For this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Patti invites us to “share a cityscape of one city or several cities with populations in the thousands or millions. Near our home or thousands of miles away, most importantly, show the big picture view.”
When thinking about big cities – what is it about a city that attracts some people or can cause others to try to avoid them as much as possible! Do you enjoy visiting a city, would you like to live in one if you don’t already? Personally, I like cities and would probably be happy living in one since I’m married to a “city guy” who loves them.
To me, cities are full of life, energy, so many great things to see and do. We have spent time in numerous cities all around the world although our favorites where we often visit are not too far away; New York, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal and Charleston. An five or six day visit is ideal, although longer is ok too. Days are filled walking around and going on tours (naturally, taking pictures as I go!), also we stroll through the parks and museums plus see a game or show if possible. And, I don’t want to forget to mention how interesting it is to checkout the many good ethnic restaurants. Cities are also known for their clubs and nightlife which we use to frequent a bit; now the ideal evening is spent at a show and/or over a good dinner with wine with another walk afterwards to soak up the city lights.
“I urge you to travel – as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook.
Learn from them – wherever you go.” – Anthony Bourdain
A few years ago we spent some time in Chicago and Lake Forest, Illinois, with good friends. So many things to see – one of the many highlights was exploring Millennium Park. A big attraction in the Park is the Crown Fountains – 50-foot towers which continually project different video images of Chicago citizens with an open mouth, allowing water to flow out. I will feature these in a later blog. Below is a picture of the Cloud Gate sculpture, better known as The Bean, which is the centerpiece of the Park. What is so interesting about this image is the Chicago cityscape can be viewed from two different angles; buildings in the background plus the reflective image on The Bean of the buildings to the right.
“A city is not gauged by its length and width, but by the broadness of its vision and the height of its dreams.”- Herb Caen
Last year we spent some time with our other good friends who live in Toronto and King, Ontario Canada. So much to see and do and so little time! The cityscape pictures below of Toronto were taken from atop the CN Tower while having diner in the 360 Restaurant as it was revolving 350-meters above the ground. The tan building with the green roof, down in the foreground, is the Fairmont Royal York, a large historic luxury hotel where such notable guest include presidents, heads of state and government in addition to celebrities such as Andrew Lloyd Webber, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, to name a few.
This picture was also taken from the top of the CN Tower looking south towards Lake Ontario.
During the summer months in Maine it is an easy trip to travel to Montreal, Canada. My husband is originally from there; he knows the city so well I have learned to love it as much as he does. We have seen many changes occur since I first started going there many years ago, some for the better, others, not so much so. In the foreground is a back view of the spectacular Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral Basilica, which was inspired by Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. This image was taken from our room in the Marriott Chateau Champlain Hotel.
Boston, Massachusetts is an old city full of history like Montreal, New York and Charleston. Trinity Church, founded in 1733, is shown in the foreground of this picture with the John Hancock Tower to its right. Further in the background on the other side of Boston Public Gardens one can see the steeple on the Old State House and just beyond that is Faneuil Hall Market, a fun place to walk through. This image was taken from the 28th floor in the Marriott Copley Place Hotel.
“I go to Paris, I go to London, I go to Rome, and I always say, ‘There’s no place like New York. It’s the most exciting city in the world now.
That’s the way it is. That’s it.’ ” – Robert De Niro
I could not resist showing this image of another favorite city, the New York skyline in the Theater District!
“Charleston has something for everyone, rain or shine. Its architecture is unparalleled. Carriage rides are great for seeing the city and hearing the history behind certain houses and the area.” – Thomas Gibson
Admittedly, this last picture does not meet the criteria of a large, metropolitan city although it has characteristics which make it difficult to compare it to other cities. Charleston, SC, has received numerous accolades over the years: in 2018, readers of Travel + Leisure magazine voted Charleston as the #1 U.S. city for the sixth year in a row, in addition to being voted the “World’s Best City” in 2016. This past year it also came in as #10 out of 15 of the World’s Top Cities on this list and was the only U.S. city recognized. (Post and Courier Newspaper and Travel + Leisure magazine). I am so fortunate to live close by and be able to experience all this area has to offer!
“Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of experience.” – Francis Bacon
Hope you have enjoyed seeing these pictures and also a little glimpse into my world.