Steps and Stairs

All photos copyrigted sstaas. All rights reserved.

I love steps and stairs! If I could paint I'd make beautiful pictures of them, with all their intricate details and alluring shades. But, as I mentioned before in a previous blog, my skills at painting are zero. Drawing skills? Less than zero!

So, I photograph them. I had no idea how much I love steps and stairs until I noticed how many photos I have taken of them.



I used to think it romantic and ever so exciting to run up and down steps. You know the ones, outside museums or those fabulously famous cathedrals you see in Europe. You haven't lived until you've dashed up and down the cathedral steps in Amalfi, Italy. That's what I've always thought. Also, the stairs and steps you find in Savannah and Charleston are just bursting with southern charm and grace. Why, just putting your tiny toe on them makes you feel like a southern lady, gushing with pride and mystery.





What inspires you? What do you like to take photos of?

Shopping for Bargains

Today, I decided to go to AAA to purchase euros. I was planning on converting $400. In the end, I paid $418 and got 285 euros in return.




Now, I just hate it when I don't get a bargain. I had checked out today's exchange rate online and had found a better rate than what AAA was offering. However, who knows where you could actually get this better rate, nor how much you'd have to pay in fees?



After I got home, I mulled it over and then decided to call the bank at the airport and find out their rate of exchange. Gosh, was I a happy camper! Their rate wasn't any better at all than AAA's, in fact I would have had to pay $10 more for the same about of euros, plus a fee of $5.95.

Now I don't feel so bad. It wasn't a bargain at AAA, but neither was it a rip-off.


Talking of bargains, I once had a yard sale. I guess it was more of a driveway/lawn sale for I had my stuff on the driveway and front lawn. People drove up in their hordes and clambered over towards my tables all set up to look luring. Their eyes were glistening and glazed with anticipation of finding bargains. They yanked at everything, pulling, stretching, patting. I think they were about to shove my stuff in their mouths, hungry as they were for a good deal.

"How much is this?"
"How low can you go?"
"I offer you three bucks."
"Could you give me two for the price of one?"
"Anything free?"
"If I come back later, will you lower the price?"

I practically gave my stuff away that day. Much as I personally like bargains, I'm not just any good at selling.

Where do you feel are the best places for bargains? Online? Yard sales?