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Last month on a sunny and icy-cold day, I took a long walk up to the University of Pennsylvania (or commonly referred to as UPenn or Penn). It is truly one of the most beautiful college campuses I have ever set foot. It's a very old school; therefore the architecture is stunningly historical. It's like stepping back in time. Whenever I stroll though the campus, I can actually feel the history within my soul.



I must also add here that the campus is HUGE. It is basically its own city within the city of Philadelphia. That's why they call it University City.

I usually walk to UPenn once a year, traditionally at the start of fall because the campus looks even more exquisite surrounded by the many trees whose leaves are ablaze with rich, vibrant color. However last fall, because of being sick and in the hospital, I didn't have a chance to get up there. So instead, I made my visit in January. 

In all the years of making my trek, I never noticed a particular building on the campus until this recent time. And what's really, really interesting about the building are the gates that lead into the entrance of the Charles Addams Fine Arts Hall, because they are made of hands created from wrought iron.

A fact about me:

I've always been attracted to hands. Hands are one of my favorite parts of the body because I find them aesthetically beautiful and even sexy. Therefore, the first thing I usually notice about people are their hands. But not only do I find hands physically attractive, I also love how they are powerful vessels through which someone expresses themselves; either when talking or creating something. 

You can tell a lot about a person by looking at their hands and noticing how they use them. And me, being Italian, I use my hands a lot when I talk. In fact, I don't think it's possible for me to talk without my hands flying all over the place. It's almost as if my hands are my mouth - ha!

While up at UPenn, I took several photographs of the gates because I thought they would be interesting to share with you.

So here they are. Creative hands...












Have a grrrrrrrrrrreat week, y'all!
X

38 comments:

  1. Ron, I think you should get a job with the city of Philadelphia because you are great at describing the different areas and making them all sound so interesting. I've never been to the University of Penn but need to go now that you posted about it. From your photographs and words it looks and sounds beautiful. That's the great perk about Philly, it's old so the architecture and history are beautiful and rich.

    Interesting what you said about hands and how expressive they are. I notice hands too. And you're right about being Italian and hands flying all over the place because my family and my husbands are both big on talking with our hands.

    Beautiful photographs. I really like the last one of the hands and camera. They look so real!

    How about all the snow we got today?

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  2. Cool photographs, Ron! I love the hand holding the tube of paint. And the last one with the camera is so awesome. I wonder how these were done? I love the details, like the creases in the skin and the finger nails. Very impressive!

    That campus looks so beautiful. I love the arched windows. What amazing architecture. The craftsmanship is mind blowing.

    As always, great pics dude!

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  3. Being a photographer I REALLY like the last photo, but they are all great! I'm glad I found your blog through Instagram, Ron.

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  4. Good morning, Ron. The building itself took my breath away when I saw your picture. I love architecture that has character and the university building certainly has that. Then I saw those hands! I'm glad you took individual shots so that we could see them at close range. Wonderful!

    You made me stop and think about hands. It is something I notice when talking to people but I can't decide if I use mine when talking or not. Perhaps I should ask someone. There's a reporter on our local television who uses her hands and body and it irritates me beyond words. Not the hands... the body. It's as if with every word she utters she is throwing herself at the camera. I usually shout 'keep still, woman' when she's on.

    Now, how to find out if I use mine..........?.

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  5. WOW! Faaaaaaabulous photos, Ron! The first building is unbelievably gorgeous with all that color! I loved visiting college campuses when my kids were deciding where to go. Some of the smaller ones have great old buildings, too. Those hands on the gate are really quite amazing!

    My husband, who is only one quarter Italian, always talks with his hands. Sometimes, I feel sea sick watching him, there is that much motion!! LOL!

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  6. Hey there Elaine!

    Thank you :) I love to take pictures of areas in the city that I like and share information them. And Philly (as you shared) has a lot of beautifully rich, historical architecture that begs to be photographed!

    " And you're right about being Italian and hands flying all over the place because my family and my husbands are both big on talking with our hands."

    HA! Sounds like my family as well!

    OMG yes, can believe the snow we got yesterday? I had off so I spent much of day outside, enjoying it. But it's weird because for as cold as it's been, the remainder of the week is going to be very warm. Strange winter, hu?

