Tuesday, December 1, 2009

THEME DAY--WAITING...for Godot?

Here we are nearly at the end of the year. These two chaps, whom I photographed eleven months ago are still around, waiting under a tree in front of the newspaper Politika's building, just down the street from their usual location. Like this, they remind me of Vladimir and Estragon in Beckett's Waiting for Godot.

On second thought, maybe they aren't really waiting. Here's what one reader commented under my last year's photo:

"These guys "live" just up the road from me and despite their ragged appearance they seem to have food, booze and plenty of company. I suspect they are members of the voluntary street people, the type who run away from hostels and government accommodation because they prefer the streets. In London it is because the hostels are so often violent and otherwise dangerous places. One of these guys has the most incredible gravelly voice, it really is a marvel to hear. Every now and again I see that they get a new mattress, I suspect they are donated by neighbours.. .."



Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

20 comments:

Jilly said...

What a perfect title and photograph to illustrate it. There was a recent production of this play on in London and I wish I'd seen it. Always love Beckett. Interesting to read what one of your readers wrote about these two. Same in France - some street people, one feels, are secure in their life, amongst their friends, opting out of society. Some of course are addicts but these two, probably not. Nice choice - no a fabulous choice for today. So original your use of the word.

Chuck Pefley said...

I've encountered a few of this type in Seattle, too. One of my favorites is a really tall, snagely toothed man named Jackson. He stops in at the Market Starbucks every day and they give him a free coffee. Nice to see street people being treated with a bit of care and respect.

Binoy Mathew said...

wow.. that was a terrific title.. waiting for goddot.. the true meaning of the photograph will be more clear if one read that drama by samuel bucket... i think this is the special tiltle that i have ever seen in blogs..

Kim said...

Little do they know that they are now celebrity street people about whom the whole world is talking and admiring their photos, and even knows what the sound of their voice is lie and when they got new bedding! Can any in the Daily Photo community comment on those subjects about me or you, even? I think not. :-) Great theme day post, Bibi!
-Kim

Kate said...

If they are WAITING for Godot, they have a long wait ahead of them. People's choices, for whatever reason, always fascinate me.

Thérèse said...

Excellent Bibi!
"Voluntary street people" will be harder and harder to separate from the simply "street people."

Julie ScottsdaleDailyPhoto.com said...

very nice capture for theme day and so thought provoking about life

B SQUARED said...

I believe the expression is, "not a care in the world and happy to boot."

Wayne said...

I suspect Beckett would approve. Great shot Bibi.

Wayne said...

I suspect Beckett would approve. Great shot Bibi.

Marie-Noyale said...

That Is a great view on the theme..
There is unfortunately more privacy there on the streets,than in the crowded shelters..

Wayne said...

I suspect Beckett might approve.

Gaelyn said...

Seems OK to Choose to live on the streets. Could certainly be worse alternatives.

marley said...

They were waiting for you to come back! Great follow up photo and addition to theme day.

We have a group of homeless in Cheltenham that meet up in the town centre, decided who'll cover what area for begging, then they meet up at the end of the day and all head back to the hostel. It works for them!

Virginia said...

Wayne's obsessive compulsive commenting seems to have kicked in again! :)

Bibi,
Terrific street portrait my dear. Perfect shot for today.
V

PJ said...

I don't know about happy-go-lucky, in the enlargement he looks like he's giving you the stink eye.
This is why I love Theme Day, so many different views of the same subject. It's great, Bibi.

Kim said...

Wayne may have gone off his meds again. . .;^)
-K

Leif Hagen said...

They seem to enjoy WAITING! And I bet they're not bothered by lots of emails all the time!

Petrea Burchard said...

It's fantastic to see the follow-up.

barbarianthemadserb said...

But how do these street people in Belgrade stay warm in the winter?

SPRING FASHION

 This is a post that would be better in color, but maybe not. These colors were soooo pale.