Urban Exploration: Romanced by Ruin

A structure can take years and the effort of many to erect.
When it is built, it is done so with the hopes of what it can help accomplish.
A school to house learning.
A hospital to care for the sick.
A theatre to bring joy, laughter, and thought.
However, through time, these buildings are abandoned.

That's where I walk.
Among relics of these hopes.
I do so out of respect and reverence of these monuments and the stories they tell.

I have been doing this since I was a teenager,
finding old building and remnants surrounding the woods and railroad tracks by my house.
Though my photography skills are still in the works,
I wanted to start to document these explorations,
and maybe even improve my skills along the way
[though for now, I will definitely be overusing my wide angle filter].

Make no mistake about it; This is a dangerous, stupid, and illegal activity.
But, you need one reckless thing in your life, and Meth is costly.

Lake Chippewa Amusement Park

Abandoned Military Base - Ohio

Abandoned Night Club - East Saint Louis

East Saint Louis Journal

Point of entry

Riverside Casting Plant - Benton Harbor, MI

City Methodist Chapel - Gary, IN

Later.

Townsend Park

Part II: When in Romania...

I knew it would be difficult to leave Romania and the orphans at Casa Dorca, so I shouldn't have been so surprised when it happened.

Romania is a beautiful country, with the most hospitable people I have ever met. The children at the orphanage were adorable, and despite a language barrier, we were able to connect and spend quality time together.

An important factor to bridging the language barrier was to find universally understood nonverbals, such as:
- The fist-bump from Big Hero 6 [Balalalala]
- John Cena's 'you can't see me' gesture - A giant dinosaur costume
- Beatboxing
And what quickly became the kids favourite game...
- Being chased by a grown man acting like a gorilla ['Unde ya Gorila?'].

As well as painting, helping around, and supporting my friend Nate (who had already been there for 2 months) I hope my time in Romania was as beneficial to others as it was to me.

Romania: Part I

Man this will be embarrassing if I only post once...

Following a wonderful trip to Toronto, a flight through Germany, and a broken down car driving through the mountains, I arrived safely at Casa Dorca Orphanage, where I will be spending the length of my stay here in Romania. 

We arrived very late at night when our car shut off in the mountains outside the village of Prilipet, but the stars were beautiful, and we received a lot of help to get to our destination. 

Our first day we were able to meet most of the children who stay here (who are simply too adorable), as well as climb a nearby part of the Carpathian Mountains. It was invigorating as it was exhausting. We were shown around the nearby village and up the mountain path by a caring and charismatic man named Charlie. Charlie had great perspectives in life which he shared with us during our journey. Even the hike itself was became an analogy for growing perspective one gains through spiritual growth as if one were getting a better view from the top of a mountain.
My personal favourite insight came when I took off my bandanna and Charlie put his arm around my shoulder. Undoubtedly noticing my baldness, he reminded me that 'stupid hairs fall off a clever head', a sentiment we both seemed understand too well as we covered our heads back up.
...He seemed less insightful once we found out the end of our trip was us climbing a decommissioned communications tower.

It has been a uniquely tiring and challenging experience, but I'm glad to be part of it in some small way.

Here's to safe travels and clever heads.

We climbed that.

(L to R) Our Translator/Companion Cipi, Our Guide Charlie, Nate, and his father, Darrell.

Saugatuck Dunes

Detroit and Camp

Took a trip to visit Belle Isle in Detroit, and stopped by Camp Burt Shurley to help organize the craft room. 

Asylum Lake Nature Preserve

I was strolling in the park today.
In the merry month of May.
I was taken by surprise, by a pair of roguish eyes.
And at gunpoint, stole my wallet away.