In the window on the left there’s a bird, I think it’s some kind of brown dove? It built a nest there while I was away over the summer. When I returned, it was sitting there on two tiny eggs. One of them hatched the next day. The other followed the day after. There was another bird that would come in the mornings to feed the babies, giving the first one time to fly off. It would open its beak and let the little birds eat from there. Two weeks after hatching, they flew off on their own.

Well, it used to bring me great sadness to think about the end of summer. Now I find myself looking forward to the fall. Changing leaves have something to do with it, but also the cool sunny days and almost menacing evenings. I like the idea of thanksgiving. Seasonal associations are very tied to place, and it’s curious to think that another hemisphere is now transitioning to spring. So, from this part of the world, happy fall and spring.

This is a statue just off Stanley Island in Vancouver. I like the way it gazes so serenely at the mountains, houses, and shipping docks. Sometimes statues in isolated or uncomfortable places leave me feeling unsettled. This one seems alright, as if maybe it can be replaced by a friend for a while if it wants to get away.

It’s probably not correct to say horsewoman, as in horseman, but I’ll have to find out what they’re really called. These riders, both men and women, are fairly common on Moscow sidewalks. They’ll bring you to your destination for a negotiated price. Though just one of many transportation options in the city, they offer an interesting counterpoint to the powerful traffic rushing through the streets.

I’m not sure why this stands out so much for me, or even what kind of mushroom it is. Although it’s hard to tell from the photo, it was probably the size of a dinner plate. It’s not the size though. I think it’s just the way it breaks in certain parts. Also the texture and color against such dark soil. What does it have to do with cities? Maybe nothing. Or maybe it will come to me later, hopefully.

This is just an image for the day. It’s a postcard from a friend that I guess can be turned into the Marina City Towers. It’s good though as a postcard, so this is what it looks like just in case I destroy it trying to assemble the towers.

The St. Petersburg Guide provides an unpretentious and informative overview of the city’s history through its distinctive architecture. Maintaining so many historical buildings beside a river prone to flooding must be a great challenge. The conversion of the Winter Palace into a museum is also very interesting. Apparently there are other former palaces and estates in the city that might be reused as well.

Quoted from the St. Petersburg Guide: It’s called The Winter Canal, and this is one of the most poetic corners of the “old St. Petersburg”. It was described in Alexander Pushkin’s famous “Queen of Spades”, and until now is the place for romantic dates of people who are in love. This place is especially lovely when seen from the water – when you sail either along the Moyka or along the Neva river in a boat and cast a look on the beautiful arch that frames the Winter Canal…

The Danda gallery contains hundereds of images of distinctive architecture from around the world. There are at least four large pictures of each structure, which provide a good feel for how they look in context.

Today I visited the former subway tunnel in my home town, Rochester, NY. Later I was surprised to find a lot of information about it online, including a Wikipedia page and a documentary. There is also a group called the Rochester Rail Transit Committee (RRTC), which hopes to resurrect the subway to provide light rail service in the city and up to Lake Ontario.

I’ve posted a photo tour of the section that runs below the Rundel Memorial Building and across the Broad Street Bridge. Here are a few related links: map from 1928, map with proposed new lines, historical photos, contemporary photos, additional information.

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