Hampton (City), Virginia
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Devetashka - the Bulgarian Cave with 70,000 Years of Human Habitation
Devetashka cave is an enormous cave in Bulgaria, which has provided shelter for groups of humans since the late Paleolithic era, and continuously for tens of thousands of years since then. Now abandoned by humans, it remains a site of national and international significance and is home to some 30,000 bats.
Devetashka cave, which is known as Devetàshka peshterà in Bulgaria, is located roughly 18 kilometres north of Lovech, near the village of Devetaki. It is a karst cave formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks and characterized by sinkholes, caves, and underground drainage systems.
The cave itself is immense, measuring approximately 2 kilometres in length and with a huge entrance ‘hall’ measuring 60 metres in height. In places the ceiling is 100 metres above the ground and there are seven huge holes through which daylight illuminates the vast interior. It is these holes that earned the cave the name Maarata or Oknata ("the eyes").
About 200 meters from the entrance, the cave separates into two branches. On the left side, a small river runs along it, forming miniature lakes and waterfalls, passing through the main hall and eventually flowing into the Osam River. The right side is warm and dry and contains several chambers, ending with a round hall, known as the Altar. Beautiful stalactites and stalagmites, rivulets, majestic natural domes and arches can be found within the enormous cave and one can see why various human populations would have chosen Devetashka as their home.
Devetashka Cave was rediscovered by a Bulgarian scientist in 1921 but was not fully excavated until the 1950s when the intention was to transform the cave into a giant warehouse. Studies revealed that it has been inhabited almost continuously since the late Paleolithic era. The earliest traces of human presence date back to the middle of the Early Stone Age around 70,000 years ago. The Devetashka cave also contained one of the richest sources of cultural artifacts from the Neolithic (6th millennium - 4th millennium B C).
In June, 1996, Devetashka Cave was declared a natural landmark. The cave is probably best known for its part in the action movie ‘The Expendables 2’, filmed in 2011, in which Sylvester Stallone crash lands a plane into Jean Claude Van Damme’s subterranean lair.
The Bressanone (Brixen) Cathedral was built in 980. Eventually, after two fires, the Romanesque design with its three naves and two front towers was constructed (around 1200). A Baroque design was later constructed in 1745-1754.
The Bressanone Cathedral's cloister is one of the most important monuments of art in South Tyrol. The cloister is famous in particular for its Gothic frescoes. It was originally built in pre Romanesque times but later redesigned in Romanesque and Gothic style.
A cloister (from Latin claustrum, "enclosure") is a covered walk, open gallery, or open arcade running along the walls of a building.
The attachment of a cloister to a cathedral or church usually indicates that it was part of a monastic foundation forming a continuous and solid architectural barrier that effectively separated the world of the monks from that of the serfs and workmen, whose lives and works went on outside and around the cloister.
(Nikon, 14mm, 1/50 @ f/4, ISO 200)
did you know...a Meerkat can spot an eagle in flight more than a thousand feet away
a humorous clip on Meerkats in the Kgalagadi
Exposure row from 2 x 3 admissions
It was a day with continuous rain once more. If I was a day earlier
on this hill I would have come the Cuillins Hills on Skye
in the ray Eden can take a photo of sunshine.
Unfortunately, one cannot always search himself on a longer photo tour from.
So I have made the best one from it. I hope you like it! Free hand without tripod
To the Cuillins there is, by the way, also a history:
Because the cashes of the clan Mac Leod were clammy and the clan a costly restoration
of his Castle fertilizer van stood in a queue, decided John Mac Leod of Mac Leod the Cuillinsmassiv
to sell for 10 million pounds. He recommended the mountain range in a prospectus and really
if a buyer, an american collector who stands to a nature conservation association before was found...
The Lacon Bridge is a continuous through bridge over the Illinois River on Illinois Route 17 at Lacon in Marshall County. Built in 1939, it is one of the oldest crossings of the Illinois River. The bridge was rehabilitated in 1990, and is tentatively scheduled for repairs to the structural steel, painting the entire structure, concrete repairs to the piers and abutments, and repairing the existing lighting in 2023.
This bridge has a distinctive appearance because its top chord and end posts visually seem comparatively smaller than one would expect to the point where they do not look much larger or heavier than the other truss members. As such, from a visual standpoint, all the members and chords on the bridge look to be about the same size. This is quite different from a traditional bridge of this design.
This is one of those bridges that looks exactly like a cantilever truss, with a variable depth truss forming "towers" over the piers, however it appears to lack hinges which means that it functions as a continuous truss, not a cantilever truss. As such, it does not have a suspended span. A series of steel stringer spans provide an approach to the through truss spans.
Marshall County, located in north central Illinois, is primarily an agriculture county. Lacon, the county seat, is the second most populous city in the county behind Henry with a recorded population of 1,878 at the 2020 census.
