Colours I enjoyed during Easter week

Wherever you go, go with all your heart ~Confucius

In Norway, it’s normal to board a plane through both the front and the rear doors.

Hurray! Last week all of us managed to get a couple of days break to visit Alicante, Spain. Our last family trip outside Norway was in 2019, then we were in Florence. The selection criteria for the destination was quite simple, “a sunny place”. We were quite lucky to be able to experience Easter in Spanish way.

This is Easter in Spain. A fitting reminder that Easter is not just about eggs and bunnies; Spain celebrates Easter week with much more dignity than many other countries. It is one of the most important events in the Christian calendar and Spain treats it with the respect it deserves.

People carry enormous statues of saints on wooden platforms, which have been lovingly created by great artists throughout the centuries. There is an atmosphere of mourning, which can seem oppressive to onlookers, particularly when you see many penitents in hooded cloaks with just slits for their eyes. The mood lightens on Easter Sunday, with church bells ringing throughout the land as the Resurrection of Christ is celebrated.

The silence is unbearable. You catch your breath as you try not to make a noise. Thousands of people line the streets, but no-one says a word. Then the sound of marching feet fills the air. It’s the only thing you can hear. Thousands of penitents parade in complete silence. It’s dark too. The only light is from the lanterns of the people marching by, which add to the sombre and somewhat eerie situation. It’s very emotional and some people are choking up at the dramatic scene unfolding before their eyes.

The story of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection is re-enacted with much pomp and ceremony in many towns throughout the country. However, two of the best places to spend Easter are in the Alicante region – Elche and Orihuela – just a few kilometres apart.

To give us company in this foreign land, rains and strong wind followed us 😀😂. Anyways, it was Spain hence nothing to worry. We thoroughly enjoyed the warm weather and sunshine.

Here are some images taken at the fabulous Castle of Santa Bárbara, located on the top of Mount Benacantil overlooking the historic town, the port and the Bay of Alicante.

Everyday my fitbit crossed the mark of 20000 steps and 2000 calories but then I never counted the calories I consumed 😀

Jo’s Monday Walk.

Lens artists photo challenge

Who adds sugar to a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice?

Reference for the text : https://www.myguidealicante.com/travel-articles/passion-reigns-in-alicante-at-easter

Six Word Saturday (the title 😀 )

Crocuses aren’t supposed to go unnoticed

The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly our whole life would change. ~Jack Kornfield

 If your pictures aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough ~Robert Capa

Success in life is founded upon attention to the small things rather than to the large things; to the every day things nearest to us rather than to the things that are remote and uncommon ~Booker T. Washington

Six Word Saturday

Lens artist photo challenge

Jo’s Monday Walk

Weekend 135

A piece of land, actually a small burial ground of 12.7 acres in the city centre turns into a crocus field every year during spring. In distant past this place was used to play bowling on Blue Monday (the third Monday of January ) every year, it was a tradition. Later in 1837 it was converted to a cemetery. During the cholera epidemic of 1848–49, the cemetery was expanded, but received its final design around 1860. Ole Bull (a Norwegian virtuoso violinist and composer), and Frederik Meltzer ( a representative at the Norwegian Constitutional Assembly at Eidsvoll in 1814 who is best known for designing the flag of Norway) are buried here. The cemetery was closed as a burial ground in 1919.

To give you the idea about how close I had to go to get the above images.

The landscape

Keep hope alive in hard times

What keeps my heart awake is colorful silence.~ Claude Monet

Crossing fingers

Degust-

Current day affairs

around the world

lead the feelings

of anxiety and depression.

I take walks

to keep my sanity

in time of distress.

My mantra.

Walk slowly.

Observe nature.

Degust “the magic”.

Make plans.

Help others.

Restore faith in humanity.

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Six word Saturday

Jo’s Monday Walk

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Winter is not over but spring is around the corner. Just two days of sunshine has given me hope. I wish peace and love for everyone.

Weekend 133: Welcoming Spring

First crocus

If people did not love one another, I really don’t see what use there would be in having any spring.~ Victor Hugo

The first Irises of Spring

Snowdrops

I am not sure of the reason for such distracted reflection but I find it interesting.

Stand for what’s right. Make your life beautiful. Make your life meaningful.~ Maxime Lagacé

The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace. ~ Mahatma Gandhi.

Lens artists photo challenge

Jo’s Monday walk

Enjoying the three states of water

Old ways won’t open new doors!

Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it, all you feel is a caress. Water is not a solid wall, it will not stop you. But water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing in the end can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone. Remember that, my child. Remember you are half water. If you can’t go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does. ~ Margaret Atwood

You suppose that you are the lock on the door. But you are the key that opens it ~Rumi

It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it. ~ Dale Carnegie

Six Word Saturday

Jo’s Monday Walk

Lens artists photo challenge

Weekend 132

A walk in fresh snow

Precipitate as weather, she appeared from somewhere, then evaporated, leaving only memory.~ Haruki Murakami

The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new. ~Socrates, a gas-station attendant in a book published in the 1980s by Dan Millman. 

