Months passed since I left Lisbon and life is moving on. The place, though, stayed dear to my heart. Also, there are still pictures left to show. While this one is not the last series from Portugal, it is the last one with the general theme of Lisbon – or Lisboa in Portuguese.
A few months have passed since I left Lisbon. I stayed there for the past autumn and winter working and traveling. As much as I could, I used the weekends for photography, roaming the busy streets of the Portuguese capital trying to capture its spirit on film (well not really, on an SD card). Life has moved on, but the buzzing trams and friendly people of this great town still seem close to me.
Shot in 2015.
The last time Cyprus was featured was about a divided island. Though the political situation is complicated, I recommend visiting both parts of the island. So, I won’t differentiate between the Turkish and the Greek parts in the following gallery. Pictures 5, 6, and 7 need some background: After the Ottoman conquest of Cyprus, former Gothic Cathedrals were converted into Mosques. Interestingly, some were not destroyed, and only minor changes were made (like the destruction of angel figures due to the ban on images in Islam). The altar was displaced within the church so the believers could pray in the direction of Mekka. According to Ottoman traditions, the former Cathedrals had carpets, and the inner church was painted white. Though inside as well as outside, you still see the Christian heritage. The clean and bright style of Islamic religious decoration combined with the dark and gothic severe style makes for a thoroughly fascinating combination.
Situated both on the European and Asian continents, Istanbul is the entry gate to the Orient, yet at the same time, it is also the last major European city in the southeast. Istanbul, or Constantinople, as it was called before the Ottoman conquest, has always been a metropole. Today, roughly 15 Million people call it their home. The vast sea of houses is divided by the Bosporus, a waterway connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. It is one of the busiest waterways in the world. Not far away – on the European site – grand mosques arise, built over the centuries by Ottoman rulers to show their power. They are majestic indeed, richly decorated with Islamic ornaments and beautiful interiors. Between the mosques, you will find the Grand Bazar, a covered bazaar consisting of 61 streets and many thousand shops. In Istanbul, everything seems grander than usual.
Most people know Lisbon is situated on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean; it is not so widely known, though, that the longest river of the Iberian peninsula floats through the city (technically, on the side of it). While definitely not a recommendable place to swim, a walk at the Tejo (or Tajo, as the Spanish say) has its merits – particularly for modern architecture enthusiasts. The Vasco da Gama tower (1,10, last picture) is a prime example. But the most exciting sight, majestic and intriguing simultaneously, is the Vasco da Gama bridge (2, 6, 8, 9, 11, 14). Spanning over 17 km, it is the longest bridge in Europe. The slight couverture of the structure allows for interesting photographic angles. I’ll invite you for a walk.
Michael Hoffman Photography 