Sunday, May 31, 2009

Welcome to Summer Stock Sunday!

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Welcome to the brand spanking new Summer Stock Sunday. Each week, beginning at midnight Saturday night Israel time, 5pm EST, we'll be sharing our quintessential summertime photos. So what says summer to you? Is it the pool? The beach? A backyard barbecue? A comfy old pair of flip-flops? Whatever summertime looks like in your corner of the world this is the place to come share it - put up your post and then come add your link to Mr. Linky. Visiting other participants is encouraged, after all, sharing is what blogging is all about.
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Summertime here in Israel means blue skies, aqua water, and days spent outside enjoying it all without fear of cold or rain. Imagine my delight yesterday when I found a way to combine all of these for my inaugural Summer Stock Sunday post during our visit to Apollonia, the ruins of a Crusader fort and city on the Mediterranean coast just north of Tel Aviv. Apollonia has been home to 2,500 years of settlement, and was the site of the decisive battle which established 100 years of Crusader rule over the region in 1191. You can read more about its history in the link above.
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Click any of the photos for a full-size view
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We were walking along the cliffside path to the site when to our surprise we saw a paraglider whoosh by overhead, and then a few seconds later another one. The real surprise though awaited us on the far side of the ruins. I've never seen so many paragliders up at once, it was really a sight to see. The bathers on the beach down below were looking up at them too.
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This guy flew close enough for me to see him grin as he sailed by.
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Here he is just a few seconds later.
It was amazing how quickly these guys moved through the sky.
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This one came so close to the cliff's edge my breath caught in my throat -
I really didn't think he'd clear it.
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I hope you enjoyed this first Summer Stock Sunday peak at a summer day here in Israel. If you did, put up a post of your own and come join in the fun. I can't wait to see what summer looks like to all of you.
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37 comments:

Daryl said...

I am SO excited, I'm first.

Looking forward to many wonderful shared photos of everyone's summer!

Thanks for hosting, Robin.

Bim said...

Apollonia looks like a very interesting place to visit - I would probably not get very far, though, for gawping at the paragliders. Such a jolly sight.

Thanks for hosting, Robin...hope there'll be enough summer in the UK for the purpose :)

SandyCarlson said...

These are wonderful photos. That's a great looking place to absorb some history and beauty. That water is deliciously blue.

Anonymous said...

The 3rd photo is phenomenal! It tells the whole story! Gorgeous!

The last one is really scary, isn't it?

judi/Gmj said...

I think you are very brave to climb the hill! Great shots!

Phyllis Sommer said...

those are gorgeous, robin!!!!

i tried, i really did. we haven't really had much summer but i worked hard at it:-)

Julia Phillips Smith said...

*applause* for the inaugural Summer Stock Sunday!

Your photos are phenomenal. And imagine the paragliders showing up just so you could add them to your post!

Ellie said...

Blue sky! How beutiful. Summer is so humid here - it is hard to see the sky - looks kind of greyish. Thank you for the blue sky!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful place! I lived in California and spent many days at the beach watching paragliders. Your photos brought back lots of great memories!

Sara said...

Phyllis suggested I try to play along with your summer photo meme. Thanks for hosting it!

Mojo said...

These are really striking! Amazingly sharp for trying to catch a moving target like that. And the colors are to die for. Nice to know that even in the middle of all the upheaval, the place is still beautiful.

I caught some similar shots at Atlantic Beach last time I was down there. I should dig around and see if I have any I haven't used yet.

Jill said...

Minutes... you were mere minutes from where we used to live. We were straight down Wingate - around the corner from Zion Square!

Love Apollonia - such beautiful photos from there. :)

Jientje said...

I almost forgot Robin, but I have added two extra pictures, for your new meme. I hope you like my contribution!
Yours are splendid!

deedee said...

I tried parasailing once and loved it.

This photo sharing is going to be fun!

Thorne said...

I don't think I've seen such blue skies since visiting Mykanos Island in Greece many and many years ago. Beautiful images!

aspiritofsimplicity said...

These are such interesting photo's. I can't wait to see all the summer! I'm hoping to get some great idea's for things to do as well as getting to see a lot of summer fun!

Leora said...

Apollonia looks like a great place to visit. Great shots of all those gliders.

Anonymous said...

A great series of shots. Thanks for creating this new meme.

This Eclectic Life said...

I thought that Texas skies were blue...now I know what blue looks like! You make that seem as if it's a "typical" day. Wish our days were that typical!
I'm excited to see everyone's photos!

Dianne said...

I really love the paraglider shots, especially the last 2

beautiful sky and a wonderful sense of freedom

maryt/theteach said...

Robin, mine has been up since late yesterday. I just didn't have time to sign in to Mr. Linky! Well I'm up now on my "Mary Tomaselli's Photos" blog. Good luck on the wonderful meme! :)

Lea said...

You have indeed captured summer in these photos! But the first is my favorite Robin! XO

Baila said...

I love this meme--I'll try to post every week.

HeatherK said...

Lovely Photos, I took part, kept it simple, Thank you for hosting a new photo Meme I found it through Julia @ A Piece of My Mind. happy summer beginnings.

Leigh Ann said...

Hey, thanks for hosting! I'm linking up at the sweet suggestion of Phyllis (Ima on the Bima).

Blue sky days for tiyyulim in Israel? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't jealous. Beautiful.

kayerj said...

just love the kites! looks like good participation for the first round

judi/Gmj said...

I have to apologize, I gave "Jan" credit in my post for your fab meme.
I gave the right Site, the Url is correct just flipping changed the name. Please don't black list me. It will be my only mistake ever, anymore mistakes will be Daryl's fault. :D

Janet said...

Ahhhh, yours are great summer photos!!! Mine's here: http://fondofsnape.com/?p=2665

Jessica The Rock Chick said...

I'm so excited to be joining you guys in this! How fun! Your photos are gorgeous. I love all the paragliders against that blue sky. We don't often (if ever, maybe) see such beautiful skies here in Chicago. Clouds, smog, whatever. I think the water is my favorite blue ;)

BPOTW said...

Wow, those are great shots! New Zealand weather is moving into winter....bummer.

Vicki ~ FL said...

Great shots and such a rainbow of paragliders....thanks for commenting on my blog.

CrystalChick said...

Hello! Visiting from Dianne's blog. Your summertime photos are lovely but also the ones of the Old City and the market are wonderful too!
I'll be back again to see and read more. Happy day!

Tammie Lee said...

Each of your images are wonderful and truly hold the spirit of summer!
This is a wonderful idea. When summer arrives I will share with you, for now spring has just begun and today is gorgeous but quite nippy.

Daisy Deadhead said...

These are stunning photos! Beautiful!

Worms and Flowers said...

WOW! Breathtaking! The beach/sea, and cliffs are so gorgeous. You really captured the moment in your pictures of the paragliders. Incredible and terrifying.

mother in israel said...

I just joined, will put up mine on Sunday.

Runny Babbit said...

those glider look like such fun! i would totally try that!