I have stopped watching the news….I have dropped all social media, except for my blog, which I try to keep to positive vibes…. there are a lot of folks in the world, who are everyday folks, just trying to provide food and shelter and love……….they are trying to make a living…….keep their kids educated and basically just take care of their families, without an agenda. Me too. I think there is more of us…. Just trying to live our lives….. So, I would like to take the time to focus today on one elderly gent I spotted in the Plaza Nueva, Bilbao, Spain.
He walked with his head down…..was he thinking about how many times he had been in this plaza and all the things he had seen here? Was he sad? Was he lonely? Did he live in one of the balcony apartments? Was he just out for the newspaper?
Soon, a Scottish marching band showed up in the plaza to do their thing………….A Scottish marching band and dancers….really? I decided to sit and watch the performance and so did my little man……he sat next to me…….. I watched him out the corner of my eye…..and then I decided I would talk to him……He looked at me and didn’t say a thing! Oh no! A gentleman on another bench hollered over the drumbeats, “He doesn’t speak English!” But, he translated for me……Eventually, I asked my new friend, if I could take a close-up photo of him and he said yes.
After I took the photo I showed it to him and his reply? “I should have smiled for you! I often wonder about him……Is he still walking to the Plaza everyday? Does he still have that nice beret? Does he wish he smiled more?
He’s just one person from around the world…..and he made me smile…..
I should have smiled for you, a good thought to remember every day…………
If you would like to share a person from around the world, please comment and link your person from the world…. I’ll post mine on Wednesdays, but you can post whenever! Every week, I’ll include a link to your post on the bottom of my Wednesday post in “Just Another Person from Around the World!” Be sure to add #Just Another Person From Around the World, to your post. What interesting people do you see or talk to? We can meet them, one at a time!
ThatTravelLadyInHerShoes 
Ahha! Your idea? 🙂 🙂 Exactly why I keep on blogging. Because each morning when I flip open my Reader I find something there that connects with me or lifts the spirit. Takes me beyond myself and my petty worries. Thank you! 🙂 I don’t tend to take people shots, fascinating though they often are, but I know lots of people who can join you in this. He has a face that has accepted where he is in life. I bet he’s had some good times.
LikeLiked by 6 people
Jo, Yes, my idea has been nagging at me for several months now! If someone would have asked me if I do street photography I would have said NO WAY! But, as I have looked over my photo collection I was surprised at the number of photos of people I had! I will have to say that MOST of my “people photos” were unintentional. They have people in them because the folks were between me and what I wanted to be photographing! Anyway, they are people from around the world doing their thing, one way or the other! I do have a lot of street vendors, people in markets and women on benches! I am hoping other bloggers have more Street Photography than they think!
LikeLike
Sue Judd tried to leave a comment but couldn’t? I know she has a One series and thought she might be interested. 🤔💕
LikeLike
What’s up with that? Hmmmmm I’m overloading the system! Ha ha! Maybe she can try again a little later? Or what is her blog and I can contact her?
LikeLike
Words Visual. She always comments at mine so you can find her there. I think she said she would follow you to see if that makes a difference. WordPress are a pain sometimes 🙄💕
LikeLike
Ok Thanks!
LikeLike
We stopped watching the news too, a couple of years back!! That was because of so much negativity from a media that was hell bent on decrying a democratic vote and decision to leave the EU. Now it seems to be the same, running down our country and government for “failing” regarding Covid! Failing? We’re all sick of them. But your post this morning cheered me up, quite an unusual post but it’s struck home with me. I immediately began to remember a handful of photos I have of people, not many, I feel as if I am being intrusive if I take such photos. But it’s jogged my memory of a Dalit woman in Kathmandu, squatting down in the dusty street with a cigarette in her hand, or a homeless man sitting in a doorway in Malaga, and one or two more. I might try and write a post about each if I can drag myself away from wine writing. 👏👏👍
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dr B…….I know where you are coming from. It seems no one is happy with anything anymore! That’s why I had the idea for this challenge of sorts…….I think most folks want to just get on with their lives…….don’t you? I bet you have more photos than you think of people, since you have been to so many places! It doesn’t have to be a photo of anyone you actually talked too, maybe someone, who just caught your eye, like the folks you mentioned! I can’t wait to see them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes you’re right, I spent the morning searching! I’ve taken up your post as a challenge, but you should have it not me! I’m posting my first one on Saturday it’ll be a weekend post for me. I’ve linked to you so please set it up if you wish as running one challenge is enough for me 👍👏👏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I very much would like to see you contribute some photos when you can! Just link your post to mine in the comment section…..like I do to yours!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Done! Do you want to give your challenge a title so I can kick off with it on Saturday
LikeLike
It’s “Just One Person From Around the World” I think I need to word my intentions better for a challenge, like you did! I will improve!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Shorten it? One Person’s World, ……….
LikeLike
I will put my thinking cap on!
