meet you on the bridge?

Bourton-on-the-Water (Gloucestershire), England

time passes by...

Broughton (Oxfordshire), England

beauty remains...

the Mad Hatter

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.

Cotswold living

Stanton (Gloucestershire), England

How can you resist this?

quaint living

Stanton (Gloucestershire), England

Another perfect example of quaint Cotswold living...

picture perfect setting

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.

decorative doors

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.

wooly creatures

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.

English cottages

Snowshill (Gloucestershire), England

Spend a few days in the countryside and you'll feel as good as new!

slow down...

Snowshill (Gloucestershire), England

Slow down and enjoy the special moments life has to offer...

perfect harmony

Snowshill (Gloucestershire), England

You can't help but feel perfect harmony when walking around this stone village of the Cotswolds.

a perfect get away

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!

Broadway tower

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.

Anne Hathaway

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.

The Garrick Inn

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.

Rectory Lane

Woodstock (Oxfordshire), England

wispy vines

Woodstock (Oxfordshire), England

elegance

Woodstock (Oxfordshire), England

decorative backdrop

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.

door details

Warwick (Warwickshire), England

Here's yet another door to add to the collection!  - I think I've mentioned before that I like doors :)

black and white

Warwick (Warwickshire), England

This black and white Tudor style building is a common sight to be seen in many parts of England.  I for one am a big fan!

Lord Leycester Hospital

Warwick (Warwickshire), England

This 16th century building was orginally a hospital for aged or injured soldiers.  Today it serves as flats provided for eight ex-servicemen and their couples.

life

Broadwell (Gloucestershire), England

green, beautiful green...  This color adds life to any picture.

dry stone walls

Broadwell (Gloucestershire), England

Stones perfectly laid one on top of the other to gain stability and at the same time creating a beautiful work of art...

stone villages

Broadwell (Gloucestershire), England

The Cotswolds is an area in southwestern and west central England full of quaint stone villages and beautiful countryside.  Driving around, we stumbled across this 12-13th century church of St. Paul and its cemetery in Broadwell, a town of not even 400 people, complete with B&B, pub and all!  Check out the Fox Inn, I sure will never forget it.  I can still taste the yummy and hearty food along with the pint or two sitting next to the fireplace!

late Baroque early Neoclassical

Pancorbo (Burgos - Castilla y León), Spain

Driving to the Basque Country of Spain, I would always drive through this curious little town tucked away in a mountain pass, thinking what a beautiful place for a little town to be, but would never have time to stop.  One day, on my way home, having no better place to be in that moment, I decided to stop and check it out.  I discovered the beautiful late-Baroque-early-Neoclassical façade of the parish church of San Nicolás (Saint Nicholas) built, in the early 1700s, over an earlier Renaissance style church in ruins.

village life

Portillo (Valladolid - Castilla y León), Spain

splendor

Madrid, Spain

These emblematic buildings represent the splendor of early 20th century Madrid.

old and new

Madrid, Spain

The Puerta del Sol is a hustling square which is witness to thousands of people every year who come and celebrate the coming of the new year.  It is Spain's version of New York's Time Square.

Puerta de Alcalá

Madrid, Spain

At one point in its history, Madrid had 5 ways to enter the city; this picture represents the gateway to the city for travelers who were coming from France, Aragón or Cataluña.  Today, due to the immense expansion over the centuries, this monumental gate is located in the heart of Spain's capital city.

a grand square

Madrid, Spain

The Plaza Mayor of Madrid is a square full of life where something is always happening.

Spain's capital

Madrid, Spain

This street (corner of Alcalá and Sevilla) is lined with buildings like these.  On the left is the BBVA and on the right is another bank which was established in 1902 as the Banco Español de Crédito, but has recently been taken over by Banco Santander.

Palace of Communications

Madrid, Spain

After several delays and 12 long years of construction, this building finally opened as the Palace of Communications (post office, telegraphs and telephone) for Madrid in 1919.  Its design was determined by an open competition set out by the city, with only three groups of architects presenting their projects.  The winners were two young Spanish architects by the names of Antonio Palacios and Joaquín Otamendi.  

