CBBH Photo Challenge: REFLECTION

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Marianne under CBBH Photo Challenge, Photo challenges

It’s that time of year when many of us reflect over the past year and begin to look forward to whatever the coming year will bring. I’ve always enjoyed reflection – both the looking back kind, as well as the distorted or alternate view of something realistic.

Pagoda and pool, Jardin Concepcion, Malaga

Within Málaga’s La Concepción Botanical Gardens lies this Alhambra-inspired pool, which beautifully reflects the nearby pagoda. Even on a hot summer´s day, it´s a pleasure to enjoy the cool green shade and occasional sprinklers of the Gardens, which may catch you by surprise as they irrigate the surrounding plants.

Outside Guggenheim, Bilbao, Spain

In the Basque Country capital city of Bilbao, in northern Spain, lies the amazing Guggenheim Museum. Located alongside the Nervión River in downtown Bilbao, the museum is a glass and titanium structure resembling a ship, filled with modern and contemporary art. For me though, the exterior was the most impressive, with a series of outdoor exhibits including a giant spider structure, the famous giant puppy monument fashioned out of bedding plants which are renewed each spring, and this huge mirrored bunch of balloons reflecting the pool beyond.

Sunset reflected in my pool

I just had to include a photo of one of the spectacular sunsets reflected in my swimming pool. This is a sight I never tire of seeing. Can you make out the tail of the dolphin I had tiled into the floor of the pool (towards the bottom right of the photo)? This was to remind me of the time I swam with dolphins on the Caribbean island of Curacao.

The golden dome of the Stupa glistens in the beautiful sunshine

Visitors to the eastern Costa del Sol might not anticipate that there is a beautiful Buddhist Stupa within easy reach of the Mediterranean coast. The first Buddhist Kalachakra stupa built in the western hemisphere can be visited about 40 kilometres east of Málaga, just north of the town of Vélez-Málaga. Here you can see the golden dome of the Stupa reflecting the sunlight against an impossibly blue sky.

Grave reflection

“El Día de los Muertos” or the “Day of the Dead” is a celebration of life held each year throughout Spain on November 1st. Cemeteries are packed with families paying homage to their dead, as family members tend the gravestones of their loved ones by painting, weeding and cleaning them, and by placing fresh flowers and candles. It’s a time of quiet reflection – though I couldn’t help but also notice the blue sky and palm tree reflected in the polished marble of the headstone.

In addition to a physical reflection, you might want to explore emotional reflection through an image. Whatever you decide, share a photo that means REFLECTION to you.

This month´s CBBH Featured Blogs:

** Tom at The Palladian Traveler describes his blog as an ”eclectic site devoted to the pursuit of happiness from within the borders of Italy and, occasionally, beyond.” I particularly enjoyed learning about the impressive and ancient hill town of Sutri, noted for its precious archeological finds covering the Bronze, Etruscan, Roman and Middle Ages.

Tom packs his posts with lots of information and history, punctuated with beautiful photographs. I love Italy, and have very fond memories of visits there, so The Palladian Traveler is somewhere I enjoy lingering for a while. Why not pop over there right away, and say HELLO?

** If you want a recipe with a Spanish twist, Tanya at Chica Andaluza is your girl! Her recipes are always easy to follow and I especially loved her Lamb Shanks with Borlotti Beans – the most delicious comfort food you could imagine! You are sure to find something on her blog to tickle your taste buds.

Tanya is a passionate cook, aspiring writer and City Slicka turned Spanish Chica who shares the highs and lows of what she gets up to in her Andalucián mountain hideaway.

CBBH Blog Hop

So that´s the CBBH Photo Challenge for January, folks!

Remember, all you have to do is post your entry by the end of the month, link back to this blog and, most importantly, don´t forget to share links to any two blogs that you´ve commented on during the past month, so that we can all HOP OVER and have a look. Make sure you FOLLOW THIS BLOG so you don´t miss next month´s exciting challenge!

For more information on how the CBBH Photo Challenge works click here.

I hope everyone taking part enjoys the exposure the CBBH Photo Challenge offers to featured blogs and, who knows, you may end up finding a new favourite! I´m looking forward to seeing your interpretations.

[CBBH logo Image credit: (cc) Mostly Dans]

CBBH Challenge: SIMPLE PLEASURES

Posted on December 1, 2012 by Marianne under CBBH Photo Challenge, Photo challenges

Everywhere we go at this time of year, we are all surrounded by the excesses of Christmas – whether it’s things you could buy as gifts for everyone you know, luxury food items you may or may not eat, and electrical goods you only just found out you couldn’t live without! Christmas as it used to be has been largely hi-jacked by consumerism of the worst kind. People are encouraged to spend more and more money on gifts each year, whilst others are still paying off debt accumulated from last Christmas. But, tell me this – can you even remember all the gifts you gave last year, let alone recall the ones you received? I know I can’t.

Given the hectic nature of our lives, it’s easy to overlook the little things that make it all worthwhile. With this in mind, for December’s CBBH Photo Challenge I have decided to focus my attention on SIMPLE PLEASURES – or, put another way, finding delight in everyday things.