LikeLike
And, I need to work on a little logo photo too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, I’m in the same club…gave up MSM years ago after they were sensationalizing the weather…it only went downhill from there. Somehow, if it’s important enough, I always get the info I need. 🙂 Bet you do too. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not brave enough to take people shots of those I don’t know, though I try to avoid ‘smile for the camera’ shots for those I do. I love this story – like you, I have to a large extent started to avoid those in the news, and I’ve binned social media.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Margaret, it is a different world isn’t it? I don’t talk to everyone, but it does seem that I have a lot of photos of folks from around the world in my photos, one way or another! I think of them, just like me, trying to enjoy my little time here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good point. I’ll make being braver about this my new resolution. If we ever get to see real people ever again that is … 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
I see people in the grocery store……but we are all masked up and I wear two hearing aids…….I can’t hear a thing without them, but I can red lips if I could see them!!!!! When I am wearing the mask my ears don’t like all the stuff connected to them (hearing aids and mask) and when I take the mask off sometimes the hearing aid comes with it and I am afraid of losing them….(the hearing aids not the mask) ha ha! So, I leave the hearing aids off when I am masked and can’t hear a thing! Quite peaceful for shopping but dangerous!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe. But a Good Plan. Peaceful shopping? Perfect!
LikeLike
A very dapper man, and great you took such a good photo
LikeLiked by 3 people
A wonderful idea – lovely shots!
LikeLiked by 3 people
What a lovely story about a lovely man and your photograph of him is terrific. I don’t watch the news or listen to it but I’m an avid reader of my newspaper which I rely on for an analysis of current world and national affairs. I use Twitter, usually when I’m angry about something political (I took a two year holiday from it when I had some abusive tweets), but I never belonged to Facebook, Instagram or any of those intrusive platforms. I don’t know if I have any pix of strangers but I’ll have a look.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mari, your post yesterday with the girl by herself (she was dressed in some sort of costume) and the photo of the students on the steps gave me the extra push I needed to start this challenge! I know you have some great photos of the folks, I’ve seen them! We never know how we influence people with our blogs! But you did!
LikeLiked by 2 people
What a lovely story! And I wonder what the Pipe Band was doing there? Very intriguing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anabel, yes! Seeing the Pipe Band was such a surprise and no one in the plaza knew why they were there! So, this is actually a two-for one in the Person From Around the World! You were the first to see it! Good job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
In our travels it is the people that always bring me the most joy and interest. As a retired nurse I have a fondness for these old folks especially. So many stories of their own to share.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m a retired CCU nurse and people really interest me too and can share so much not sharing one word
LikeLiked by 1 person
So are you showing One Person, Sue? I hope so
LikeLike
Reblogged this on restlessjo and commented:
I really don’t do this, but I’m having some ‘think’ time this week, and this is a great idea you might enjoy meanwhile.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Over from Jo’s …love the personal touch!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Frank, I will be over to your blog in a bit. I am going slow today for some reason!
LikeLiked by 1 person
… and slow is OK.
LikeLike
A lovely story and a lovely photo of your gentleman on the bench 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
To go to Bilboa has been a dream sine 2000. I was awed to see it here. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you made his day, Jo! Quieres vivir aqui? Yes, it looks like a great place to live!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for looking at my post! I think he made my day!
LikeLike
Hi Cadyluck, I am visiting from Jo. I read your post middle of the night/insomnia. Nice to read something ‘feel good’ for a change. Very poignant, real words and photos. I love this! I don’t usually take photos of people except for family. I may reconsider now. Thank you! Erica
LikeLiked by 2 people
A lovely post and an interesting idea Cadyluck. I don’t take people photos either unless they get in the way, but I try to avoid them most of the time. If I come across anything suitable I’ll try and join in. There could be some great stories here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There will be some good stories, Jude!
LikeLike
HeyJude, yes I have MANY more photos of people that I didn’t intentionally mean to take and I was surprised how many I had! But. I think they will make good stories too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so totally with you regarding less Social Media and concentrating on blogging which is a wonderful outlet for myself and keep up with my favourite bloggers, some of whom I have met. Spain is a beautiful country, and so are the people. We never got over how happy many seemed while housesitting over there, which feels like many moons ago.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Have you been to many places housesitting? This sounds like an adventure in itself!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, we have been to Scotland, UK, Spain, France, Switzerland, Turkey and Portugal. It was an incredible experience to be a local in various countries.
LikeLike
OH MY! How cool is this? How do you find these places?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Via Trusted Housesitters. We were fulltime housesitters and travellers for about 4 years. It was very cool 🙂
LikeLike
Oh how interesting! I was a Traveling Nurse and you were Traveling Housesitters! I bet that was fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Travelling nurse would be very interesting too and I have a few nurse friends who have a wicked sense of humour.
