Category: Mystery

Bird On A Wire

On By mvschulzeIn Birds, Curiosities, Electricity, Home, Jersey Shore, Mystery, New Jersey, Observation, Perspectives, Photography, Pondering, Science6 Comments

A while ago, I had taken this picture, not thinking much about it until coming across it later and thinking that this gull was really good at balancing on the wire. Calm, cool and …just casually sitting on the wire! Here’s an example of how a one dimensional photo lacks the extra information gained by depth perception. Do you see it?

Thanks for viewing, zoom in for a closer look, and comments are always welcome. M 🙂

Buffalo, Paris, and Chimney Pots.

On By mvschulzeIn Art, Buildings, Curiosities, History, Mystery, Photography6 Comments

Twenty four years ago I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express on Chippewa and Main in Buffalo, NY,  and was intrigued by the adjoining roof top of an early 20th century two-story building, rimmed with tens of classic chimney pots. 

Years later while in France, the view from the Eiffel Tower brought those chimney pots to mind…

Just for perspective because I like the image, here is a view from the top-level of the Eiffel Tower on September 25, 2012. I wonder how many of these “pots” would be within this view! 

As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂

Breaking News Release: Two Young Women Arrested in Park

On By mvschulzeIn Boats, Cruise ship, humor, Mystery, Photo, Photography, Pondering3 Comments

35.112 6-10-79 Ramsey Dance Recital, Holly, Michele, Tricia, Andrea (16)_edited-1 - Version 2

Last night, police, acting on a tip, arrested two suspicious young women in the the park. “Boom Boom S——,” and “Wiggle Wiggle H—–,” were obviously taken by surprise on a raid conducted moments after a tipster, only identified as one of the perpetrator’s sisters, alerted authorities of unusual activity in the park. The pair were released after being charged with impersonating broccoli. They promised never to do it again.

A retrospect inspired some years ago by my 4 year old daughter; and best friend at dance school. Neither grew up to become either dance stars, …or green vegetables. 

Thanks for viewing, and comments are always welcomed. M 🙂

Ominous Vortex over New Jersey! Just Stormy Summer Weather… or More?

On By mvschulzeIn Art, Buildings, Mystery, Photo, Pondering, Science4 Comments

There are four images in this post!

This awesome sight at the Jersey Shore on July 19,  caused a little bit of concern….> 

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As part of a weather front ahead of thunder and lightning, the sea gull was also a bit mystified. >

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I watched curiously to see if a flying saucer or other extra-terrestrial visitor would emerge from the turmoil. >

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Was the shadow on the flag an ominous sign? >

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As usual, these hi res images can be explored in more detail by clicking, tapping or swiping; and comments are always welcome. Thanks for viewing.

Vincent van Gogh, Greatness and Demise; An Afternoon in Auvers, France, 2012

On By mvschulzeIn Art, Buildings, Mystery, Photo, Pondering, Travel4 Comments

 

A flashback to an experience we shared on vacation two years ago.

Short on time? Just browse the images and click for full resolution. 

This post contains nine images.

As one of history’s creative luminaries, Vincent van Gogh, the Dutch post-impressionist painter, fit the irony linking talented genius with mental affliction, (as so well discussed in a recent article by Nancy C. Anderson, “The Atlantic” magazine, July/August 2014.) In his last days, at the age of 37, van Gogh resided in a small one room apartment above Auberge Revoux, an inn in rural Auvers-Sur-Oise, France, about 27 km NW of Paris. During the brief seventy days spent there in 1890, he was artistic greatness…..but dealing with demons,  eventually resulting in his probable suicide that spring. 

In September of 2012, Jeanne and I had the privilege of visiting this very special place, the experience intensified by gloomy weather befitting its historical nature. Below is a photographic taste of that day – a side tour from our Avalon Seine River cruise.

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Room #5, his room, preserved as it was with barely enough space for a bed and sparse furnishings – and place to hang and dry paintings

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Our small group walks along narrow lanes and thru evocative gateways as rain begins to fall under darkening skies…

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to the Romanesque/Gothic church, which was inspiration for van Gogh’s “Church at Auvers,” shown below.

