Germany/Luxembourg/Italy/France/Belgium/Holland/Netherlands

This trip was an incredible experience. Full of nature, art, museums, rivers, castles, autumn color, many languages, religeon, culture, people, travel, famous structures and so much more.

I was not prepared for the people’s lack of affect, rigidity, conservativeness, so frigid seeming. I can’t describe what I felt when I was in Germany, it’s as if they had seen a ghost at times when they looked at me. One would whisper to another, the other looks back at me to see what her friend was talking about. Yes, maybe at times it had to do with my wearing shorts. People in Germany cover up head to toe it seems, very concealed. So drab in their appearance.

Sometimes I felt as though I had traveled back in time as I entered new little village looking towns that took but a second to go through. The houses still look like they were built hundreds of years ago, with attached barns and car ports that looked like old barns converted into garages.

I just wanted to see one piece of trash on the road on the ground. That would not happen in Germany, too clean, too sterile. Although the houses and barns are old, everyone seems to live by the same code. The code is everyone keeps everything clean, neat, and organized. Very early in the morning you see older people out cleaning, raking, doing outdoor chores, wiping the sidewalk with a special sidewalk sweeper that most seem to have.

Cobble stone roads, very narrow roads line the streets of every town. No cemented areas. It appears they do no like the permanence of cement. Not sure the reason, but one thing is clear, Europe loves their cobble stone roads. I was hoping to find out why their roads are built so narrow, so narrow that at times only one car is able to pass. I heard the reason for the narrow roads is to protect the environment and not build too much around the wooded areas and country. I do like that reasoning as America builds wherever able, with little to no regard for nature at times.

Their wooded areas are so vast and awe inspiring that I felt as though I had died and gone to heaven. I couldn’t possibly explain how beautiful their forests are. Breathtaking is a good way to describe it, and just when you think you are in the most beautiful place, another place is even more beautiful. The beauty in Germany is never ending. They certainly have done something right when it comes to nature.

My friend said that Germans are very green, they like to protect their environment and recycle as well as eat healthy. We went to several grocery stores and it is very evident that they like good produce and healthy foods. The bread isle alone was never ending and loaded with healthy breads made of a variety of grains. I did not see any white bread!!! Their yogurt isles are quite impressive they like their various yogurts and healthy blends as well. I was not impressed with how much they love PORK, yucky. They do eat a lot of pork. They have entire isles of pork sausages and links and you name it I should have photographed their pork isles yogurt, and breads. it was kind of scary to pay for something and not understand German and no one around knew English!!!

Germany or Europe in general was such a whirlwind for me. Three weeks of non stop go go go!!!

So much to write about, will add a lot more later.

Photo by Erwin Recinos

Photographed in the Warehouse District of Downtown L.A., near Santa Fe Avenue.

Photo by Gina Doland, via Flickr.

Photo by Ferdinand, used with permission.

Photographed next to the Museum of Neon Art on 4th Street, between Main and Spring.

Photo by Ren Rentz, used with permission.

“On Melrose, life is a tad more beautiful if wearing Prada while driving Porsche.” – Ren Rentz, via Flickr.

Photo by Benjamin Y., used with permission

This specific alley caught my eye because of the interaction between the individual in the alley and the person in the SUV. These small alleyways around LA may seem unique and interesting to photographers, but to many people who live in the area, it is just [a] mundane aspect of their neighborhood. – Benjamin Y.

Photo by Vahagn Karapetyan, used with permission

“Unfortunately, this particular alley has no elaborate history or exciting backstory. It is located in Burbank and nested in the midst of obscure warehouses. Perhaps its only redeeming quality are the eerie, yet restrained, warm hues struggling to ward off the blandness that pervades the entire place.” – Vahagn Karapetyan

Photo by Michael Farquhar, used with permission

Photo by Michael Farquhar, used with permission

“I am a recent transplant to LA, and have been kind of obsessed with all of the graffiti and alleys since I got out here.” – Michael Farquhar

Photo by Justin Sangani, used with permission

“It’s definitely one of the cleanest alleys I’ve seen, I think that made it unique for me. It gave it it’s own character but I don’t know if the image would have worked without my dog.” – Justin Sangani

Photo by Balbir Bassan, used with permission

“I took it because I hadn’t done any real photography for a month and I figured the scene of the alley was suitable, so I just waited for people and snapped.” – Balbir Bassan

Photo by Gary Cohen via Flickr and used with permission.

[Ed note: We'll admit we had never heard of Naud Junction before, but have since learned it's a tiny stretch of real estate in Downtown, near Phillippe's. Map]

Used with permission.

Without shadow, there would be no light

Beautiful Mad video. It’s fantastic to think Logh Love is spreading all around the world.

Shshd

a MAD for Reinhard and Oberstein in Legend of the Galactic Heroes made by shshd——Yeah, it’s me,one of the 銀英 FANs from China!