LikeLike
Made me smile too! Great idea! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, here’s my One Person for you: https://suejudd.com/2021/02/04/just-one-person-from-around-the-world-cuba/
LikeLiked by 1 person
And one from me! I don’t have many, but this post has made me think about taking more
https://travelswithali.com/2021/02/05/just-one-person-from-around-the-world-bali-indonesia/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice piece! This caught my eye as I have just started working on a Bilbao piece myself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I can’t wait to read that! We really liked Bilbao!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this idea! I often look back at photos I’ve taken of people and wonder about them. Here I am with an image that captures just one instant of their lives but I know nothing about those lives – who they are, what they do with themselves, what happened next after I took the photo. Because I do street photography in many cases they don’t even know that there is an image of them out there in the world! I’m going to have a think about what I could contribute to this 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I hope you will share some of your photos! I’ll be keeping an eye out for your posts!
LikeLike
Here you are: https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/the-fishermen-of-chowara-beach-in-kerala/ I hope you like it! I’m sure I could come up with more in the future as I enjoy street photography and candid shots. Are you planning make this a regular challenge, e.g. weekly or fortnightly?
LikeLiked by 1 person
This photo challenge will be weekly on Wednesdays…….I’m headed over to your post to read it! Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my Gosh Sarah! What an enlightening post! I loved everything about it and the photos and video is awesome! I was so surprised to see the SIZE of the fish! Hope to see you again next Wednesday!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I started to dug deeper in my shoebox…Here is one from me:
https://geriatrixfotogallerie.wordpress.com/2021/02/05/one-104/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post. I loved the guy that volunteered to translate. I too have quit watching the negative news and avoid social media – except WordPress. Makes life much more enjoyable.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes it does!
LikeLike
Here’s my contribution https://lifeatno22.com/2021/02/05/just-one-person-from-around-the-world-turkey/
LikeLiked by 1 person
“I should have smiled for you!” What a great thought to take with us every day, everywhere, especially in these challenging times, because a smile brightens everyone’s day and lightens everyone’s load.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And is so easy to give!
LikeLike
I love the concept! Chance encounters like yours in Balboa enrich the memory of the place, doesn’t it. Street portraiture is a favorite of mine and I welcome the chance to share stories behind the picture when I can.
I’ve posted my first contribution to your challenge. Looking forward to reading and doing more!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This looks like a fun challenge. I’m in!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I hope you do! There have been many interesting posts added!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A wonderful idea, Jo. I love the portrait and the story behind it. His beret is wonderful. But like you, I’m wondering why he didn’t smile?? Enjoy the new week and the sunshine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
One of my favourite things to do is sit in a square with a coffee, hopefully in the sun, and just watch people go about their day and wonder what their story is. The times I’ve actually spoken with people have been so interesting, it’s just fascinating to find out other people’s journeys!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Becks you are so right! I am an observer, but I have to tell you if you sit on that bench by my side for very long I’m going to be talking with you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I recently read a story of how we’ve ?evolved and rather than speak to someone on the other side of a bench, we now sit on our devices and never connect with that other human being. Since I am sans tech, that particular behavior doesn’t apply to me but that behavior is so prevalent today. I can’t tell you how happy your post made me. I can only hope more people worldwide will reach out like you have.
LikeLike
Oh, I don’t think the tech world will end up to be the “Cure” for anything or that it helps us at all to a human degree…..we get information quicker yes, but do we need all that information? Has it made us more compassionate, helpful, aware, loving? No, it has made us mean and ugly and to only want more!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I wholeheartedly agree which is one reason I am essentially unplugged and promote the annual National Day of Unplugging. 🙂
LikeLike
I really love this! I often find myself wondering about the thoughts and lives of the elderly I see wandering around. They spark the most curiosity for me. I love that you tried to talk to him. I often regret when I walk away and never made the attempt.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m kind of a talker anyway. And since I’m older I seem harmless enough! I hope you can add some photos in the future!
LikeLike
Thanks for the invitation. Here is the link https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2021/02/13/my-first-street-photos/
LikeLike
Wonderfully inspiring story and photo. So often I play those scenarios in my head too… Connection is vital for all of us and I think even more important now. So glad you decided to reach out to him; who knows the gift and sweet memory he now carries from your interaction as well.
On a sidenote, I also love many of the things you have mentioned but I must shovel snow and right now we’ve got mountains of it. 🙂 Warm wishes to you —
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you will be back and join us with a photo too! You sound like you have a deep connection and understanding with the folks as well…..I think most gardeners do, don’t you? They get it! Cady
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely! Once you’ve connected with nature, it’s only natural to connect with others too. 🙂
LikeLike
What a lovely post. And a great idea to enhance connectivity. I am intrigued by people and their stories. I’m certain that this man had many.
LikeLike
GIN Thank you for taking the time to read that post! I just love the stories and photos that the bloggers have been sharing! I hope you will be able to join us! I am over to look at your blog now! Have a good day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just might you never know. Though I don’t see too many people these days.
LikeLike
We’ll be able to mix it up eventually!
LikeLiked by 1 person