I’ve been assured by several native New Yorkers that a sure sign summer is here is when they turn the fountains on in Columbus Circle. As I was leaving Central Park a few evenings ago, I heard several people squeal in delight and exclaim “It’s summer!” I looked around and sure enough, there was the fountain, illuminated, bubbling and gurgling away, welcoming summer with graceful arches of water shimmering and dancing in the dark.
I took a seat in the centre of the circle and watched as passersby acknowledged this harbinger of summer; their steps suddenly lightening and broad smiles breaking out on their faces as they glimpsed the dazzling display. And as I sat there, I started to think about what summer means for me. My answer, oddly enough, was bicycles. You see, growing up in Ireland, the only feasible time to ride our bicycles (without getting utterly drenched by rain) was summertime. During the summers, my brother and I would take off on our bicycles down winding, leafy lanes, exploring the countryside, stopping along the way at tiny little cafes for a cup of tea and some homemade scones. Sometimes we’d stay overnight in a youth hostel so we could venture further afield the next day. I can still remember the heady scent of the gorse and meadowsweet that lined the lanes we biked down on those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. To this day, when I think of summer, I think of bicycles.
Last week’s impromptu ‘Reflections‘ challenge was so much fun, could we do it again? There are many other photo challenges out there, but how about one with a travel theme? I love finding out about great places waiting to be discovered, and it doesn’t have to be an exotic location, either. What’s everyday in your part of the world is exotic to someone who doesn’t live there.
So if you’d like to join in, create your own post about summer, title it “Travel theme: Summer” and put a link to this page in your blog post to make it easy for others to find your post.
What does summer mean to you?
xxx Ailsa
Where's my backpack? 
Hi Ailsa, Haven’t started a blog yet, hence the Flickr link. Waiting for Summer.
Hi Ailsa, haven’t started the blog yet, hence the Flickr link.
A simple wait for summer……
Fun, the long wait for summer, thanks for joining in, Atul, even without a blog 🙂
Summer along the southeast Atlantic coast http://wp.me/p2kyhh-8i
Hurrah, chattering gulls and briny ocean, very summery.
Great post! Love your photos!!! Summer means biking for me as well. It is one of the few activities that my husband and I BOTH have a passion for. I’m ready to go now! Yay Summer!
Hello fellow cyclist! Thanks for stopping by and having a peep at my summer post, Jennifer. 🙂
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Ailsa!!! Looks like this week is another fun party here!! Superb entries even this week!!! Another one from me too!!! Congrats on another fab challenge week! Maybe we should keep the challenges on your blog Mondays!! We will get so many more… or maybe Thursday 😉
It’s been such a wonderful response, Mystiic, and we’re still getting great entries in, so yes, I say let’s keep them coming until Thursday 🙂 I also got a couple of last minute reflections posts over the weekend. Love your summer salad. Fun! xxx
I think we should start the Photo Challenge on your Blog… every Wednesday!! When people are usually almost done with their entries for the official one.. We could call it the mid-week Photo Challenge!!
I thought about that, but it’s tricky, because people usually have more time on the weekends (I know I do) so Friday does seem the ideal time. However, if it runs right through until Thursday so there’s no need to rush, so folks can do them in their own time. What do you think?
From my own experience… the focus gets pretty divided!!… It took more time, to figure out pictures for both challenges… simultaneously!!
If you notice… the first two days are the highest input days… it begins to slow down… by the third day!! by the fourth and fifth… the pingbacks are more than the comments!! Mid week would be giving more people a fresh thought for the photographs!!
Personally I like your challenge… because you take interest on the entries… you actually make each one feel special… (I read all your comments ;)) You’re encouraging… so newer people come and post on your challenge!! So, in my thought it should have a special day 😉
Aw that’s really cool of you to say that, Mystiic. 🙂 Wish the WP theme I use separated the pingbacks from the comments, it would make it a lot easier to read.
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I finally posted my entry for this week’s challenge:
I really love your photo, as well as the rest of your readers’ entries!
…and I love your budding footballer, that last photo is sooo cute 🙂
OK… It’s cold & rainy in CT, and summer is too tempting to pass up, so I’m playing along again. Here’s a link to my video of summer photos from the Connecticut shoreline towns of Mystic & Niantic, to the beaches of Cape Cod Massachusetts. Hope you enjoy! Now I think I’ll stroll for a while through some of your “pings” — Thanks! :-))
http://wanponpopix.blogspot.com/2012/05/photo-challenge-summer-vacation.html
Looks wonderful, Pamela, I’ve been meaning to hit Boston but now I’m going to have to try to get to Cape Cod too, and Mystic & Niantic in CT – I have to go to Mystic just because of the name!!! Lovely video!!! xxx Ailsa
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OK – took me a bit to come up with this… but here goes: http://theretiringsort.com/2012/05/22/travel-theme-summer/
Ailsa your post above is wonderful – love the fountains and the bicycles!
