Looking down on Barcelona

This mirror image of an upside down chandelier in the attic of Gaudi’s Casa Mila thoroughly captivated me. I edged close to admire the delicate threads, looked down, and an immediate smile came to my lips. Genius to place the mirror beneath, reflecting the vaulted brick arches so subtly.

To be truthful, I spent so much of my time in Barcelona looking up, I developed a bit of a crick in my neck. But it will be a pleasure this rainy morning to amble through my photos and relive a few moments.

Up on the roof, I could see for miles!

Was there ever a stranger landscape?

But what joy it brought!

Where to next? How to portray a city that so many others have known, yet which produced pure childlike delight in me? For years the name Barcelona had conjured images for me, yet none truly lived up to the reality of this city. Yes, it has its dirty, gritty side. Which city doesn’t? And I got footsore and weary. I never know when enough is enough- just ask my poor husband! But the magic was all there.

And speaking of magic and genius, it’s epitomised by Parc Guell

The sunlight was so bright and I'm a little disappointed at the quality of my images

The sunlight was so bright, I’m disappointed at the quality of my images

But nothing can take away from the beauty of this place!

And I was lucky! The park wasn’t too busy.

Many of the benches were empty and I could admire the detail.

Many of the benches were empty and I could admire the intricate details.

You know that in the Sagrada Familia I spent a lot of time gazing upwards in wonder, but I also ascended the Passion Tower. Lots of opportunity to look down. So I did!

How amazing to see the city from this angle

And look down on the newest constructions.

This figure looks down on the city- with compassion?

While the workers whizz up and down on cables!

It is an awesome and moving spectacle.

I always have a penchant for climbing stairs to acquire a better view, but a lift or a cable car is just as good, and in Barcelona you are spoilt for choice. The Cathedral roof was a good place to start (as distinct from the Basilica of Sagrada Familia) but the weather that day was a gentle grey. Never mind- lots of sunny days to come.

The highest point I reached was Tibidabo, with the assistance of a funicular I’m pleased to say, and it was still hard work. Then there was beautiful Monjuic- and that’s a tale for another day!

The promise of things to come from the Cathedral roof.

The heights of Tibidabo

It was quite a way down!

I love a novelty shot! Looking up, reflected down, in the harbour.

And looking over his shoulder at the beach. “Come back later”, he said.

I had to share this view with a seagull.

Who didn’t really seem to mind- seen it all before!

I really should stop now- you’ll be getting dizzy!

In the gardens of Laribal, on Monjuic.

What can I say? I’m in love with the place. You might have guessed by now that this is my entry for Marianne at East of Malaga’s CBBH challenge: Looking down.

Who to introduce is often a problem at this stage of things, but I know that, if you haven’t already met her, you will be enthralled with the work of Seonaid at Breathe of Green Air. And there are so many fine photographers out there that it really can be quite intimidating. I came across James at JDT Photography quite recently and was extremely impressed.

Just remains to say thank you to Marianne. Don’t forget to visit!

Six word Saturday

Barcelona- a feast for the senses!

You knew I’d get there, didn’t you? Fabulous Casa Batllo!

I’ve been overwhelmed by all your birthday messages and good wishes, and would simply like to say thank you to my wonderful blogging friends. I will be slow getting back to you as I have a zillion things to do and 600+ photos to sort through. I just wanted to let you know that Barcelona fully lived up to expectations, and to share a few thoughts.

I’ve never seen anything more beautiful than Parc Guell!

Or heard anything more noisy than these geese gaggling!

Or heard anything more noisy than the geese, gaggling at the Cathedral!

Or been more surprised by a hospital!

Or loved detail more!

With a dash of patriotism!

Or loved Christmas decorations more, even before they’ve been lit!

Or taken a more wonky photograph in a famous loo!

Or loved a theatre more!

Or climbed more steps!

Or seen more boats!

And definitely not bigger or more smiley boats!

But you know what the finale is, don’t you? Never have I been more in awe of a piece of architecture! It is magnificent!

The Basilica of Sagrada Familia

Expect to be bored lots more in the coming days! I had the BEST time.

Thanks as always to Cate for letting me abuse Six word Saturday. The links or header will take you there to join in the fun.

Six word Saturday

No time for colour- Barcelona tomorrow!

Here it comes!

I type this while looking over my shoulder at the prettiest of sunrises, and with a stomache churning with excitement. It’s all been a little frantic because my daughter arrived home yesterday evening and we have so little time. The Whitby Goth Festival is on this weekend, and she and Leo intend to visit on their way home tomorrow. I would LOVE to be there but I’m up at the crack of dawn for my Barcelona flight. (she promises to share photos!)

