A Little Serenity

We can all use a little serenity. I found a bit of my own looking up that this balcony.

I hope you'll find some too.

Good Morning, Sunshine

About a month ago I got myself a job. I love it. But having 40 fewer unscheduled hours each week sure has cut into the time I can devote to photography.

I've adapted. I now take photos on my way to and from the office. I took this one on a recent sunny morning, the colors alive in the light.

It's teacher's day, a holiday here in Beirut. Hooray for teachers. None of us would be where we are without them.

Four Centered Arch

It's been a while since I paid much attention to the variety of arch shapes that are to be found on older buildings all over Beirut.

Based on a diagram that I swiped from a nice website called "Looking at Buildings", I'd call this one a four centered arch.

Do you agree?

Unique

Each floor of this house seem to call out in a stage whisper, "I'm different, I'm special, I'm nothing like the rest of them."

They belong together.

A Corbeled Arch

Over the past few weeks I've posted many photos of corbels in and around Beirut. And today, we have a corbeled arch. The way it works is that corbels on either side meet in the middle, bridging the space between.

I found this example in West Beirut on Bliss Street.

Rain, Rain

It's rainy, rainy, rainy lately. But before the rain started, I was out with my camera, looking for the usual suspects.

And you know, if you're looking for something that's what you'll probably find.

After All

Sometimes, you stop to take a picture for no reason other than to see if you can get it right. What the eye sees and loves isn't always what the camera can capture, after all. And so it was, not long ago, that I stopped before this window and tried a couple of times to get this one right. It was worth it, those lovely little balustrade curls peeking out of the arched window are socks-knocked-off charming.

It's just another gorgeous day in Beirut.

Triple

Three corbels holding nothing, jutting out as if attempting a triple fist-bump.

I love that association.

I'm also drawn to the lone, bare light bulb hanging from the nearest arch, ephemeral in the presence of all that stone and iron.

My Good Fortune

I love this little spot. It's my good fortune to walk past it nearly every day.

It's become a piece of home.

Every Minute

It's a long, holiday weekend here in Beirut.

The weather's fine, neither work nor school for days to come and we're enjoying every minute of it.

Wait and See

Sometimes there's nothing for it but to wait and see.

We woke up today to a downpour, but by the time I left the house it was sunny. When I look at a picture like this one, I can't help thinking over how many times the sun has come up and gone down on the old houses of Beirut. And no matter what, I know that tomorrow it still will.

Walking In

I really couldn't help it. The day was progressing happily, and I was feeling so content, and then the light was just right and the gate was open. I found myself walking through it.

Sometimes, life is just like that.

A Little Serenity

Here is one very overgrown balcony.

This house sits on one of the busiest streets in West Beirut. Which explains a lot of things--including how I can admire the architecture of the house without envying its residents. I'm sure the noise generated by passing traffic intrudes all too often. And it is likely far more enjoyable to look at these windows from the street than to contemplate the street from within.

If I were to live in such a house I too would raise up an wall of green as a small act of defiance within the surrounding sea of gray.

Another Life

One thing that I love and hate about living outside the country of my birth, youth, and upbringing is that I'm constantly aware of it.

I love this because it is illuminating. It gives me an awareness of my ideas, assumptions, my expectations and allows me space to examine them in a context in which they do not fit.

I hate it because so often, my ideas, assumptions, and expectation don't fit. I'm a misfit.

Take this:

It's a goldmine, right? Brilliant! Hardwood doors, looks like craftsman era, not in the best shape but definitely a DIY dream come true! I even have a car that's good for hauling stuff like this, and I could so totally drive right over and load it up and take it back to my place and do something amazing with it!

What would I do with these fabulous doors?

Do you really have to ask? Why, just about anything, actually.   The possibilities are endless.

But that's me thinking like an American.  Even as it was happening I knew it. And so I left that garbage right where it was. Because that was the Lebanese thing to do.

Our Daily Bread

It's early.

Outside shops that aren't open and won't be for another few hours, bread is waiting. Bags and bags of flat and fluffy yeast bread too are delivered early to this little sandwich shop.  By closing time the bread in the bags will have fed most of the street. The construction workers, the guys in the pharmacy as well as the barber shop, the ones in the little hardware shop, the produce sellers and the guys next door who have all kinds of cheese.

Dancing Sunlight

Reflected late afternoon sun danced on the upper floor of this decadent villa in Achrafieh as I happened to pass it.

I love the horseshoe arch, especially when it looks balanced as these do. The horseshoe can look top-heavy and unstable, but these are just right I think.

Make Up Your Mind

Some days, I just can't decide. Or more accurately, I won't.

So, I give you three views of the same building.

Good thing the stakes were so low.

Happy Sunday, everyone.

Reverse Ogee

One book I wish I had with me here in Beirut is the Grove Dictionary of Architecture, because it gives comprehensive treatment to all kinds of arches and provides vocabulary to specifically identify virtually anything. But I don't have it, so I'm stuck with the internet. These funny little arches are called 'reverse ogee'. Wikipedia only discusses the ogee arch and has nothing more than a picture of the reverse ogee.

Blooming

Here for you today, another set of three windows on a traditional old house near downtown. One of the three windows is completely obscured by that enormous blooming something. Even with broken glass, I'd love to look out of these windows and see it heralding spring.

Decadent Arches

In the past, I've often referred to Wikipedia's descriptions of arches when I present a new one here, but in this case I don't think it will help.

Aren't they wonderful?