Travel theme: Sparkle

January 3, 2015 by megtraveling

I was in Barcelona in the spring on a particularly bright day with blue sky showing behind some fluffy clouds. I took a long walk along La Rambla and ended up by the water. The Rambla de Mar was ahead and I continued my walk. There was a sidewalk where I saw a large sign describing the area. As I looked around there were many rows of boats in the sparkling water. It seemed to me that the water and the blue sky were exceptionally bright that day. It was a peaceful scene.

Look here for more sparkle.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Layers

November 16, 2013 by megtraveling

One of the most interesting places I visited in Barcelona was La Boqueria. The displays of fruits and vegetables were very appealing and many were in layers. I had a difficult time deciding what to buy.

fruit display

Neatly stacked oranges

quite a variety

Flowers are Everywhere

August 27, 2013 by megtraveling

I am happy to say that I’ve seen lots of flowers this year and they are a welcome sight. It started in January when I was in Seattle. Although it was winter there were buckets of flowers at Pike Place Market. In late April I took a walk in the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee in time to see some dainty wildflowers growing along the trail. Next I saw cheerful flowers in Barcelona followed by late spring blooms in Paris. And just recently I was in Maine. Even though flowers differ by season and climate they are always beautiful.

Pike Place Market in January

springtime in Gatlinburg

Great Smoky Mountains

May in Barcelona

Paris flower with a bee…

Maine in July

A colorful flower display in Maine:

Weekly Photo Challenge: Curves

June 16, 2013 by megtraveling

When I was in Barcelona I wanted to see the architecture of Gaudi. One place I went was to the Casa Batlló and spent a good deal of time in each room and outdoor space. There were colorful and whimsical shapes throughout the house and many of them featured curves.

ceiling detail

stairs

outdoors…

looking up!

A Market in Barcelona

June 13, 2013 by megtraveling

I had heard of La Boqueria before going to Barcelona so I noticed the entrance sign while walking along La Rambla. There were people everywhere buying – and selling – vegetables, fruit, candy, and other interesting items. The next afternoon I went there again and when it was time to close vendors began reducing the prices. I ended up with a coconut drink (like a smoothie) and a container of watermelon with a tiny fork for half the regular price. I continued to look around and these were some of the colorful sights.

fruit for sale

candy…

some choices

Stop here in Barcelona

A Park in Barcelona

May 30, 2013 by megtraveling

I just got back from my trip to Spain and France! I thought I would begin by showing some of the beautiful tiles from Park Güell in Barcelona. It was a challenge getting there because it involved a walk up a steep hill that took me a while to complete. The park was delightful and quite spacious so it didn’t seem too crowded. There were also plenty of benches so it was possible to find a place to sit and enjoy the surroundings. The tiles were both original and colorful and the park was a cheerful place on a sunny afternoon.