Thanks, I was just over at your blog checking out your kayaking, fun stuff! Isn’t summer fun? 🙂
It is!!
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I guess this also qualifies for the challenge!: http://windagainstcurrent.com/2012/05/22/kayaking-gold-on-cape-cod-bay/
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Again, thanks for the invitation! 🙂 Here’s my entry: http://themetaphoriclife.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/poetry-wednesdays-pablo-neruda-sonnet-ix/
Here where I live, summer is about to end as monsoon rains come in June! But summer will always mean the best of the beaches here in my country. 🙂
Summer in Boracay, save me a deck chair! Gorgeous.
I love looking at your pics, Ailsa! They are most lovely. 🙂
Thanks fil, happy you joined in the travel theme challenge xxx
Catching up! 🙂 http://thoughtfulpaper.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/awesome-summer/
so.much.fun – you’ve been busy this summer, Melissa!
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summer in Provence
by traveller
love this challenge, Ailsa. your photos are beautiful.
as i mentioned over on my site, my calendar has gotten a bit tight, so am unfortunately unable to participate in this challenge and future challenges until the end of July.
if you are still continuing with your challenges at that time – and i hope you will – feel free to let me know. thanks much!
Yaay, thanks for stopping by, hoping to see you towards the end of July:) and also hope your busy calendar has lots of fun stuff crammed in there too 😉
Hi Ailsa, I just nominated you for the Kreativ Blogger Award. http://catbirdinoman.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/kreativ-blogger-award/
Thanks so much for sharing your world with us. You’re an inspiration!
Now I need to get to your Summer photo challenge!
Thank you so much, catbirdinoman, I’m honoured you thought of me 🙂
You’re welcome! 🙂
I LOVE your photos! They all came out so great!! Here’s the link to mine for the week. I hope you like them. http://serendipityplus.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/travel-theme-summer/ 😀
Hi Ailsa, Here’s my offer for your challenge! http://catbirdinoman.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/travel-theme-summer/
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This is glorious, I could read it over and over again. Thank you for sharing it! xxx
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What do you say about this week’s “official” Weekly Photo Challenge’s theme? 😀
Startled. 🙂 That’s an awfully big coincidence.
I think you’re somehow connected to WP headquarters. Just admit it… 😀
Bwaahahaa, love it, conspiracy theories abound! 🙂
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You’re a step ahead of the Weekly Challenge. 🙂 Maybe, it took the cue from you, Ailsa. 🙂
Hee hee, that was quite a surprise, Imelda! Well, I guess we’re all prepared with a post 🙂
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AhhhhhH! I finally did it. Fun!
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Better late than never, right? 😉
Unfortunately I’ve been so busy I had to cheat and give you the same one I used for the “official” challenge. And it was so nice of them to use Summer as a theme, I wonder where they got such a brilliant idea??? 😀
Grin, I can only imagine they followed the lead of someone truly inspirational! You’re totally allowed to cheat, there have been several people using last week’s travel theme for this week’s WordPress challenge, I guess I can live with it. 😉
Not too rude my lady? 😉
Just the perfect amount of rude, my noble SJTR
At your service madame. And they say chivalry is dead
😀
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hi ailsa, i finally managed to grab some time to participate in your challenge as i promised! and how funny is it that it’s the same as this week’s challenge? so i’ve got two summer photos – and one of them is specially for you! 😀 thanks for the invite again. have a super day! 🙂
Loved it, that looks like one summery glass of juice 🙂 xxx
Great pics. I love those fountains at Columbus Circle. Great place to be. 😉
Thanks, yes, New York certainly never gets boring, there’s always a fun photo opportunity 🙂
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So how does it feel to have the WPC following your lead…hehehehehe
I guess I didn’t miss this one after all then.
🙂
wondering if people were allowed to have bath in beautiful fountain 🙂
I think the NYPD might put a stop to bathing in the fountain 😉
Beautiful… The fountains are a sign but even more so are the fire hydrants that kids play with during the hottest days… 🙂
Oh yes, that’s such a typical New York scene!
Yep! 🙂
Loved the photos of the bikes. To me they are a symbol of summer (even though I ride in winter too). It’s winter now where I am – counting down the days to summer already! (PS If you have the time, I would love to know how you get a different image at the top of each page you post?)
Thanks Madoqua. When you’re uploading images, check to see if you have the option to choose one of the images you’ve uploaded as a featured image. Some themes support the option, some don’t.
Thank you for your help. I had noticed the feature, but did not know what it did. I’ll go and try it out 🙂
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I did it! Better late than never, right?
Here is my interpretation of summer: http://themagicalmiss.wordpress.com/2012/05/27/may-27th-photo-of-the-day-summer-fun/
Hello, Friend!
I owe you a Summer post. And though it is rather tardy, here it is 🙂
http://joycannis.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/weekly-photo-challenge-summer/
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Better late than never – love the light and H2O
Just saw your summer post, I love lupins…and guys on bikes 🙂