To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold. ~Aristotle

The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surrounding~ Kakuzo Okakura (The Book Of Tea)

Jo’s Monday walk

Lens artists photo challenge: change

Weekend 130

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जाने अनजाने मैं  बदल गयी। 

हम सब बदलते हैं।  

कभी खुद की खातिर कभी औरों की। 

ये बदलाव एक पल में नहीं आता,

ये आता है धीरे धीरे।

बस कोशिश है की ये बदलाव 

बेहतरी के लिए हो। 

-रुपाली 

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Memorable Moments

The snow has almost disappeared from the roads and we were out for a hike. Though we were not able to hike up to our favourite 919m mark, we enjoyed our climb nonetheless.

People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child—our own two eyes. All is a miracle.~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Nothing is permanently perfect. But there are perfect moments and the will to choose what will bring about more perfect moments ~Mary Balogh

Do you remember the joyful music/tune of ice cream truck in the summertime. Just imagine in mid winter the ice cream truck was busy with routine visits. I think this can happen only in Norway 😁

I’ve always believed in savoring the moments. In the end, they are the only things we’ll have ~Anna Godbersen

There is an increase in the number of streams on mountain sides due to the rise in temperature. We met quite a number of hikers on our way, some even had their winter walking sticks.

For a mother every thing related to her children is an event. Not just an event but a memorable event. Along with all those uncountable events, their first day at a kindergarden, school, college, university or the last day at any of these places are special days. For one or the other reason I was never able to attend any of the graduation ceremonies for my son. It was his dad who accompanied him and even his grand parents were there once. This last photo is one such memorable day for us. This time I managed to be with him but couldn’t attend the ceremony. Credit goes to COVID restrictions. We watched the ceremony online.

He recently graduated as a medical doctor.

Jo’s Monday Walk

Lens artists photo challenge

Weekend 129

Weekend 128: A winter walk (Pre covid)

Winter has settled in well and I do take a walk almost everyday but there is nothing new to exhibit. I checked my archives and decided to revive an old hike/walk. For a cold sunny day the weather was perfect for a long walk on the mountains. Come along folks…

Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth. ~ Henry David Thoreau

Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it. ~ Plato

It is the beauty within us that makes it possible for us to recognize the beauty around us. The question is not what you look at but what you see ~ Henry David Thoreau

Walking gives time to reflect. Don’t rush.

The light and the hope of a life

All good things are wild and free.~ Henry David Thoreau

कुदरत की खूबसूरती पर मुस्कुराता हूं मैं 

दीवाना मैं अकेला तो नहीं।  

How to sit on the bench

To be continued…

I find weekly challenges interesting and enjoy participating in a couple of challenges every week. These challeges give opportunities to meet people, watch their work and learn about new things and places. My daily or weekly walks are linked to Jo’s Monday Walks. From last year I am also participating in Debbie’s Six Word Saturday challenge. Selecting a photo(s) and composing a six word caption for the same is a fun activity. Here I present one of my earlier entries (April 2021) to Six Word Saturday with the title “Fresh snow was served for breakfast“

Lens artists photo challenge doesn’t need any introduction as we all wait for the theme every Saturday. My heartfelt thanks to the LAPC team for bringing us all together in this weekly activity.

Stay safe and be kind.

Gaudi’s Work: Nature, Religion and Geometry

Those who look for the laws of Nature as a support for their new works collaborate with the creator ~ Antoni Gaudí

The Sagrada Família is a one-of-a-kind temple, for its origins, foundation and purpose. Fruit of the work of genius architect Antoni Gaudí, the project was promoted by the people for the people. Five generations now have watched the Temple progress in Barcelona. Today, more than 135 years after the laying of the cornerstone, construction continues on the Basilica.

Gaudi embedded religious symbolism in each aspect of La Sagrada Familia, creating a visual representation of Christian beliefs. He designed three iconic facades for the basilica, the Glory, Nativity, and Passion facades, facing south, east, and west, respectively. The sculpting of the Nativity facade recalls smooth, intricate corbelling and was overseen by Gaudi. 

Reference: https://www.archdaily.com/438992/ad-classics-la-sagrada-familia-antoni-gaudi

The columns are inclined and branched-like trees.

The straight line belongs to Man. The curved line belongs to God ~ Antoni Gaudi

During our stay in Barcelona, three times we were around Sagrada Familia but only once to enter it.

The Basílica de la Sagrada Família

History of the Temple – Sagrada Família

And if you are interested in mathematics, do check – AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF THE GEOMETRICAL ELEMENTS IN GAUDI’S ARCHITECTURE

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One can find the earlier posts on Barcelona:

Barcelona Part 1

Barcelona Part 2

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Lens artisits photo challenge

Jos Monday Walk

Random 51: Celebrating Culture – A Culinary walk

No one who cooks, cooks alone. Even at her most solitary, a cook in the kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks past, the advice and menus of cooks present, the wisdom of cookbook writers ~ Laurie Colwin

Samosa

Love and care are as vital as measurements.

Passing out all and even encouraging participation

Wherever you go, go with all your heart. Confucius

No secret recipe

Still it tastes different.

Spice Box

Spicy Chicken Marinade

Learning is fun. Tasting is more fun.

Pakoda

Steamed Rice

Frying

Ready to Serve

Last weekend I was on a mission to cover a cooking event. The participation was free but limited and people were asked to register in advance due covid restrictions. The event was supported by municipality to promote food and culture.

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Nature has provided us all.

Sharing is our culture.

Expecting nothing in return.

Other than a smile.

Stay blessed.

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Jo’s Monday Walk

Lens artists photo challenge

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