TAVEL DIARY: SINTRA 1 The Quinta da Regaleira is located near the historic centre of Sintra, Portugal. It is protected within the UNESCO World Heritage site and is a mix of Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and Renaissance architecture. It is an enchanting estate about half an hour from Lisbon. It was built by an eccentric Free…
Tag: Travels 2023
Through the Tram 28 Window
TRAVEL DIARY: LISBON 3 Because of the wet weather, we opted for a tram ride to explore the significant sights of Lisbon rather than staying indoors. Went on the TRAM 28, one of the famous Lisbon icons. It passes through the popular tourist districts for about a 40-minute journey. It took us winding up (or…
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…
From Belém’s pastries to Fado’s melodies
(and everything in Between) TRAVEL DIARY: LISBON 2 We started early and walked to the train station. Some interesting things to see and smell along the way. Like the protruding car, some souvenirs and chestnuts roasting … yum my fave! From the train window I saw these murals. I see that cat in a lot…
A window in Cotswolds
Cotswolds is a charming countryside in England. It is famous for its endearing cottages just like this. Linked to Ludwig’s Monday Window Challenge
Shadows
LAS RAMBLAS, BARCELONA One sunny afternoon in the Las Ramlas area. I am linking it to Debbie’s One Word Sunday – Shadows
Window Shopping in Obidos
Obidos is a charming town not too far from Lisbon. It has narrow cobbled streets with whitewashed homes, accented with bright blue or red or yellow detailing, red tiled roofs and spreading purple bougainvillea blooms. It is a tiny town but it has a castle, churches, restaurants and a maze of cobbled alleyways. But that…
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…
Welcoming Green Doors of Lisbon
A green front door reflects wealth, health, and safety, and not surprisingly, a green door works well on the tiled traditional-style homes in Portugal. Pictured here are some of the many facades with green doors that caught my eye in Lisbon. The best part about looking for green Portuguese doors is that you won’t have…
Tuesday Streetart Swans – 28
SOUTHWARK, LONDON Discovered the artwork of Australian Street Artist Jimmy C. in Redcross Way, Southwark. Titled ‘Union,’ this mural blends Aboriginal art with ‘Aerosol-Pointillism.’ It depicts two swans meeting peacefully amidst flowing water.
Navigating Lisbon’s Stairways and Alleys
TRAVEL DIARY: LISBON 1 Jack and I reached Lisbon from Barcelona via Vuelling airlines in approximately 2 hours. Upon arrival, we met up with Tim and Leigh, who had traveled from London. We took an Uber to our Airbnb and true to the forecast it rained the whole day. After putting our luggage down and…
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…
Wordless Wednesday
Give love whenever you can. The world needs more of that. BRISTOL, UK
Embracing Barcelona’s Charm: on Our Last Day
TRAVEL DIARY BARCELONA 4: We had no precise plan for our last day in Barcelona except for the Banksy Museum. We headed off from our hotel and went on the direction of the Arc de Triomf which is a memorial arch in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was built by architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas as…
Barcelona and Banksy
So, who is BANKSY? Not much is known about him, not even his real name, his date and place of birth. His works are mainly satirical takes on politics, pop culture and morality but he hides his real identity from the general public. Last October 2023, Jack and I decided to visit the Banksy Museum…
Tuesday Streetart another one by Bronik – 26
EL BORN, BARCELONA, SPAIN This little bar is located in the Born district just near St Catarina market. Bronik is from Peru and was based in Barcelona making graffiti from 2009 until early 2020 when she came to Australia. That is why this is the third mural (I am sure there were more) that I…
Go and See It Now
I’m a part of the Melbourne Urban Sketchers group, though I don’t regularly attend as their sessions are usually on Sundays, and Jack prefers to rest on that day. Additionally, I’m an active member of Urban Sketchers Casey, a more intimate group that meets every second Friday of the month, and I make an effort…
Doors in and around the Dali Museum
Figueres, the birthplace of Salvador Dalí (May 11, 1904 – January 23, 1989), is not only where this iconic artist was born but also a town that reflects the brilliance that defined his work. I have compiled some doors that I saw in and around the Dali Theatre Museum in Linked to Dan’s Thursday Doors…
Tuesday Streetart by Bronik – 25
BARCELONA, SPAIN A streetart by Bronik. Clearly, she is becoming one of my favourite street artist. It is only now that I found out that she is an artist/muralist/streetartist/illustrator from Peru but now based in Melbourne. Gotta search for her work now in my walks.
A walk through Dali’s Mind in Figueres
TRAVEL DIARY: FIGUERES About a 40 minute bus ride from Girona took us to Figueres, the home town of Salvador Dali. “I want my museum to be a single block, a labyrinth, a great surrealist object. It will be [a] totally theatrical museum. The people who come to see it will leave with the sensation…
Two red Chairs
LONDON, UK Somewhere in London I found this shop dedicated mostly on pre-loved chairs. Linked to Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge
Tuesday Streetart Trompe l’oeil – 24
BARCELONA, SPAIN Trompe l’oeil is a technique used in art in which objects are painted their normal size in a very realistic way, to make people think that the objects are solid and real. (As defined by Collins dictionary). I saw this building in front of the Mercat de Santa Caterina in which this technique…
Day tripping to Medieval Girona
TRAVEL DIARY: GIRONA Left our hotel early for Barcelona Nord. I organised this day trip via Get Your Guide. Met our guide at platform 17/18, left at 8:30 and arrived in Girona, Spain, in about an hour. Explored Girona with a local guide, who shared Game of Thrones Season 6 details which was shot there….
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…
Barceloneta Beach
The Barceloneta Beach is one of the most visited and most famous beach in Barcelona. As we arrived late in the day, we witnessed the staff already in the process of removing chairs from the beachside eatery . Linked to Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge
Streetart Doors in Barcelona
In Barcelona, vibrant murals adorn front safety doors, cleverly doubling as advertisements for shops even when closed. Linked to Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge
Park Guell: a fairytale-like experience
TRAVEL DIARY BARCELONA 3: Another place not to be missed when visiting Barcelona is Park Güell: it’s a fairytale-like experience featuring whimsical architecture, vibrant mosaics, and lush gardens meticulously crafted by Antoni Gaudí. Took an Uber to the Carretera del Carmel entrance of Park Güell. We chose the earliest available slot, I factored in my…
A tiny plaza in El Born Gothic quarter
The Sant Pere de les Puelles Catholic church in the Plaza de San Pedro, or Placa Sant Pere, in the El Born Gothic quarter of Barcelona, Spain. I discover a quaint plaza nestled beside the church, adorned with inviting benches and chairs—an ideal spot for serene moments.
Doors of the La Sagrada Familia
Welcome back, everyone! We’re diving into Dan’s Thursday Doors challenge for 2024. Here’s my initial entry for the year. In 2015, they put the first doors on La Sagrada Familia’s Nativity façade Charity portal. Made by Etsuro Sotoo, the bronze doors with ivy leaves represent lasting love for Mary and Joseph. The doors on the…
Tuesday Streetart Gillespie Park – 22
FINSBURY PARK, LONDON This is a passage going to the Gillespie Park. Beside it, I found this pretty Street Art in the entrance to the Gillespie Park & Nature Reserve.