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…

Misty Adventures in Porto

TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 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 but…

A Chef by the Window – 3

Still in Porto … I was walking down below and saw this window on the second level. I thought, this is so cute. I am linking this to Ludwig’s Monday Window Challenge

The Magic of Porto

TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 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 time…

Bookbar

The colourful seats outside the Bookbar in Islington, London. Bookbar is an independent bookshop. It is a welcoming place where anybody can sit together and read a book or have a meal or drinks. I am linking this to Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge

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 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 stunning…

Old Lady by the Window – 1

PORTO, PORTUGAL This is in an apartment by the Praca Ribeira in Porto. I wonder what she was thinking about? I am linking this to Ludwig’s Monday Window Challenge

Wandering in Porto

TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 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 among…

Sao Bento Railway Station Windows

São Bento is Porto’s central station and is often described as one of the most beautiful train stations in Europe or even in the whole world . This station is in the city centre, so we used it to travel locally and probably walked past it several times during our stay there. The São Bento…

Floral Entrances in Covent Gardens

Despite their artificial nature, these entrances near St. Martin Lane in Covent Garden, London, radiate beauty in their own unique way. Linked to Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge

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 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. Francesinha…

Around town on our last day

TRAVEL DIARY: LISBON 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 and…

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…

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…

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…

Cats by the Window

NAZARE, PORTUGAL I don’t know why there are so many cat figurines in Nazare. Anyway, here they are … and they’re so cute sitting on the window ledge. I am linking this to Ludwig’s Monday Window

The Beatles Cafe

LIVERPOOL, UK This is the Chantilly Beatles Cafe located within the Cavern Walks Shopping area. Here you can see lots of Beatles memoribillia and artwork. I am linking this to Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge

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

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…

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.

Exploring the Magic of Sintra’s Most Iconic Landmark

TRAVEL DIARY: SINTRA 2 Having marveled at the grandeur of the Quinta de Regaelera in the morning, we continue on our walk and immerse ourselves with the enchanting beauty of the Pena Palace in Sintra. My daughter Pat first introduced me to this palace in 2017 through a photo from her solo European trip, urging…