The iconic Sagrada Familia- with grateful thanks to Wikipedai

The iconic Sagrada Familia- with grateful thanks to Wikipedia

I have no illusions that I will be able to take photos like this, but you’d better believe I’m going to try! The forecast is for rain on Sunday, when I arrive, but sunny thereafter. I can’t wait!

Total fantasy! Casa Batlo- courtesy of Wikipedia.

Total fantasy! Casa Batllo- courtesy of Wikipedia.

Will I be in Casa Batllo on my birthday on Tuesday? I don’t really know, but I can think of worse places. I will be home for Six word Saturday next week though (shame!).

Many thanks to Cate at Show My Face. Click on the logos or links to play.

Reflections of Autumn

Yes, that’s my shadow on the stone pillar. Careless me!

This time of year always has me in reflective mood. No matter how bright the sunshine, I always know that Winter is waiting, just around the corner. But we have had the occasional sparkling day in this last week or so, and I have been determined to make the most of them. Come stroll with me in my Durham gallery of sunshine and shadows.

The River Wear was brim full and the reflections sparkled up onto the bridge.

Framed in the shadows beneath the bridge, the outline of Durham Cathedral.

The sun was so bright, I had to find leafy shade to even try a shot.

This was the photo I was aiming for on that bridge!

The Autumn reflections in the water were beautiful

And the shadows lengthened as I crossed over the bridge.

Finally, the lengthening shadows of evening.

And another Durham day has flown away.

Cee has given me the perfect opportunity this week to share a few Reflections and Shadows. Please click on the link to see some wonderful photographs.

I’m hoping your week will have more sunshine than shadow.

R is for “rodzina”

Rodzina is the Polish word for family, and what an important word it is.

For many years “Polish family”, to me, meant just Dad. My English mother, Nancy, has been dead for 23 years, and, having no brothers and sisters, ours was a small family unit. Then came the fateful phone call. I’ve told the story countless times, but it still fills me with wonder.

Dad (centre) reunited with his brothers and sisters after 64 years

Unknown to him, in Poland, awaited an enormous family. Following the phone call, arrangements were made for us to visit.

From his second marriage, to Laura, Dad already had inherited quite a large English family. Laura was a lovely lady, but she died on Dad’s 70th birthday, leaving him saddened and lonely. My presence and that of my stepbrother, Tony, and his family, was not enough to fill the gap. My stepsister, Lynne, though always in touch, was far distant in Canada. That phone call changed Dad’s life. It also made quite a difference in mine.

Arriving at the farm with cousin, Adam

My cousin Marysia, and neice, Kasia

Ewa in the forefront, Marysia and Jadzia on the right

Cousins, Ewa, forefront, Marysia and Jadzia on the right- Dad, centrestage!

If you’ve followed any of my Polish A-Z you’ll know that I have 26 cousins (one for each letter of the alphabet?) so it’s impossible to show them all here. Off we went to Poland, with camera crew in tow. Dad was featured on North East Tonight on 15th March 2007. Watching the webcam still has me sniffling.

After a day or so in beautiful Kraków, with my cousin Adam, we drove north to meet the family. The cacophony of tooting horns and voices as we drove in through the farmyard gates will stay with me for a very long time. Then, in good old Polish fashion, jemy i pijemy– we ate and we drank! A drive through the woods helped Dad to familiarise himself with the place he had left behind so long ago.

Lighting candles

As all Polish visits seem to do, we ended up at the cemetery. They may celebrate life in fine style, but they never forget to honour loved ones. And the bigger the family, the more the farewells. Already I have said goodbyes to my much-loved Aunt Anna, and to uncle Włodek’s wife, Janina. Cousins Gosia and Dominik were both much too young to die. But life is seldom gloomy around my Polish family.

Life is full of smiles (here with neice, Ula)

Nephew Lukasz with his sister Weronika, soon to be wedded to Wojtek (front)

Her brother, Łukasz, and sister Weronika, soon to be wedded to Wojtek

Beautiful scenery, like Wawel Cathedral

These fountains at Pałac Sztuki in Kraków

A chess piece or two

And cake!

Dad has always been kind, caring and the very definition of a gentleman, whatever life has brought his way. You can read more of his story here. I hope you’ve enjoyed sharing tales of my rodzina Polska. Many thanks to Julie Dawn Fox, who started me off on this Personal A-Z series, and to my good friend at Frizztext for welcoming me to his A-Z. Please click on the links or the logos to see more.

Six word Saturday

Time to see RED? Not really!

If you asked me what my favourite colour is, I’d probably say red. But when I look back through my photos I find that they are predominantly blues. Often the reds are a wine colour, like the leaves from my Virginia Creeper, above. Or I’ve used the red as an accent colour, like my favourite dress, which is white with deep blue and red flowers on.

Saltburn Cliff Lift is definitely red..

Doesn’t this small ladybird wear red beautifully?

