the things you notice...

the thing about traveling is the things you see

things you don't see in your own backyard

things that open your mind to new ideas, to new ways of thinking

the same old, same old, usual way of things goes out the proverbial window and you find yourself stopping in wonderment sometimes

yes, wonderment

wonderment is when you see something that makes you, well, wonder

i wonder about doorways...

 

the one above at st. edward's church in stow-on-the-wold made me wonder

when those two trees were planted, did anyone know how what a magical scene they were creating?

as i stood there, i waited, wishing for the door to slowly start moving, opening, to let me in

this is a door that inspired tolkein...

yes, he was there, and yes, it did influence him

this little doorway into the tree was stumbled upon whilst on our moor-walk in haworth

{yes, stumbled - I darn near fell off the path into the brambles as I tried to situate myself for the best possible angle}

there's a story in this little tree - i just haven't quite thought it all out yet

an ancient archway in carlisle

the most peaceful churchyard ever - if i lived in that part of yorkshire i would park myself on a bench there for at least one afternoon every week

 

the door at one of the passageways, leading from the churchyard into the city of carlisle

 a row of little doors in stirling, along the road to the castle

i'm not that tall but I would have had to duck to save my scalp on these doorways

 an original door to the city of york, the same hinges holding it in place as the day it was first hung

love the small door-within-a-door on the left - to see who was calling after the gates were shut...

salisbury cathedral's grand entrance

the door to the oldest inn in england

stow-on-the-wold

high in the swiss alps, on my very first trip to europe, i fell in love with the doors after seeing this in the forest

someone had taken a number of old doors and windows and by carefully placing them with existing trees, created the most amazing little tree houses

they were enchanting

 

and finally, this little doorway, found on isola bella on lake maggiore, switzerland

shorter than me, it was the first european door i ever photographed

i have hoped since then it will not be the last...

 

i suppose it's the nature of a curious individual, to wonder what's on the other side

or rather, do you think it's the nature of a door to provoke it?