Category: Postcards

Images from my travels

Black and White Sunday: Traces of the Past

Continuing with my Barcelona posts, I couldn’t help but notice this rather grand house in the Pedralbes district, up by the monastery. Obviously from the Modernista period, with ornate iron-work, coloured tiling, a roof terrace with a pretty stone balustrade and windows picked out in contrasting brickwork. It is however, sadly derelict with balconies rusting and floorless, graceful windows with broken shutters and bricked up openings, which keeps the house secure from squatters and seems to be the norm on mainland Europe, whereas we simply board them up.

Floorless balcony
Balcony
Balcony hinges
The Gate
Fancy Window Grills and bricked up windows

A grand house once (or maybe two apartments) I hope that one day whatever is preventing its sale or restoration is resolved as it would be a shame for it to deteriorate further, and one only has to imagine what beauties possibly lie inside.

Please visit Paula to see other representations of this week’s challenge.

Thursday’s Special: PICK A WORD IN APRIL

Casa Amatller (Josep Puig i Cadafalch) is next door to two other Art Nouveau houses on Passeig de Gràcia, between Aragó and Consell de Cent streets in the Eixample district of Barcelona.

On the left is the Lleó i Morera House by Lluís Domènech i Montaner – he of the Sant Pau complex that I am currently blogging about, and on the right is the Batlló House by Antoni Gaudí.

Mansana de la Discòrdia or Block of Discord, is the name given to the block, (click on the link to discover the reason) where these exquisite examples of Modernist architecture are located.

I felt that this beautiful building with its projecting balconies and gargoyles and arresting stone sculptures and ceramic tiles would be perfect for Paula’s Word challenge this week.

I’ll try and find an excuse to post some pictures of the other house, but if you want to have a look inside as well as out then visit Casa Lleó i Morera .

Black and White Sunday: Countryside (and an ideal dwelling)

countyside-with-a-structure
Grasmere ‘Cottage’

The Lake District lies in north-west England and is one of the most beautiful regions in the country, if you like lakes and hills. High hills as seen behind this pretty house which is located on the banks of Grasmere lake. Surrounded by a pretty woodland garden, this sturdy stone-built house has curved sash windows, an extended roofline and a covered verandah. I could see myself sitting on that verandah on a swing seat piled high with cushions, a cat curled up in the sunny spot, a table cluttered with garden magazines, potted plants and coffee cups…

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Lambs gambolling in the fields

…admiring the view

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Lake Grasmere

Please visit Paula to see other representations of this week’s challenge.

International Women’s Day

Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?
~ Frida Kahlo

Andrea Michaelsson is a multi-faceted artist better known by her street artist name, Btoy. Her street art stencils often portray the importance of women, and sometimes incorporate famous portraits. Most of these women are female icons from the 1950’s, often depicted through powerful brush strokes combined with very acute stencil lines.

I tried to drown my sorrows, but the bastards learned how to swim, and now I am overwhelmed by this decent and good feeling. ~ Frida Kahlo

I am linking this image to Paula’s Thursday Special: commanding