Saturday, May 30, 2009

Stone Bench

Stone Bench at Harvard Medical School. I was in the Longwood Medical Area of Boston visiting a friend in one of the hospitals and I stopped to take this picture. I couldn't resist the beautiful bench on the front lawn of the medical school.

The blue banner you see is a reminder that the whole campus area is a smoke free zone. There are also metal signs and other banners on all the buildings in the area. My first thought was of all the money they spent on those expensive signs and banners. It is a medical area and even though I am not a smoker I thought the number of signs posted excessive. The one responsible for posting the signs must be an over-zealous ex-smoker; or else he must have a brother-in-law working in the sign business:)

15 comments:

Tash said...

You've got an eye for benches.
My workplace went smoke free at the beginning of the year. Now, people are standing just outside the gate and puffing away. I wonder what schmuck thinks that's so much better than having people smoke in smoking zones in front of buildings.

VP said...

This bench is really an impressive one!
Here people continue to smoke almost everywhere, with some restraint due only to the politeness of the smoker.

joo said...

Wow, impressive bench! I love taking photo of benches but have never come across such a beauty. Looks like made of marble.
To be honest smoke free area sonds great for me - here people keep smoking everywhere!!!!
Have a nice weekend:)

cieldequimper said...

Lol @ Clueless and Tash! I am actually a smoker and I do exercise the most strict smoker politeness so I've never had any problems. It's been a long time since the last bench, it's beautiful, is it marble?

Anonymous said...

now, see? right there's another reason i didn't grow up to be a doctor - too busy studying to even have time to sit on a lovely bench on a lovely day.

that bench looks so lonely.

darn those med school students!

Malyss said...

This bench is very impressive! I've never seen one like that . It seems to be a kind of monument, or memory bench.. I 'm not sure I would dare to sit on it..
I don't smoke but the "war " against smokers is sometimes a bit tiring by its unexpected consequences..Ugly signs are one of them.

Cezar and Léia said...

Hope your friend is alright!
Cezar

Unknown said...

Lol. In my experience you're right, the fiercest anti-smokers are the former smokers. "They have seen the light, so why can't everyone else" seems to be their motto. And no, I don't smoke, but as long as smokers show me the courtesy of not exactly blowing smoke in my face, I don't mind them smoking near me.

Harriet said...

Dear Mr. Clueless, were you standing on Longwood Ave when taking this photo?

Julie ScottsdaleDailyPhoto.com said...

another great cool stone bench. i can't believe that about the signs though. very bizarre. visual pollution in the park. Thanks for your comments on my site. I appreciate them

valeria said...

That must be one chilly bench, good for hot summer days!

Marie said...

This makes me nostalgic. I was there for the New Year's Eve. The bench is certainly not very comfortable (especially in the winter) but it's beautiful for sure.

Lowell said...

It doesn't look too comfortable, but it certainly is beautiful! I like the way you composed this, too.

aspiritofsimplicity said...

It does seem a shame to ruin such a beautiful place with such an big ugly sign. It would have been nice it they could have made the sign as pretty as the bench.

PERBS said...

Oh, I am glad I did not miss out entirely on this precious bench! it looks so stately! The angle of the photo is perfect to show off its beauty amoungst its surroundings! Even tho it is stone, it looks like a wood carved bench! I would certainly sit there for a spell with a good book or people watch.