So, what does it for you?

A beautiful rainbow?

Toast with peanut butter or jam?

The smell of newly-cut grass? (Click and SNIFF here for that wonderful aroma of a newly-cut lawn).

Skimming stones across a lake? (Improve your own stone skimming technique by reading this, watch some great stone skimming here or, if you´re good enough, enter the World Stone Skimming Championships for yourself!).

Squishing mud between your toes? (If you´re feeling the pinch right now, this is the ideal discount spa treatment – but make sure it’s mud you are walking in!)

Hearing a baby’s laughter? (I guarantee you can´t watch this without smiling or laughing. OH, go on, you know you want to!)

Raindrops pooling on the leaf of a lime tree after a long dry, hot summer.

The bleating of a goat on a nearby hillside, as she waits for milking time.

Walking along a beautiful, almost deserted beach and dipping your toes in the water.

This month´s CBBH Featured Blogs:

** EllaDee at elladee_words allows us a sneak peak into her everyday life in Sydney, Australia where she aims to escape from her “proper” desk and computer-centred day job in the city, and live more simply at her house in a tiny country village, 6 hours drive up the coast.

I was fascinated by Ella’s recent post All’s Well that Ends Well – Matthias and Eupham where she talks about what many Australian’s consider family history gold – convicts. Her writing style makes for easy reading – yet once she’s got you – you’re hooked! Why not HOP over there and say G’Day to EllaDee right away?

** My second choice for this month is a very friendly blog with great photos – The Sophomore Slump. Rommel loves to share his adventures around the globe and his photographs are what really make his posts come alive. What I particularly like is that he regularly features links to blogs he enjoys himself – and we all love to share a little Blog Love, don’t we?

Rommel recently posted about his trip to Las Vagas with friends, which I’m sure you would enjoy. He is always quick to leave an encouraging, relevant comment, so why not pop over and leave a message for him?

So that´s the CBBH Photo Challenge for December, folks!

Remember, all you have to do is post your entry by the end of the month, link back to this blog and, most importantly, don´t forget to add links to any two blogs that you´ve commented on during the past month, so that we can all HOP OVER and have a look. Make sure you FOLLOW THIS BLOG so you don´t miss next month´s exciting challenge!

For more information on how the CBBH Photo Challenge works click here.

[CBBH logo Image credit: (cc) Mostly Dans]

CBBH Photo Challenge: BLUE

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Marianne under CBBH Photo Challenge, Photo challenges

This month´s CBBH Photo Challenge is leaving me feeling anything but BLUE – because I just love the colour!

According to this website: “Color is a meaningful constant for sighted people and it’s a powerful psychological tool. By using color psychology, you can send a positive or negative message, encourage sales, calm a crowd, or make an athlete pump iron harder.

Psychology of Color: Blue

Ask people their favorite color and a clear majority will say blue. Much of the world is blue (skies, seas). Seeing the color blue actually causes the body to produce chemicals that are calming; but that isn’t true of all shades of blue. Some shades (or too much blue) can send a cold and uncaring message. Many bedrooms are blue because it’s a calm, restful color. Over the ages blue has become associated with steadfastness, dependability, wisdom and loyalty (note how many uniforms are blue). People tend to be more productive in a blue room because they are calm and focused on the task at hand. Some studies are showing that weight lifters can lift more weight in a blue gym – in fact, nearly all sports are enhanced in blue surroundings.”

The best examples of restored “Don Quixote” Spanish windmills can be found in Consuegra, not far from Toledo in central Spain, where several mills spike the hill just outside of town. I certainly had some tilting to do, to capture not only the sails, but also the magnificent blue of the wide open sky.

This blue painted door can be found in The Lost Village of Acebuchal, situated in the heart of the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara and Almara Natural Park. The village, which sits on the traditional muleteers’ route between Granada and Malaga was abandoned and in ruins from 1949 to 1998, but has now been beautifully renovated, restoring the original style.

When I bought my new Canon Powershot SX220HS camera back in June, I was playing around with the low-light setting, and managed to capture the beautiful blue plumbago plant growing in my garden. It´s such a pretty colour.

A few weeks ago, I travelled to the village of Colmenar to meet up with another local blogger. Whilst I was waiting in the square opposite the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento) at the appointed time, I couldn´t help but notice this couple sitting on a nearby bench, deep in discussion. My eye was drawn to the colour of the woman´s clothing, which was the most amazing shade of blue.

This street-sign in the nearby white village of Torrox always makes me smile. Beso in Spanish means “kiss” – so this is Kiss Street!

My final image for this month´s Photo Challenge is from my home village of Cómpeta, and shows a pretty balcony, filled with flowers, against the deep blue painted windows as their background.

This month´s CBBH Featured Blogs:

** Alyson at the Algarve Blog is a very talented artist and, along with her hubby Dave (a peanut-butter-loving photographer), give regular glimpses into their expat life in southern Portugal.

I am particularly enjoying reading Aly´s A – Z of Portugal, where she takes each letter of the alphabet and writes a different post using the letter as the basis for a post, about things she cares for in Portugal. This is a very easy blog to read, with many stunning photographs, which always makes me glad that Portugal is an easy drive from my home in southern Spain.