Sources: Wikipedia, HistoricBridge.org, and Marshall-Putnam Farm Bureau
Hillsboro's Orpheum Theatre opened as the 600 seat capacity Fellis Theatre in the 1920’s. It operated as a vaudeville house with a combination of live acts and movies. It was renamed Orpheum Theatre in 1929. By the early-1940’s it was operated by the Frisina Amusement Co. It ran continuously until 2000 and closed for about two years. In 2002, new seats and DTS stereo was added in addition to marquee restoration.
A new operator took over in 2003 and the theatre is more vibrant than ever with almost a cult following of regular customers from as far away as St. Louis and Springfield, IL. The balcony was converted to a second auditorium in the early-1980’s and is still that way.
Hillsboro is the seat of Montgomery County. This south central Illinois city is located 50 miles south of the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, and 65 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Health care and social assistance, public administration, and finance and insurance are Hillsboro's largest industries. The population of Hillsboro at the 2020 Census was 5,808, and the population of Montgomery County was 28,288.
The whole universe is based on rhythms. Everything happens in circles, in spirals ( John Hartford) !!
Back to flowers.... something light and soft....
I will be off for sometime but I will stop by to comment on your wonderful works as much as I can... Thanks everybody for your continuous support !! Have a wonderful week my friends!!
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Oberlin, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1833, it is the oldest coeducational liberal arts college in the United States and the second-oldest continuously operating coeducational institute of higher learning in the world
This what I believe to be a BMH Marine Siwertell auger-type continuous unloader which has a capacity of 17,000 tonnes per normal working day. The unloader is installed at the Kwinana Bulk Berth No. 4, Kwinana, Western Australia.
View form Trail Ridge Road (highest continuous paved road in the US reaching elevation of 12,183 feet), Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Driving on this road is little nerve wrecking, but in the end rewarded by breathtaking scenery. Changing elevation takes you from tree lines to alpine tundra which has very fragile ecosystem. Weather up top is ever changing and highly unpredictable.
It has been raining continuously in Calgary for past three days, overcast and low light was discouraging but this great gray owl made the day. This owl was hunting and provided great opportunity to study and capture great moments, this is one of them.
This is a "continuous ship unloader" of the "bucket elevator" type. Capacity is 2,500 t/h. It just finished unloading the vessel "Pu Sheng 6" (浦盛6, IMO 3686337), still moored to the pier.
Photo taken from a ferry, in this upload you can see unloading "in action".
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
Continuous welded rail makes for such a smooth ride under our caboose as we leave Jim Thorpe on the 11:00 train bound for the Lehigh Gorge State Park.
We were lucky to sight this delightful Hoopoe enjoying a sand bath on a country road. After making sure it wasn't disturbed by our presence, we lay down flat on the ground and watched it for about 10-15 minutes. The bird was throwing dust on itself on all sides and turning 360 degrees continuously.
Hoopoe are resident birds in India and could be seen throughout the year. But the end of rainy season and early winter brings them out more often. Soon the breeding season will start and hence there will be lot more activity.
Thanks in advance for your views and feedback.
Memories of you are running through my head continuously...
Do you know that I am still here... waiting for you?
-xo Tia
----------------------------------------
Current Tune: Maroon 5 - Memories ♫ ♬ ♪
Here's to the ones that we got
Cheers to the wish you were here, but you're not
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
Of everything we've been through
Toast to the ones here today
Toast to the ones that we lost on the way
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
And the memories bring back, memories bring back you
There's a time that I remember, when I did not know no pain
When I believed in forever, and everything would stay the same
Now my heart feel like December when somebody say your name
'Cause I can't reach out to call you, but I know I will one day, yeah
Everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody hurts someday, aye aye
But everything gon' be alright
Go and raise a glass and say, aye
Here's to the ones that we got
Cheers to the wish you were here, but you're not
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
Of everything we've been through
Toast to the ones here today
Toast to the ones that we lost on the way
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
And the memories bring back, memories bring back you
- - - - - - [. Credits .] - - - - - -
Photographer - Tia Fallyn ♥
Models - Tia Fallyn
Venue Credit - Furillen
[. Outfit .] --------------------
Sweater- [DDL] - V-Neck Jumper (Blue)
Skirt - [DDL] - Skirt (White)
Hair - Doux - Santana Hair
Boots - [Deadwool] - Chukka Boots (Burnt Caramel)
[. Setup .] -------------------
Chair - :HAIKEI: - Stiff Old Chair (White)
Raeapteek
The Raeapteek is one of the oldest continuously running pharmacies in Europe, having always been in business in the same house since the early 15th century.
This picture was taken from beneath the Blue Water Bridge(-s). It clearly shows that their construction is of two styles, but observed from either side they appear to be one bridge. Likewise, when traveling from the US to Canada, as shown in this picture, we would take the Blue Water Bridge. Conversely, when returning to the US from Canada, we would take the Blue Water Bridge. So 1 bridge span + 1 other bridge span = (2 sections of) one Blue Water Bridge.
