This week, PR is closing out July with the challenge theme, “Balconies.” Thanks to our guest hosts for giving the Lens-Artists team a bit of a summer hiatus. In the challenge post here, PR writes, “What do you think about balconies? Do you have one of your own or are thinking of some that impressed you? I look forward to seeing your photos and reading your thoughts.“

My first photo for this post came to mind as I read PR’s challenge. In 2013, we visited Cartagena, Colombia, on a cruise through the Panama Canal. Our excursion in Cartagena found us riding a horse-drawn carriage through some of the city’s most beautiful parts. In those days, my lens choices were limited by my first DSLR camera and kit lens. As we rode down the street, I couldn’t get a more expansive view of this beautiful floral-covered balcony.

Large balconies are a fixture of many hotels and restaurants. One of the grandest balconies I’ve seen in the United States is above the main entrance to the Stanley Hotel. In addition to being spectacular for many reasons besides the beautiful balcony, the Stanley Hotel has a place in contemporary horror literature. A stay there inspired Stephen King to write “The Shining.”

Porters Western Saloon reserves its balcony space for a horse statue in Scottsdale, Arizona, where most bars and restaurants provide seating and service to their customers.

Arizona is replete with old and reconstructed buildings reflecting the architecture of the Old West. Above the Crystal Palace Saloon in Tombstone, Arizona, the balcony is access to four attorney offices that might have existed in the town’s heyday. Today, of course, those signs are just for show.

The building was built in 1879 and rebuilt in 1882 after a fire destroyed the original construction. It’s rumored that Wyatt Earp ran the gaming here, and Doc Holliday dealt poker. Of course, while that’s certainly a possibility, it’s also good advertising for a historic building featuring a bar and restaurant.

I’ve shared this image before under Challenges for Urban Environments and Assemetry, but it’s the only image I have of a modern building with residential balconies in the United States. This luxury condo building, constructed in 1988, has a contemporary design and appears to have outdoor space for every unit.

One of the more popular places for a balcony is a cabin on a cruise ship. As we went through the Panama Canal on the Norwegian Pearl, in the parallel lock, the cruise ship Norwegian Sun transited at the same time as the Pearl. At that time, we were in a cabin that didn’t include a balcony, and I was standing on the Promenade Deck as we went through the locks. That deck is the same level as the open area underneath the lifeboats on the ship in the adjacent lock. That deck seems lower only because their lock is at a lower water level than our lock at that moment. Seeing all the cabins with people standing on their balconies, I suddenly saw the value in having a room with a balcony. Since then, we’ve made it a point to spend the upcharge for that little extra “private” outdoor space.

On our transatlantic cruise in April 2023, leaving the Atlantic Ocean, we transited the Straits of Gibraltar and arrived on the Spanish coast at Malaga, Spain. Our excursion that day took us to Nerja, where we stood on the site of an old fort that had been lost to history. King Alfonso XII once stood at this high point along the coast and marveled at the view. He named the location “The Balcony of Europe.” A statue in his honor marks the occasion.

Yes, that’s me exercising on the hotel balcony. One has to keep fit, you know. Well, maybe not. I was at the Museum of Illusions and couldn’t resist having my photo taken on the illusional balcony.

Thanks to PR for this week’s “Balconies” challenge and to all our guest hosts in July. Leanne’s challenge got us thinking about traveling and enjoying “Tourist Attractions.” Elizabeth for her challenge in thinking double, “Pairs.” On Saturday, the Lens-Artists team returns with Patti hosting. If you’d like to participate in the challenge responses each week but are unsure how to get started, check here for details.

John Steiner