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We continued with a slow-paced, contemplative walk up this primitive lane towards the hilltop cemetery, the weather suggestive of a day here 122 years earlier, imaged by the strokes of the painter – but emphasizing the brighter, sunlit foreground against the storm clouds as seen below.

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(This and other source credits to Wikipedia)

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And in the gentle peace of the light rainfall, but troubled sky, we paid tribute to Vincent and his brother, Theo, at the cemetery… their neatly tended graves seen below with one of our groups older members – he slowly walking past while paying his silent homage.

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As a post script, the man above, a solo traveler unknown to the 15 or so others in our group, caused some anxiety while we waited on the bus to leave the small village. The driver/guide and others looked in adjacent quaint shops and inns searching in vain, as the rendezvous time came and went. Perhaps in his early nineties, concern was universal among us. At the last moment, this quiet unassuming man appeared, slowly made his way down the bus aisle in silence as we all wondered where he had been. As he slowly and purposefully reached his seat – not even looking up – he unceremoniously said, “I’m sure you all want to know… her name was Annette!”

D-Day – Normandy Beach – 70 Years Later

On By mvschulzeIn Mystery, Photo, Pondering, Travel13 Comments

June 6th 2014 marks the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the liberation leading to the end of World War Two. On the northern coastline of France in Normandy, nearly 4500 Allied troops lost their lives this first day among 12,000 casualties, – 2000 on Omaha Beach alone.

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A while ago we visited the region, including Omaha Beach, shown here. Peaceful, reflective… tourists mostly walk silently on the sands and among the memorials. These images seemed to support the long healing process and recovery these sands have seen – including the gulls above, the shells in the sand…

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The monument…

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But the exoskeleton below was hauntingly reminiscent of a skull… numbing!

Perhaps,  it was a sign… that the beach remembers!

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 Click on Images for larger view, and as usual, Thanks for Viewing

 

 

 

LETS GO TO THE TOP – A High Perspective (initial edition)

On By mvschulzeIn Art, Buildings, Mystery, New York, Photo, Pondering, Queen Mary 2, Technology, Travel12 Comments

Some Close-Up Views of the Very Top of  Four Iconic Landmarks 

Can You Recognize These?

(Full images follow below)

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ONE – 2012

27.041 11-5-75 NYC, Circle line around Manhattan_edited-2 - Version 2 - 2009-04-22 at 19-39-06
TWO – 1975

38.074 8-17-80 NYC Daytrip, Top of World Trade Center, H, J, S and M (5)_edited-1 - 2010-05-06 at 21-43-33
THREE – 1980

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FOUR – 2013

 

All four have two things in common:  New York City, (and at one time or another,) were the tallest buildings in the city.

Chrysler Building
Chrysler Building – 1930 to 1931

Empire State Building
Empire State Building – 1931 to 1972; 2001 to 2013

World Trade Center
World Trade Center  – 1972 to 2001

 

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One World Trade Center – 2013 to present

   

As usual, comments are always welcome.

THANKS FOR VIEWING

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROMANCING THE… SNOW – Travel Theme: Romance

On By mvschulzeIn Cruise ship, Hiking, Mystery, New York, Pondering, Travel13 Comments

Cold, disruptive, slippery, dangerous and beautifully romantic! That’s how I “Picture” this exceptional winter’s snow and ice storms. Part one (of two) is here: “The icing on the snow,” (storm # 11, but who’s counting anymore!)

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Above: A thick layer of ice coated one of the accumulating snow storms providing this glossy coating, as seen from Eagle Rock Reservation, East Orange, New Jersey. NYC is in view, about 13 miles (21 Km) to the east.

Below: 9/11 loved ones, are wonderfully remembered by this memorial. 

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Below: Snow and ice coated benches always present themselves well in the cold sunny days after a storm, and icicles confirm the brutal temperatures.Image

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Below: Sandy Paws the dog is easily supported by the crusted snow, and a slight glimmer of spring to come is captured in the Rhododendron’s bud.Image

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Alisa’s Travel Theme this week is “Romance.”