“There is so much to see and so little time,” we remarked. “We should have done this in our twenties.” But, youth is wasted on the young, as the saying goes. We were starting our family and careers and had little time or money for travel.
Now, we have the resources and certainly have the time, but with this time of life comes aches and pains, sore knees and hips, and the breathlessness we feel is as much due to tired lungs as it is viewing incredible vistas and ancient cathedrals. Still, we are blessed with relatively good health, and with prior planning, we can travel and visit just about anywhere in the world and enjoy the journey.
Our most recent trip found us venturing along the coast of the Western Mediterranean along the shores of Italy, France, and Spain. Florence, Sienna, Aix en Provance, Cote d’ Azur, Eze and Sete and the famed seaport of Marseille were noted stops. I spent a birthday in Montpelier and witnessed one man’s life’s work at the Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona.
Each city we visited has a unique history, distinctive architecture, and charm. Narrow alleyways lead to ancient Roman aqueducts and old buildings exploding in colors of red and yellow hues and tones. Fish markets with the daily catch piled high on beds of ice, their heads still attached and eyes that seem to follow you as you walk along the docks.
You wonder how all of this was built without computers, modern equipment, and technology. Hundreds, maybe thousands of artisans, and craftsmen, and skilled laborers took centuries to build magnificent cathedrals, monuments, and cities in tribute to their Gods and Kings.
It’s rewarding to witness firsthand the genius of Michelangelo or Antoni Gaudi’s life’s work and the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea. To get away, and out of our day-to-day routines. I found it interesting how the locals seemed to be one with their surroundings, carrying on their day-to-day lives among the grand sculptures and buildings walking on the same cobblestone streets that have been walked for a thousand years.
I wanted to photograph the local people. And to shoot the different venues without hundreds of tourists in the scene. The results are in two collections of photographs. Postcards from Barcelona and The Western Mediterranean.
Sore knees and hips and aching backs. Long flights, time changes and lost luggage. At least a week to recover. And we’re ready to go again.