There’s no question the pyramids are old. The famous three at Giza were built in a spate of pharaonic might and zeal over four and a half thousand years ago. Jump the Mediterranean, and a couple of millennia, to that jewel of Western civilization, the Parthenon – it too is old.
And then there’s an old man, and an old bike, seen outside the Bavani Stores, Nirveli*.
White hair, chronologically old perhaps, but fierce and independent.
Old is relative.
Posted in response to Sue Llewellyn’s Word a Week Challenge this week: “Old”.
* North of Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
The Wanderlust Gene 
The man doesn’t look old to me…………oh wait a minute…..does that mean I’m old?
The bike definitely looks old. And I’d like to try that fruit blast facewash, sounds delicious.
His vitality is palpable, isn’t it?
So … mango facewash. Angeline?
I LOVE this!
Bless you, Naomi – it was a precious capture. 🙂
What a lovely share.. the old man does appear quite fierce… but then so do most older chaps that are fit and lean as he is… I like him… but that bike..man that is old…
Doesn’t it just? I fantasise about that bike – where it’s been, because it’s seen a lot of life, I reckon. 🙂
Both the man and the bike are in better shape than I am.
I reckon the old guy would be fitter than most of us, Michelle, but I doubt the bike would be ahead of you dear – even I think I might stand up against that bike!
I’m clinging to that thought, Meredith.
(how goes the dreaded packing?)
Cling – because it’s so, my father said (and showed it to be) so!
(Packing’s going a little better than I’d thought, though the second pass through, when the final decisions have to be made is still ahead of me! 😦 )
Old but still valued and purposed! Very refreshing, both the old bloke and the bike. In a society where youth and new is worshipped, it’s good to see 🙂
Up there it was good to see many old men leading useful lives – but it highlighted a noticeable age imbalance, EllaDee.
Wow, that’s a toss up on who is older, the man or the bike. Excellent scenes!
Ha! The bike certainly looks the older of the two!
That could be my bicycle 🙂 Lovely post, Wanderlust. Old is indeed relative.
You mean the bicycle without the brakes looked this old? Surely not, and anyway, you’ve got a handsome new Wedgewood blue bicycle now. 🙂
Old is the new New.
Ha! That’s good – it’d be nice to be new again!
super photos .. that man looks like a force of nature!
Such strength – though I was fearful for the things he’s had to endure in surviving.
Such a cool way to express the old theme!
Thank you Amy – I had fun with it 🙂
Such a character you are sharing with us. Great idea.
You’re right – I think this man had a great deal of character and perseverance – posting is a way to honour that. I’m so glad you liked it. 🙂
He looks very fierce!
You could make an exhibit of shots taken as he goes about his day. As a viewer, I want to see more of him.
I’m a tactile person and have been lucky enough to tour Giza and Athens. What a thrill it was to place a hand on a Pyramid and again on the Parthenon! Dreams really can come true.
Of course it is!
LOVE the old man! And I love how beautifully you have woven these images together 🙂