The main place that we wanted to visit was 59 Rivoli. I have featured it previously here and this is the entry door to the gallery. However, today’s post isn’t about that. I want to take you through the lesser-explored back doors and side streets of Rue des Deux Boules in the 1st arrondissement of…
Category: Natalie’s Photographing Public Art Challenge
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
TRAVEL DIARY: SYDNEY I’ve visited Sydney numerous times, yet I’ve never had the chance to explore the Botanic Gardens until now. One of the perks of hosting visitors from overseas is discovering places I wouldn’t typically think to visit. This is the entrance to the Gardens, Austtalia’s oldest botanic gardens with all its natural beauty….
Liverpool
TRAVEL DIARY: LIVERPOOL There are places I’ll rememberAll my life, though some have changed.Some forever, not for better;Some have gone and some remain.– the Beatles Even if you’re unaware, you’ll unmistakably sense when you’ve arrived in Liverpool—where everything transforms into a celebration of the Beatles. But first was dinner. We decided to go to Jollibee,…
Edinburgh
TRAVEL DIARY: EDINBURGH From York, we headed to Edinburgh, where Jack, Tim, and I spent three days and two nights at my cousin Connie’s place. Our visit was more about catching up and reminiscing than sightseeing. Last time I saw her was in 2016 with her late husband Rick, who drove us around Scotland.…from Glasgow,…
San Remo & Phillip Island
A few months ago, I visited San Remo with my sister and Jack. San Remo, located in the picturesque Gippsland region of southern Victoria, Australia, is a charming coastal town. I wanted to show her the magnificent pelicans during their feeding time, which typically occurs around noon. These impressive birds gather at this spot around…
Bristol
TRAVEL DIARY:BRISTOL Arrived in Bristol at night from the Cotswolds. Our first stop was dinner at the famous Pieminister. Nestled within Bristol’s city centre, Pieminister has been a beloved family venture since 2003. There were so many choices and so tasty Through the darkness of the night, we could still see the colour and vibrancy…
Camden Town
TRAVEL DIARY: CAMDEN TOWN During the first leg of our holiday in Paris, Barcelona, and Portugal in October of 2023, we weren’t able to indulge in much shopping at the markets. Our luggage was already filled to the brim, leaving little room to bring back souvenirs or treasures from our travels. So first thing we…
Day Trip to Aveiro
and to Costa Nova do Prado TRAVEL DIARY: AVEIRO & PRAIA DE COSTA NOVA Though the days were totally wet, we couldn’t pass up the chance to explore beyond Porto, so we opted for a day trip to Aveiro. The train journey from Sao Bento to Aveiro, lasting about an hour and twenty minutes, was…
Electricity Boxes Reimagined
You’ve probably seen one and stopped and maybe even smiled because it is hard to miss a large, cheerfully painted metal electricity box on the streets. I know, because there are also some here in Melbourne and is becoming a trend in many modern cities around the world. Last week, I showcased doors from Rua…
At Cloudehill
CLOUDEHILL GARDEN & NURSERY, OLINDA, Every Autumn, my husband and I find ourselves drawn back to this place, and this year is no exception. This time, we arrived a bit earlier than usual, to accompany my sister and niece visiting from the Philippines. Although the autumn colours hadn’t fully emerged yet, I’m hopeful that they…
The Rocks
We explored Sydney’s oldest neighborhood, The Rocks, where we found olden style cobblestone streets intertwined with modern cafes and restaurants. The rich history of Sydney’s roots are seen in some of its public art. “First Impressions” is a sculpture located in Playfair Street in The Rocks. This sandstone relief was created by Bud Dumas in 1979…
Geelong by the Waterfront
This morning I took my sister, Pilar, and my niece, Pam, to Geelong. (They are both here for a month long holiday from the Philippines). Geelong is the second largest Victorian city behind Melbourne and is the gateway to the Bellarine Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road. Here we found these amazing sculptures which I…
Wall Art in Frankston with Sis
I hadn’t originally planned any activities for my sister and niece on their first day in Melbourne, but it turned into quite a busy day. We ended up heading to Frankston beach to admire the stunning wall art from the recently concluded 2024 Big Picture Fest. I am linking this to Natalie’s Photographing Public Art…
Pandas at the Singapore Airport
Found this cute trail of Pandas at the Kuala Lumpur airport when we left for London in October 2023. I am linking it to Natalie’s PPAC
Art Inside Pasteis de Belem
When in Belém, don’t miss trying the original Pastel de Nata. Just remember, if you’re having more than one, it’s called Pasteis de Nata. ( which I am sure you will be having two or more of them)😂😂😂 You can find tasty pastel de nata all over Lisbon, but the ones from this famous bakery…
