Unusual or different

Still life chez moi in 2013

Every so often someone posts one of these on ipernity. They are a strange sight but seem to do the rose no harm! I read up on these in Wikipedia and found a lot of useful and interesting stuff, far more than I have time to type, so here is the link; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplolepis_rosae

I'm unsure about the brightly coloured stones. This area (Porthtowan) was heavily mined for many years and for a number of minerals and I assume that these are the ores of some of them.

Felipe V, first king of the Borbón dynasty obviously didn't feel secure so he commissioned this massive barracks to be built not far from his Madrid palace. It was constructed between 1717 and 1736, The quarters, with it's grandiose portal shown here, were designed by renowned architect Pedro de Rivera. Now a cultural and leisure centre.

The bottom half of Torre Cepsa shown... and the other three towers reflected in it. This is the same effect from the other end!: www.ipernity.com/doc/2247598/46810772/in/album/929182

Valdemanco, La Sierra de La Cabrera, Madrid Province.

It has bcome traditional for me to do a handstand on that rock on the left. Unfortunately I usually walk on my own and so no one is on hand to take shots and I haven't worked out a timer delay so I can take shots of myself!!

Near Logan Rock, Treryn Dinas (South), Porthcurno. A seagull or a boat would have been nice in the frame but I couldn't wait forever in the cramped stance I had to adopt!

I came here knowing that if the fog didn't lift, at least I knew the paths back even if almost blind (I knew them so well, even this early in my visits here). But I hoped for more than that and this is what I got!

LA MALDITA. Translates a number of ways: a sore, a swelling, an insect bite, a tongue (as in a sharp tongue - the meaning here possibly?), a curse, "damn!" or "damn it!" - again here too, possibly, wicked or accursed. You get the picture...

On an evening stroll near me, but down a pedestrianised road I hadn't been down before, I saw these. This game is hopscotch, I don't know the other one.

On an evening stroll near me, but down a pedestrianised road I hadn't been down before, I saw these. The other game is hopscotch, I don't know this one.

Sierra de La Cabrera above the fog. Spot the Griffon vulture. Peñalara, the highest point in the Sierra de Guadarrama(2428m, 7975 feet) is on the horizon, nearly dead centre. I am at approx 5,000 feet, so considerably above Ben Nevis.

One for Erika, perhaps! Sight and Sound, from a long forgotten genuis now happily recognised as such. Sixto Rodriguez www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMHdq4jm0oQ

Diego de León metro station, Madrid. Ceramic mural,

He has already passed the crux, which is the obvious overhang. He did this with the help of his climbing partner who then led and has already finished the top pitch and is now taking a few well-earned deep breaths, just out of sight. The top here is the highest point in the Sierra de La Cabrera at 1,564 metres or 5,131 feet

Lots of lines here. I know!

A mix of old (1890s main line railway track ) and new (1990s metro station below). I'm off for two weeks but working :o( ... Needs must ... no holiday for me this year. I'll be teaching two groups of students in immersion courses, one week each, It's very intensive work as it is relentless teaching and conversation and as I am a very shy and retiring person I find it a struggle ;o) I will be in a sports / spa complex in the mountains which sounds idyllic but I have my doubts ( the photos I have seen on their website look ghastly, all 70s concrete). Apparently the internet connection there isn't too good either and they have had complaints about it from companies who host business conferences there. So I don't hold out too much hope for my keepingt up to date on ipernity, nor even having the intenet access I need for my classes! We'll see! But maybe see you all in 2 week's time ... or tomorrow as per usual!