Learning in the u3a movement

A Dutch take on urban jungle. I saw this on a recent Dutch river cruise. In Amsterdam waterways are the thoroughfares and boats are the means of transport.

Digbeth is an urban area just south of Birmingham City Centre. Famous for its street art, so always a fascinating place to explore. I spotted this wonderful jungle designed artwork above a corrugated roof, on corrugated metal. Such vibrant colours, in contrast to much of the area.

I was walking near Llangollen and was intrigued by this tangle of bridges. The furthest away carries the A5, the middle bridge carries a road that comes round to the bridge that I am standing on which crosses the River Dee, and the closest carries the Llangollen Steam Railway. All 3 bridges cross a tributary of the Dee. And in the middle of all this stone, nature is trying to make a comeback.

Reflections in the windows of a modern building alongside the old Puerto Madero docks in Buenos Aires, Argentina

We somehow acquired this sign (I didn't ask how) but I thought it epitomised the theme of urban street furniture in the bamboo jungle which is part of my garden. 

The laundry in Mumbai, India. Laundry is collected from a multitude of households, sorted into categories, washed, dried and ironed, then delivered back to the owners.

The jungle of cabling in Jaipur - hard to believe you see such sites throughout the urban landscape of India, and frequently with monkeys performing high wire acts to add to the spectacle

It’s not very often you come across a giant land mammal in the centre of town! Huge Lego creation in Birmingham. 

This mural by the graffiti artist Sam Bates (aka Smug) is located in Castle Street, Glasgow. It depicts St Mungo, the patron saint of the city who was alive in the 6th Century, so the clothing depicts a more modern interpretation. The robin is based on the story where, after seeing children throwing stones at robins, Mungo picked up a wounded robin which revived and flew away - a miracle. 

I imagine myself looking up through a forest of trees, instead, it is a jungle of high rise buildings

From the Canada Geese trying to make a home next to the old working boats on the Manchester canals to the overhead railways that now take passengers and goods instead. Through the arches to old warehouses that are now modern apartments.

Taken on a walk through Birmingham trying to find the Michelangelo exhibition….

I found this Chihuly sculpture of striking pillars of bright red glass on show in Kew Gardens last year inspired many abstract studies.

Tranquility at National Trust garden