Split to San Miguel - Doors and Windows on the World.....

What is it about doors and windows around the world?? Somehow they provide such gorgeous glimpses into other cultures and are in themselves such a rich source for photography of the picturesque at its most photogenic and evocative....

These first three collages were all shot in the charming colonial town of San Miguel de Allende here in Mexico. I just love the saloon swing doors of the cantina bars, the purple and red doors of the bullring, and the colonial windows with their wrought iron balconies all in rich hues of ochre, terracotta, russet, and dusky pink....

Next we move to Croatia where the stone takes on such a different texture and tone, with the doors and wooden shutters all predominantly in shades of green, blue and white with just a hint of pale pink thrown in...

Is it just me or are all of these doors and windows works of art in their own right??

For more windows on the world click here to enjoy gorgeous glimpses all around the globe..

Shadow Shot Sunday 22 - Tequisquiapan

Anyone for afternoon tea in Tequisquiapan?? The looming shadows on the lawn in the late afternoon do look somewhat ominous and threatening, unlike the shadows around the hotel pool that day...

Tequisquiapan is a charming colonial town situated three hours north of Mexico City. It makes the perfect chilled out weekend retreat to simply relax and take it easy...

For more information about Tequisquiapan see the post before last, and for more shadowplay from around the world simply click here and enjoy!!

The Beauty of Britain....

Absence makes the heart grow fonder?? Is it always the case that when you return home after a long absence or visit from living abroad, that you see your home country afresh and appreciate the beauty even more??

These photographs were taken in my favourite place in the heart of West London; a National Trust property called Osterley Park. I have been walking here on and off for twenty seven years, and have always found it the perfect place to clear the mind and restore the spirit...

Visitors I take here are always amazed that this enclave is so close to the urban grit of Hounslow with the M4, Heathrow, and noisy streets a stone's throw away. There is a resident grey heron, horses, stables, and a farm selling local produce on site as well as the elegant Osterley House featuring Adams' interior designs.....

There wasn't much sun in England this summer when I was visiting, but the beauty of Britain can still certainly be appreciated and photographed in the pouring rain!! Above are photgraphs all taken in torrential rain at Upton House; another National Trust property near Stratford-upon-Avon.

Whenever I return home I am always particularly struck by the beauty of the British countryside and gardens. What do you tend to notice first when you return home??

Taking off for Tequisquiapan.....

Mexico City is surrounded by many places which prove to be wonderful weekend retreats, and Tequisquiapan is another to add to your list of such enchanting destinations. It is renowned for its quiet, bougainvillea-lined cobbled streets...

and its heavy concentration of hotels with spas, and posadas with pools, making it the perfect place to relax for a few days...

Being so close to the more well-known colonial city of Queretero, it also has the added advantage of being relatively unvisited and quite off the beaten track....In fact, you will probably only run into a few Mexican weekenders...

Wouldn't you just like to chill out here in the zocalo, admiring the beautiful church, and sitting on one of these lovely wrought iron benches whiling away a few tranquil hours.... ???

Tequisquiapan hosts an annual wine and cheese festival every June, and can be reached in three hours from Mexico City via a plush ETN bus from Terminal Norte.

P.S. Just noticed I have just reached Post 100 - dedicated to all the gifted, talented and creative travel bloggers out there!! For other gorgeous glimpses around the world click here and enjoy!

Colours of Croatia 2 - Blue

People say that Croatia's crystal-clear waters are the bluest of the blue, and judging from my recent trip there island hopping this summer, I am more than inclined to agree...Aren't you??


The sea here is certainly an absolute dream to swim in, or happy hours can be spent gazing at the sparkling sapphire vistas from aboard your boat or the beach...

All shades of blue are covered from jade and aquamarine through to turquoise and sapphire and finally peacock and navy......


All these photographs were taken around the islands of Hvar and Korcula and from the mainlaind at Split, Trogir, Brela and Dubrovnik. Do they turn you blue with envy??

Shadow Shot Sunday 21 - Croatia

Some simple reflections this week.... I am still experiencing sensory overload from my recent travels this summer which took me to the States, Europe and Britain, and thus still feel the need to post about these places before I get back to writing about Mexico.

These shots were all taken in the beautiful harbour of Dubrovnik's Old Town where it is impossible to ignore the postcard-like picturesque qualities of the place...

Croatia is a most rewarding travel destination - and the blue of the water, green of the shutters, white of the stone will stay in your memory long after you have returned home.

For more shadow shots around the world click here and enjoy!!

Colours of Croatia 1 - White

It is hard not to be dazzled by the colour white in Croatia, from the marble pavements of Dubrovnik, the marble palaces of Split, and the marble churches and cathedrals of Trogir. Indeed marble was transported from the Croatian island of Hvar to build the White House, USA.

What also is so striking, is the beauty and delicacy of the stonework - from winged lions to sulky cherubs to fragile flowers, the carving is intricately subtle...

Stone architecture from churches and cathedrals to tall Venetian style houses, loggias and Roman ruins plus forts and Medieval citadels will accost you wherever you turn...

The beauty of Croatia is absolutely pure and stunning in its impact- Photographs shown were taken in Split, Trogir, and Dubrovnik on the mainland, as well as the islands of Hvar and Korcula. What are the other colours in the upcoming series?? Blue and Green....

The Photogenic Perfection of Prague..........

Prague has to be one of the most beautifully picturesque cities in the whole of Europe always requiring multiple return visits. I first went shortly after the Velvet Revolution in 1991 when there was still no such thing as private enterprise, marketing consisted of three tins stacked in a pyramid in a shop window, and you had to eat at lunchtime otherwise the food would have all run out. Supermarkets were stocked with aisles and aisles of pickled gherkins and Bohemian champagne, but there was no fresh fruit or vegetables in sight, and every morning we played Russian roulette with the eggs - only one out of six was ever edible. Only trabants and skodas were on the roads................Oh how times have changed!! (and obviously in many ways for the better)

Now on my fourth visit this summer almost twenty years later, it seems all very reminiscent of the film "Goodbye Lenin" as I gaze in wonderment at this chic cosmopolitan upmarket city with fresh strawberries and grapes stacked on every stall, extremely efficient tourist infrastructure including Skoda tours of the Old Town, and restaurants ranging the entire International gamut from Indian to Thai. Of course there is more than a hint of nostalgia for times gone by as I wander around camera in hand trying to decide which suits Prague best - monochrome, sepia or colour?? What do you think??

Are some cities more photogenic than others or is it simply in the hands and eye of the photographer??

For more views around the world click here

Shadow Shot Sunday 20 - New York - Roxy Paine on the Roof

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in the heart of Manhattan not only has fabulous views from its rooftop terrace in the summer, but always manages to stage some kind of dramatic exhibition of art. This stainless steel structure entitled "Maelstrom" is this year's offering by the artist Roxy Paine, and its tentacles, branches and alien-type pods spread over the entire terrace to create an interactive installation....

The installation also works beautifully against the blue sky and clouds over New York...

and also becomes an interesting lense through which to view the famous Manhattan city skyline..

Here is a final shadow shot of one of the alien pods...

"Roxy Paine on the Roof" is at the Met in NY for the rest of the summer - Enjoy! For other shadow shots from around the world, click here and enjoy the views...

ps: I would just like to add that whilst creating this post, I have just sat through a 3 minute earthquake, with my apartment lurching and creaking somewhat ominously around me - surreal!! 8.24 am Mexico City - You heard it first here!!