“Old Bridge and Water” — An old and very dilapidated wooden bridge across the Valbona River, Albania.
This is one more (and perhaps the last) of my photographs from our brief foray into the Albanian Alps and the Valbona Valley during the summer of 2023. To recap, we were staying in Kosovo for several days, and one day our family member from Kosovo took us all on a trip into these remarkable mountains. I made the photograph on our drive back to Kosovo.
We stopped along a curve in the river where a small mosque stood on the opposite bank, backed by the distant peaks far up the valley. We got out and walked around a bit, eventually venturing onto a bridge across the river. From that bridge we could look down on what I assume is a much older bridge, the one in this photograph. It looked like you probably still could cross it… but you probably would not want to try! The bridge fascinated me, but so did the perfectly clear mountain water flowing over the stones on the riverbed.
“Arch, Stairs, and Plants” — Plants line stairs leading to a doorway above an arch, Trogir, Croatia.
Trogir is an intense and fascinating place. The historic old town is on an island that sits in a narrow passage between the Croatian mainland and a much larger island. It was quite crowded during the days and evenings when we visited, not only with those of us who drove (or walked) in but also those who anchored their boats right next the town.
It seems like the whole place is built of stone. The sidewalks/streets are cobblestone, walls are made of stone, and it is by far the most common construction material for buildings. I made this photograph on one of the occasions where we were able to escape the crowds (hint: go in the very early morning) and photograph with fewer distractions.
“A Trogir Street” — A person sits at outdoor tables along an empty street in Trogir, Croatia.
During the summer of 2023 we took a 10-week looping trip through parts of Europe. We concluded the trip with about a week and a half in Croatia. The first few days were spent in Dubrovnik, and then we moved on to the vicity of Trogir, not far from Split, where we joined a big group of extended family members. Being so close to historic Trogir, we spent a good amount of time there.
The old town of Trogir is picturesque enough that it is now very popular with tourists, for better or for worse. Much of the construction is of these very light colored stones — they are found in the buildings, the walls, and the streets and sidewalks. I photographed this scene while out on a little photo walk with my friend Franka M. Gabler who knows this area well.
“Two Towers, Aljafería Palace” — Two round towers along the walls of the Aljafería Palace, Zaragoza, Spain.
When we were in Zaragoza, Spain last December, we understood that the Aljafería Palace was not to be missed. Its history is complicated and long, so I won’t make an attempt to relate the details, but it was originally established close to 1000 years ago, and it remains one of Spain’s most important examples of Islamic architecture. Over the centuries it was adapted by successive users, including royalty and later for more mundane purposes. It fell into disrepair, but was restored in the 1900s.
We walked over — a slightly long walk — from our accommodations in the old part of Zaragoza. This impressive structure sits on expansive grounds and is surrounded by a deep moat. Because much of it was reconstructed it doesn’t have the same worn look of many other old palaces. The photograph shows two towers along the outer walls.
Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.
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