Category Archives: Which Way Photo Challenge

Instanbul, Turkey, Which Way Photo Challenge

The Maps of our Lives

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I found this quote and something inside me moved – like a shutter opened by a sudden gust of wind – to remind me of a more carefree time. No restrictions. No fear.

“Regular maps have few surprises: their contour lines reveal where the Andes are, and are reasonably clear. More precious, though, are the unpublished maps we make ourselves, of our city, our place, our daily world, our life; those maps of our private world we use every day; here I was happy, in that place I left my coat behind after a party, that is where I met my love; I cried there once, I was heartsore; but felt better round the corner once I saw the hills of Fife across the Forth, things of that sort, our personal memories, that make the private tapestry of our lives.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, Love Over Scotland

The route map of our trip to Turkey in 2019. I’m loathed to label it as “last trip before Covid” because I don’t have a picture of “last” in my mind. Only a picture of “first”, “more” and “we will be back” – future-focused rather than past-reminiscing.
©2021 Regina Martins

Istanbul was where we saw ancient and modern side by side, experienced both kindness and brashness from strangers, and felt the clash of two cultures vying for recognition and national identity.

#yougottaloveinstanbul

Which Way Photo Challenge

Which Way Photo Challenge

And … so, I become

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Saint Lucian poet, professor and playwright Derek Walcott famously said: “I read; I travel; I become”.

With increasing travel bans on South Africa, the excitement of visiting other places seems like a distant memory. So I read. And pore over photos of past trips, each photo evoking feelings and remnants of entertaining conversations. And … so, I become.

This photo, taken at the end of a summer day at Cape Point Vineyards kindles reminders of sitting on the grass enjoying exquisite food and wine with wonderful people.

Which Way Photo Challenge
The jetty at Cape Point Vineyards
©2021 Regina Martins

I end this post with a quote from one of my favourite novels: “We leave something of ourselves behind when we leave a place, we stay there, even though we go away. And there are things in us that we can find again only by going back there.”
― Pascal Mercier, Night Train to Lisbon

The Which Way photo challenge is all about capturing the roads, walks, trails, rails, steps, signs, etc. we move from one place to another.  You can walk on them, climb them, drive them, ride on them, as long as the specific way is visible.