My home town’s symbol, proudly red.

Hartlepool Headland with a good splash of the colour.

Is crab red when it’s cooked?

The hottest of red hibiscus!

The jewel red in a stained glass window always leaps out at me.

Got to squeeze in a battered old red Tavira door.

Our royals, resplendent in red!

I thought this rose was red, but isn’t it coral?

Striking red metalwork on this tearoom windowsill.

Romantic red at Riva del Garda.

This dahlia looked red as could be to me, but here it’s looking pink!

Icecream, anyone?

And it isn’t possible to have icecream without my red haired lady!

I can have endless arguments with my husband about colour, but it doesn’t really matter. It’s all beautiful, isn’t it? No need to see red at all!

Thanks for humouring me this Saturday. Hope your weekend sparkles, whatever shade it is. Many thanks to Cate at Show My Face. Hope she’s feeling better this week. Do click on the logos or the link to join in.

Q is for Quinta

“Quinta” is the Portuguese word for a country home or farmhouse.

It’s something I’ve long aspired to, though I’m more likely to end up in a beach hut! This place on Armona would be fine, with bougainvilea tumbling over the walls, and a pot or two of welcoming hibiscus on the doorstep.

Isn’t it wonderfully tropical? Imagine those palms rustling in the breeze.

There’d be a lemon tree and a fig tree. Maybe a lime too, but no oranges. I’ve never liked oranges, though the blossom is very pretty. I have no idea how long it takes to produce a decent vintage of grape, but the notion of a few vines and their dangling temptation is very appealing.

A little grape trampling anyone?

A Portuguese house isn’t a home without an azulejo panel. Maybe even two!

There’s those tempting grapes again!

And a barco rabelo! What more would I need?

This view of the Douro might come at more than I can afford.

Especially with the swimming pool!

And I could live with wooden ceilings and floors! (The Vintage Hotel, Pinhao)

But I’m getting a little carried away now. It easily happens, doesn’t it? You know I’d never want to be too far from my salt marshes.

When I first visited Portugal I read my “Rough Guide” from cover to cover. One of the Algarve recommends was Quinta de Marim – a nature reserve with a tidal mill. It wasn’t far away, just 2kms east of Olhao, but finding it was a different proposition. I seem to have the ability to blatantly disregard directions in a guide book, while still being convinced that I am on the right track!

Eventually we got there, and I loved what I found. Nothing very fancy. A few nature trails. Wild flowers thriving quite happily in the salt air. The gentle lap of the water flowing through the tidal mill, itself just an old quinta. I need to go back, and soon.

Salt marshes at Fuzeta

The tidal mill at Quinta de Marim

This post hasn’t gone quite the way I thought it would, but this is my Personal A-Z Challenge, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it so far. My customary thanks go to Julie Dawn Fox for conceiving the challenge, and to Frizz who daily inspires and entertains me. This week his A-Z has reached QQQ. Follow the links and logos for a little inspiration yourself.

“Marionette” by T. B. Markinson

Something new for Restlessjo. I can’t imagine life without a book, so I’m always interested when a blogging friend is about to self publish. It’s a whole lot of work, in addition to the talent it takes to actually write the book. I feel very privileged to be involved in this process, even in a small way. The cover reveal is today and it hits the shelves in December.

Title: Marionette

Author: T. B. Markinson

Cover Designer: Derek Murphy

Publication Date: December 2013

Synopsis:

Paige Alexander is seventeen and has her whole life in front of her. One day her girlfriend comes home to discover that Paige has slit her wrists. Paige isn’t insane, but she acts like she is. Why?

After the incident, Paige agrees to go to therapy to appease her girlfriend, Jess. However, Paige doesn’t believe that therapy will help her. She believes she’s beyond help. Paige doesn’t want to find herself and she doesn’t want to relive her painful past in order to come to terms with it. What Paige wants is control over her life, which she hasn’t had since her birth.

During her childhood, Paige is blamed for a family tragedy, when in fact, her twin sister, Abbie was responsible. Abbie doesn’t come forward and Paige becomes the pariah of the family.

To add to Paige’s woes while attending a college in a small town in Colorado, the residents are in the midst of debating whether or not gays and lesbians should have equal rights. Tension is high and there’s a threat of violence. She isn’t out of the closet and pretends to be straight at school since she fears what will happen if her parents find out she’s a lesbian. Will she end up dead like her best friend, Alex?

About the Author:

T. B. Markinson is a 39-year old American writer, living in England, who pledged she would publish before she was 35. Better late than never. When she isn’t writing, she’s traveling around the world, watching sports on the telly, visiting pubs in England, or taking the dog for a walk. Not necessarily in that order. Marionette is her second novel. A Woman Lost was her debut novel.

Sign up to TB’s New Release Mailing List here. Your email will never be shared and you will only be contacted when a new book is out.

