Fresno, California
View allAll Photos Tagged fresno
Belmont & Fresno Streets, Fresno, Ca.
I wonder if they do Italian.
NOTE TO VASSILIS: The building behind the restaurant is a church. Though you should know. lol
Fresno, Ca.
Remember, when your man comes home from a hard day's work, always have a drink ready for him, and dinner prepared.
Fresno de Torote is a municipality in the Community of Madrid, Spain, with a unique characteristic: the original town center is **practically abandoned and privately owned**, while most of its population resides in the district of **Serracines**.
Here are its main features:
**Location and Natural Environment:**
* It is located in the natural region of Campiña del Henares, east of the Community of Madrid, approximately 34 km from the capital and 15 km from Alcalá de Henares.
* It is crossed by the Torote River and its subsidiary streams, which favors the growth of riparian vegetation and a variety of fauna.
* It is part of a **Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEPA)**, making it an ideal place for observing birds such as partridges and great bustards. The land is mostly sandy-clayey, with hills and small lagoons.
**History and Abandonment:**
* It was founded in the 15th century by the first Marquis of Santillana to accommodate the day laborers on his extensive estate.
* In the 16th century, it was the domain of the Princess of Éboli.
* Historically, it was an important agricultural and livestock center, with large expanses of wheat, barley, and pastures, and a hunting ground frequented by the Madrid aristocracy (even Juan de Borbón visited it).
* The history of its abandonment is somewhat melancholic: starting in the 1960s, with the rise of industry in Madrid and the growth of nearby towns, young people began to emigrate in search of better opportunities. The mechanization of the countryside also reduced the need for labor. * In 1988, the town hall moved to Serracines, consolidating the abandonment of the original town center.
* Today, the old town is semi-abandoned, with many ruined houses and collapsed roofs. Most of its buildings are privately owned by a single family.
**Current Fresno de Torote (mainly Serracines):**
* Despite the abandonment of the historic center, the municipality of Fresno de Torote continues to exist and has a population exceeding 2,500 (INE 2024), almost entirely concentrated in **Serracines and its surrounding residential areas**.
* Serracines is home to the main municipal services: the Town Hall, the Medical Center, the parish church, the Market, etc.
**What to see in the (semi-abandoned) historic center:**
* **The 16th-century Church of San Esteban:** Built in the Mudejar style, it has undergone restoration and houses the sarcophagus of Juan Hurtado de Mendoza, a descendant of the Marquis of Santillana and second lord of Fresno de Torote.
* Despite its condition, the town retains a particular charm for those interested in ghost towns and history. It is important to emphasize that much of it is privately owned, and not all the farms are accessible freely.
In short, Fresno de Torote is a municipality with a fascinating duality: on the one hand, a historic center that evokes the past and abandonment, and on the other, a vibrant district, Serracines, where the life and services of the municipality are concentrated.
On the way back into Fresno I knew that I was going to get pretty good color in the sky, but I was running late and didn't have a location picked out. I was driving through near Kings River and stopped as soon as I saw the sun. It was just about to go below the horizon, so I pulled out the tripod and set up in about one minute. I was able to frame this shot and get a pretty nice sunset.
Backyard non sequitur.
Wandering through Fresno, California I happened upon this scene. The horseman at left appears to be a depiction (prototype?) of David of Sassoon who is an Armenian folk hero. The figure lurking in the shadows at right turns out to be President John F. Kennedy.
I posted an earlier view of this, but I also like this one. For years I've taken my kids up to Jack Ass Meadows and there is a dome up there that we used as a landmark to show when we were close to the campground. I always called it the Fresno Half Dome. Then I found out that this is really the Fresno Dome and felt a little bit like a dummy. I found out that the other dome is called Bear Dome. Oops. Here is a link to a picture of Bear Dome: www.flickr.com/photos/35900399@N07/18070629039/in/photoli...
If you get in the Bass Lake area, I like to explore the scenic byway. Road 632 off of Highway 41 goes miles back into the high Sierra and has a lot of views that are worthy of taking pictures. This was taken from the Kelty Campground. Definitely a worthy place to explore.
This was taken in the foothills outside of Fresno. I loved the view with these two solitary oak trees on this farm property. If you look at the background, you can see that the Sierras finally are getting some snow. Lets hope that it keeps on coming.
I went out for a drive into the Fresno foothills looking to see if the wild flowers had started blooming yet. A few areas had blooms but there wasn't too much color yet. I was shooting across the street from the this location and almost missed this shot. We had a big rain come through on Friday and there was still a nice water pool in this farm. I went over hoping to get a nice reflection off of the pool. It pays to check out what is behind you sometimes.