View allAll Photos Tagged CulturalEvents
Around 12,000 Mennonites reside in Belize. They live in secluded communities and avoid modern technology, including electricity in some cases. The Mennonites can trace their roots back to 16th-century Europe and have since migrated globally, seeking isolated land to farm and evade persecution or forced assimilation into larger society. The Mennonite colonies in Belize originated in the late 1950s when over 3,000 Canadian Mennonites migrated there from Mexico. The Belizean government extended an invitation, providing them with land, religious autonomy, and exemptions from certain taxes and military service, given their status as dedicated pacifists.
On a work trip to Santa Barbara that overlapped with Old Spanish Days – a.k.a. Fiesta. This picture from “Las Noches de Ronda” evening performances that feature spectacular dances and songs.
Flashback from a past trip to India - as I pour over un-posted photos - this shot from Udaipur Rajasthan.
While camping at Durgin Lake in Khovd Western Mongolia we were treated to an impromptu concert by a family of musicians and throat singers right on the shore of the lake - very fun!
My trip to Santa Barbara overlapped with Old Spanish Days – a.k.a. Fiesta. A first for me consisting of a mix of culture and chaos. This picture from “Las Noches de Ronda” evening performances that feature spectacular dances and songs.
Sorry for the slow responses and limited activity but travelling with limited internet access - surprise surprise! Time to upload a quick pic from Indonesia trip with a shot of beautiful shadow puppets from Borneo in Samarinda. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I remember in the late 1970's the feast of san Gennaro and a vibrant Italian-American community in Little Italy, now the feast still is held but Little Italy has contracted in size, and today its core is centered on restaurants and food shops of Mulberry Street between Canal and Spring Streets. There are still some decent restaurants but go to Chinatown for a more authentic experience! While visiting recently I stopped to pick up some cannoli!
Sikkim is India’s landlocked state, located in the Himalayan Mountains; the state is bordered by Nepal to the west, Tibet to the north and northeast, and Bhutan to the east. It was the last state to give up its monarchy and fully integrate into India in 1975. Because it is a "border" state and remained autonomous for so long you are still require special permission to enter and requires a stop at a border station where papers are checked and approved before being allowed to proceed. During our stopover we were treated to a serenade by the gentleman pictured here. Don’t know what this “homemade” instrument was called but he played some pretty amazing music with it.
At the burning Ghats, there are huge piles of firewood stacked 12-feet high. They import the wood from southern India at great expense. Sandalwood, teak and other precious woods are used by the wealthy; less exotic woods by those who cannot afford the valuable imports. The amount of wood, not just the type, is critical to ensure complete cremation. The wood is carefully weighed and portioned out. Throughout the day in the alleys near the burning Ghats there is a steady column of bearers carrying bodies wrapped in gold cloth down to the river. One after the other, they immersed the body in the Ganges. After this ritual cleansing, workers stack firewood in neat piles, laid the body on top and then stacked on more wood in orderly rows. A worker from the temple brings down the eternal sacred fire that had burned in the temple for centuries and lights the wood. After the cremation the ashes are scattered in the Ganges.
Was in Sükhbaatar Square when a large group of people in very fancy dells, all adorned with medals, were heading into the Parliament building. Not sure exactly why they were there but made for some good pics.
August & September were busy travel months including trips to Mongolia, Indonesia & Australia. This trip took me from the wilds of western Mongolia to the wilds of East Kalimantan in Borneo, Indonesia. For context - Borneo is the third largest island in the world after Greenland and New Guinea. Straddling the equator, it covers 750,000 square kilometers (290,000 square miles), more than twice the area of the British Isles or more than Texas and Louisiana combined! It is also home to some of the world’s largest carbon stores and amazing diversity, both cultural and biological. By one count there are 300 ethnic groups in Borneo. - Indigenous groups like the Dayaks. Here is a shot of a few Dayak people in a traditional long house that is still in use. Many Bornean people have traditionally lived in longhouses that hold up to a 150 people and are like village under one roof. Note the walls are in 3D and all hand made.
Tony Crooty showcases his instrumental expertise in Speke Hall’s Great Hall, Liverpool, while I, meantime, find myself upstairs "capering nimbly in a lady’s chamber to the lascivious pleasing of a lute."
