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Liberty, Sort of
Budapest, Hungary
2011

This bronze fellow carrying a torch was part of an original grouping of statues at the Liberation Monument on Gellert Hill in Budapest. The monument was constructed in 1947 to celebrate Hungary’s liberation from the Nazis by the Soviets. The Hungarians quickly soured on the Soviets and hence the monument. It was reconfigured in 1989 when the Soviets finally left. The most militant of the statues in the group (e.g. the Soviet soldier with the machine gun) where removed to another park in town where they serve a historical rather than memorial function. The original inscription on the Liberation Monument was changed from “Erected by the grateful Hungarian Nation in memory of the liberating Russian heroes” to “To the memory of all of those who sacrificed their lives for the independence, freedom, and success of Hungary.”

Corn Rows
near Paris, France
2011

I took this photo of some very oddly spaced clouds not long after we took off from Paris on our way to Budapest. It looks like someone had been plowing the clouds into rows in the sky to prepare for planting. The first thought that came to mind was corn rows, but on reflection maybe it’s what they have to do before they do cloud seeding to attempt to stimulate rain. 🙂 (The smiley face is least someone think I was serious about that.)

Take Me Higher
Chicago, Illinois
2011

When I looked up at this building some of my photographs of grain elevators came to mind. You could store a lot of wheat in this baby (which would likely be a better use than it’s actual function since I believe it is an office building for one of those big banks of questionable repute).

I’m posting this photo from the airport in Paris on my way to Budapest. So tomorrow or the next day (depending on when I get around to processing some new photos) you will see a marked difference in the POTD photos compared to the ones from Chicago.

The Bean
Chicago, Illinois
2011

What photo tour of Chicago would be complete without a picture of the famous bean, more officially known as the Cloud Gate?

Order From Chaos
Chicago, Illinois
2011

To me this seemingly random jumble of beams looks like a primitive version of one of those transformer creations in recent movies. Maybe it is, because if you back off far enough to see the whole thing this disorderly looking mess morphs into a drawbridge over the Chicago River.

Truth in Advertising
Chicago, Illinois
2011

If this parking lot offers a choice of valet or self-parking, I believe I’d go for the later.

I Dreamt I Was In the Band
Chicago, Illinois
2011

Not only did this guy seem to be having a musical dream, I’ll bet it was Christmas music as he was wearing a Santa hat.

Making Eye Contact
Chicago, Illinois
2011

Despite all the people around, city streets are a pretty impersonal place where the rule seems to be to always walk looking straight ahead toward your goal, treating other folks on the sidewalk simply as obstacles to maneuver around. So a little meaningful eye contact, even with an inanimate fellow, is a rare thing.

Make Your Move
Chicago, Illinois
2011

These serious chess players were set up in a doorway on Michigan Avenue and were oblivious to all those passing by (including me taking their photo). I think it is a semi-permanent fixture of the area, at least it was there every day that we were. I’m not sure if it was the same two guys every time or if there was a rotating cast of players.

In Case of Fire
Chicago, Illinois
2011

The view down an alley somewhere in the Loop.