Both bridges are now one-way traffic. The original 1938 bridge has three westbound lanes from Point Edward, Ontario, Canada to Port Huron, Michigan, USA; the later 1997 bridge has three eastbound lanes from Port Huron to Point Edward.
As she crosses Fairford's Runway Threshold, 'Black 01's' Dodge Chase Car accelerates hard to tuck in behind her
Driving the car is another U-2 pilot directly communicating with 'Black 01' - calling out continuous height references and any other pertinent hints to assist the Pilot in coaxing his mount down onto Terra Firma - the most difficult part of any U-2 flight
Just after, the ground crew pick-up also accelerated away after them so that once the U-2 had come to a halt, they would then re-attach the outriggers
276A6268
I grow this smoke bush because it always has such attractive new growth..... spring, summer and fall
Built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia in June of 1906 and run on the Norfolk & Western Railroad as a mixed use engine until 1962, No. 475 is Strasburg Rail Road’s oldest and second largest steam locomotive.
The natural world, moreover, is still undergoing a transformation for which the word “drama” is more appropriate than a term like “design” or “plan.” The theological significance of our focus on drama rather than design is that a drama can be the carrier of a meaning that presently lies hidden in the future…
… Theology, as I understand it, looks for the presence of God not in the breaks but in the blossoming of nature…
… Traditional theology’s lack of interest in the cosmic journey is forgivable, of course, since only after Einstein could it have learned that the entire universe is a continuous narrative and not just a platform from which to launch our spiritual adventures.
-God after Einstein What’s Really Going On in the Universe? John F. Haught
Continuous below freezing temperatures have kept the creek freezing and aqua colored, 40 degrees expected tomorrow, may all change...
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
from "I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud" by Wordsworth
This 2nd-century AD amphitheatre in Europe’s longest continuously-inhabited city has witnessed many a dramatic, thundery Bulgarian summer and long, frosty autumns. Set among the six hills of the Thracian Plain, the amphitheatre offers rich views year-around whether you find a rewarding angle from Hemus Street or pay to explore the space itself – giving access to extraordinary details such as ancient district names carved into the seating to direct audiences to the appropriate zones. You could even take in a show in the evening, as the amphitheatre has been functional since being rediscovered following a landslide in the 1970s.
It snowed on and off all day today; at times I couldn't see two meters ahead of me. We've had it unconventionally well this year that many were surprised at the above-average temperatures and little snow. Well, here it all comes in a package: snow, wind, snow, wind, and chill, chill, chill. We're expecting a -39 with wind-chill effects in some areas around us (Southwestern Ontario). Still, not complaints. The kids are having the time of their lives and are enjoying every inch of snow... Wish you all a warm weekend! Stay warm...
photo rights reserved by Ben
On January 7, 2026, the Netherlands is covered by a thick blanket of snow. Code Orange is in effect, and its impact is felt everywhere: flights are cancelled, trains and buses are barely running, and the daily rhythm slows abruptly. In the center of Amsterdam, this is rare. Because of urban heat and surrounding water, snow usually doesn’t last here. It quickly turns wet, grey, and disappears. But not today. On the corner of the Herengracht and Brouwersgracht, by the Melkmeisjesbrug, snow falls continuously. The flakes drift down softly and densely, settling on the bridge deck, the quay, and the steps. With no car traffic here, the snow is given the chance to remain. The path along the canal turns into a silent, white passage. The historic façades form a dark backdrop against which the falling snow remains clearly visible. Street lanterns add a warm glow to the scene, while the city audibly comes to rest. Sounds are muffled; only footsteps and laughter break the silence. Children run through the fresh snow, pull sleds across the small bridge, fall, and get back up again. Nearby, residents move carefully along paths that are usually busy but now almost empty. Here, Amsterdam feels smaller, calmer — almost village-like. This place shows what snow can do: it disrupts, but it also connects. It brings the city to a halt while opening space for wonder. And on this winter day, the snow even stays here — right in the heart of Mokum, at the Melkmeisjesbrug. Something you rarely see, and precisely for that reason, so special.
A winter scene at the corner of the Herengracht and Brouwersgracht in Amsterdam, by the Melkmeisjesbrug. Fresh snow blankets the bridge and canal path as children play and the city slows, turning this usually busy spot into a quiet, almost village-like moment.