750° PALIO DI ASTI - 7 Settembre 2025
Nel corteo solenne del Palio di Asti, il cavallo del vessillifero di Baldichieri avanza come un’ombra regale. Il suo manto nero, ornato d’oro, riflette il respiro antico della festa, mentre lo sguardo fiero custodisce il silenzio e l’onore del borgo.
750th PALIO DI ASTI - 7 Settembre 2025
In the solemn parade of the Palio di Asti, the horse of Baldichieri’s standard-bearer moves with regal grace. Its black coat, dressed in gold, carries the ancient spirit of the festival, while its proud gaze holds the silence and honor of its village
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9169 HDR.
the music marched by.
he stood still.
the world moved in his glasses.
faces, horns, drums.
all just reflections.
participants of a music parade at the fallas in valencia
This landscape photo was taken, in Europe, in France, in ile de France, in Paris, on the banks of the Seine, in summer. We see the town hall, under the sun.
A tale of contrast on the cobbled streets — where elegant riders follow heritage, and a lone tricycle pushes through the present. Dive into a visual journey where culture parades by, one hoofbeat and one pedal stroke at a time.
Boat races in Bangladesh. Traditional Sampan race in Karnaphuli River, Chittagong, Bangladesh. Bangladeshi people row during a traditional boat race.
A Casa Consistorial de Viana, em Navarra, ergue-se na Plaza de los Fueros como um notável exemplar da arquitetura barroca de inspiração francesa. A decisão de construir o edifício que serve atualmente como sede do município foi tomada em 1683, e as obras, dirigidas pelos arquitetos franceses Santiago e Juan de Raón com a colaboração de mestres locais, foram concluídas em 1692. Construída em pedra de silhar, a fachada apresenta uma galeria com sete arcos no piso térreo, sobre a qual se ergue um piso nobre com varandas. Ao centro, destaca-se o brasão de Espanha, datado de 1688, ladeado pelos escudos de Viana, e a estrutura é flanqueada por duas torres de tijolo que conferem verticalidade. Originalmente, o edifício albergava a sala de juntas, o arquivo, um oratório e a prisão. Em 2004, foi remodelado e ampliado para se adaptar às necessidades administrativas modernas, mantendo-se um marco histórico e ponto central da vida cívica da cidade.
The Town Hall of Viana, in Navarre, stands in the Plaza de los Fueros as a remarkable example of French-inspired Baroque architecture. The decision to construct the building that currently serves as the town hall was made in 1683, and the work, directed by French architects Santiago and Juan de Raón with the collaboration of local masters, was completed in 1692. Built in ashlar stone, the façade features a gallery with seven arches on the ground floor, above which rises a noble floor with balconies. In the center, the coat of arms of Spain, dated 1688, stands out, flanked by the coats of arms of Viana, and the structure is flanked by two brick towers that give it verticality. Originally, the building housed the boardroom, the archive, an oratory, and the prison. In 2004, it was remodeled and expanded to adapt to modern administrative needs, while remaining a historic landmark and central point of civic life in the city.
Briggen, em Bergen, Noruega, é um bairro portuário histórico que remonta ao século XII. Foi um importante centro comercial da Liga Hanseática, uma rede de comerciantes do norte da Europa. Briggen é constituída por edifícios de madeira com fachadas de duas águas que se alinham no lado oriental do porto de Vågen. É Património Mundial da UNESCO e uma atração turística popular.
Briggen, in Bergen, Norway, is a historic port district dating back to the 12th century. It was an important trading center for the Hanseatic League, a network of northern European merchants. Briggen consists of wooden buildings with gable facades that line the eastern side of Vågen harbor. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist attraction.
the flicker of hundreds of candles danced across the stone walls of the pueblo español, whispering secrets of music and light. the quartet, framed by glowing columns and timeless statues, played melodies of coldplay and imagine dragons. each note floated through the dark, igniting the stillness of the night. silhouettes leaned in, almost as if holding their breath, as music and flame merged into something sacred. the night stood still, just for a moment.
