Sunday, June 26, 2011

It's a wonderful town!

And a wonderful State. Congratulations New York. This posting is dedicated to you and all the people celebrating love and equality.

New York City is one of the most amazing places in the world - and reflections in New York are no exception... so much diversity, so many possibilities. My first experience was as a dazzled 16-year-old from a small Florida town. A few years later I worked on Wall Street and claim to be the first woman on the stock market floor. That was 1961 - I got off the elevator on the wrong floor and was promptly ejected by two horrified men saying "No women allowed!" Times have changed.

I've since had the excitement and pleasure of visiting New York many times.  I won't waste more space with words. Here are my reflections of Manhattan.

Manhattan Windows


Crystalized Upper West Side


Cheryl - Keeper of the Park









Soho 1 & 2


Taxis Everywhere


Hilton Taxis


 New York Skyline Summer

New York Skyline Winter


Empire State Building - Summer and Winter






























Off - 5th Avenue


Gaps



St. Patrick's Cathedral




































Chrysler Building




































Central Park 1

Central Park 2

Central Park 3


Ground Zero




Washington Square


Village Church


United Nations Building









Searching for Sunlight


Union Square




Friday, June 17, 2011

"...everybody in Casablanca has problems. Yours may work out." (Bogart)... and mine did work out.


It was the summer of 1999. We had just unpacked our luggage at a riad when we heard chanting from every mosque around Marrakech. King Hassan II had died. Everything shut down. Djemma el Fnaa, the main square - usually full of snake charmers, vendors, women decorating hands and feet with henna - was empty.


A mourning procession honoring the King wandered through the Medina.  From our rooftop the city had an eerie glow and the chanting of the Koran continued day and night for three days - a haunting sound to our Western ears.


The long road to Essaouira.


A woman working in a commune; we bought face cream from her.


Essaouira was a port before the Christ period, then a fortress, and is still one of the best anchorages along the Moroccan coast. The mid-day light was so bright the sky was white.






We never found the camel market. A young man told us "Our king dead, no camels for sale." These camels were for hire.


To avoid being harassed (by women and men) all the women in our group dressed conservatively - long  dresses, long sleeves - and we didn't venture out on our own even in a group. By the time we reached Fez, I was restless and starving for that special time with just me, my camera, and the world. I put aside the warnings and crept out at daybreak to explore the graveyard just outside the Medina walls. It was a mistake. I was cursed, followed and relieved to return to the safety of the hotel, but not before I got a few images. Poor and rich were buried side by side - an unmarked stone painted white next to a mausoleum.



Fast forward to 2006 - In just seven years, King Mohammed VI had instituted extensive changes throughout Morocco and the people had responded. I could wander anywhere. Everyone spoke English. The markets and shopkeepers were helpful and friendly.

I learned something interesting about reflections in Morocco. There aren't many! There is little water, few mirrors and not a lot of shiny metal. Still I managed. Here are a mixture of images from the two trips.










On the road to the High Atlas, it seemed everything was made in China.


 But further along the road these markets appeared.





The Kasbah De Tifirte






Thanks to everyone for your encouragement. It's a pleasure to share these images. Liv