Op 7 januari 2026 ligt Nederland onder een dik pak sneeuw. Code Oranje is van kracht en dat is overal voelbaar: vluchten zijn geschrapt, treinen en bussen rijden nauwelijks, en het dagelijkse ritme vertraagt abrupt. In het centrum van Amsterdam is dat zeldzaam. Door stedelijke warmte en water blijft sneeuw hier meestal niet liggen. Vaak wordt het snel nat, grijs en verdwenen. Maar vandaag niet. Op de hoek van de Herengracht en Brouwersgracht, bij het Melkmeisjesbruggetje, sneeuwt het onafgebroken. De vlokken vallen zacht en dicht en blijven liggen op het brugdek, de kade en de trappen. Omdat hier geen autoverkeer is, krijgt de sneeuw de ruimte om te blijven. Het pad langs de gracht verandert in een stille, witte doorgang . De historische gevels vormen een donker decor waartegen de sneeuw zichtbaar blijft dwarrelen. Straatlantaarns brengen een warme gloed in het beeld, terwijl de stad hoorbaar tot rust komt. Geluiden worden gedempt; alleen voetstappen en gelach breken de stilte. Kinderen rennen door de verse sneeuw, trekken sleeën over het bruggetje, vallen en staan weer op. Even verderop bewegen bewoners zich voorzichtig voort over paden die normaal druk zijn, nu bijna leeg. Amsterdam voelt hier kleiner, rustiger — bijna dorps. Deze plek laat zien wat sneeuw kan doen: het ontregelt, maar verbindt ook. Het legt de stad stil en opent tegelijk ruimte voor verwondering. En op deze winterdag blijft de sneeuw zelfs hier liggen — midden in Mokum, bij het Melkmeisjesbrugje. Iets wat je zelden ziet, en juist daarom zo bijzonder is.
HDR Photography at St. Alban's Cathedral Church, UK by Timothy Selvage.
St. Alban's is the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in Britain.
Once again I turnned up a little too late in the day so was only just able to get enough light to touch the gorgeous painted roof.
I was searching around for a switch to turn on the little red lamps and then realised that they were candle holders (without the candles). I'm definitely due for another trip soon.
I've been missing my Churches.
For those who are interested, join me at G+ or Facebook where I post more information and tech stuff about these photographs amongst other things. They are also great social places to open up a dialogue more easily than here on Flickr. I hope to see you there :-D
The great tit (Parus major) is a common, widespread, and adaptable bird found across Europe and parts of Asia, well known as a frequent visitor to garden bird feeders. It is the largest member of the tit family in the UK.
Key Characteristics
Appearance:
The great tit has a striking appearance with a glossy black head, prominent white cheeks, an olive-green back, and bright yellow underparts with a bold black stripe running down its breast. Males typically have a wider and brighter black stripe than females, which serves as an indicator of their status and reproductive fitness.
Size:
It measures about 14 cm (5.5 inches) in length with a wingspan of roughly 24 cm (9.4 inches).
Song/Call:
Great tits are very vocal and have a wide range of calls. Their most familiar and distinctive song is a repetitive, high-pitched two-syllable call, often described as sounding like a bicycle pump or "teacher, teacher".
Habitat:
While their natural habitat is mature deciduous woodland, they have adapted well to human-modified environments like parks, gardens, and urban areas. They are cavity nesters, using holes in trees or readily available nest boxes.
Diet and Behavior
Great tits are opportunistic and intelligent feeders. Their diet varies seasonally:
Summer:
They primarily eat insects, spiders, caterpillars, and other invertebrates, which provide essential protein for their chicks.
Winter:
When insects are scarce, they switch to seeds, nuts (such as sunflower seeds and peanuts), and berries, often visiting bird tables and feeders. They use a "hold-hammering" method, holding large food items with their feet and striking them with their bill to break them open.
Their intelligence has led to interesting behaviors, such as learning to break the foil caps of doorstep milk bottles to access the cream in the early 20th century. In winter, when food is extremely scarce, they have even been recorded preying on hibernating bats.
Population and Study:
The great tit population is widespread and currently categorized as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN. The species is a significant subject in ornithology, with the Wytham Woods Great Tit project at the University of Oxford being one of the longest continuous studies of an individually-marked animal population in the world, running for over 75 years.
Each winter I crave lettuce and tomatoes - the most difficult and expensive produce that you can buy in our tiny grocery store. Usually the lettuce is spoiled, to the point that half of it goes into the trash bin - and the tomatoes are hard and tasteless. Well this year I have solved that problem. This year I have two hydroponic gardens up and running. Just a few minutes ago I plucked a large sized cherry tomato, and enjoyed a homegrown tomato with good old fashioned taste.
In this image you see just a few of the tomatoes that are growing on one of my plants. I have been told these plants will keep me in a continuous supply for up to nine months - so I should be good until spring!
In another indoor garden, I have romaine lettuce, green onions, and herbs. Now I can garden in the darkest days of winter. :-)
On this first day of 2015, in the biting cold, a Nikko Blue Hydrangea bud grows quietly in late afternoon sun. The promise of Spring.
Happy first day of 2015, my friends!