An Awesome View of Life

A living thing Today's photo challenge. The Mighty Mississippi and the city of Minneapolis.  Two very living things. (:

Rounded. Today's photo challenge.   I knew I was going to be in downtown Minneapolis again today so had a couple of things in mind for this challenge.  Funny thing is none of the ideas were even photographed.  There were so many other options that fit which made it so very hard to choose just one. This was a perfect weekend.   I need to make sure I make the time to go to these places that make my heart beat a bit faster.  (:  

  Soft.   Today's photo challenge.  Do you see the "soft" reflective selfie in this photo?  (:  I find this to be a GREAT interpretation of "soft".  At least it is very creative.     Loved being in downtown Minneapolis for the second day.  Great weather, great sunshine and great photo ops. Some great photos the past two days.  After my afternoon downtown tomorrow I will create a photo album of some of the more fun and unusual shots.  

  This was the bonus photo adventure from yesterday.     Reflections...   This is another great "Red light" moment.  I love all of the reflections in the buildings.  Until I go to downtown Minneapolis I forget how much I have always loved this city.  My city.       Layers of old and new...   or shadow and light.       The heart of my city...   For many years I worked for the company that managed the IDS Center (left).  I loved being invited to lunch on the 50th floor. Great food, awesome view and even better people.       Love the light...   Four photos again.  But I LOVE this city and honestly could NOT pick only one. 

  A lake with a view...   Lake Calhoun in south Minneapolis.  Gorgeous day for a walk around the lakes.

  Foreground and background...   While waiting in a University of Minnesota dorm parking lot I snapped this photo.  In the foreground is The Weisman Art Museum .  In the middle is The Washington Avenue Bridge  which connects the two campuses of the U of MN which are separated by the Mississippi River.  It has a street for cars and a covered and open walkway for pedestrians.  And in the background is the beautiful Minneapolis city skyline.    

The Final Chapter...   This photo finishes the story from Prospect Park.  This is the Witch's view of the Minneapolis skyline.  That is if she could see through her toes. ha!  The tower observation deck is open annually as part of the Pratt Ice Cream Social - the first Friday evening after Memorial Day.  

The Witch's Hat... Stumbled across this quite by mistake today.  It took a little bit of four wheel driving to get up to the top of the hill due to MORE fresh snow overnight.  After a slippery walk up a bunch of steps and a snowy hill there was the most fabulous view of the beautiful city of Minneapolis.  This landmark is known as the "Witch's Hat".  This water tower was built in 1913 and sits in Prospect Park which is the highest natural spot in the city. With the lamp post in the foreground doesn't this remind you of Narnia -- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? 

  (click to enlarge)   Cold View of Downtown Minneapolis...   This morning on my way back from the University of Minnesota I stopped to take this photo.  There is a foot bridge that crosses the Mississippi River between the East and West Bank campuses.  With the temperature somewhere in the negative 7 degree range, I got out of my toasty warm car and walked part way out onto this bridge to get my second shot of the city skyline.  You can't take photos with winter gloves on so -- four shots later I hustled back to my car to get out of the cold. When the weather gets warmer and the landscape gets greener -- I'm sure there will be more skyline photos.