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…

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….

2018 is special

What is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite? *** Being an Australian, i am defining holiday as not going to work or it’s also a longer break from work such as taking time off to go on a trip somewhere. In 2018, I embarked on an unforgettable journey through London, Prague, Vienna, and…

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…

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…

Each stone tells a story

This week’s challenge is being led by Donna, and the topic is Rock my World. So welcome to my world of rocks, where each stone tells a story—not of scientific origins, but of cherished memories. Let me start with my most recent trip to Sydney with my sister, Pilar, my niece, Pam and Jack. We…

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

Cityscapes from Prague to London

In this week’s challenge, hosted by Patti, I will be showcasing Prague and London. While every city worldwide holds its own unique narrative, Prague and London hold a special place in my heart. Each snapshot I’ll be sharing is filled with cherished memories that resonate within me. (Well I really wanted to do Prague and…

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

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…

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…

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…

Shutter Windows in Montmartre

Four months have passed, and I still vividly remember my first day in Paris when I visited Montmartre. These are the ones I discovered in a quiet spot farther away from Place du Tertre. Linked to Ludwig’s Monday Windows Some small tiles, sculptures and streetart beside the shutter windows.

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…

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

Ways to communicate…

In what ways do you communicate online? Migrating to Australia with my husband and one-year-old son left me homesick for a long time. Back then, snail mail was my lifeline to connect with my dad, workmates, and relatives due to the expense of long-distance calls. In today’s digital age, communication is easier but lacks the…

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…

Exploring the Wonders Within and Beyond Sagrada Familia

TRAVEL DIARY BARCELONA 2: It is not unusual to walk down the streets of Barcelona and not see art in whichever way or form. From Casa Batllo we walked about 10 minutes and we reached another of Gaudi’s masterpieces, Casa Mila, more popularly known as La Pedrera (meaning stone quarry in Catalan). We didn’t go…

A walk through Casa Batllo

TRAVEL DIARY BARCELONA 1: After tiring our legs out in Paris for four days, hubby and I opted for a more leisurely pace in Barcelona. Our plan: two key attractions at the most daily, with the rest of the time dedicated to leisurely strolls around the city. Walked approximately 25 minutes from our hotel to…