Martin M. Miles' photos

I'm witnessing the complete vanishing of gumball-machines. When I was a kid, these vending machines decorated every fourth or fifth facade. Cigarette-machines were just everywhere, as just everybody smoked. At least any male adult, I only remember female nonsmokers. Things changed. Even I had quit smoking nearly 20 years ago. And many others did, so that now after the gumball-machines, cigarette-machines entered the "red list of vanishing items". Obviously all public vending machines are used as places to leave messages. Young urban nomads are probably able to decipher and understand them.

Cologne, the fourth-largest city in Germany, has all kinds and styles of restaurants and eateries. Ludari, located in the vibrant "Suedstadt" quarter, offers best Italian food - and over noontime tasty pasta dishes are served here. Mille grazie, Ciro! www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyrbH3OoLdc - Gnocchi al forno

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". The specialist store "Honig Müngersdorff" offers honey and related products in the center of Cologne since 1847. The Müngersdorff-family runs this store in the 6th generation and meanwhile offers beekeeping supplies as well. www.honig-muengersdorff.de/

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". Uhlenbroch, located at the Severinstrasse, near Chlodwigplatz, is a good place to shop for venison and poultry,

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". I was told, search the EDELWEISS. I found it and so had found the entrance to the backyard, where Kunsträume ("art spaces") is located. The Michael Horbach foundation opened a gallery here in 2011, that has a very large photograhpic collection. Well worth a visit! www.michael-horbach-stiftung.de/art-spaces.html

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". In 2017 I could live in Cologne for some months, took photos and picked up stories. I will - from time to time - now add some photos from Cologne. Here is Rocky, the leading dog-parlour in the "Suedstadt", the most lively quarter of Cologne (imho!).

Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille is known by musicians as this is the place of the "Festival du Monastier" (aka "Festival de Cuivres"), a great meeting centered around "brass". 40 concerts - in 7 days (!!) - in a town with a population of below 2000. Volunteers and a supporting community of music lovers make this festival possible. There are a lot of classes for amateur musicians during this week, not only for "modern" instruments, as well for old wind instruments. The teachers gave a baroque concert in the old church "Saint-Jean-Baptiste".

Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille is known by musicians as this is the place of the "Festival du Monastier" (aka "Festival de Cuivres"), a great meeting centered around "brass". 40 concerts - in 7 days (!!) - in a town with a population of below 2000. Volunteers and a supporting community of music lovers make this festival possible. There are a lot of classes for amateur musicians during this week, not only for "modern" instruments, as well for old wind instruments. The teachers gave a baroque concert in the old church "Saint-Jean-Baptiste" - and before explained the instruments they used.

Dark clouds over the Velay, a historical area, that since the French Revolution is part of the Haute-Loire département. The area is hilly with some steep gorges - and it can be rather cold even in summer. Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille, from where is photo is taken, is situated about 1000 meters above sea level.

Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille is known by musicians as this is the place of the "Festival du Monastier" (aka "Festival de Cuivres"), a great meeting centered around "brass". 40 concerts - in 7 days (!!) - in a town with a population of below 2000. Volunteers and a supporting community of music lovers make this festival possible. But walking through the town, the marks of the rural exodus are clearly visible. Le Puy en Velay with its large supermarkets is not even 20kms north, so the many shops here went out of business.

Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille is known by musicians as this is the place of the "Festival du Monastier" (aka "Festival de Cuivres"), a great meeting centered around "brass". 40 concerts - in 7 days (!!) - in a town with a population of below 2000. Volunteers and a supporting community of music lovers make this festival possible. But walking through the town, the marks of the rural exodus are clearly visible. Le Puy en Velay with its large supermarkets is not even 20kms north, so the many shops here went out of business.

Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille is known by musicians as this is the place of the "Festival du Monastier" (aka "Festival de Cuivres"), a great meeting centered around "brass". 40 concerts - in 7 days (!!) - in a town with a population of below 2000. Volunteers and a supporting community of music lovers make this festival possible. But walking through the town, the marks of the rural exodus are clearly visible. Le Puy en Velay with its large supermarkets is not even 20kms north, so the many shops here went out of business.

Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille is known by musicians as this is the place of the "Festival du Monastier" (aka "Festival de Cuivres"), a great meeting centered around "brass". 40 concerts - in 7 days (!!) - in a town with a population of below 2000. Volunteers and a supporting community of music lovers make this festival possible. But walking through the town, the marks of the rural exodus are clearly visible. Le Puy en Velay with its large supermarkets is not even 20kms north, so the many shops (and this Hotel-bar) went out of business.

Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille is known by musicians as this is the place of the "Festival du Monastier" (aka "Festival de Cuivres"), a great meeting centered around "brass". 40 concerts - in 7 days - in a town with a population of below 2000!! Many volunteers and a supporting community of music lovers make this festival possible. But walking through the town, the marks of the rural exodus are clearly visible. Le Puy en Velay with its large supermarkets is not even 20kms north, so many shops (and this HOTEL) went out of business.

Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille is known by musicians as this is the place of the "Festival du Monastier" (aka "Festival de Cuivres"), a great meeting centered around "brass". 40 concerts - in 7 days!! "Charlie and the Soap Opera" gave us a night of heavy, funky R&B-pop! They really got the audience dancing. Perfect combo, great musicians. Nice "show". Hyperactive Charlie, wearing a top hat and his old communion suit, is right, there is nothing wrong with pop-music, it never went out of fashion. It is fun, fun, fun.. This video was taken that night: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnHA5HoTn_0

Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille is known by musicians as this is the place of the "Festival du Monastier" (aka "Festival de Cuivres"), a great meeting centered around "brass". 40 concerts - in 7 days!! "Charlie and the Soap Opera" gave us a night of heavy, funky R&B-pop! They really got the audience dancing. Perfect combo, great musicians. Nice "show". Hyperactive Charlie, wearing a top hat and his old communion suit, is right, there is nothing wrong with pop-music, it never went out of fashion. It is fun, fun, fun.. This video was taken that night: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnHA5HoTn_0

Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille is known by musicians as this is the place of the "Festival du Monastier" (aka "Festival de Cuivres"), a great meeting centered around "brass". 40 concerts - in 7 days!! "Charlie and the Soap Opera" gave us a night of heavy, funky R&B-pop! They really got the audience dancing. Perfect combo, great musicians (here: Jim Arthur).Nice "show". Hyperactive Charlie, wearing a top hat and his old communion suit, is right, there is nothing wrong with pop-music, it never went out of fashion. It is fun, fun, fun.. This video was taken that night: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnHA5HoTn_0

Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille is known by musicians as this is the place of the "Festival du Monastier" (aka "Festival de Cuivres"), a great meeting centered around "brass". 40 concerts - in 7 days!! "Charlie and the Soap Opera" gave us a night of heavy, funky R&B-pop! They really got the audience dancing. Perfect combo, great musicians. Nice "show". Hyperactive Charlie, wearing a top hat and his old communion suit, is right, there is nothing wrong with pop-music, it never went out of fashion. It is fun, fun, fun.. This video was taken that night: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnHA5HoTn_0