Murals and Seats in the LX Factory
LX Factory is in Alcântara, a cool part of Lisbon. It’s got over 50 shops, cafes, and restaurants, both indoors and outdoors. You can spend a few hours or even a whole day there, checking out stuff to buy or just looking around. It’s also fun to see all these Public Art. Near the entrance…
TukTuks of Lisbon – A Splash of Colour
TukTuks appeared in the late 2000s. They are not public transportation but are privately owned, taking tourists around even on the narrowest and steepest streets. It brings colour to the streets of Libon. This is a fun alternative to taxis but they are quite expensive. Some have a minimum charge of 10 euros while an…
Streetart shutters
BARCELONA, SPAIN As we expected, after leaving the Banksy Museum, we encountered a number of street art murals adorning the shutter doors along our route. I can’t get enough of them. The artworks may not be that outstanding, but when you see so many of them in one place … that’s pretty cool. I am…
And I will just sit here…
BARCELONA, SPAIN Linked to Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge For Natalie’s Photographing Public Art Challenge And for Debbie’s Six Word Saturday
The Triennial 2023 & More
First of all, Jack and I met Pat for lunch at a Malaysian restaurant. Yummmm Took some photos of Public Art around Melbourne. We headed to the city primarily to visit NGV, the National Gallery of Victoria, showcasing the Triennial 2023—an expansive collection of contemporary art created by over 100 talented artists. When we arrived…
Sculptures in Placa de Catalunya
In the heart of Barcelona lies Plaça de Catalunya, a sprawling square graced by an array of public art, making it one of the city’s grandest open spaces. Renowned for its statues and vibrant atmosphere… Its fountains … At the edge of the square is my favourite Font dels Sis Putti, an attractive fountain built…
Moooo where is the train station?
AVEIRO, PORTUGAL Two Urban cows roaming at Aveiro train station in Portugal, their purpose is probably linked to charitable organizations, though I am really not quite sure Linked to Debbie’s 6WS and for Natalie’s PPAC.
Albania through Tim’s Lens
My son, Tim, recently spent several days working in Albania, where he was directing a music video. Despite his hectic schedule, I am delighted that he managed to spare some precious moments to capture stunning photos of vibrant murals for me. Also he captured enchanting Christmas-themed public art on the streets and within the hotel…
Paris, here we come…
TRAVEL DIARY: PARIS 1 We took the Eurostar from London to Paris on the 8th of October. The moment we emerged from the bustling Gare du Nord station in Paris we were greeted by a spectacular view and sunshine. The hotel we reserved on Belleville turned out to be small, but it wasn’t as tiny…
Finsbury Park doors
TRAVEL DIARY: LONDON Departed Melbourne on October 4th, I endured a challenging 25-hour flight (including stopovers and layovers), finally reaching Heathrow Airport in the early morning. Upon our early arrival in London at my son’s place, I resisted the urge to nap, aiming to maintain my sleep schedule. Instead, I took a stroll around my…
Looking back to my Philippine holiday
I saw these in my archive … reminiscing my trip in the Philippines last March. These are cute sculptures by Ronald Ventura in the Art Alley of BGC.. And that’s my niece with a new found friend. Linked to Natalie’s Photographingg Public Art Challenge And to Debbie’s Six Word Saturday
One Morph among many in London
Morph is a British comedy animation and is now being highlighted on the streets of London. This unusual exhibition is called Morph’s Adventures in London. There are 56 sculptures of Morph popping up in various locations across the city, wearing different attires. Each sculpture is 6 foot tall and you would not miss it as…
Country town of Yarragon
The Queen celebrated two birthdays each year: her actual birthday on 21 April and her official birthday on the second Saturday in June. But now, for the first time, we are celebrating the King’s Birthday Long Weekend which takes place from Saturday 10th June to Monday 12th June 2023. It is a public holiday today,…
Sitting is an art
Sitting can be an art as seen in these Quirky and colourful benches in Bonifacio Global City or BGC in the Philippines. A stylized bench that looks like a pea pod in a park. A strong hand grip. Two figures reaching out to each other. Inspired by Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge and for…
An afternoon in Tooradin
We strolled along the jetty and watched the sky as the sun sets. This was in Tooradin, a quaint fishing village in the bayside township, southeast of Melbourne. Inspired by Jo’s Monday Walk But first, I had an ice cream cone to quench my cravings. Sometimes there’s a scenic cruise operating here in the area….