    Have a terrific week, neighbor. And thanks so much for stopping by!
    X

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  7. Hiya Matt!

    I love the one with the hand holding the tube of paint too. In fact, that's one of my faves!

    "I wonder how these were done? I love the details, like the creases in the skin and the finger nails. Very impressive!"

    I'm not exactly sure how the hands were made. A mold perhaps? I agree, the attention to details is very impressive!

    UPenn is stunning. I get the most incredible feeling when I walk through the campus. I literally can feel the history within my soul!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Have a most excellent week!

    X

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  8. Thank you, Candice. Glad you're here. So nice to have met you!

    Have a faaaaaaabulous week and thanks for stopping by!
    X

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  9. Good morning Valerie!

    I laughed out loud when I read...

    "and it irritates me beyond words. Not the hands... the body. It's as if with every word she utters she is throwing herself at the camera. I usually shout 'keep still, woman' when she's on."

    HAHAHAHAHAHA! OMG...that is so funny! And I think it would irritate me as well. I'm surprised no one has said anything to her.

    Isn't the architecture at UPenn beautiful? Each and every time I visit, I get the same incredible sense of being able to FEEL all the history within the campus. There was a time when they allowed people to go inside the buildings and look around. However, with the change of times and having to tighten up the security levels, you can no longer enter the buildings unless you are student and/or have a photo ID pass. About 9 years ago I went inside the library building and OMG...it was stunning!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, dear lady. Have a fantastic week!

    X

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  10. Thank you, Bijoux:) I had a lot of fun taking these pictures for the post. Isn't that building GORGEOUS? It's called, College Hall. In case you're interested, here is a picture of the same building, dating back to 1896:

    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/PSM_V49_D464_University_of_pennsylvania_college_hall.jpg

    "I loved visiting college campuses when my kids were deciding where to go. Some of the smaller ones have great old buildings, too."

    Yes, I agree..even the smaller ones have great old buildings, as well.

    My husband, who is only one quarter Italian, always talks with his hands. Sometimes, I feel sea sick watching him, there is that much motion!! LOL!"

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That CRACKED ME UP!!!!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a fabulous week!
    X

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  11. Oh Ron, what a beautiful campus! That first photograph is gorgeous! I love the arched windows. And those hands on the gates are incredible! I like how you took closeups so that we could see the detail.

    I giggled when you mentioned being Italian and talking with your hands because one of my close girlfriends is Italian (and from NY) and ALWAYS talks with her hands LOl!

    Have a wonderful week, Ron x

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  12. What a perfect gate to represent a fine arts hall!! I love how, without a single word, the hands depict creativity and its many aspects.

    Ron, thank you for sharing your trek to Penn. I've never been there, but I so love college campuses, especially certain ones that have taken advantage of native scenery to feather a comfy nest for students.

    It looks like you had a good day for your visit, too. Probably a good thing you photographed when you did, for I understand you're getting some snow now that might make getting around more tricky!

    Happy week to you, my friend! xo

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  13. I agree with Elaine, you are one great ambassador for your beautiful city. :-)

    That first photo just blew me away, look at those windows! Wow, so beautiful.

    I LOVE old buildings, love to explore the "nooks and crannies" that they all seem to have. In my home city, we had a beautiful old (but crumbling) campus that was a maze of little hidden stairways, underground passageways etc...I loved looking around there, until they deemed it unsafe for use. I remember in particular a very narrow staircase going up to the tower room, that we used as a yoga studio. It was inspiring to take classes there but I often wondered how larger people would have navigated those stairs without getting stuck. I'm talking NARROW!!! Hopefully they have renovated since I left there, but in Canada all too often, they just tear down historic buildings to make room for something modern and often oh so ugly too. How sad is that? :-(

    Back to your post, I also love hands and I loved those hand sculptures you shared too. Wow, look at the craftsmanship and ingenuity that went into each one.

