Tag Archives: cobblestone

Wet Cobblestones in Geneva

Posted on January 13th, 2014 by

Photogs

I have long loved Brassai. A Hungarian photographer who came to prominence in Paris between World War I and II. He has taken some of my favorite photos of the City of Light by night. Interestingly some of my favorite photographs are of the wet streets of Paris. These are simple, but there is a sensual and mysterious love they seem to express to me.

Wet Stones

I can’t ever seem to get away from the depth contained in ancient wet cobblestone streets. They have been around for thousands of years and will be for thousands more if God willing, Europe doesn’t adopt the American love of asphalt and concrete; such impermanent material. The history of these old cities has slowly been chiseled into their face. They reflect it in the mist, if you just look.

Wet Cobblestones in Geneva
Wet Cobblestones in Geneva by W. Brian Duncan

Old Geneva

Posted on January 28th, 2013 by

Old Town

Vieille ville or Old Town was my favorite part of the city of Geneva. There is something soothing about walking around the ancient Medieval Cobblestone streets, looking in the windows of antique shops, and eating in a small bar or cafe. There was no rush in Geneva, no time schedule, no pressure. It was cold and rainy and my first full day was Sunday when many of the shops are closed so their proprietors can spend the day with family. There were only occasional patches of blue in the sky, but somehow, it felt good. The world was right…the way it has been for a thousand years in Old Town. There is an ease to Europe that intrigues me. Something different than in the U.S. that I can’t quite put my finger on. It’s not better or worse, it simply exists differently. I long to explore it more, to understand.

HDR Photography
Old Geneva by W. Brian Duncan