Stop Shell Hell in Mayo!
Remember the Shell to Sea protests that wanted to stop Shell from bringing natural gas from the Corrib Gas Field ashore. They wanted Shell to refine the gas at sea. According to the Wikipedia page for the group, Shell exited the project in 2018. This photo is from April 15th, 2006.
Gaza Protest in Amsterdam
A protest against the war in Gaza in Dam Square, Amsterdam. This was last month and late in the evening. It’s great to see it.
You are included
A train passing by on a street in Amsterdam caught my eye. It’s painted in the rainbow colours of the Pride Flag, with EVERYONE IS WELCOME HERE #YouAreIncluded printed on it! #YouAreIncluded was the theme of the 2023 Pride Amsterdam, and it was nice to see the colours still there.
Wheels in Santa Monica
Wheels is a mural made by artist, Anne Marie Karlsen from ceramic on 2nd Street in downtown Santa Monica, but I didn’t know that when I saw it. The vibrant colours and design caught my eye, framed by the trees and a parked van. More about it from here: Anne Marie Karlsen created Wheels, an…
The Green Hills of California
Rain makes for a green landscape in the hills of Satwiwa Native American Indian Natural Area around Camarillo, California.
Breaking barriers to the beach
A wooden fence lies forgotten in the sands of the beach in Santa Monica. Lifeguard Tower 15 stands in the background of this photo, just beyond all the food carts.
Directions to the Pier
Santa Monica Pier is hard to miss, but if you didn’t know where Muscle Beach or North Beach were, here’s a sign to help you.
The Santa Monica Roller Coaster
Some people love the roller coaster and raise their arms for that extra thrill, while others hold on with grim determination, hoping the ride will end soon. For others still, it’s just another ride on a vehicle they’re well-used to, their jaded expressions contrasting with the joy and terror of other riders.
A lizard in the sun
While out for a hike, we came across a few lizards, and one was lazy enough to lie still for a few seconds while I took some photos of him.
Look up!
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it… is it… a building? It was odd to see a man with binoculars on a street in Amsterdam looking up at the building opposite.
A thirsty dog at the beach
It’s thirsty work playing on a beach when you’re a dog. You need water to quench your thirst after chasing a ball all afternoon. There weren’t too many dogs at the beach, but I was surprised to see them. This was also the only place on our trip to the US that we saw dog…
Rooftop Shadow
Walking down a street in Santa Barbara, I spotted the shadow of a palm tree cast on a nearby roof. It attracted my attention because, while these roof tiles are common in that city, they’re not that common in Ireland and I liked the shape of the shadow too. Everything just seems brighter and bigger…