The Captain likes Diet Coke

Wearing a cap that says “Capitan”, and dressed as he is in shorts and then in a warm jumper, I had to photograph him as he stood outside McDonald’s on Daunt Square.

I’m not sure what his name is, but I’ve seen him around Cork a few times since taking this photo last year.


Apertureƒ/2.8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/2000s

No Trolley Problem

Ah, so, what’s the craic with the shopping trolleys in Cork supermarkets, you ask? Well, let me tell ya, they’re as much a part of the shopping experience as the Barry’s Tea in your basket.

In Cork, like elsewhere, shopping trolleys are a staple in supermarkets, making the whole shopping experience a bit more manageable. However, there’s been some chatter about the deposit return scheme, where folks have been having a bit of a mare with the reverse vending machines. These machines sometimes refuse to take back bottles and cans bought from different stores, which has left a few shoppers scratching their heads and making extra trips.

When it comes to the trolleys themselves, they’re generally well-equipped for the job. You can find a variety of them, from the standard metal ones to the more modern plastic versions that are lighter and easier to handle. These plastic trolleys are a bit of a godsend, being rust-proof and made from recyclable materials, which is grand for the environment.

There’s also been the odd sighting of someone pushing multiple trolleys down the road, which is a bit of a head-scratcher and has raised a few eyebrows around town. But sure, that’s just part of the charm of living in Cork, where there’s always something to keep you entertained while you’re out doing the messages.

Sometimes the AI can talk like a Corkonian. Things are looking up.

(The photo above is of a supermarket in Valencia, but I’m sure they have similar problems with shopping trolleys. Hopefully, no ethical dilemmas, though.)


Apertureƒ/4
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length35mm
ISO5000
Shutter speed1/500s

Flamenco Flair in the Heart of Valencia

Ladies in dramatic and colourful Flamenco dresses, caught in a moment on the street. The men in black are smartly dressed, but they don’t compare to the red, black and white of the dresses!


Apertureƒ/4
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length16mm
ISO8000
Shutter speed1/500s

A tour of the 30th floor

Wander around the 30th floor of the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw on a nice evening, and you’ll find plenty of people enjoying the views and not a few relaxing in deck chairs in the cool evening air so high up.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO12800
Shutter speed1/500s

Walking to the team

In Warsaw, there’s a striking mural of Polish athletes, and the first I saw of it was when this man was walking towards a stairs leading down to the open area in front of it.

The mural is sponsored by Adidas and created by Jakub Podlodowski. He has written about it on his Facebook page here.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length240mm
ISO160
Shutter speed1/500s

A little Polish Flag

As we were waiting for a train to take us to the old town of Warsaw, another train pulled up with a little Polish flag stuck in the bumper. It was August 1st, so no wonder. A pretty important day in that city because of the uprising 80 years ago.


Apertureƒ/3.5
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/1000s

Griffins stand guard in Blarney

Griffins sit at the points of the roof of the gatehouse at the main vehicle entrance to Blarney Castle. It’s a private entrance, so if you’re wondering where it is, go back towards the village from the tourist entrance and turn right across the bridge and go 20m down the road. It’s on your right and you can’t miss it.

The house sits alongside a long straight road to the grounds of the Castle.


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length115mm
ISO250
Shutter speed1/500s