sierpnia 2009 ~ Gardendiggers

niedziela, 30 sierpnia 2009

Wrocław - Part II. Bridges and Lover's Padlocks.

Wrocław is the city of 112 bridges. The big ones and the small footbridges. The most known is Most Tumski (Tumski Bridge). It joins the Wyspa Piasek (Sand Island) with Ostrów Tumski - the oldest district of the city. Ostrów Tumski is mostly the religious centre (the bishopric was founded in Xth century), but it has also another face. It's favourite place of lovers.
There's a tradition that lovers hang padlocks on the bridge. Padlocks have their names and date. Keys are thrown away to the river...
By the way - the word "Tum" means (in old Polish) church of higher range, cathedral. It's not used anymore - survived mostly in geographical names.
"Ostrów" is the old word for an island or peninsula on the river. So the "Ostrów Tumski" means "The Island (Peninsula) of Cathedrals".

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Most Tumski (Tumski Bridge). In the background - the towers of St. John The Baptist's Cathedral.

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The sight from the Tumski Bridge to Mill Bridge.

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Another well known bridge is Most Piaskowy (Sand Bridge). Since the Tumski Bridge is green, this one is red...

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Most Piaskowy (Sand Bridge)

... And the Most Młyński (Mill Bridge).

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Most Młyński (Mill Bridge)

There's also a modern footbridge - Kładka Słodowa (Malt Footbridge).

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Kładka Słodowa (Malt Footbridge)

Wrocław - Part I

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A sight from University Bridge on Oder River.

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A steamer on the Oder River.

Wrocław - one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Central Europe. The capitol of Lower Silesia in South-Western Poland, with history beginning in Xth century. Situated on the Oder River, at the intersection of two important trade routes - Via Regia and Amber Road, from the beginning was the multicultural place, where different cultures and languages met and got mixed.
And now, after centuries of history, sometimes tempestuous, it's still called a "meeting place". A place, where ages meet in various, sometimes surprising ways...

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St. Mary-Magdalene's Cathedral...

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... and the baroque University Name of Jesus church meet face-to-face with glass and steel of modern buliding.

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And again St. Mary-Magdalene reflecting in glass elevation.

środa, 12 sierpnia 2009

Of Happiness...

Od Koty

Happiness... So desirable by everyone, so rare and so complex... Luckily, there are always some little things that make us happy. Those little moments build our happiness every day. Happiness is not a state one can achieve, it's rather a process.
I was tagged by Sashindoubutsu to post about 6 things that make me happy :-)

1. Silence. Can be filled with sounds like music or whish of leaves...
2. Seeing others happiness (including our cats).
3. A meal prepared together with beloved one (don't forget a bottle of good wine).
4. A walk or journey with her, lugging the backpack full of photo stuff and taking shots together.
5. An evening in the garden (but keep gnats away, please).
6. Ok. I confess. Belgian chocolate ;-)

Now, let's tag some friends - V éronique Boujdi, Iris, Muza-Chan, Megha Chhatbar, David, and Nikon Sniper.

What are Your thoughts?