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…
Category: Travels 2023
Cotswolds – Castle Combe
TRAVEL DIARY: COTSWOLDS After our European holiday last October 2023, Jack, Tim, and I embarked on a six-day road trip to visit my cousin in Edinburgh. With my son’s commitments sandwiching our travel dates, we had to keep it brief, but having Tim behind the wheel amidst such stunning scenery made it all worthwhile. En…
Our last day in Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO DAY 6 Before leaving our Airbnb, I suggested to my husband that we visit this church I’d seen on Instagram known for its stunning azulejos. Luckily, it was close to where we were staying. The Capela das Almas, an 18th-century chapel on Rua Santa Catarina, boasts a striking blue façade adorned with…
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…
Misty Adventures in Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO DAY 5 We took the Hop-On Hop-Off bus for the second day and our first stop was the Porto Cathedral. Perched on a hill overlooking the Duoro, Se do Porto is the most important cathedral and religious building in this city. Construction began in the 12th century and is mainly Baroque architecture…
Doors in the area of Rua das Flores
We discovered the charm of this 18th Century walking street sloping down from Porto’s San Bento Railway Station to the Duoro river. Known as “Rua das Flores,” or “Flower Street,” it earned its name from the beautiful gardens that used to line the houses along the way. Sadly, those gardens are now gone. Love the…
The Magic of Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO DAY 4 Due to the persistent rain in the morning and looking like the same for the following days, we opted for a two-day hop-on-hop-off bus tour, conveniently stopping near our airbnb. From the top seats of the double decker bus we saw some amazing misty sceneries and public art. By the…
Vicinity of Dom Luis Bridge
This was me and Hubby walking on our first day in Porto and seeing these doors in our walk from our Air Bnb to the Dom Luis Bridge. The Dom Luís Bridge is a double-deck metal arch bridge that spans the river Douro between the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia in Portugal….
Still wandering in Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO DAY 3 BACK STORY: This is a continuation of my previous blog and this day, as I’ve said, it was pouring rain. While exploring, we stopped for lunch at a unique McDonald’s in downtown Porto, Portugal. Surprisingly, this restaurant, known as the McDonald’s Imperial, is housed in a historic café adorned with…
Tuesday Streetart in the Cavern Quarter -37
LIVERPOOL, UK At Number 1 Temple Court sits the Revolver Bar in the Cavern Quarter. Outside are the Street murals of different artists. Photos taken in October 2023
Wandering in Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO DAY 2 Since we were in Porto, we started our day with, you guessed it right, Portuguese tarts. Had it in the cafe right in front of the Livraria Lello. Livraria Lello is celebrated for its stunning blend of Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau styles, making it a must-visit. Established in 1906, it’s…
Tuesday Streetart – 36
BRISTOL, UK This is a Streetart done by WiIII Cross (Wi with 3 capital i’s), a street artist from Bristol. It is an oil painting of a woman wearing a Bulgarian traditional costume.
First impressions of Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO DAY 1 After a brisk journey aboard the Alfa Pendular, Portugal’s flagship Pendolinoa high-speed train, we arrived in Porto just past midday, so we were starving from the trip. Near our Airbnb, we stumbled upon a nearby restaurant where, unsure of what to choose, we trusted the owner’s recommendations for our meal….
Tuesday Streetart – 35
CAMDEN, LONDON Otto Schade – Osch has another addition to the Camden area Streetarts.
Around town on our last day
TRAVEL DIARY: LISBON DAY 4 Did you know that Uber fares are incredibly cheap in Portugal? We stumbled upon this discovery during our visit to Sintra when we opted for a taxi. Glad we found out because since then, Uber has become our go-to mode of transportation. So this was our last day in Lisbon…
Quaint town of Obidos and its doors
Obidos, just a half-hour’s drive from Nazare, is our third stop for our day trip. It is a quaint and charming escape with its cobblestone streets, narrow alleyways, colourful shops and many local cafes. These doors add to the town’s aesthetic charm. Here are doors that become more appealing because they are surrounded with greeneries….
Discovering the charm of Obidos
TRAVEL DIARY: OBIDOS The next stop on our day trip is Obidos. This is one place not to be missed when in Lisbon … a gorgeous medieval town perched on top of a hill. As we entered the town through Porta da Vila, the main gate, we were greeted by a stunning balcony adorned with…
Lovely Yellow Windows in a Corner Shop
NAZARE, PORTUGAL A yellow restaurant by the sea. I am linking this to Ludwig’s Monday Window
The green doors in Nazare
As I have posted previously, Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Nazaré or the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazare has semicircular steps that lead to a Baroque portal. Outside the church are green doors. In the interior … still more green doors in the corridors of the church. I an linking this to Dan’s Thursday Doors…
Tuesday Streetart – 33
PARIS, FRANCE You’ll find amazing urban art all over Paris – just walk the streets with your eyes wide open. This is a mural by Cannibal Letters. Cannibal Letters, originally from Paris, has been honing his skills since 1999, using various names and working with different groups. In 2010, he settled on his current name….
Exploring Portugal’s Coastal Gem
TRAVEL DIARY: NAZARE As we were leaving Fatima, the rain started again. We resumed our journey toward Nazare approximately an hour’s drive ahead. Glad to see the blue skies as we were approaching town. Nazare is one of the most picturesque seaside towns in Portugal Proceeded to the market stalls. Legend has it that nobleman…
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
Doors in the old village of Fatima
Our short visit to the old village of Fatima took us to all these wonderful doors. It was where the three holy children (Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia) saw the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal, from May to October 1917. This first one is the front door of the house of Francisco and Jacinta. And…
Tuesday Streetart of an Owl – 32
BRISTOL, UK This is “Pink Wisdom” by Tech Moon found somewhere in Bristol during a “drive by”.
Fatima then and now
TRAVEL DIARY: FATIMA The story begins in the village of Fatima, Portugal, on May 13, 1917. On that fateful day near that tiny village, The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, appeared to three young peasant children: Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia; ages 10, 9 and 7… As Catholics, hubby and I were interested to visit…
Lisbon windows through Tim’s Lens
Yes, yes my son, Tim, takes photos so much better than me and I am proud of it . Hubby and I stayed longer in Lisbon and when it was their last day, Tim and Leigh went out on their own to experience the city on a faster pace (without their 65 year old parents…
Empty Chairs waiting patiently for diners
Passing by a restaurant in Porto at midday. I guess they don’t open up for lunch. Linked to Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge and Debbie’s Six Word Saturday – 6WS
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…
Pena Palace Doorways
The doors at Pena Palace, Portugal, are famous for their colorful designs and intricate craftsmanship, reflecting various architectural styles like Romanticism and Moorish influences. Closed doors in the Queen’s Terrace Here are some of the doors from the interior of the palace. Opened doors and arched entry. Linking this to Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge
Tuesday Streetart – Banksy in London – 31
LONDON, UK In Cargo Bar’s Yard, behind the gate is Banksy’s ORIGINAL – Authorised Graffiti Area and Guard dog. This is in Rivington street. This has been there since the early 2000s and is still in good condition because they’ve put protective covering over it.