Tags
Strolling through town the other day (before it got so hot) I was pleased to encounter this eccentric gent. He was happy to pose for me with his little bird. I wasn’t expecting the kissing event, but evidently it’s something they’re both accustomed to. I wonder if the bird thinks he has a very well-trained man?
Sorry it’s out of focus, but it’s a nice shot of the tourist in the background. This is how they walk around together; every now and then the bird nibbles the man’s gold necklace.
After I asked if I could photograph him the man struck a pose. I particularly like the man’s costume with its northward nod to the Alps and its westward nod to France.
Wasn’t expecting this, and I have to say it kind of grossed me out! The bird took little nips at the man’s tongue, which made me suspect that sometimes the man gives the bird treats in this unorthodox manner. When I asked what the bird’s name was the man replied, ‘pappagallo,’ which just means ‘parrot.’ I felt no wiser, but was somehow unable to continue the conversation.
An Ex-Expatriate 
Gross tongue or not, it’s the eccentric ones that make life interesting. Cute bird. Odd man.
You’re right on all counts!
Clearly these two have a very close relationship! Reminded me immediately of the gent we met in Kauai (who owned the frame shop) and posed with his parrot. Clearly similar bonds to his pet, but at least we didn’t have to watch the Hawaiian stick out his tongue…
I’d forgotten about that. Birds – I love to see them flapping around outside, but I don’t think I want to live with one (my one childhood experience with a parakeet was traumatic for me and lethal for the bird, who flew upside down into a geranium and died from resultant injuries). I wonder if the little papagallos live as long as the parrots do??
They are obviously very good friends! Life can be strange indeed.
That’s for sure – and usually when you least expect it.
Euch! Me thinks this gent is special in the same way as the man who sits on the bench in Gold Canyon? What is it that is so gross about adults tongues sticking out?! It’s often comical when children do it…
For me it wasn’t the tongue, but the bird eating from it. I dunno…
I wish I could unsee that tongue. I was thinking, “how sweet!” until I got to that frame.
Oops -sorry. Somehow I couldn’t leave it out, though, as it seemed the thing of which the man was most proud.