Weekend-Engagement #293: Your best mobile phone images of something other than selfies...post three and explain where they were taken and what you love about them

Choosing three photos wasn’t easy. I like taking pictures when I’m out and about or during significant moments in life, to always have some kind of memory, even in case my mind betrays me over the years... In the end, these are my choices.

The Maya pyramid of Cobá: a pyramid located in Mexico... We went there on our honeymoon in 2017; it was an amazing trip, the most beautiful one I’ve ever taken in my life. We saw so many interesting things, but this one stayed with me because, as you can see, it was taken from the top of the pyramid. Yes, back then, they allowed you to climb up, step by step, with no elevator or assistance, under the scorching tropical sun. I didn’t think twice about it, despite the difficulties and exhaustion, I rushed up the stairs to climb it. When would such an opportunity come again? A once-in-a-lifetime chance. I remember with amusement people crawling up on all fours for fear of falling, while others were going down sitting, sliding on their butts. I climbed up without any problems, fast, one step at a time, and reaching the top was a great sense of achievement... As you can see in the photo, the pyramid overlooks the jungle, and you were there admiring the view, stepping on the stones where hundreds of years ago the Mayans performed their rituals (including human sacrifices). It was thrilling, both for its historical and emotional value. I later heard that a few years after that, it was permanently banned to climb the pyramid due to the damage caused by so many people walking up and the accidents that occurred to less careful visitors. So, this experience has even more value now, as others will never be able to do it.

This next photo was taken in Menorca in the Balearic Islands in 2016. It’s not particularly beautiful or artistic, but for me, it has an extremely high emotional value. I was coming out of a very difficult period in my life that lasted many months, where I was really unwell, to the point that I wasn’t even sure if I could make the trip... In the end, I convinced myself, and with a lot of physical and mental effort, we went there. It was very relaxing and allowed me to disconnect from my problems and clear my mind. It felt like returning to normality. The sea was beautiful, one of the best I’ve ever seen, the beach was spacious and never crowded, and the food was good.

The last photo is of my cat, taken in 2014... It holds great value for me because every time I see it, I remember everything I’ve done for her. I’m very attached to her, and the reason is simple: she’s been with me since the day she was born. We found her in a factory, with workers moving boxes, and they were about to throw her away somewhere. Her mother was nowhere to be found, and a storm was coming... We took her home, not knowing what to do but not wanting her to die. The first day was a disaster until a vet taught us how to care for her, and from then on, we started feeding her every few hours or when she cried, day and night, while we worked. During lunch breaks, we’d feed her first and then eat something quickly before heading back to work. On weekends, we stayed home because we couldn’t leave her alone all day. Then we had to teach her to use the litter box, as she would just go anywhere. We had to wean her and build her a small pen because she was too small to roam the house. Eventually, she found her way onto the bed at night, having escaped. This photo brings all of that back to my mind. It wasn’t easy, it took a lot of effort and sacrifices, but the result was beautiful, and it was worth it.

So, these are the best photos I have on my phone, not just for their aesthetic value, but especially for the memories and emotions each one evokes.

Post in response to @galenkp Weekend-Engagement topics: WEEK293