Am waking in a different world... There is no sound of air conditioning or fans but the air is cool and crisp. The world here doesn't come out to greet you right away, it reveals itself, tree by tree, street by street, from the embrace of morning mist and clouds. And the label on my yogurt tells me that there are Exactly 106,6 kcal in per container...

Welcome to Guatemala!

Once upon a time, when I was a small person and crazy fond of Gerald Durrell (am still fond of him, but not so small any more), I used to sit with his books, eyes on pages but mind's eye wandering around all those exotic places he talked about - South-America, Central America, Greece and many other fabulous spots, all the way to his home in good ole England. I must say that the ones fascinating me the most were the Bolivian pampas, Peruvian Andes, Guatemalan volcanoes, Brazilian beauties and, in short, everything and anything in South-Central America. The seed of desire was planted then and today I am picking the fruits of my dreams once again and heading towards the third adventure in the south side of the Americas - to Guatemala!

The first impressions were like looking at multiple colorful, noisy, smelly, smiley strips of film, with one difference - it was all real! Old shabby cars, motorbikes stinking and roaring to high heavens, street-sellers, taxi cabs with upholstery missing, slogans with slick mayan descendants advertizing toothpaste and diapers, barb wires, dogs, cats, people, colors, flowers and smiles, smiles, smiles...

The aftereffect of the image overload in my head is the lack of images in my camera. But I promise to make up for it tomorrow - I will be heading towards Antigua, the old capital of Guatemala and one of the most beautiful colonial cities around. Till then just a glimpse here for you. :)

The homes around the city are rather fiercely guarded and the number of vicious dogs and security officers with rifles (!) was incredibly high for my untrained eye.

But so was the multitude of blooms and smiles and beauty. :)

Christmas

No matter what's been said and however little of the real holiday there is left after it's been spread over so many weeks and across so many adds, the one thing that remains and is worth waiting for is the Warm Feeling of being surrounded with Friends and Family... May we all be Merry! :)

Holidays by JibJab Sendables - Christmas - Video shared by Giia Weigel

Holidays by JibJab Sendables - Christmas - Video shared by Giia Weigel

Polar Christmas...

... to compensate for the lack of snow, surely! All these teddies have made their way to me this lovely season, Christmas in Florida, full of polar bears, who could ask for more??? :D

Snowy memories...

Two years ago, in March, I witnessed a perfect winter day... The snow was the whitest, the sky absolutely the bluest, the air the crispiest and clearest and the sun the brightest. This is a combined memory of that day. Hopefully it will help with bringing White Christmas to my friends in Maarjamaa.:)

Simon

I have heard many people say that they feel as if they have had several incarnations crammed into one life. To tell you honestly, I have often the same feeling. The me I remember 20 years back has no bearing (seemingly) to the one I am now... This, however, seems to apply to canines as well. Simon started off as a mischievous trouble maker, continued as a ferocious herder and has now, during his senior years, settled into being a really spoiled and attention-hungry circus-dog. Gotta lurve the kindred spirit. :D

Season's Greetings Florida style

Hmph... Told myself that will not be nicking any more images, alas, the temptation was too great. And as one of my favorite people said: "The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it." I will not argue... Hence, follow the season's greetings Florida style. :)

Christmassy feeling...

Ever since my first Christmas on this side of Atlantic, I am a bit weary... About Santas in shorts. :D Namely, my first Christmas in USA greeted me under the California sun. To see Santas in swimming trunks and Christmas decorations hanging off of palm trees was a bit too much for me. Still, the "feeling" never fails to show up... Granted, dwarfs and reindeer show better on the backdrop of white and glistening snow, but the overall festive spirits fill the air wherever you are. Even if under the palm tree. Simon agrees. And tells you all to be Merry!!! :)

P.S. He has chosen to look poised and bit bored. Said it goes better with his image. ;)

Nicked moment

This lovely photo is not mine but as I couldn't stop admiring it, I thought it a crime not to share. :)

And the story was:
Photo and caption by Dorothy Bonett (NG Your Shot)

"This was our duckling, Marley, one day after Easter. There was a jet flying overhead and she was in a trance from it. I love the lighting and the expression on her face."

