Abandoned

16 augusti, 201616 augusti, 2016 / Leya / 27 kommentarer

We passed the tiny village Castro in our search for the hidden monastery. After the visit there, the decision was easy – to park the car and walk up the main street of Castro.

At first sight it looked abandoned, but …electricity and a TV antenna told another story.

Maybe food storage

Number three…

…and the Marguerites

And all those doors…most of them belonging to abandoned houses or houses torn down – the door opening onto endless meadows behind… every door having its own secret story.

And, somebody is caring for the lonely rose.

The Enchanted Monastery

13 augusti, 201613 augusti, 2016 / Leya / 22 kommentarer

Monasterio de Santa Cristina (Ribas de Sil) in Galicia, Spain, originates from the 11th century, when monks came here to live in seclusion to meditate.

We had great difficulties in finding the hidden monastery, and had to follow winding roads for miles. Then a multitude of stone steps down…but, we were richly rewarded.

There is not much written about the monastery, or its church, but the very location and surroundings are enigmatic. I hope you noticed the stone faces watching us from above in the header…

You can only imagine all the trouble getting the stones for the monastery down here…

…and the impressive church

Hidden in the forest, it was impossible to get an overview of the buildings. We walked up the layered paths, and the unreal feeling only escalated. Not many monks have ever lived here – but how did they survive? It seemed impossible that they would have grown anything in this stone paradise. No matter how green it was…

The cross on top of the church

Stones, stones…

…and majestic stone fences in layers

The old trees all seemed to be aware of us being there…and as I turned around on the path, one of them made my eyes wander up the trunk for his message…resting some four, five meters up…

Thursday Thoughts – El Capricho

11 augusti, 201611 augusti, 2016 / Leya / 12 kommentarer

Why do I love Antonio Gaudí? Maybe because of his love for nature’s wonders – starting when he was only a small child. His way of using nature’s forms and designs in everything he created. Making the pillars in Sagráda Família with scars like the tree trunks get when they have lost a branch, making lamps look like flowers and light spill out like waves in the sea…

In every detail he was …mirroring nature.

In Comillas, on the north coast of Spain, you will find this ”folly” – El Capricho – by Gaudí, built for Máximo Díaz de Quijano (a relative of the marquis of Comillas) in the 1880´s. You immediately recognize his style using iron structures, glazed pottery and stained glass.

Come, let’s take a ”folly” walk …

Look out for the iron balconies with built in sofas…

Sunflowers on the tiles

Symmetry

In the bathroom – nature rules

I could dine here…

In my dreams, a dinner with Antonio Gaudí would be optional… to get the opportunity to listen to his ideas and maybe discuss nature’s impact on humans – body and soul. I would have had many, many questions…

I was lucky enough to meet him in his garden, sitting there admiring his work. I tried to get some answers, but mostly we sat quietly contemplating…me admiringly of course. But, I am so thankful for having finally met him – my favourite architect.

A Place Where Nobody Wanted to Live…

8 augusti, 2016 / Leya / 5 kommentarer

The controversial modernist architect Antoni Gaudí is one of my own favourites…but in his own time – he was not always popular. In Barcelona, you might have visited his fabulous Sagrada Família, Casa Battló or La Pedrera and Parc Güell. And Marvelled.

Palacio Episcopal (end of the 19th century) in Astorga was seen as rather abominable in appearance and the cost for building it was just too much for the congregation. No bishop has ever lived there since…

Inside, you recognize Gaudí’s style with beautiful ceramics and stained glass.

The palace is now being restored, and I guess its future visitors will continue to admire his outstanding art.

The magnificent cross bows and his colour combinations are simply divine.

So, be sure to visit when your road leads you here…you cannot get too much of Gaudí!

As usual, click to get a larger view – sometimes you have to click twice…and click the links for my previous posts on his art in Barcelona!

Travel theme: Pastel

5 augusti, 20165 augusti, 2016 / Leya / 14 kommentarer

In northern Spain, we feasted on bay windows (I have always wanted one…). Mostly white and covering the whole front of the houses, but I also found some in colour. For Ailsa, pastel is the choice.

WPC: Look up

8 juli, 20168 juli, 2016 / Leya / 31 kommentarer

Look up! This is a very varied challenge with many possibilities. My take is all about nature – even if you might not think so…

In the header, a lamp from Gaudí’s Casa Batllo´in Barcelona. He always used Nature herself as an inspiration. Maybe a drop of water in a pool?

A Swedish autumn birch in its splendour – who would not look up?

Great tree ferns, New Zeeland, North Island.

New Zealand’s Great fern trees draws your eye…upwards.

Madrid

In Madrid my head went dizzy when watching this tree in a spectacular swing…

Madrid

And these well dressed trees… I just hade to peep inside for this spectacular view!

For more reasons to look up, click here.

Thursday Thoughts – It’s Raining…

8 juli, 20168 juli, 2016 / Leya / 23 kommentarer

Well, let’s make the best of it…kids can do it, then why can’t we!

My Illusory, Illusive Week…

6 juli, 2016 / Leya / 11 kommentarer

Strange things this week…It all started out so well…but these are my memories …

…then the rain started pouring…

…

But I got a bit confused, and we ended up in Elsinor instead…

Catching a ship in an ocean of flowers.

…in my ordinary Blekinge again. Don’t we all have crazy dreams sometimes…?

CFFC: Bridges

5 juli, 20166 juli, 2016 / Leya / 26 kommentarer

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Bridges

I have one special favourite of all bridges…the old Roman bridge in Switzerland, Verzasca valley. Read my post about this valley here.

Another favourite bridge, actually an aqueduct, is Pont du Gard in France. But you can no longer walk Pont du Gard. I did in 1976, on top, about 50 cm width and I had my Swedish clogs on. I guess I should be grateful to have survived that walk…

Click the link for more beautiful bridges!

Thursday Thoughts – Magnificent Tullstorp

30 juni, 201630 juni, 2016 / Leya / 20 kommentarer

We were so fortunate to get a guided tour at Tullstorp, the world famous dressage stable run by Jan Brink. Situated only fifteen kilometres from where we live, this was a fantastic opportunity for a look into another world.

As a young boy Jan Brink played hockey in his home village, but as all the young girls were hanging at the stable, he gave the horses a chance…In some months he was hooked, and this was to be his future career. He studied at Flyinge and in Germany for some years, and then went for an international career.

Architect – Jan Brink

The World Cup Winner this year

Designed for the horses to be at the centre of interest

Jan Brink guiding us

The most valuable horses are kept in this building…

…and feeling excellent

Shower room – for the horses

Well polished after every day in use

Jan Brink is one of the best riders in the world and a seven-time Swedish dressage champion – five times on the number one dressage horse Björsell’s Briar.

Brink has won five medals in international championships, and in 2005 he was the first Swede to win the dressage championship in Aachen.

Jan Brink is a self-made man, and unbelievably hard working. Going for shampionships, educating new horses and riders – and top class horse breeding serving customers all over the world. According to him, having talent is far from enough – you must be prepared to work hard and go for your dreams.