I have been learning Spanish for a while using Duolingo, in part to support my travels to Puerto Rico, Spain, and Uruguay. It’s an interesting way to learn vocabulary and set phrases, but on many occasions the examples it uses can be a little bizarre. Presumably this is to make the sentences stand out and stick in the memory.
That being said, over the last few days I have faced several screens which made me question whether Duo the perky owl who fronts the app is perhaps having an existential crisis. I provide my evidence in the order in which they were received over a few days:
The other question on my mind is “who was Pedro?” Does anyone have any suggestions?
We stumbled across this rather well composed street graffiti in Montevideo last winter (their Spring), and its construction of a 20 Peso banknote bearing the image of Juan Zorrilla de San Martín with added musical imagery intrigued me to conduct a little follow up research:
The image is of the poet, Juan Zorrilla de San Martín (1855–1931). However, he was much more than a poet; he was a beacon of Uruguayan identity. His verses celebrated the rugged landscapes, the gaucho spirit, and the resilience of a nation. His epic poem, “Tabaré,” immortalized the indigenous people and their struggles.
I am unsure as to the meaning that the artist wanted to impart to their audience through this juxtaposition, but I offer up the following verse by way of homage to both the poet and the street artist who pasted this to the wall:
In the city’s pulse, where concrete meets sky, Whispers of poets and rebels never die. Their ink spills onto walls, a silent plea— Freedom, justice, love—their legacy.
Today’s posting started off as a rant, but after I read it I realized how boring it was. It was cathartic putting pen to paper, so to speak, so instead I converted my thoughts into a haiku:
Late train whispers lies, Passengers wait, time stretched thin— Hope clings to the rails.
In the heart of Montevideo, Uruguay, where the urban fabric weaves a tapestry of modernity and tradition, there lies a structure that defies the ordinary – Castillo Pittamiglio. With its eclectic façade and enigmatic presence, this “castle” provides a gateway to the past, as a monument that harbors tales of alchemy and mysticism.
Built by the architect and alchemist Humberto Pittamiglio, the castle stands as a testament to a life dedicated to the esoteric and the profound. From the outside, the building captivates passersby with a replica of the iconic Greek sculpture, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, emerging from a round brick tower, crowned by a coat of arms.
Stepping inside, you’re transported into a world where every corner whispers secrets of ancient wisdom. The castle’s history is shrouded in stories, some even claiming it once housed the Holy Grail. The interior is a labyrinth of rooms and corridors, each adorned with alchemical, Templar, Rosicrucian, and Masonic symbols. There are several puzzles and conundrums within the building which make you think deeply about the present and past.
Pittamiglio believed in the metaphor that life is a journey on a ship, and he reflected this in the castle’s never-ending construction, which continued until his death. It’s said that this was also a representation of the ‘wet path’ of alchemy.
In short, Castillo Pittamiglio is more than just a building; it’s a narrative woven into the fabric of Montevideo’s culture. It invites the curious and the seekers to explore its depths and perhaps, in its shadows, find a piece of the eternal quest for knowledge and transformation.
I have visited Washington, DC several times over the years but I must admit I had never walked around the Tidal Basin in its entirety and visited the Memorial to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. This tribute to FDR and his four terms as a US President is quite unusual. A strikingly different approach was taken in its design when compared to the somewhat more traditional (and arguably more photogenic) edifices built as homages to Presidents Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson.
FDR was an interesting president, hiding his disability at a time when it would have been considered weak to be anything less that an idealized “true man.” He was far from perfect, as the lack of dealing with racial equality on his watch attests, but he did make significant changes to the American way at a time of great turmoil and hardship, leading the nation through both the aftermath of the Great Depression and World War II.
The memorial is arranged to explore each of his four terms in office and, among the walls and sculptures contains several pieces of text carved into the marble. One of these quotes struck a chord with me for it’s prescience, and in my opinion, should also be reproduced over the doorway of the Oval Office so that every occupant, of every political persuasion, can contemplate it when seated at their desk.
We visited Washington, DC last weekend to catch sight of the early cherry blossoms. As we were enjoying a walk around the Tidal Basin near the Jefferson memorial we saw this withered cherry tree with flooded roots yet clinging to life sufficiently to put out some glorious blossom.
