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| Asilah, Morocco |
Another example of the mesmerizing murals of the medina in Asilah...
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Friday, March 21, 2014
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
mesmerizing murals
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| Asilah, Morocco |
The International Cultural Moussem of Asilah (Asilah Arts Festival) is an annual cultural extravaganza which brings life and color to this city and has been doing so since 1978. The town is a platform for cultural dialog and exchange between different countries through conferences and seminars. Each year a guest country is invited to share its culture through mural paintings, engravings, music, dance and poetry.
One of the things I like most about this town are its murals! Select artists are invited to paint their works of art on the whitewashed walls of the medina every year. The best ones are kept for years to come. Here is an example of one of them.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
number 32
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| Asilah, Morocco |
Anything blue, grabs my attention!
(if you haven't figured that out already!)
:)
(if you haven't figured that out already!)
:)
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Plaza Mayor of Madrid
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| Madrid, Spain |
Seventeenth century king, Felipe III, had the Plaza Mayor of Madrid built in 1619 to which centuries later a statue was placed here in his honor. The building with frescos of mythological figures and other pictures related to the history of this capital city, painted by Carlos Franco, is used today as the Madrid Visitors and Convention Bureau.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
the heart of Madrid
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| Madrid, Spain |
Madrid's heart of the city, its Puerta del Sol, is where practically the entire nation celebrates New Year's eating 12 grapes while listening to the legendary clock of the old Post Office building (Real Casa de Correos) ring in the New Year.
The statue is of an 18th century King of Spain, Carlos III.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
Sunday, March 9, 2014
There's no place like home
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| Óbidos (Centro Region), Portugal |
"Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home."
-John Howard Payne
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Friday, March 7, 2014
rooftops amid the wall
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| Óbidos (Centro Region), Portugal |
This hilltop fortification was taken from the Moors by the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, in 1148. Throughout the different reigns of the kings, towers, keeps and other parts of the castle have been added, creating a picture perfect spectacle.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
side streets
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| Óbidos (Centro Region), Portugal |
This picturesque town, but at the same time busy with its cultural calendar, celebrates many events throughout the year, including a variety of festivals such as Baroque and classical music, along with opera, harpsichord, piano and contemporary art. Holy week processions, Christmas and medieval markets as well as chocolate festivals are all on the calendar of events celebrated in Óbidos.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
medieval and literary
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| Óbidos (Centro Region), Portugal |
This Moorish castle and walls around the city, originating from the 8th century, today form part of the pousadas of Portugal. A pousada is a chain of luxury, traditional or historical hotels that exist throughout the country. Next to the castle is the Igreja de Santiago dating from the 12th century, but was completely destroyed in the 1755 earthquake of Lisbon. It was rebuilt at the end of the 18th century and eventually was left to ruin until Ler Devagar (an independent bookshop which translates into "read slowly") decided to take over and convert it into a literary space, along with 7 other locations, turning this medieval wonder into a literary town, with plans to open more in the future.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Monday, March 3, 2014
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Friday, February 28, 2014
sit with a book
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| Naunton (Gloucestershire), England |
This looks like a nice place to sit with a good book and get lost in another world...
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Entre Dos Aguas
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| Tarifa (Cádiz - Andalucía), Spain |
Entre Dos Aguas - Descansa en paz, maestro. Francisco Sánchez Gómez, Paco de Lucía.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Monday, February 24, 2014
oldest town in England
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| Malmesbury (Wiltshire), England |
Malmesbury is considered the oldest continually inhabited town in England as archaeologists found remnants of Neolithic and Iron Age defense walls and forts. It is located in the southern part of the Cotswolds.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Saturday, February 22, 2014
give sorrow words
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| Castle Combe (Wiltshire), England |
"Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak whispers the o'er fraught heart and bids its break."
-William Shakespeare, Macbeth
Friday, February 21, 2014
English charm
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| Castle Combe (Wiltshire), England |
I would love to see what's inside too, wouldn't you?