    Thanks for sharing another glimpse of lovely Philly! Hope I get to see it in person some day. :-) Are you still available for a guided tour Ron? :-)

    Have a super week, G

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  14. I gotta hand it to you, Ron, this is a great post! You take such beautiful photos--you really put the finger on it! I love the hand sculpture! I'm half-Italian and I think all of it went to my hands because I can't get through a sentence without waving and gesturing like I'm guiding planes on the runway at JFK! I'm so glad you were able to take your annual UPenn walk. You may have been a little late, but thank God you're still here! Excellent work, buddy! Take care!

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  15. And naturally, since it's snowy and cold in your neck of the woods, it's warm here (we've hit 60 for the last five days in a row). Winter is over. Feels like it hardly began. Oh, well...there's always next year.

    I've never thought of hands in those terms before. I see the attraction/appeal now.

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  16. The spray paint is SO COOL. I love those hands. You captured them beautifully.

    Time to confess. I have old lady hands. I have even blogged about it. Even when I was younger... old lady hands. You would see them and RUNNNNN!!!!! Or grab me and push me in to a store that has just what I need to fix them. I work in a hospital and use Purell every single day multiple times a day. Alas, this gal's hands are... old. :)

    I love when you go on walks with your camera. You come up with such amazing ideas!

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  17. Hola Denise!

    Yes, aren't the arched windows gorgeous? It makes the building look like a church or cathedral. There was a time when they allowed you to walk through the buildings freely. However, over the years the security level has been tightened so you can't enter unless you have an ID.

    "one of my close girlfriends is Italian (and from NY) and ALWAYS talks with her hands LOl!"

    HA! It's so funny you mentioned that because whenever my family would get together for dinner, the whole table was people talking and their hands flying all over the place! Also, Italians talk very loud, so our dinners always consisted of shouting matches - ha!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, girl. Have a wonderful week too!
    X

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  18. "I love how, without a single word, the hands depict creativity and its many aspects."

    Yes, me too, Debbie!!! Isn't that the coolest thing?

    " I've never been there, but I so love college campuses, especially certain ones that have taken advantage of native scenery to feather a comfy nest for students."

    Oh, I love how you said that and you're right! And this campus definitely takes advantage of its native scenery. It's gorgeous!

    "Probably a good thing you photographed when you did, for I understand you're getting some snow now that might make getting around more tricky!"

    OMG, the day was perfect! It was very cold, but the sun was out. Besides I don't mind the cold. And yes, lately it has been snowing here. We had some yesterday, in fact. Next week I may post the pictures I took when we got hit with that huge blizzard a few weeks ago.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a most awesome week!

    X

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  19. Hey there Geraldine! Thank you, my friend :) I love taking pictures in and around Philadelphia. It's funny because as a kind growing up here, I never really appreciated the gorgeous architecture and rich American history. To me, it seemed boring. However, when I moved back 15 years ago (and was older), I suddenly thought, "What a beautiful city this is!"

    "I LOVE old buildings, love to explore the "nooks and crannies" that they all seem to have. In my home city, we had a beautiful old (but crumbling) campus that was a maze of little hidden..."

    Oh, that sounded AWESOME! I love to do the same thing! There is something so sacred about old buildings.

    " but in Canada all too often, they just tear down historic buildings to make room for something modern and often oh so ugly too. How sad is that? "

    Yes, it is sad. And I'm surprised to hear that because Canada seems like a place that would want to preserve it's history. Philadelphia has many drawbacks, believe me, however the one thing I really like about it is that the city is very conscious about preserving it's rich American historical buildings. And I really like that.

    "Hope I get to see it in person some day. :-) Are you still available for a guided tour Ron? :-)"

    Yes, absolutely! If you ever come to Philly, I'll give you a personal tour!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a fantastic week!

    X

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  20. HA! Rob, I loved your first two sentences. You are so clever with words!!!!

    "I'm half-Italian and I think all of it went to my hands because I can't get through a sentence without waving and gesturing like I'm guiding planes on the runway at JFK!"

    Bwhahahahaha! That's a perfect description...guiding planes on a runway!!! What is it about us Italians and talking with our hands?

    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Have a fantastic week!!!!

    X

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  21. Hiya Mark!

    Can you believe how WEIRD the weather has been this winter? And it's not only here in the States, but also in Europe. This winter has been like a yo-yo. Today it was very warm and humid. Two days ago it was -9 degrees!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Have a faaaaaaabulous week!