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Travelling “My Way”

Don’t worry, I’m not about to burst into song. Well, I might, but you won’t have to listen. This is simply my entry for the Travel Your Way photography competition being hosted by Rhino Carhire. Lovely Lucy nominated me. She’s on holiday in Portugal right now, recovering from her honeymoon.

I have to post four shots (or more!) depicting travel by air, sea, road and rail.

Cloud-gazing!

I have to admit to being one of those people who sit with their nose pressed to the window on a flight. Kindles and iPads are wasted on me, though I could do with a large map upon my knee. I’m forever trying to work out which bit of coastline or land mass I’m flying over, while all around me people snore or follow the plot of the latest thriller. The balls of fluff below and the occasional snowclad peak are all the thrill I need.

The photo above is one of many taken on the journey back to the UK from the Algarve. Well- you recognised it, didn’t you? The sun was just setting, touching the lakes with flame.

Azulejo panel of traditional barcos rabelos at Peso da Regua

Impossible to capture the boating experience on Portugal’s beautiful Douro with just one photo. The traditional way of transporting the barrels of port, the winding and weaving river, the terraces of vines- all combined to give me the experience of a lifetime on board with Tomasz do Douro.

Plying a different trade now.

Yet still remembered on our dining room wall

And culminating in beautiful Porto.

Road trips for me usually mean a few days outing from our Algarve home, and always, always result in a lot of walking. One of my favourite places, ever, was the Spanish city of Cordoba. We started off on the embankment with this alluring view.

The sky was mean and moody but the sun shone

A place to rest the feet- the lovely gardens of the Alcazhar.

I love everything about travelling by rail, from the clickety-clack of the tracks to a belch of steam on the North York Moors. I thought that I would probably post a shot of the wonderfully restored and nurtured steam engines, idling on the platform at Grosmont or Goathland. But in the end I opted for a tram shot. Nothing quite beats the thrill of these sleek beauties, chugging up and down inclines in Lisbon, and probably my favourite ride- along the shoreline of the Foz do Douro in Porto.

The tram trundles past Foz do Douro

Fortunately for me the deadline on this competition was extended to 31st October or I would never have made the cut, so many thanks to Rhino Carhire for that. It just remains for me to nominate 5 people who could use a spare £1000 for travel. And quickly!

Bespoke Traveler has some great tales to tell, and some great shots to go with them.

Hope, the happy hugger – how lovely a name is that? I’ve just been looking at some stunning bougainvilea shots on her page.

My guilty pleasures Viveka? Well you ALL know what a treasure she is. She’s already got me singing on this grey English day.

Dear Bliary has been one of my favourite blogs for a long time. Innovation is Gemma’s middle name. Or was it Marie?

Janalines world journey is a terrific read. I just hope she has time to take part.

You don’t need a nomination to join in, so if I’ve missed anyone who was desperate to be there, please don’t hesitate.

Hope you enjoyed travelling along with me. Did you sing?

Six word Saturday

Uplifting YELLOW – the colour of sunshine.

Autumn colour in Richmond, North Yorkshire

Even a sunshine bird like me can’t help but thrill to the colours of Autumn. Crispy days, with the water running dark and the sun shining bright…

And glinting through the leaves.

Here is my gallery of yellow for this week. Click on a photo to roll with me.

Got to love this smack of yellow!

The Carmo Church, Tavira- just a subtle tinge of yellow

Crazy yellow at the seaside!

Beautiful stained glass yellow in the Ratusz in Krakow

Old gold gently washes medieval architecture in Wroclaw

Sunflower yellow rules this display!

My stepdad, Joe, hated the colour yellow, but Mam loved her roses

Here’s a bold statement for a door!

Livingstone daisies light up the beaches on the Algarve

More craziness- Carnival time in Loule

How delicately pretty is this?

And this is simply exquisite!

My kaleidoscopes of colour have brightened my Saturdays over the last few weeks. I can’t resist the opportunity to add this one to the Weekly Photo Challenge, the hue of you.

Join Cheri’s challenge, or simply stay here, nice and comfy with Cate at Show My Face. The world’s your oyster!

restlessjo

Roaming, at home and abroad

Looking down on Barcelona

Six word Saturday

Barcelona- a feast for the senses!

Six word Saturday

No time for colour- Barcelona tomorrow!

Reflections of Autumn

R is for “rodzina”

Six word Saturday

Time to see RED? Not really!

Q is for Quinta

“Marionette” by T. B. Markinson

Travelling “My Way”

Six word Saturday

Uplifting YELLOW – the colour of sunshine.

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Barcelona- a feast for the senses!

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No time for colour- Barcelona tomorrow!

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Time to see RED? Not really!

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Uplifting YELLOW – the colour of sunshine.

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