Trump Bashing

As we enjoyed a lovely Saturday at the Echo Park lake in Los Angeles, we noticed some commotion going on behind us.  Hoots and hollers flowed through the air as a group of young revelers took turns whacking a pinata with a hefty stick.  The pinata was fashioned in the caricature likeness of Donald Trump and wow...was he ever getting bashed.

It was a gleeful expression of political sentiment to be sure, but at the same time troubling.  What would the same people so exuberantly bashing Trump have done if they had come across the an identical scene with an Obama pinata?  I have a feeling it wouldn't have been tolerated and racist accusations issued.

I'm befuddled by the Trump phenomena...to be sure much of what he says are mindless rants.  However, there is something to the spirit of his candidacy.  You do feel some kind of joy from him and his high hopes for our country.  But also you have the other side of his brazen emotional displays, and they are much darker...perhaps appealing to people's' basest fears and ignorance.

At the end of the day, I've come to believe it won't make much difference which of the remaining candidates running win the presidency.  All presidents are flawed.  They all have their moments of greatness and moments of shame. As long as we the people have the right to express our approval or anger at their actions, I think we'll somehow manage just fine...as we always have for over 200 years.
#trump #2016election

Birds of a Feather

Flock together.

I must have spent an hour watching this flock of pigeons fly back and forth between balconies on a narrow street in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter.  I tried to catch them in flight...but they were too fast for me.  The beauty of their flight will have to remain only as an image in my mind, like so many things.

New sky.

My first successful use of masking in photoshop.  I replaced a bright white building with this lovely twilight sky.  I'm creating my own memories.  What a power trip.

#pigeons, #Barcelona, #Gothic Quarter

Tea Time

A proper cup of tea can be so soothing...and lovely.

This steaming pot was served to me at a sweet Paris bistro that we tucked into to escape to chilly February showers.  There's always something special about the way things are served at Paris cafes...the simplest, most humble thing is somehow beautiful.

http://www.comptoirsrichard.fr/
#cafes, #paris, #tea, #paris cafes, #comptoirsrichard 

First

Which came first?  The chicken or the egg?

Wall graffiti outside Restaurant Guy Savoy in Paris, France.

Ponder the proverbial question on a very full stomach.  You have to love a chef with a bit of whimsy and a dash of philosophy!

Missing Paris

A room with a view.

Wishing I was looking out this window right now.  Paris is magic.  Paris is beauty.  Paris is mystery.

This was the view from my 7th floor suite at the Paris Marriott Ambassador Hotel.  Quite a fabulous place to stay, where they made me feel special.  I took this picture my first night there, filled with all the anticipation the next three days would bring.  Yes, that's the eiffel tower with the searchlight glowing off in the distance.  It's spectacular when it's lit.