Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge this week has the topic of Bridges.
CFFC: Bridges
Canada
Kinda Square: Markets
I’m back after a bit of a hiatus from blogging and participating in this challenge, so this time I’m including multiple photos for Becky’s October KindaSquare challenge, because there are many different KINDs of markets around the world!
Helsinki, Finland 
Berries, some imported from New Zealand and Portugal, Helsinki 
We bought pastries at this stand (Helsinki). 
Helsinki, Finland 
Park Ridge farmers’ market, USA 
Park Ridge, IL, USA 
I don’t know what these are but they were sold in Aswan’s spice market. 
Aswan, Egypt 
Aswan, Egypt 
Strange looking items for sale in Aswan! 
Spices in Aswan’s market 
Lots of other stuff for sale in Aswan market! 
Nighttime in Aswan’s market 
Rishon le Tsiyon, Israel 
Rishon le Tsiyon, Israel 
Artisans’ market, Santa Fe, NM 
Santa Fe, NM, USA 
Flower market, Santa Fe 
Quebec City, Canada 
Quebec 
Fresh strawberries in October! Quebec 
El Rastro flea market, Madrid, Spain 
Spice market, Granada, Spain 
Artisans’ market, Barcelona, Spain
Friendly Friday: Markets
Sandy’s Friendly Friday Photo Challenge topic this week is markets.
I love outdoor markets – we have a farmers’ market near us on Sundays which runs from June to October. Most of the farmers are from Michigan or southern Illinois. Of course, the items change with the seasons. This is a local farmers’ market in October.
It is fun and interesting to visit markets in other countries – both outdoor farmers’ markets and regular supermarkets. Following are market scenes I took on my recent travels.
Quebec City, Canada in October
SONY DSC
Aswan spice market, Egypt, in January
Colorful stall
Rishon le Tsiyon, Israel – these photos were taken at an (indoor) supermarket, in January
Tel Aviv, Israel – another supermarket, in January
Vienna, Austria – we took a special tour to this large outdoor market, called Naschmarkt, which sold a lot of other things besides food! In July
Not all markets sell food…
Here is the Daraw animal market in Daraw, Egypt, in January.
Plenty of people watching too! 
The camel handlers tie up one of the camels’ legs so they won’t run away. 
They claim this does not hurt the camels. 
Not just animals are for sale. 
One needs other equipment for the animals. 
Back there is where slaughtered animals hung – I did not go near! 
The cattle looked emaciated. 
Thursday Doors With Flowers
Since I haven’t gone anywhere lately where I could photograph doors, I’m recycling some previous ones I’ve posted, thematically. This week for Norm’s Thursday Doors, I present doors with flowers.
Hunt for Joy Challenge: Up On the Roof
Cee’s weekly challenge On the Hunt for Joy, is in week 5. This week the topic is Count Chimneys, which includes photos of chimneys, weather vanes, spires and satellite dishes. How is this topic about hunting for joy? She explains: Tip from Ingrid Fetell Lee: Count Chimneys: As you’re walking around, keep a tally of chimneys, spires, or weathervanes. Looking up at the rooftops lifts your gaze, which opens up your posture and allows more light into the eyes, two things that can help to improve your mood.
I admit, some of these photos did not involve looking up, but rather looking down, but even so, they are of chimneys, weather vanes, and spires (no satellite dishes!).
January Square: Vancouver Twilight
I captured these awesome colors of Vancouver at twilight in late August 2016 before our cruise to Alaska. Here’s the square:
These are rectangular so they show a bit more of the sky and dark landscape.
These colors remind me of a painting, using a palette of several blended hues. But much as I love art, the actual beauty of nature is even more wondrous!
Posted for Becky’s January Square with the subject of words ending in light.
I had never heard of the following music before, but I went to YouTube and typed in “Vancouver Twilight” and this is what I got. Apparently Twilight in Vancouver is new – released on January 3, 2020! The composer & instrumentalist is Sarah Debnam, known as Sarah the Illstrumentalist.
Beautiful Sunsets
Dutch Goes the Photo has a Tuesday photo challenge and the topic is sunsets.
Beautiful sunsets are everywhere, but the most beautiful I have seen are when I am traveling – which I guess is logical, because although I do have photos of pretty clouds and sunsets at home, my view is usually obstructed by buildings, trees, and other suburban fixtures. Being in wide open spaces is where I have watched the sun set in awe.
I can never forget the sunsets I’ve seen from Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro – every time I go to Rio, it is a must to go up in the cable car in late afternoon and watch the sunset from up there. On my most recent trip, in Nov. 2016, here was the view as the sun set around 7:00 pm. I am only including one, although I took several beautiful sunset photos that afternoon.
OK, just one more!
Another wide open space where I have witnessed many awesome sunsets is at sea, while on cruises. In Oct. 2017, we were on a cruise from Boston to Montreal, so this sunset was over the North Atlantic, off the coast of eastern Canada. I like the different patterns of the clouds in this photo.
Often when people think of sunsets, they think of Africa, which is famous for amazing sunsets on the open savanna. When we went on safari in Tanzania, I saw this for myself.
This one was taken at Tarangire National Park.
Here’s another one I took at the southern Serengeti:
The sunrises in Tanzania were amazing too (we saw many, as we were up very early each day to go on game drives), but this is a post about sunsets!
In France, we drove to Mont-St.-Michel and got there in the late afternoon, so we admired the sunsets and saved our visit to the island for the next day. I like this photo because of the fence, but the sun set to the west, not over the island of Mont-St.-Michel, which is reached via a long causeway when the tide is low.
Finally, sunset over Jerusalem – we arrived late on a January afternoon, and enjoyed the view of the old city from Mt. Scopus. (This is not the best photo of the city, but it is a pretty sunset.)
Finally, closer to home, sunset reflected on the Mississippi River north of St. Louis, MO
December Squares: Steam Clock of Gastown, Vancouver
The world’s first steam powered clock is in the Gastown neighborhood of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This plaque tells about it.
Glass panels on the sides allow the curious visitor to see the mechanics inside this clock.
Another photo showing the whole clock is in my previous post.
For more timepieces and other interpretations of the theme time, see Becky’s December Squares.
Speaking of time, here’s a video of the lyrics to the song Time Has Come Today by the Chambers Brothers.
CB&WPC: Signs
The theme for Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge this week is signs of any kind. Taking pictures of interesting signs is one of my photography hobbies; these are some of my favorites.
Parking lot across the street from San Antonio Museum of Art, San Antonio, Texas
A train station of bygone days, Alaska
In a restroom at Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC, Canada
“Home of the Giant Pretzel,” Mader’s Restaurant, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Alien Fresh Jerky store, Baker, California
Bagdad Café, Newberry Springs, CA
Defunct Ludlow Café, Ludlow, Arizona
Bumper sticker, somewhere on Route 66
Sign outside barber shop, Denver, Colorado
The Big Texan steakhouse, Amarillo, TX
Under a Bridge
Jenn at Traveling at Wits End has a weekly photo challenge. This week’s challenge is to “photograph under a bridge.”
From a cruise ship on the St. Lawrence River, Quebec Province, Canada
From a cruise ship, Panama Canal
While cruising on an electric boat on the Chicago River
I end with an appropriate song, one of my favorites, from my favorite music duo, Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water.
Wanderlust & Wonderment 