Author: Linda Gukicova

Mostly loner, usually cynical, occasionally misanthropic. European. Bratislava-born, Manchester-based. Cat owner. I like taking pictures a bit.
Outdoors

What’s Up? Sky’s Up.

Linda Gukicova

I have not posted for a while. I haven’t been using my camera much lately either. I have not taken a single photo with my camera in June and only a couple in July (and that was because I made myself do two pics from my window). I don’t want to get into the reasons why here, what I want to say is that it’s August now and I do have an August photo. As it happens, also taken from my window.

I was treated to this view while watching the Athletics in London. I remember it was just minutes before Usain Bolt’s last individual race. 100m is just so thrilling–only ten seconds and you have a winner. But I digress.

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I’m never quite satisfied with any of my sky pictures. Looks like I still have a lot to improve.

This is one of the July ones:

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Half-white and half-grey sums up the crazy weather we’ve been having this summer. Showers followed by sunshine followed by more rain.

Random and Weird Phone Shots

Random and Weird Phone Shots – Pedestrians Walk This Way

Linda Gukicova

Sign at a building site near my workplace.

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How many of you have got the song stuck in your head now?

 

This is how we should resolve conflicts–with music! When rock met rap, or, if you can’t stop a wall being built, do a Steven Tyler and tear a hole in it. That part where he sings through the hole while Run and DMC give him that look is never not funny.

Legends.

 

Outdoors, Weekly Photo Challenge

Bridge – Bonus

Linda Gukicova

I’ve already posted my contribution to this Weekly Photo Challenge, however my fingers keep itching to add one more. I really need to talk about the most (in)famous bridge in my home town of Bratislava–the Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising. Most SNP in Slovak (most means bridge). It is also commonly referred to as UFO Bridge. You can see why.

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River Danube

This is a controversial bridge. Why is it controversial?

The construction of the bridge started in 1967. For the bridge to be built, a portion of beautiful Old Town, including a Jewish quarter and a synagogue, had to be demolished.

For one reason or another, they built it in such a way that a roadway had to lead onto the bridge and it was for this reason they deemed the destruction of historical streets and buildings, even a part of castle hill, necessary.

Well, that’s Communists for you.

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This is shot from Old Town, the other side is residential area Petrzalka

Obviously it’s deeply tragic. As far as I know, no such sacrilege took place in any other Communist country (please, feel free to correct me in the comments if I’m wrong). But the way I see it now is, you can’t escape your history and so, the SNP Bridge is as much a part of Bratislava as all the nice parts.

That round spaceship thing at the top has a restaurant in it–I haven’t been there as an adult though, so can’t tell you what’s on their menu. Apparently there is also an observation deck–imagine the views! I really must go there on my next visit.

You can find more information on the UFO Bridge here, if you want.

Also, Girl Astray has a cool post about it.

That’s it for my Bonus Bridge post.

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Although, try not to knock down beautiful historical castle walls, while you do it!

Bridge

Outdoors, Weekly Photo Challenge

Bridge

Linda Gukicova

Bridges are one my favourite things to photograph. In fact, they are one of my favourite things ever. Bridges are great, really. I even like the word bridge. It looks nice written down (or typed) and is easy to pronounce for a non-native English speaker.

I decided to go for this one for this week’s photo challenge.

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The bridge is a metrolink bridge in inner city Manchester. Not quite aesthetically pleasing, perhaps, but that’s the point. If it wasn’t for all that glorious sunshine, it would be a proper grim shot!

Inspiration for this photo came from a scene in The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. I’ve taken a few similar shots after reading the book.

I’ve also been listening to my mega 90s playlist, which of course features the Red Hot Chili Peppers song Under the Bridge; probably one of the most iconic tunes of the decade. The song deals with feelings of loneliness and past drug abuse.

Under the bridge downtown
Is where I drew some blood
Under the bridge downtown
I could not get enough
Under the bridge downtown
Forgot about my love
Under the bridge downtown
I gave my life away

-lyrics by Anthony Kiedis

Speaking of music, a bridge is also a section of a song, but I have no idea what exactly it means. If you know, please do enlighten me in the comments.

Another bridge that comes to mind is captain’s bridge on a ship. Or better–a spaceship.

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Starship Enterprise NCC-1701-D from Star Trek The Next Generation

So that would be it regarding the bridge. Have a great week/month/year and remember:

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