Videos

Sunrise and sunset in Mexico

These are bus-window pictures. I took the photos in Mexico in 2020, when for a few months I had the privilege of living in the beautiful city of San Cristóbal de las Casas, 2200 meter above sea level. Every Saturday I took the local bus down to Tuxtla (the capital of Chiapas) where I was teaching English in a Library. Tuxtla is only 520 meter above sea level, meaning the bus was descending 1700 meters - in about 45 minutes. The landscape was mesmerising. Sometimes I could see the clouds from above. In February the temperature was about 20 degrees in San Christóbal, while in Tuxtla it was above 40 degrees, so I went from Spring to Summer, in less then an hour. Some of the photos were taken during these journeys. Others were taken during a trip to Northern Chiapas, where I visited ruins of a Maya town in the jungle. This is the first of several films I am planning to make about magic Mexico. To watch it on YouTube, where you can comment too: https://youtu.be/r5dPXHg45uA

Devotion

I was studying and living in Guatemala for a few months in 2019, in the most beautiful city of Antigua. One day I was walking around the city when I heard some music, started to walk towards it, and found this religious procession. Many of the participants were filming it, so I thought they may not mind it if I filmed it too. I have never seen a similar procession before, people competing for the chance to carry the heavy weight of their devotion. It started to rain, and Jesus and Mary we all wrapped up in plastic, to protect them from the elements, but people were not worried about themselves. The procession was continuing for hours into the evening. In contrast to the suffering of those carrying the weight, a few older women were joyfully dancing through the whole time (you can see them at the beginning and at the end of the video). To watch it on YouTube, where you can comment to: https://youtu.be/YsQwfrT0uyc

Mexico! Ain incredible beautiful and exciting country, size of a continent. In 2019-2020 I travelled around Chiapas, and lived for about two months at San Cristóbal de las Casas, a colourful town, 2200 meter above sea level, among mountains. I was planning to stay much longer, and got involved in a community project teaching young children English in the evening, as they were working during the day. Unfortunately because of the covid restrictions I could not stay and returned to England. However during the time I was there I completely fell in love with the country. Thank you for my hosts Sarain Tomher and his sister Arelich Hernandez, as they took me around in their car and showed me breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls, mountains, lakes, caves, forests and people, including the potter-woman. And also thanks to Edrei Glez Hdez who run the community project in which I worked, offered me accommodation and food in return, and took me to the carnival which features in this film. The name of the amazing potter at the beginning of the film is: Juana Gómez Ramírez. She can be found on Facebook. I am interested in your opinion, please feel free to write it in your comments, here or on YouTube. Critical comments are also welcome. If you would like to watch more of my short films, please feel free to subscribe to this website or to PiroskaMarkusYouTubeChannel Thank you for your attention

Antigua Guatemala means "Old Guatemala" and was the third capital of Guatemala, formerly called "Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala". Now it is known simple, as Antigua. I had the privilege to living and studying in this amazing city for a few months in 2019 and 2020. This 9 minutes long film is made out of short videos I took while staying there. The central part of the town feels like a fairy tale location. Of course, if you live there, especially if you are one of the Mayan people, your life may not feel like a fairy tale at all. "Guatemala has a population of 14.9 million people, of which 6.5 million (43.75%) belong to the 22 Mayan (Achi’, Akatec, Awakatec, Chalchitec, Ch’ortí, Chuj, Itzá, Ixil, Jacaltec, Kaq- chikel, K’iche, Mam, Mopan, Poqomam, Poqomchí, Q’anjob’al, Q’eqchí, Sakapultec, Sipakapense, Tektitek, Tz’utujil and Us- pantek), one Garífuna, one Xinca and one Creole or Afro-descendant peoples. The country still lacks a differentiated statistical base on Indigenous Peoples, especially on Indigenous women, but it is well-known that there are disparities between the Indigenous and the non-indigenous population in employment, income, health, and education. Statistics clearly demonstrate persistent racism and discrimination against Indigenous Peoples." (Quote from the website of IWGIA - International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs) I am interested in your opinion, please feel free to write it in your comments, here or on YouTube. Critical comments are also welcome. If you would like to watch more of my short films, please feel free to subscribe to this website or to PiroskaMarkusYouTubeChannel

