A mixed bag of odd photos posted over the last two weeks for the “Friends of Photoblog” daily photo challenge. There is a different “theme” for every day of the week, for instance, night photography, light/lighting etc. However, I confess to having cheated a little bit by added a few additional photos for this post as well.
My daughter, Natalie, came to visit from England for ten days. Considering the frosty conditions of England, beach-time was a high priority and is the focus for a number of the selected photos.
What is the most important thing for the beach ….. the golden sand, the crash of the waves, the refreshing escape from the heat of the sun in the cool sea? If you are a child …… wrong! …… The most important thing is …. a bucket!
This multi purpose tool, essential in sandcastle-making can carry sand or water, it can be used to moisten the sand during sandlecastle and tunnel construction work, and can be used to splash annoyed parents who are laying, basking in the sun.
Here Noa, (grandson 1) is patiently filling his bucket, allowing me to get a “reflection” shot in at the same time. I do confess that taking a picture of my grandson’s behind may not be the best of portraits but my eyes were fully focused on the reflection. The things we suffer for art!
The Pacific waves can be large and powerful. Few beaches afford safe bathing for children. However the bucket must indeed be filled and so Paulo, (Grandson 2), with growing daringness and valour takes on the approaching wave.
Confidence grows and he makes a direct attack on the next wave under the close supervision of parents and photogapher. All went well, thank goodness, so I didn’t have to get my camera wet.
But we are not the only ones keeping a watchful eye on our loved ones. This friend kindly helped with the surveillance. Red eyes …. drinking too much!
Other cronies arrive to help him, such as this fellow who is coming in on final apptoach for a perfect landing.
And these? Just having a quick paddle, exactly the same as Noa was doing but without the bucket. Perhaps they could use a beak-er, which is a bit smaller than a bucket, to collect some water.
It is about 6.15. Being near to the equator, the sun always sets around the same time. about 6.30. p.m.
However, it is when the sun has fallen into the sea on the horizon that the blasts of vivid red and yellow take over and fill the sky and the water with splendour.
Everything was fine until this blooming bird waddled into view and got in the way!!!
But as I have mentioned in previous posts, I am spoilt for sunsets. I just have to walk a hundred yards from home in Lima to the sea cliffs overlooking the ocean.The fascinating thing is how all sunsets are different every day. As I stroll along the cliffs ( which I very often do) you never know how it is going to be. If you know anyone who wants to buy 5,000 snaps of sunsets, please let me know.
And then night falls. A favourite view of mine is looking across the bay towards the enormous floodlit cross on the hill, the “Morro Solar”. By the way, I don’t know who the girl is. Like the bird in the sunset, she just got in the way. I was trying to take a picture of the graffiti on her left side but she absolutely ruined the shot.
The sun sets, and the lazy moon takes over for the night watch. Just a few blocks from the coastal cliffs is this church situated in Parque Kennedy in the heart of the district, Miraflores.
As seen in the previous photo with the mystery girl and graffiti, the cross on the Morro Solar dominates the sea view looking towards the south. In the centre of Lima the view to the north is dominated by the cross on the top of the hill, San Cristobal.
Below the cross are a multitude of small dwellings built around a criss-cross of steep narrow streets. A few years ago the houses were all a brown-grey colour. However, now there is a blaze of colour which forms the largest mural in Latin America with an area of 320,000 square metres. This was an amazing community project. The design features the traditional four cornered Incan cross known as the “Chakana”.
This of course is art on a massive scale, but street art thrives throughout Lima particularly in the centre and in the bohemian area if Barranco.
The portrait below, situated in Barranco is of the vedette, Susy Diaz. After a career in the entertainment media, dressed in scanty clothes which partially covered her voluptuous figure, she stood for parliament and became a member of Congress adding colour seldom seen in these sacred chambers. As you can see Eric has been described as a “cojudo”. For visitors to Peru I recommend you not to add this word to your vocabulary as it is not, shall we say …… very polite!
And here, an enormous portrait of Chabuca Grande, also situated in Barranco. Although she has now passed away, she remains one of the most famous Peruvian singer/ songwriters.
She is so revered by everyone that she now figures on the newly issued 10 Sol bank-note.
I particularly like this following piece of street art, also from Barranco, depicting a traditional street knife-grinder. I am particularly fond of this, not only because of its undoubted quality, but because I recognise and know this man.
Here is my photo of him taken outside of Surquillo market in Mirafores. What a great tribute to this gentlemen who has dedicated his life to this trade.
The street knife-grinders wander the streets, house to house, playing pan pipes as they go, no recognisable tune, just a run of high notes to low, low notes to high.That is their “call sign”. When you hear the sound, you grab your knives and rush ouside before he moves on slowly but steadily down the street.
Of course there is also commercial art as well. This open-fronted shop is in a street in Miraflores with has many artisan shops selling silver goods, alpaca products and many other attractive objects and souvenirs. This area is popular with tourists but often attracts local people as well.
Another typical and popular art form is the publicity poster, made in bright and contrasting colours This form of art is known as “Chicha”. These example are from a bar in the centre of Lima.
And there is always room for new talent. Following up from my earlier beach photo of Noa and his bucket, here is a front view. Noa, who is six years old, has already been on national TV, closing the programme “Sonidos del Mundo”, playing Christmas carols on the piano. Here, in a restaurant, bored with adult conversation, he makes a quick freehand sketch of Big Ben. He is crazy about London and in July his dream will come true. Yes ….. London here we come!
It is indeed gratifying to know that I am now not the only genius in the family, haha.
These photos are indeed just snippets …..I hope to develop some of these themes in more detailed posts. But in honour of little Noa, my next “A Click in Time”, will focus on London town, a preview to the coming July adventure.
Below, my song dedicated to Lima, my adopted home which incudes plenty of images of people and places in the city.
Wanderings! 
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