of each other.  It is a thriving modern metropolis, yet everywhere there are reminders of the past.  Buildings that would be “old” here in the States are practically “new” there! Here is one of my favorite shots from our bus tour of the city (I previously used it for challenge #58).  I love the mix of the motor bikes and the historic architecture.

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Another great image I have used before: the famine memorial in Dublin, Ireland, across the River Liffey from the new office buildings that make up the financial and tech hub of the country (including Facebook and Riot Games).  A way of remembering the past while looking forward to the future.

You can find more old and new at the original Lens-Artist challenge.

 

 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #83 – Future

Mei-Mei8 Comments

It’s a small detail in this photo, but you can see the Pride flags waving proudly above the Liffey in Dublin, Ireland.  It was the weekend of the Pride festival when we visited, and the country had recently approved gay marriage via referendum.  In addition, while we were there we heard the news that the U.S. Supreme Court had also guaranteed the right of same-sex couples to marry with their landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges.  It felt like a significant moment, like a look into a brighter future.

A visit to the Sagrada Família in Barcelona also requires a look into the future.  The masterwork of architect Antoni Gaudí, the church was begun in 1882 and is scheduled to be finished in 2026.  It was amazing even under construction, so I look forward to returning to see the completed building in the future.

You can find more from the future at the original Lens-Artist challenge.

 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge # 82 – cap·i·tal

Mei-Mei6 Comments

Let’s take a little trip to the four capital cities I’ve visited in Europe!

Dublin, Ireland: History mixed with modernity

I visited Dublin in 2015 and found the city very friendly, full of history and culture, and surprisingly metropolitan.  I happened to be there during the Pride festival, so there was a very fun atmosphere in Ireland’s capital.  As a liberal Catholic myself, I felt very much at home.  I think this shot of the Famine Memorial on the banks of the River Liffey shows how the city honors the past while also looking towards the future.

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Rome, Italy: Centuries of history

I visited Rome in 2012, and while I saw most of the city while on a bus, I was still able to appreciate the rich history of the city.  In some ways, Rome is the capital of not just Italy but also Western history.  I loved seeing centuries of different buildings cohabiting right next to each other.  The Colosseum in particular is an amazing view into the past.

Lisboa, Portugal: A Hidden Gem

My friends and I took a weekend trip to Lisboa in 2007: my first time in a country where I didn’t speak the language.  We managed with a mix of English and Spanish, and the people we met happily taught us a few useful phrases in Portuguese.  I was surprised how beautiful the city was; I have wanted to return here with my husband ever since to really explore the city in depth.  This is the Tower of Belém on the banks of the Tagus River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Madrid, Spain: A Trove of Art

We took a class trip to Madrid during my semester in Spain, mostly to see the art.  And what art it was.  In addition the the architecture of the capital, the city hosts the Prado and Reina Sofía museums, where you can view such masterpieces as Las Meninas and Guernica.  It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience; I even had someone take my picture with Velazquez’s Las Meninas (which I went on to write an essay about for art history).

Lastly, a slightly different take on the word “capital.”

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I was fascinated by the detail on the capitals of the columns in Venice, Italy.

This week we have Viveka of myguiltypleasures as our guest host for this excellent topic. You can find more capitals at the original Lens-Artist challenge.