#coffeemonster42

[coffeemonster42]

Malta. The city of Valletta, at night.

Malta is a remarkable place. We were there a few months back. We saw streets choked with cars, marinas choked with luxury super-yachts, ancient castles and buildings blasted by Luftwaffe bombs. All this and red, English post boxes. It's a place that combines the Arab world with English tea on the lawn.

#valletta #malta #coffeemonster42 #fujifilm #x-t5 #x t5 #streetphotography #streetshot #nightphotography #night photography

[coffeemonster42]

More snaps from the Danube cruise.

Joining us on the cruise ship was a party of ladies who apparently all worked in a beauty and tanning salon. They were great fun, with their raucous singing, shrieking banter with the waiters and a gargantuan thirst for prosecco. And after breakfast they got even more crazy!

I did overhear an elderly gentleman on the next table mutter something about not wanting to share the boat with a 'bunch of yo-yo knickered painted tarts' but perhaps his rheumatism was playing up.

#tarts #rheumatism #boat #danube #coffeemonster42 #fujifilm #x-t5 #star wars #tanning #beauty parlour #prosecco

[coffeemonster42]

More shots of Valetta, night time shots where the lights and the shadows give it a Disney sparkle that any city would want.

Wandering around the centre at night is a feast for the eyeballs, the nose, and inevitably, the stomach. Also the beer is very good.

#malta #valetta #nightphotography #coffeemonster42 #night photography #fujifilm #x-t5

[coffeemonster42]

Bratislava's UFO Tower, Slovakia.

Built in the 1970s by the Soviets who must have been huge fans of cheesy 1960s scifi TV.

I'm fairly sure that Captain Scarlet fell to his death from something similar.

Here are a few shots from Vienna.

The Danube runs across upper Vienna and the river swells into a broad inland sea, teeming with cargo ships and cruise ships and people sipping cocktails and admiring the scenery from both. Alright, not so much the cargo ships.

#coffeemonster42 #bratislava #slovakia #vienna #austria #danube #fujifilm xt5

[coffeemonster42]

Budapest. Tourists doing what they do.

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to be in an Agatha Christie thriller?

Take a walk around Budapest and linger for a while on the green bridge. Watch out for dodgy types with moustaches and narrowed eyes.

#budapest #fujifilm #hungary #coffeemonster42 #agatha christie #hercule poirot

[coffeemonster42]

A few night shots from Budapest.

These were taken a few months ago on our second visit to this amazing city.

It's got glorious 19th century architecture, a big river, mountains, hot springs, beer, great food, beer, charming and friendly people, and a nice climate.

Well, to be precise, we got there in May and it was having a mini heatwave which meant temperatures around 31C and that, frankly, is a bit too fucking hot for me.

Mind you, every shop had aircon so, well, whatever.

#coffeemonster42 #night photography #fujifilm #x-t5 #nightphotography #budapest #hungary

[coffeemonster42]

More shots from Duxford.

They have one of the Concord airliners. You can go inside and marvel at how very 1960s it all is, with its pastel colours and draylon upholstery. Then you remember that it crossed the Atlantic at twice the speed of sound, complete with passengers, cargo and gallons of champagne. Why can't we do that today? Because we subsequently realised what a dumb idea it all was.

#concord #duxford #iwm #aviationlovers #aviation #aircraft #olympus omd em5 #olympuscamera #coffeemonster42

[coffeemonster42]

The Thames, looking positively parisien.

London and Paris have a lot in common. However:

London wins the competition for the most notorious serial killer (Jack the Ripper).

Paris wins the competition for the pointiest building (Eiffel Tower).

Both are famed for welcoming everyone, whoever or whatever they might be or want to be.

#london #canary wharf #thamesriver #lensblr #coffeemonster42 #original photographers #olympuscamera #e m5 #olympus camera #olympusomd #om d

[coffeemonster42]

More from the Palace of Versailles.

We were hungry, but the cafe had run out of sandwiches.

"Maybe we can eat cake," I joked to the lady at the counter.

She gave me a tired look.

It's worth noting that her english was better than mine.

So basically, she didn't like my joke.

Fair enough.

#coffeemonster42 #fujifilm #x-t5 #france #palace of versailles #versaillespalace #shit jokes

[coffeemonster42]

Canary Wharf, London.

London is a city with many faces, some old, some new. Some of those old faces are grand and dignified. Others, frankly, look like your grandma after she overdid the lip gloss yet again.

#london #canary wharf #lensblr #coffeemonster42 #original photographers #olympus camera #olympuscamera #e m5 #olympusomd #om d

[coffeemonster42]

London. In England. because there are a few others around the world but let's be honest, there's nothing like the original. Nothing looks like it, nothing feels like it. On a hot day, nothing smells like it. You have to be there to appreciate it.

#london #lensblr #coffeemonster42 #original photographers #olympus camera #olympuscamera #e m5 #olympusomd #om d

[coffeemonster42]

Eltham Palace, South London.

From the outside, it looks like the Hogwarts Department of Magical Biscuit Making (or something).

On the inside, it's a glorious art deco survivor which is more Hercule Poirot than Severus Snape.

#agatha christie #hercule poirot #lensblr #coffeemonster42 #original photographers #olympus camera #olympuscamera #e m5 #olympusomd #om d #poirot #hogwarts #harry potter

[coffeemonster42]

Canary Wharf, London.

Glittering towers and canyons of concrete and steel (to quote John Denver).

#london #lensblr #coffeemonster42 #original photographers #olympus camera #olympuscamera #e m5 #olympusomd #om d #united kingdom #John Denver

[coffeemonster42]

Reykjavic, early morning.

A freezing blast of air, straight from the Arctic, sent snowflakes whirling in the headlights.

#reykjavik #iceland #lensblr #coffeemonster42 #original photographers #olympus camera #olympuscamera #e m5 #olympusomd #om d #arctic circle #snow

[coffeemonster42]

A few more shots from Iceland.

It was cold. To quote a famous poet:

"As cold as an icicle,

glossy and glum.

As cold as the fringe

around a polar bear's bum.

As cold as charity, and that's fucking chilly.

Still not as cold as Auntie Milly.

She's dead."

#rugby songs #iceland #lensblr #coffeemonster42 #original photographers #olympus camera #olympuscamera #e m5 #olympusomd #om d #snow

[coffeemonster42]

Christmas.

It's Christmas time again, which means people coming together to celebrate rampant capitalism at its most naked and unashamed. Cynical? Maybe. But then I'm not that person punching other shoppers in the face as he tries to buy the 70 inch TV on special offer for one day only.

And don't get me started on people who panic buy enough food to feed 20 people because they're terrified that they and their 4 guests might starve on Christmas day or boxing day because the shops are shut.

#christmas #xmas #balls #tinsel #bing crosby #coffeemonster42 #christmas tree