26 February 2011
A Boat With An Eye
No taking chances on luck: two rosaries and an eye.
An eye is painted on the plastic enclosing the helmsman of a Puerto Galera ferry. Eyes on boats are a common symbol for guidance and protection-- originating, perhaps, from a nautical application of the Mediterranean evil eye. It was traditionally painted on maritime vessels (usually the prow) to "bend" a negative gaze back to the sender. These days, the eye can be seen on boats in many countries, from Vietnam to Mexico to Malta.
Hopefully reassuring instead of distracting.
Popular Posts
-
Chichiria in Binondo, Manila. The Santo Niño has many incarnations and "looks" . Neighborhood tailors tend to go with cutesy thing...
-
Tofu squares, with pig intestines beside it. These bowls will be filled with arroz caldo. Took a quick trip to the Alabang Public Market to ...
-
1875 illustration of a carinderia in El Oriente newspaper. I love carinderias . Whilst on long-haul buses I have a Pavlovian hunger-related ...
-
Old-house ogling in San Juan. Aside from promising street after street of old-house-porn, coming to Batangas gives you all you want-- beache...
-
Roughly translated: "The mistresses of MGP Trans Employees are not allowed to ride." Drivers and conductors are labeled as promisc...