** Talking of a friendly blog with great photos leads me on to my next choice – the Lucid Gypsy. Gilly describes herself as “a middle aged techno hen with a passion for travel, writing, reading and well, life” – and is very busy working full time, studying and crafting pretty things in the beautiful south west of England.

Gilly loves taking part in Word and Photo Challenges and is always quick to leave an encouraging comment. Why not pop over and say HELLO to her?

So that´s the CBBH Photo Challenge for November, folks!

For more information on how the CBBH Photo Challenge works click here.

[CBBH logo Image credit: (cc) Mostly Dans]

CBBH Photo Challenge: WINDOWS

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Marianne under Axarquía, CBBH Photo Challenge, Photo challenges

Whether your first thought is of panes of glass or Operating Systems

– the CBBH Photo Challenge theme for October is WINDOWS!

I found my first window as I wandered around the streets of the white village of Cómpeta. You´ve heard me mention this village many times before, because it is the closest to my home in the nearby countryside. Many of the very pretty village houses have plants outside their windows but inside the metal grills that are a common feature on houses in the area.

This beautiful stained glass window is in St George´s Church, the oldest Anglican church in mainland Spain. St George´s Church can be found within the grounds of the English Cemetery, about 300m east of the bullring in the city of Málaga.

Staying in the city of Málaga, here is another stained glass window, but this time it´s inside the Atarazanas Market. Offering fresh, local produce at fantastic prices the Mercado Central de Atarazanas is most definitely worth a visit if you happen to find yourself in the city. Joining the bustling crowds of discerning locals at the stalls offering an abundance of seafood, fruit, vegetables, meat, spices and dried fruits is a wonderful way to buy fresh, local produce.

Here are some of the ivy-clad windows and balconies of the Parador in Ronda, where we were fortunate enough to spend a few days last summer. Paradors are state-run hotels, often located in castles, palaces, monasteries and extraordinary Spanish national heritage buildings. The Parador of Ronda is a luxury hotel in the former town hall, which sits on the edge of a gorge.

Do you remember when I visited the derelict San Joaquín sugar mill, on the old N340 coast road between Nerja and Maro? Though the glass in this window is long gone, it was still interesting to peer through at the interior of the building, though unsafe to wander inside given the state of the roof.

The window of an aeroplane gives a unique look at the world from a totally different perspective. Whenever I fly, I always request of window seat because I love the spectacular views of the world from 35,000 feet! Here you can see the snowy mountains of northern Spain, as I am flying south, back home from a visit to England.

There is always a lovely display of flowers on this particular balcony in the nearby town of Nerja. I always think it must be delightful to look out of this window and see all the different shades of pink and purple of the many flowers. The patterned tiling underneath the balcony is very typical of the area, and I also like the way that the white building opposite and the deep blue sky is reflected in the panes of glass.

My final window might surprise you, as most people think that it´s always hot and sunny in Spain – all year round. This photograph was taken a couple of years ago over the Christmas holidays, whilst we were staying in one of the cave rooms at El Ventorro near to Alhama de Granada. Being only about 50 kms from the city of Granada with the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains and ski resort, we awoke one morning to find our car completely iced up. We didn´t have long to wait though, because by the time we had eaten breakfast, the sun had come up and all the ice had disappeared!

This month´s CBBH Featured Blogs:

** Sally at Deliberately Delicious describes herself as a “Collector of sand dollars. Adventurer. Writer. Weather girl. Back up singer in a little black dress. Dancer. Poet. Soccer mom. Bond girl. Teacher. Diva. Walker of beaches. Seeker of truth and all things delicious in life.”

I have so enjoyed reading about Sally´s adventures this summer, sailing with her friend, Dan, on the western coast of Canada, near to her home in Victoria, British Columbia. She writes with an easy-reading style, and has many stunning photographs on her blog. Deliberately Delicious has quickly become one of my favourite blogs to escape to.

** Whilst we are on the subject of delicious, Natalie at Cook Eat Live Vegetarian features amazing recipes and photographs that you just want to dive straight into!

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, though fortunately now fully recovered, Natalie attributes her swift recovery to a combination of conventional and alternative treatments and to her following a whole foods, mainly plant based diet.

She is a freelance food writer, photographer and stylist, specialising in delicious vegetarian and vegan cuisine that you wont be able to resist trying!

So that´s the CBBH Photo Challenge for October, folks!

For more information on how the CBBH Photo Challenge works click here.

[CBBH logo Image credit: (cc) Mostly Dans]

Don´t fret about the missing WPC: Two Photo Challenges in Two Days!

Posted on September 30, 2012 by Marianne under CBBH Photo Challenge, Photo challenges

I wonder what happened to the WordPress Photo Challenge for this week?

If you like regular Photo Challenges and you´re tired of waiting, why not join in with TWO CBBH Monthly Photo Challenges in TWO days?

Today is the last day for entries in the CBBH September Challenge on REPETITION and, as tomorrow is the start of another month, October´s brand-new CBBH Photo Challenge will be posted first thing in the morning.