This is Stumpy, the beloved cherry tree that had apparently captured hearts as a symbol of resilience in the face of climate change. And s/he is bidding us farewell. The National Park Service announced that Stumpy, along with 158 other cherry trees, will be cut down to facilitate vital seawall repairs in the Tidal Basin and West Potomac Park.
Unfortunately, despite the emotional attachment to Stumpy, logic dictates the necessity of this decision. The deteriorating seawall poses a significant threat, leading to daily flooding that imperils not only the trees but also nearby monuments and public safety.
While the loss is poignant, there’s a glimmer of hope in Stumpy’s sacrifice. The removal will pave the way for the planting of 274 new cherry trees, ensuring a more secure future for this historical park. Stumpy’s legacy will also live on through cuttings ensuring that the tree’s genetic lineage continues.
Though his physical presence may fade, his spirit will endure as a reminder of the need for action in the face of climate challenges.
I took several photos and processed them in a variety of ways here but I am glad to have spent several hours creating this selective color version which I think emphasizes the beauty of Nature in adversity.
Today is Pi Day apparently. I have never really understood this for three reasons: (a) Pi is an irrational number and therefore is not 3.14 but rather 3.14159235… ad infinitum; (b) because of point (a) we were always taught to use 22/7 for the value of Pi at school in the days of mental mathematics; and (c) in the vast majority of the world where the date format is dd-mmm-yyyy not mm-dd-yy, the fractional number for Pi of 22/7 would be the 22nd day in July Therefore that would make much more sense to me to be Pi Day, but I guess pinning it to 14th of March just proves how much sway the US has in the world!
That being said, I looked to see if I had any pi-related imagery (or even pie-related, for comic effect) but as I didn’t I decided to use this one I took several years go which demonstrates the relationship between the radius of a circle and its circumference. If the length of the wire with the sparking basket is r then the circumference of the circle being traced is 2πr, although as you can see here it’s difficult to keep that thing spinning at a fixed distance from the camera!
Late one night, following the recent activities of the US Supreme Court (aka SCOTUS), and to some extent goaded by my watching of the recent John Oliver episode regarding the ethics of the Supreme Court, I was minded to create some SCOTUS-related art.
Referencing the official photograph of the current SCOTUS members I felt that a little iterative deconstruction would crystallize my mindset. I am pleased with the gloomy to ominous outcome of my digital manipulations and feel it illustrates a fractious, angular storm-cloud that sits and opines over the populace. However, that’s just my opinion, what do you think of the piece?
Several years ago, I would while away the late hours on the web looking for old artwork for inspiration, as a learning exercise and also to see if I could rework and give some a new life (if it was not copyrighted). An example of this is a digitally retouched and colored version of a woodcut by Bartholomaeus, Anglicus from 1486 AD.
This wonderful scene illustrates the artist’s perception on the various life stages of man, a subject that would later be depicted in William Shakespeare’s, As You Like It – Act II, Scene VII as the “seven ages of man.”
The original black and white lines of the image are clean and crisp, almost modern in their simplicity but I felt that adding simple coloring to the scene would make it pop a little. What do you think?
Seville is an ancient city, but nestled in the old quarter there is a remarkably bold, newer piece of architecture. Las Setas (the mushrooms) is a spectacularly large, organic, wooden structure which earns its name because it resembles several parasol mushrooms connected together. The sculpture is the largest wooden construction in the world, covering 3,500 cubic meters, and is lit up at night with multicolored lights and an accompanying sound show. There are walkways across the top which allow visitors to enjoy not only the building but also an aerial view of the city. At certain places on the roof visitors can even influence the pattern of the lights on the whole structure by interacting with a camera, although not many visitors know this!
Despite the colorful evening show, in reviewing the photographs I had taken on out trip to Seville I thought I would show one here which I processed into dark monochrome. To me it emphasizes the wonderful composite wooden structure which resembles the pores/gills seen on the underside of a mushroom. What do you think?
Adventuring the globe whilst based in the beautiful PNW, with a focus on fitness & adventure travel, conservation and a healthy balanced lifestyle. All with my beautiful partner in crime, Stephanie!
searching4theshot 