Around this time of year, as the light grows dim and the nights close in up in the northern hemisphere, I start feeling the need for an injection of colour to counteract the low light. So I have been leafing through my brightest, most colour-drenched photographs to liven things up. My first stop was a garden in Guatemala where these fabulous parrots stood guard (or should that be ‘perched guard’) over the entryway.
Out in the Hamptons one sunny summer afternoon, these pretty pastel bikes made for a delicious sight.
The first time I laid eyes on a red cardinal, it was just after a snow storm in Manhattan. Wandering through Central Park, I rounded a corner and happened upon a whole flock of the reddest birds I had ever seen, and they weren’t in the least bit phased by my presence. Here’s one of the perkiest of them, posing for the camera.
This lovely lady was a living statue at the Folk Life Festival in Seattle. The burst of colour makes me smile and I adore that parasol. I do believe the world would be a better place if we brought back widespread use of parasols. All that delicate lace is just too wonderful for words.
I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling cheerier already. I’ll leave you with one of the most unforgettable of flowers, a stunning jade flower I happened across in Central America.
Are you ready to celebrate colour? If you would like to join in this week’s travel theme (everyone’s welcome!) here’s what to do:
- Create your own post and title it Travel theme: Colourful
- Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
- Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
- Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS!
xxx Ailsa
Your life is a canvas. Make sure you paint yourself a whole lot of colourful days. – Anon
Perusing colourful storylines on the backs of book jackets, I realized that none of them could possibly be as dramatic as my life to date. – Sarah Kay
Yes – more color to hold the grim drizzle at bay. Enjoyed the show (I think we should all start dressing like the lady in Seattle – (that gorgeous parasols might be replaced by big umbrellas, though) Meanwhile the colorful inflatable yard decorations tethered overhead in one big box store will have to cheer. Even the birds are hunkered down in today’s chill and rain
It’s the same where I am, phil – it hasn’t stopped raining for more than 5 minutes at a stretch all day. Floods galore. But the influx of colourful posts in response to this week’s theme are cheering me up no end! 🙂
oh my.. i am in otavalo, and i suspect i will find a few colourful images for this post! heading offline now, it’s cloudy, but not forever!
Ooh, Ecuador, how wonderful, I bet you’ll have no problem finding lots of local colour! xxx
Love this theme! Those parrots are amazing.
They were so majestic, surveying everyone from their perch. 🙂
Pingback: Heavy colors | Le Drake Noir
Pingback: Travel theme: Colourful | masadiso79's Blog
Those are great photos. Love all the color in the drab world right now.
Pingback: Colorful Around The World | A New Life Wandering
That lady in the flashy clobber with the pink, lacy thingy you call a parasol sure looks the part!! She reminds me of a few colourful sights in St Stephens Green of Grafton Street!! 😉
Oh yes, Ailsa, we need to keep having some colour shots to keep up our mood and motivation. Lovely post.
Pingback: Travel Theme: Colourful | Hamburg und Mee(h)r
Hi Ailsa,
here are my colourful photos from my cruise to Norway.
http://hamburgundmeehr.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/travel-theme-colourful/
Cheers Angela
https://chava61.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/travel-theme-colorful/
Pingback: Travel theme: Colourful | Mick's Cogs
I love that colourful woman Ailsa. I didn’t know which part of asia to head to this week, but in the end chose India, it’s so colourful!
https://almostitalian.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/travel-theme-colourful-in-varkala/
Pingback: Travel Theme: Colourful « Leya
Fantastic colours! And just what we need, Ailsa – thank you!. That jade plant…magnificent. That one I would have payed some money to see in reality…Lucky you.
Here’s my contribution – and my favourite is the Gloriosa!
http://wp.me/p1hCI2-3Sp
Pingback: Colourful | Mick's Cogs
Lovely colour Ailsa. Yes Francesca Asia is so colourful
http://regionalcognisance.wordpress.com/2014/11/22/colourful/
Pingback: Travel theme: Colourful | Figments of a DuTchess
Gorgeous photos, Ailsa! Each image is special.
Here are my colours: http://drieskewrites.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/travel-theme-colourful/
Pingback: Travel theme: Colourful | One step at a time
Hi Ailsa!
I take the challenge this week and you will know why my world is so colourful now by checking my take on this week theme 🙂
http://demaodyssey.com/2014/11/22/travel-theme-colourful/
The little red bird does it for me 🙂
Pingback: Travel Theme: Colorful | Shoot 'N Go
Stunning colors, beautiful shots, and such a fun challenge! Here’s my entry: http://shootngo.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/travel-theme-colorful/
Pingback: Travel Theme-Colourful | WoollyMuses
The lovely lady mad me smile too. She’s a work of art. 😉
Cheerful challenge, Ailsa.
Great theme, love the cardinal and jade flower photos!
A beautiful sight about this time of year. The cardinal capture is particularly beautiful. My offering for the theme are the ‘Painted Ladies’ of San Francisco. http://traveltalesoflife.com/2014/11/21/the-painted-ladies-of-san-francisco/
Pingback: Travel theme: Colourful | Oh, the Places We See . . .
We’ve found color everywhere — and we love the happiness it brings! Love this theme, Ailsa. Here’s our entry: http://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2014/11/21/travel-theme-colourful/
Pingback: Travel Theme : Colourful | gypsy life
Great theme Ailsa, love your colourful photos especially the gorgeous birds. I’m putting one up for the rev-heads out there this week. http://pommepal.wordpress.com/2014/11/22/travel-theme-colourful
Pingback: Colourful-Travel Themed Photo Challenge | Third Person Travel
Pingback: Travel Theme: Colourful | Lillie-Put
Beautiful picture and beautiful theme
I saw my first Jade Flower on Maui. Amazing colours. Although I wasn’t specifically posting for the travel theme, the event post I did tonight definitely qualifies for colourful! http://www.photoswithfinesse.com/showcasing-your-events/
Oh my what gorgeous jewel-box colours here Ailsa. I love the parrots and the red cardinal, never seen one of those. And the living statue is perfect! I shall have my post ready for you in a few days – going for the bird theme 🙂
Jude xx
Pingback: A dog in colors | Le Drake Noir
Pingback: Travel Theme: Colourful | Middleton Road
Hi everybody firends !
Here my entry…
Have a nice weekend !
http://max510.com/2014/11/22/weekly-travel-theme-colourful/
Pingback: Colourful Close-up Crops | Tim Wolverson – Photography
Pingback: Travel Theme: Life is like a Box of Crayons | Rewired and Retired in Nicaragua
This is my favorite travel theme so far. We all need a splash of color in our lives. Thanks Ailsa. http://retirenicaragua.wordpress.com/2014/11/22/travel-theme-life-is-like-a-box-of-crayons/
Pingback: Travel theme: Colourful | Wandering Iris
Pingback: Travel Theme: Colorful | Wright Outta Nowhere
Pingback: Travel Theme: Colourful | beyondpaisley
Life’s been crazy lately! So glad I had the opportunity to participate in this travel theme! http://beyondpaisley.net/2014/11/22/travel-theme-colourful/
Pingback: Travel Theme: Colourful | decocraftsdigicrafts
Stunning colours on your parrot. Love them all. 😀