Can’t stop, won’t stop, bring me that horizon!
Puerto Rico, hooooooo! LOL. Me and the ‘rents took a cruise from NY to the Caribbean (Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Grand Turk). ‘Twas lovely but I doubt we’ll ever do the whole PR by boat thing again; 3 days without land is enough to make anyone stir crazy. My dad can’t fly for various reasons that he rather not deal with so, boat was the only way he was going to go back to the motherland. We only got about 7 hrs in San Juan and we tried to make the most of it despite the rainstorm from hell. Oh, Isla, you certainly welcomed us back in style, didn’t you? We were able to hit El Morro and score great food at this place by the dock called “Mojito’s”. They don’t get as much hype as “Raices” though they really should and we have high standards as that’s the kind of cuisine we cook ourselves! Om nom nom.
*side note: none of my family hails from San Juan. Mayaguez, Patillas, y Caguas.
Before the storm took us out!
- Folks frolicking at El Morro.
- Its a cemetery. As if I WOULDN’T end up lingering there. Its a thing.
- Cobbles. Also a thing!
¡Viva España!
Just a few highlight from my trip to Barcelona and Mallorca. Out of the two, the island of Mallorca/Majorca was enjoyed more. Barcelona was cool but I found that both the people and the atmosphere were more to my liking. Barcelona is home to some astounding artwork, primarily by Antoni Gaudi. One of his most famous creations, La Sagrada Familia church is still unfinished but continues to take one’s breath away. You just wanna know what he was thinking. One of Majorca’s biggest draws has to be all the natural beauty that survives. Sure, a fair community lives there and there are hotels/resorts scattered about but, for the most part, much of the land is unspoiled; you can roll out of your hotel bed and climb right into the ocean! We totally weren’t ready to leave and my lucky Euro friends are already planning a return trip in August. Sadly, its a bit too off the beaten path for me here in NYC. *sigh* Enjoy the shots!
In Sagrada Familia
- Outside Facade of Sagrada Familia
- One train, a funicular, and a skyride later…Montjüic!
- Park Güell. Beautiful and complex. You can see Sagrada Familia and all of Barcelona from there.
- Park Güell is bursting with Gaudi’s genius. Definitely a must-see in Barcelona.
- Majorca produces some of the most intense and emotional sunsets I’ve ever had the privilege of seeing, truth.
On the birth and apparent death of 52 weeks
I started 52 with the best of intentions. And, technically, I haven’t fallen off the wagon of taking the self-portraits; its getting around to posting them in the 52 format that’s the problem! There’s also the fact that the project has lost a bit of meaning to me. See, the whole point was to force myself to take photos on a constant basis in order to keep my “eye” sharp, to make sure I was seeing creatively as well as literally. I don’t really need 52 for that anymore and, so, I proceed with the photos but not with the original goal in mind. Hence, no new shots labeled as such.
Why do I no longer need the project? Let’s look at two major changes in my life recently: my upgrade from a Blackberry to a Droid phone and the creation of Instagram for said Droid. I know those don’t seem the kind of things that should have such a large impact on a person but we’re talking about an incredibly mobile photographer i.e. I now have a better camera at my ready disposal, the ability to edit on the go, and an instant outlet for my captures. Who needs incentive with all that in the mix?
Anyhoo, yes, time to really get this ball rolling with the help of both. Talk about a PSA! 😉
The Red Carpet premiere of Marvel’s “The Avengers” at the Tribeca Film Festival
Got to do a little creepin’ on some of my favorite actors at the premiere of their latest ensemble film, “The Avengers”. Which, by the way, was perfectly executed and everyone should make plans to see it if they haven’t already. Check out my review from when I was able to catch an advanced screening a month ago: Assemble! “The Avengers” in review!
6/52
Just enjoying a glass of wine on a Saturday night. We all have our ways of recovering from the work week.
Nap time
My baby cousin, Laila. They say that having a child is like allowing your heart to walk around outside of your body i.e. living completely and extra vulnerable to hurt. But I think that’s true about loving any child, not just one that you’ve borne yourself.
I’m not sure if its my slowly advancing age or something else but, Laila’s birth has given me that exposed feeling more keenly than I’ve ever experienced previously. I like to think that my Uncle, who’s death left a hole in our family, sent her to us so we can heal. ❤
4/52
Reading, I do a lot of it, lol. I have a nook e-reader which I love but I’ll never get away from reading paper books as well. They each have a place in my heart. 9 times out of 10, I have either my nook or a paper book in my purse/bag, even though I rarely read on the go anymore. Its like a security blanket thing for me; I know the literature is there if I need it, if I need to escape and lose myself in another world. Unless I’m going on vacation. Then the nook is fully stocked and I’ve got at least 2 paper books with me as well. I WILL be reading and I need ~options. 🙂 Anyhoo, yes, books equal love.
3/52
New glasses, woot! And representing my love for Loki, lol. The shirt, brain-child of me and a couple of friends, was actually designed exclusively for us and Tom Hiddleston. He was given one at the “War Horse” premiere in NYC but I’ve never been sure if he ever received it from the assistant dude that took it. Ah, well, I’ve stopped dwelling on it for the most part. The shirt says “Property of Loki Laufeyson” w/the horned helmet drawn and runes provided by A. Akeju.
2/52
Kitchen creepin’. Just back from seeing “Beauty and the Beast” in 3D with Melanie and confirmed that it is STILL my favorite animated Disney film. Yes, I sang all the songs and mouthed most of the dialogue. Yes, we were the oldest people in the theatre without benefit of children. There is no shame in our game. It was strange to realize that a lot of kids are going to be seeing this movie for the first time. Where did the time go?
52 Weeks
So, I’ve decided to give the self-portrait project another try. I enjoyed it and learned so much the first time around (2008, holy crap) but it was…really intense. I mean, the timing was all wrong and I was doing 365 Days which, if you want to produce anything of note, is pretty damned demanding. I just couldn’t hack it. I’m thinking 52 Weeks will go easier on my time schedule and give me a little more room to be creative. NOT that you’d see that by my first two shots as I’ve, so far, been lax at setting aside time to work on this. Ideas are great but implementation is key; if a shot is taken after midnight on a Sunday, IT DOESN’T COUNT. I need to get on the ball.
I don’t want to cheat. Wish me luck. Each photo will be given it’s own post.
Hot off the pavement
As the city is still deeply mired in the brutal ugliness that is Winter, I can’t help but look back at my photos of Summer and yearn for the return of the sun and heat. Summer in NYC isn’t for the faint of heart; thick, humid and blindingly bright, it’s brought more than a few people to unfathomable heat-induced rage. I, however, live for it. You can chalk it up to the fact that I was born smack in the middle of Summer or the fact that Island blood courses through my veins, whatever. All I know is that I love my city and I love it more when the only thing worth doing is flopping down in Central Park for a catnap in the barely there breeze.
Being Hispanic, and from the Bronx, my memories of the season have always been heavily colored by my father’s favorite pastime, Stickball. A street game born of poverty and ingenuity, it evolved into something that drew the entire community together. My father and his friends still play despite being official “Old-timers” of the sport. Guess they’re probably missing Summer as much as I am right now.
Broomsticks to Bats - yet another Cinderella story
It's a 'hood thang
Does it get more old school than this?
Cherry, Mango, Coco! Ahh, sounds of summer. I will still run for it.
My dad. ❤
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