Frankfurt...

I went to Finland planning a short stop-over in Frankfurt on the way home.  But then, I needed to stay over the weekend, as part of a detour to India.  So, I charged up my camera batteries and hit the streets...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

...and a couple of church yards...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

...and through several parks and green-spaces.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Nice flowers in the park.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Deutsch Schwan am Main

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

And flowers in the marketplace.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

The Opera House, lit up beautifully after dark...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

...and the surrounding area.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

But then, as I often do, I was up before dawn the following morning,
to see what I could see.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

A cool church, with high steeple, on the south side of the river.

The middle bridge of the five in the central town area is a pedestrian bridge,
the railings are full of "love-locks" (but not too many pre-dawn pedestrians).

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Same church, with the sunrise fairly subdued, the clouds were a bit heavy.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

A glass-covered building off to the east, with some color finally developing.

It started to rain, so that was it for the first try at a sunrise.
Here's an evening shot from the pedestrian bridge, looking west.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Up again Sunday morning before departing, this time no rain !

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Same tall church, from a position on the south bank, east of the church.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

This time, a bit more color...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Beautiful, peaceful, some color and no rain...my kind of sunrise.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Now, off to the airport for a quick 9-hour flight to Mumbai !

Y'all take care.
-Mark

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Stories

Hello all,

Just to update our "Followers" and those recently joining us on WrittenPost...

Over to the right side of this page, you will see the "Stories" section of the blog.  
There are several stories there, if you haven't seen them:

Red Dawn :
If a country, let's say a crowded country, needed more space, 
where would they look ?
http://writtenpost.blogspot.com/p/red-fog.html


The Raccoon Story :
My buddy Russ up in Oklahoma had a "Close Encounter". 
It's a true story, he lived it, and I just wrote it down.  Take a look.
http://writtenpost.blogspot.com/p/the-raccoon-story.html


...Tick... :
Well, back in the Fall of 2013, Comet ISON was a bit of a bust.  After its close-approach to the sun it was basically "consumed".  But, take a look at the (fictional) story of its companion, Comet Strelka.  If you like it, leave a Comment !
http://writtenpost.blogspot.com/p/this-eventis-fictional.html


Wind :
Several readers have liked Wind. 
If you do, leave a Comment in the section below the story.
http://writtenpost.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html


Fall :
A darker story, about the decline of a bridge, a neighborhood, a young girl. 
Same request, Comments are welcome.
http://writtenpost.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_28.html



As always, I hope you enjoy.  I'm trying to write more.  I have 2 or 3 half-written stories, but right now, work just isn't cooperating.  ;-(

If you are not someone we know, send us an e-mail and introduce yourself, we would enjoy getting to know our followers.

Thanks for tuning in and take care.

- Mark



Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Fog, Monterrey Docks,

Monterrey Bay, California, 2006

Immigration...

As I walked around Frankfurt the other day...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

...I encountered about 1000 little green guys...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

...installed in the square in the historic district...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

...by artist Ottmar Hörl.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

About 14 inches (350 mm) tall, the vast majority of them were a bright emerald green.  They are installed on a temporary wooden grid that fills the central part of the plaza.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Visitors can walk out among them, as many do, talking photos, posing, stooping down (as I did) to get close-ups of the little guys.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

I mention that the vast majority of the guys were bright green, but a small handful, maybe a half-dozen, were bright red, with another half-dozen bright yellow, and a half-dozen black ones.  The artist is apparently speaking out for inclusiveness... 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Now, in no way were my observations scientific.  I did not stake out the area, and count the photo-takers over time, and make notes about race...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

But it seemed to me that the folks most "celebrating" the display, by taking photos of friends and spouses out in the midst of the display...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

...were the "minority folk" in the crowd.  Of course, I am only showing photos here where the faces are mostly obscured, privacy of course being very important, so you can't count here for yourself, what I'm showing here is not a complete set of the photos I took...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

And to be fair, there were of course "lighter skinned" faces, taking photos, out in the display.  

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

It just seemed to me that the display about inclusiveness was most appreciated by the people in the crowd most interested in inclusiveness.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

It remains to be seen how Europe will handle the huge numbers of mostly Middle Eastern peoples presently clamoring to get away from their home countries, and into a safer, and more prosperous place like Europe. 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

So let's see...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

...there are many, many non-Europeans already living in Europe,.  And a number of "native-Europeans" are already concerned about their numbers, their motives, the friction created by religious and economic differences... 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Let's see how the current emergency influx of thousands of new emigrants, new refugees, will place strains on the system, and how the current residents will react.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

And I wonder, what this little guy will think, as he grows up, and he begins to speak his mind, and to vote.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Let's see...



Y'all take care,
- Mark W. Laughlin