lens-artists photo challenge ; #77 – favorite photos of 2019

Patti, haven’t done it easy for me … favorite photos of 2019???!!! I love most of my images – How will I be able to choose???!! But here we go.

“Life will show you masks that are worth all your carnivals.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

February 2019 – the fabulous Carnaval de Nice … 3 different parades, this is from the flower parade “Bataille de Fleurs”.

Just loved this young man in his massive “rose” skirt and dancing along on his stilts, he was so full of energy. For me, he became the star of the show.

Going back for more in February this year, 21-28th Febr. and this year we are going to delight ourselves at the same time with “Fête du Citron” in Menton, 30 min with the train from Nice. I can’t wait to share my images for that event. Never been before.“Dubai, with all of its glitz and glamour rose in the heart of the desert.”
Soroosh Shahrivar

March … the big trip of the year: Dubai – Hong Kong and Macau. Unfortunately, did a friend of mine lost the memory card from that trip before I manage to edit and save the images. Maybe only 3%, I have on file. But it was an accident and it’s what it’s. This is, of course, Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building – so boring at days, but what a beauty between 6-11pm every evening.

“The world is made of stairs,
and there are those who go up
and those who go down.”
Ed McBain

In April Ann Christine@LEYA had a wonderful day out at The University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden, which is located just in the middle of the capital. We were too early for the butterflies, but we had a fantastic steaming visit to the greenhouse, where you can claim up under the glass ceiling on this stairway, but neither of us felt for that adventure.

“Morning is an important time of day,
because how you spend your morning can often tell you
what kind of day you are going to have.”
Lemony Snicket,

The Avenue of Stars on the early morning of our arrival to Hong Kong. The images were captured in March, but I didn’t publish it until June. A beautiful morning and we tried to keep us going until our hotel room was ready.

“There should be fireworks at last, when a dream dies.”
Kirby Larson

In August I had a new adventure with Ann Christine and with her husband Lars, we visited The Pyromagic International Fireworks Festival in Szczecin, Poland. 5 fantastic very hot days in great company. Lots of fantastic food and drinks, but also 8 hours for me on ER – but I was back in action for the finale firework display.

“Wine makes every meal an occasion,
every table more elegant,
every day more civilized.”
Andre Simon

Porto, my beloved Porto … that I have visited the last 4 years and that I adore.  2019 we spent my birthday there, 11th of September … it was supposed to be about +23-26C/+73-79F, but is was +30C/+89F and above. I got a light sunstroke – something I could have been without. I had to buy a sunhat, which I had with when we visited the beautiful Quinta do Bomfim vineyard in Pinhão. A vineyard that has been going since 1882 and today run by the 6th generation of the Symington family.

“Dancing is creating a sculpture that is visible only for a moment.”
Erol Ozan

In November I visited Gdańsk for 4 days and I met up with my friends that live there, but the main reason was to enjoy Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet, that was on tour in the Baltic countries and I chose to see them in Gdańsk, because it was the shorted flight time and it gave me chance to see my friends. Gdańsk is a city I gladly return to more or less every year.

“Your mind is your tram; it will take you any station you wish!”
Mehmet Murat ildan

Chrismas???!!! Not really for me. I love the glitter, the light, the Christmas cards …. but that is about it. So in 2019 together with my friend, Bärbel and I escape Christmas music and food to Istanbul. We had a magical 5 days in one of the most colorful and exciting cities I know. The weather was all over the place, we got it all except snow.

This is the little famous red Istanbul nostalgic tram that goes up and down one of the busiest streets in the world, Istiklal Caddesi – that can have up to 3 million visitors per day. The tram was taken out of service in 1961, replaced by buses. After the street became a pedestrian zone, the tram was restored and revived in 1990.

Happy New Year from Oscar (my Canon Powershot SX50HS) and me!

We wish you all a fantastic 2020 …. that will result in many adventures and favorite images!

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #77: Favorite Photos of 2019