So do I. :)

Aitame Viljandimaa pere kodu taastada | help.ee

Aitame Viljandimaa pere kodu taastada | help.ee

Mitte alati ei näita elu end vaid päikeselise külje pealt, tihtipeale satuvad sekka ka tumedamad hetked. Mõnedele tähendab see soki kaotamist, teistele kodu põlengut. Nii soki kui maja saab uue osta, tõelist kodutunnet uude majja aga aitab kindlasti juurde tuua tuntud ja tundmatute abimeeste toetus ja sõbraõlg. Paneme siis õla alla. Kui mitte mingil muul põhjusel, siis lihtsalt seetõttu, et me suudame. Kasvõi vähesega. Klõpsa lingil ja... :)

Blooms

Even though I have lived in Florida for some years now, I still find myself awestruck when looking at the local flora, especially the kind that used to grow in pots and under a constant loving care in my home country, Estonia. I remember how my Mum fussed and worried about our Japanese birch and how every bloom was greeted with unbelievable joy. And yes, I have lived here for some years and yes, most exotic plants simply bloom on the streets here, but still, the awe and wonder in me remains...

Looking her straight in the eye. :)

Samantha

There is something about cats. They seem so aloof, yet are always on guard; they seem so loving, yet can smack you (or whoever they choose to treat with disdain at any given moment) without a moment's notice; they seem totally satiated, yet can attack their food with such a ferocity which makes you wonder if they have ever had a decent meal in their lives, and so on and on and on... As of today, three cats have graced my life with their presence. Two are no more and the third one, Malkovich, is the king of a canoe rental in North Florida. May he have a long and happy life.

But today is not about my cats. It is about Samantha. A gorgeous visiting feline who has driven Simon, my darling dog, into such a confusion that he has given up on everything even remotely resembling making friends with this kitty. And here she is...

And here is the inevitable - feline-canine stare-down. :)

Two more visiting days are ahead of us. I am cheering in Simon's court. For Samantha. ;)

New old finds

Isn't it interesting that the moment you present yourself with any kind of challenge, it immediately turns into a quest? Right after posting the previous shot from Honduras I dove into my old Picasa files and searched. Began with a rigid search as some people would say. Especially if they were in a certain movie. But I digress. As my search drew to an end I discovered something sad and something joyful. The sad fact is that among the thousands of pictures I have taken there are couple of good ones. The joyful fact is that among the thousands of pictures I have taken there are couple of good ones...

This kitty resides in Aguas Calientes, Peru. I was on my way to scout out the many massage parlors and fabulous eateries this little town is famous for and spotted the incredible show of light and shadows and this tiny feline minding hir own business, as if it was something quite usual. Perhaps it is in Feline world. :)

This is a French félin, keeping a watchful eye on me and my friends, wandering around an old Briton castle wall.

 And this lovely little lady was playing in the courtyard of the same castle to a fairly large audience, who all stood in awe and wonder. She was not just playing, she was living her tunes. Living. :)

Looking through a different eye

I have been fond of photography for some time now but besides acquiring slightly better cameras after loss or theft of previous ones, have not really thought of Doing something about this fondness. Until now. After having watched the NG special about the photographers, their plights and rewards, I decided to become one of them. Not necessarily one whose photos will be covering the pages of famous magazines, but definitely one who is willing to capture the magic of this world and share it. I even went as far as got going in NY Institute of Photography! Anything can come from anything and I am most eager to see where this path will take me...

The proper way to begin would probably be with something new but I don't do proper all that well. So instead, I will begin with an old one. This is a random shot, taken in Honduras, where poverty and bright colors seem to walk hand in hand, no matter where you turn...

Will be looking for Life. I wonder... :)