    X to you and Tara

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  22. Hellooooooo Katherine!

    Thank you :) I spotted these hands and knew I had to take pictures and blog about them. Aren't they cool-looking? And I can't believe I never spotted them before.

    "Time to confess. I have old lady hands. I have even blogged about it. Even when I was younger... old lady hands. You would see them and RUNNNNN!!!!!"

    No I wouldn't. Hands to me, no matter how they look, are attractive. Hands are such a beautiful extension of the "blueprint" of someone, whether in this lifetime or a past life. Hands to me are faaaaaaabulous!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a fantabulous week!

    X

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  23. Great hand sculpture, very unique, I love it.

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  24. Aren't they so unique, Dale? When I saw them I knew I had to take pictures.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Have a fabulous week!
    X

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  25. Ron, I'm sorry for being late in commenting on this post but I was on a mini vacation and just got back today. What a stunning college campus. The architecture is amazing! And your pictures are fabuloso! The closeups of the hands are crystal clear and sharp.

    I'm an admirer of hands too. And I know what you mean about them being sexy because they are. My family is of Greek descent and we use our hands a lot when we talk as well. Maybe it's a Mediterranean thing.

    Interesting post, Ron. As always.

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  26. Hey ho Robert!

    No worries, buddy, you're not late...you're right on time :)

    Thank you :) Isn't the campus gorgeous? I'm in awe every time I see it. And each time I go there, I see something different.

    "My family is of Greek descent and we use our hands a lot when we talk as well. Maybe it's a Mediterranean thing."

    You know, I never thought of that but you could be right. Perhaps it IS a Mediterranean thing.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. And I hope you had a terrific time on your mini vacation. Have a grrrrrrreat week!

    X

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  27. I totally agree with Elaine...you should be PAID for the work that you do along with all of the explaining! Your pictures of the hands are absolutely STUNNING! And the building on the top is awesome!! Very, very beautiful!! I keep saying I will get there one day...hope all is well with you my friend! xo

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  28. http://ladyfi.wordpress.comThursday, February 18, 2016

    Oh my!! That first shot is stunning! Love the pictures of the hands too.

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  29. Thank you, FIona :)

    Have a wonderful day, my friend. And thanks so much for stopping by!
    X

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  30. Hellooooo there Jeanne!

    Thank you :) My ideal job would be to travel to different places; taking photographs and blogging about them. AND getting paid to do it - ha!

    If you ever do come to Philly, I would be more than happy to give you and your husband a tour!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a FAB rest of your week!
    X to you and the girlz

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  31. Wow, what an amazing gate! You got some fantastic shots of them, too. I'm always intrigued by hands in conversation - I'm one of those people who often talks with my hands.

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  32. Aren't the hands within the gate amazing?!?

    "I'm always intrigued by hands in conversation - I'm one of those people who often talks with my hands."

    Me as well!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my Libra friend! Have a terrific week!
    X

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  33. oops. How did I miss this post? Love the wrought iron hand sculptures. They're fascinating. UPenn looks like a great place to spend time with a camera. The architecture alone is stunning.

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  34. Hey there Lisa!

    Aren't the wrought iron hand sculptures fantabulous? They're so life-like!

    "UPenn looks like a great place to spend time with a camera. The architecture alone is stunning."

    Yes, it is. And every time I go there, I see something new and different. I LOVE the historical feel you get while walking through the campus grounds.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Hope you're having a lovely week!
    X

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  35. Under the first photo you mentioned about the impact that old places like that have on you. I totally feel the same way. I may be amazed at some new architecture, but they don't make me feel anything like old buildings and old places do.

    Creative hands! That is a fantastic piece of art. Speaking of art, your photos are top rate...

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  36. " I may be amazed at some new architecture, but they don't make me feel anything like old buildings and old places do."

    Amen, Pat! I totally agree with you. I feel exactly the same way about old buildings and old places. The feeling goes right to my soul!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy!

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  37. Love the pics of the hands! They are so interesting! I tend to look at people's eyes but I can certainly see your attraction to hands.

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  38. Yes, I look at people's eye's as well, Benze. You can tell a lot about someone through their eyes because they truly ARE the windows to the soul.

    X

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