The building has changed roles and as of 2007 it is now the City Hall and in 2011 it has also opened its doors as Cultural Center.

a sea of color

Lisbon, Portugal

roasted chestnuts

Lisbon, Portugal

The Tagus in the distance

Lisbon, Portugal

Looking down over the Alfama neighborhood and São Miguel church on the right, the estuary of Tagus River can be seen in the distance.  The Tagus River (Tejo in Portuguese and Tajo in Spanish) is the longest river on the Iberian peninsula (1038 kilometers / 645 miles) while the estuary makes up one of the most important wetlands in Europe, hosting a vast variety of fish, other sea life and birds migrating between Europe and Northern Africa.  It is considered the largest estuary in Western Europe.

Valor

Lisbon, Portugal

Here is the other side, the allegorical figure of Glory crowning Valor.

Genius

Lisbon, Portugal

As stated here, the Arch of Triumph of the Praça do Comércio, overlooking the Tagus River, shows the allegorical figure of Glory crowning Genius (seen in this picture) and Valor, on the other side. 

This Arch was erected as a result of the reconstruction of the city after the earthquake of 1755, replacing this area with a new orderly grid of streets as opposed to the previous labyrinth of streets existing before.  Another square, which was meant to rival Europe's grandest of squares, was created in the same place as had existed the Ribeira palace, the 16th century royal residence of Portuguese monarchs.  This palace was said to have been one of the most impressive buildings in Portugal, but was completely destroyed by the earthquake, destroying many works of art as well as a library of more than 70,000 books.

rising above

Lisbon, Portugal

The Church of Saint Michael (Igreja de São Miguel) sits in the heart of the Alfama neighborhood rising above the Tagus River.  It dates back to to the 12th century, but needed to be rebuilt in the late 17th, now exhibiting a Mannerist and Barroque style of architecture.

just another day

Lisbon, Portugal

Alfama, overlooking the river Tagus on this radiant sunny afternoon...
 

love is the answer

Lisbon, Portugal

"Love is the answer, and you know that for sure; Love is a flower, you've got to let it grow."

-John Lennon

steep, narrow streets

Lisbon, Portugal

If you find yourself trying to follow a map while in the Alfama neighborhood of Lisbon, forget it.  Put it away and just wander; it is the best way to get the full experience.  Just go whereever your body takes you.

a museum of windows

Lisbon, Portugal

Praça da Figueira

Lisbon, Portugal

The most important hospital of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries was located in this present day square, but because of the devastating earthquake of 1755, the hospital and the majority of the buildings here were destroyed.  This square was also home to the main market of the city until it was knocked down in the 1950s.

open spaces

Lisbon, Portugal

Glory

Lisbon, Portugal

The tallest figure on the Arch of Triumph, overlooking the Praça do Comércio and Tagus River, represents Glory and measures an astounding 7 meters (23 feet).  She crowns Valor and Genius, two statues one on each side of her.  Construction of the arch began in 1755 after the devastating earthquake, which nearly ravaged the entire city.

yet another face of Lisbon...

Lisbon, Portugal

Because Lisbon is "a city built on seven hills", getting around can be a challenge.  Trolley cars and trams are the traditional mode of transportation that can be taken here to get up the steepest of hills.  This picture is taken from the lookout Miradouro das Portas do Sol and the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora, housing the Royal Pantheon of the majority of the Braganza monarchs of Portugal and their families, can be seen in the background.

on the shores of the Tagus

Lisbon, Portugal

one of Lisbon's countless faces on the shores of the Tagus River...

Bay of Santander

Santander (Cantabria), Spain

Mataleñas golf course sits in a privileged area with the Bay of Santander as its backdrop.  The Isla del Mouro (Mouro Island) and its 1860 lighthouse is being covered with waves on this winter afternoon.

grandeur

Santander (Cantabria), Spain

the grandeur of the sea...

Happy 2014!