Thursday, February 20, 2014
enchanting
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| Castle Combe (Wiltshire), England |
Its amazing the number of enchanting villages that can be found throughout the English countryside. This is just one example of many. Its population numbers a mere 350 people. This tiny town has been used more than once as a backdrop for films, one of which was Steven Spielberg's Warhorse.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Monday, February 17, 2014
the Mad Hatter
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| Winchcombe (Gloucestershire), England |
Many people come to Winchcombe to see St. Peter's Church (late 15th century) and its so called gargoyles. They are actually just grotesque carvings since a true gargoyle has a water spout passing through it.
Forty of these carvings surround the church, twenty of which represent demonic creatures while the other twenty appear to be caricatures of locally important people who donated money to the church. The curious figure in this photo is said to be the model for the Mad Hatter in Lewis Caroll's Alice in Wonderland Story.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Saturday, February 15, 2014
quaint living
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| Stanton (Gloucestershire), England |
Another perfect example of quaint Cotswold living...
Friday, February 14, 2014
picture perfect setting
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| between Broadway and Snowshill (Gloucestershire), England |
One wonderful thing about driving around the Cotswolds is seeing all the beautiful cottages dotting the countryside. The view facing this house was a long-stretching field of sheep.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
decorative doors
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| Stanton (Gloucestershire), England |
This town, completely built with Cotswold stone, is a treat for the eyes by all standards, but if you like doors, you will love the visit. Every house offers something unique.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
wooly creatures
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| between Snowshill and Broadway (Gloucestershire), England |
The Cotswolds DO have many long-wooled sheep! Cotswold wool has been given the name "poor man's mohair" due to its fine quality.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
English cottages
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| Snowshill (Gloucestershire), England |
Spend a few days in the countryside and you'll feel as good as new!
Monday, February 10, 2014
slow down...
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| Snowshill (Gloucestershire), England |
Slow down and enjoy the special moments life has to offer...
Sunday, February 9, 2014
perfect harmony
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| Snowshill (Gloucestershire), England |
You can't help but feel perfect harmony when walking around this stone village of the Cotswolds.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
a perfect get away
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| Snowshill (Gloucestershire), England |
This was, by far, one of my favorite villages I visited in the Cotswolds. The whole town is full of picturesque cottages and, of course, the blue doors and moss growing everywhere added a special charm for me!
Friday, February 7, 2014
Broadway tower
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| Broadway (Worcestershire), England |
Broadway tower was built in the late 18th century on Broadway hill, the second highest point in the Cotswolds. It was originally built for decorative purposes, but took the appearance of a castle. Over the centuries, it has been used for a variety of purposes, from things such as home to the printing press of Sir Thomas Phillips, a country retreat for artists to a unique vantage point to spot enemy planes during the wars. Today you can visit this tower and see for yourself what they have used it for and at the same time enjoy the delightful views all around you.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Anne Hathaway
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| Shottery (Warwickshire), England |
This timber framed cottage was once the childhood home of Anne Hathaway, William Shakespeare's wife. Today this cottage is open to the public and acts as a major tourist attraction for Shottery, a village just outside of Statford-Upon-Avon.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
The Garrick Inn
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| Stratford-Upon-Avon (Warwickshire), England |
Perhaps the oldest pub in Stratford-Upon-Avon, the birth town of William Shakespeare, parts of this timber building date back to the 1400s. Its original name was The Greyhound, but was later renamed after the Shakespearean actor, Sir David Garrick, who did a great deal to popularize Shakespeare in this town. It has been an Inn since the year 1718.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Monday, February 3, 2014
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Saturday, February 1, 2014
decorative backdrop
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| Warwick (Warwickshire), England |
The Great Fire of Warwick (1694) destroyed many of the medieval buildings it had in the town center. Fortunately, many older timber framed buildings, like the ones seen in this picture, survived and can be found around the edges of the town center.
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