Lanzarote is in Africa, but the Spanish has stolen it hundreds of years ago and consider it theirs. Lanzarote's landscape is out of the world. The volcanos make sure you don't forget them. Where ever you look, you see the result of thousands of years of volcanic activity, broken burnt black or grey rocks everywhere. There are only a few green areas on the island, and people do manage to do some agriculture but with a huge effort, they have to protect each young tree with a stone wall, to ensure the wind does not blow it away. Although the towns and villages can be lively, you can go for miles and not see any houses or humans, just rocky plains or bare hills. It it beautiful, but it is eerie. Some people compare it to the Moon. I am not sure if this is accurate as I have never been to the Moon. And the sea, the sea, is just magnificent. Its blue and green contrasts to the black volcanic rocks, and they are equally wild. The waves can be so powerful, it feels like the sea and the rocks are having a struggle, each trying to get into the other's territory, and fighting back. I am interested in your opinion, please feel free to write it in your comments, here or on YouTube. Critical comments are also welcome. If you would like to watch more of my short films, please feel free to subscribe to this website or to PiroskaMarkusYouTubeChannel

Paris in blue and brown and other colours. I have been visiting this city for decades, and each time I re-discover it like a long-lost treasure. All these photos were taken in 2015 during a short visit I made to Paris. It is a collection of my impressions walking on the streets day and night. Among pictures of 'everyday-life', you will find a few photos of the two days long 'Alternatiba' ecological protest-festival. I have documented this protest-festival in a 10 mins long documentary-style film: • Paris 'Alternatiba' Protest Festival... As always, I am interested in people's reaction to my films, please feel free to comment, here or on YouTube. I welcome critical views too. And if you like it, you can share it too. I am interested in your opinion, please feel free to write it in your comments, here or on YouTube. Critical comments are also welcome. If you would like to watch more of my short films, please feel free to subscribe to this website or to PiroskaMarkusYouTubeChannel Thank you for your attention

This video is an ode to Abbey Wood, which is London's best kept secret. I am in love with Abbey Wood, where I moved 10 years ago. It has ancient forests, well-looked after parks, secret ponds, and fresh air. It is quiet and peaceful. It has a friendly and diverse population. It is perfect for human habitation, in contrast to most of the other parts of London. Abbey Wood Station is the terminal of the new Elizabeth Line in the South East of London, can be reached in 20 minutes from Central London, but still, very few Londoners who about it. The reason it is called Abbey Wood is because of the 1000 years old Lesnes Abbey, and the forests around it. Unfortunately due to the destruction of Henry VIII, you can now only see the ruins of the Abbey, but even the ruins are majestic. I consider it a sacred place, where your soul can find peace. I have never heard any children crying at the Lesnes Abbey ruins, although I have seen many children playing or walking around in. There are several forests in the area, which are ideal for walking. Abbey Wood must have attracted certain type of people, for a long time. Property has always been cheap here, but the people who bought houses here, seem to be proud and respectful of their environment, and many grow flowers in front of their houses. Apart from the station and the small shopping area, all the streets are residential, and well looked after. Many people know each other, and you can see groups of children playing on the street or in communal areas without close adult supervision, as there is a feeling of safety. I am interested in your opinion, please feel free to write it in your comments, here or on YouTube. Critical comments are also welcome. If you would like to watch more of my short films, please feel free to subscribe to this website or to PiroskaMarkusYouTubeChannel Thank you for your attention

Tram line No28 takes you from Central Budapest (Népszínház utca, Blaha Lujza Tér) to the 'New Public Cemetery' (Új Köztemető) in an outskirt, called Kőbánya. During the journey you may think you are in the middle of nowhere in an abandoned land. Then suddenly you may see factories or shopping mails or a few residential houses. Today in the snow the landscape had a melancholic atmosphere. I am interested in your opinion, please feel free to write it in your comments, here or on YouTube. Critical comments are also welcome. If you would like to watch more of my short films, please feel free to subscribe to this website or to PiroskaMarkusYouTubeChannel Thank you for your attention

The Isle of Man is a magic island, up in the North, in between Ireland, Scotland and England. All these shores can be seen on a clear day. It is blessed with wild, beautiful landscape. There is a wind almost every day, and this contributes to the freshness of the air, and to the energy of the place. This short film celebrates this beautiful wind. I am interested in your opinion, please feel free to write it in your comments, here or on YouTube. Critical comments are also welcome. If you would like to watch more of my short films, please feel free to subscribe to this website or to PiroskaMarkusYouTubeChannel Thank you for your attention

Filmed from the top of a double decker bus in London. After uploading the film on YouTube, a friend sent me this question, which is one of the best comments I have received about my films: "Can I please have some of the stuff you are smoking?" - I love his comment. But I am pleased to tell you that I did not need to take any artificial substance in order to make this film. I am interested in your opinion, please feel free to write it in your comments, here or on YouTube. Critical comments are also welcome. If you would like to watch more of my short films, please feel free to subscribe to this website or to PiroskaMarkusYouTubeChannel Thank you for your attention

This podcast, video-interview was made in Hungary, and was premiered in October 2024. The woman who interviewed me is Rita Antoni, the leader of a feminist organisation called "Nőkért Egyesület" - "For Women Association". In the future I am hoping to create English subtitles.