A Rua do Vilar, em Santiago de Compostela, converge com a Praça do Toural, formando um núcleo vital no centro histórico da cidade. Esta artéria, parte integrante do percurso de peregrinação a Santiago de Compostela, preserva a arquitetura tradicional galega dos séculos XVII e XVIII, caracterizada por edifícios de granito com arcadas térreas, varandas de ferro forjado e galerias envidraçadas, concebidas para proteger os transeuntes da pluviosidade da região. Outrora uma zona nobre com casarões renascentistas, barrocos e neoclássicos ostentando brasões, a Rua do Vilar manteve a sua função comercial e social. A proximidade da Praça do Toural, que inicialmente serviu como mercado de gado fora das muralhas, reforça a ligação entre a zona histórica e a cidade moderna, criando um ponto de encontro dinâmico para residentes e visitantes, com comércio, restauração e eventos culturais. A sua importância para a história da cidade valeu-lhe a classificação, em 1985, como Património Mundial da UNESCO.
Rua do Vilar, in Santiago de Compostela, converges with Praça do Toural, forming a vital nucleus in the historic center of the city. This artery, an integral part of the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, preserves the traditional Galician architecture of the 17th and 18th centuries, characterized by granite buildings with ground-floor arcades, wrought iron balconies and glazed galleries, designed to protect passers-by from the region's rainfall. Once a prime area with Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical mansions sporting coats of arms, Rua do Vilar has maintained its commercial and social function. The proximity of Praça do Toural, which initially served as a cattle market outside the walls, reinforces the connection between the historic area and the modern city, creating a dynamic meeting point for residents and visitors, with shops, restaurants and cultural events. Its importance to the city's history earned it the classification, in 1985, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bancadas do teatro romano de Mérida, um dos mais importantes vestígios da antiga Emerita Augusta, fundado em 16 a.C. Sob o comando do imperador Augusto, este espaço podia acomodar até 6.000 espectadores e era palco de grandes produções teatrais. Hoje, o teatro mantém-se como um ícone da história romana na Península Ibérica e ainda é utilizado para eventos culturais.
Frohe Weihnachten! :-)
I wish everybody a Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!
I'm back in 2015!
Happy Holidays!
The Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex is a large former industrial site in the city of Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It has been inscribed into the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites since December 14, 2001 and is one of the anchor points of the European Route of Industrial Heritage.
The first coal mine on the premises was founded in 1847, mining activities took place from 1851 until December 23, 1986. For decades starting in the late 1950s, the two parts of the site, Zollverein Coal Mine and Zollverein Coking Plant (erected 1957-1961, closed on June 30, 1993), ranked among the largest of their kinds in Europe. Shaft 12, built in Bauhaus style, was opened in 1932 and is considered an architectural and technical masterpiece, earning it a reputation as the "most beautiful coal mine in the world".
Die Zeche Zollverein war ein von 1851 bis 1986 aktives Steinkohlebergwerk in Essen.
Sie ist heute ein Architektur- und Industriedenkmal. Gemeinsam mit der unmittelbar benachbarten Kokerei Zollverein gehören die Standorte 12 und 1/2/8 der Zeche seit 2001 zum Weltkulturerbe der UNESCO. Zollverein ist Ankerpunkt der Europäischen Route der Industriekultur.
more information:
Zollverein at Wikipedia (English)
Zollverein bei Wikipedia (Deutsch)
you can find more photos of this place in my Zollverein set!
Na região do Douro, em Peso da Régua, coração económico da mais antiga região vinícola demarcada do mundo (criada em 1756 por alvará régio de D. José I), a vindima é uma atividade crucial e tradicional. Entre setembro e outubro, trabalhadores colhem manualmente as uvas maduras nas íngremes encostas e socalcos do Alto Douro Vinhateiro, Património Mundial da UNESCO, utilizando baldes para transportar a colheita. Esta prática, fundamental para a produção de vinhos de alta qualidade, incluindo o mundialmente reconhecido Vinho do Porto, é também um importante momento cultural e comunitário na região, representando uma tradição que se mantém fiel à paisagem única do Douro.
Shadow puppetry is an old tradition and it has a long history in Southeast Asia; especially in Indonesia. Shadow puppetry uses flat articulated figures (shadow puppets) to create cut-out figures which are held between a source of light and a translucent screen. The cut-out shapes of the puppets sometimes include translucent color or other types of detailing. Various effects can be achieved by moving both the puppets and the light source. A talented puppeteer can make the figures appear to walk, dance, fight, nod and laugh.