An off-beat view of Spain & Italy - 2

Read: An off-beat view of Spain & Italy - 1

Here we are again, with my next series in the off-beat holiday clicks from lovely Spain and Italy.
Like I'd mentioned earlier, some of the strangest sights catch my fancy and hold my attention. So, what caught my eye this time around? You'll see...right ahead!


Well, I absolutely adore window-dressing displays, street art works, tiled wall murals, well basically all kids of artistic displays, so I couldn't resist capturing a few or more! I can reveal that many a time these clicks had me getting left behind on our brisk walking tours! 
And if you are wondering whether I raided all the stores there....sadly no! 
Too expensive, hence I had to curb my shopoholic tendencies and satiate myself with mere clicks! Well, of course the curb was lifted on certain gastronomic pleasures, cravings for which were hard to ignore! 

DARLING DISPLAYS

Witches and more on the streets of Segovia.

 A beautiful sign board outside a boutique in Segovia.

Water-colors at Montjuic, Barcelona.

Dainty canvas miniatures at Montjuic, Barcelona.

Delicate hand-made glass curios at the Spanish village, Barcelona.

Tiny hand-made cane accessories and curios at the 

Spanish village, Barcelona

L'Auca del Senyor Esteve - A Catalan style story depicted on this tile 
mural on one of the walls in the Gothic parts of Barcelona.

Such a delightful window display of hand-made porcelain, papier-mache 

objects d'art along the by-lanes of Barcelona.

 Incredible 3D framed paper craft again from the

by-lanes of Barcelona.

Luscious Mediterranean fruits on display at a fruit stall in Barcelona.

A kid's clothing store's (I think) window display, in Barcelona.

Delicate hand-painted clay dolls and figurines on 
display along Ponte Vecchio, Florence

Quaint Pinnochio dolls and a reflected scene of the 
buildings along Ponte Vecchio, Florence.

Gastronomic visual treats that tempted - Addicted to Gelato forever!

Festival del gelato, Firenze.

Pretty water-colors near the Colosseum, Rome.

Miniature armies had me rooted along the by-lanes of Rome.

Drool-worthy display outside one of the numerous bistros in Roma.

While gaily traipsing along the cobbled streets (btw I loved clicking that too!), I encountered so many eye-popping treats that I've lost track of them. One that remains a favorite is the incredibly beautiful, large (about 10-12' tall and 6-8' wide), grand and ornate entrance DOORS to common buildings, not necessarily famous monuments. My only regret, not clicking sharper images since many were shot from moving vehicles!

I have to mention here my friend and super-girl travel blogger Divyakshi Gupta who is coincidentally obsessed about clicking all kinds of doors!

DOORS TO FAME?

A majestic one from the town of Avila

 A solid one along the streets of Segovia.

This one's from Madrid.

 This is from Valencia.

Again from Valencia.

 Oh! Just missed that grand one in Barcelona, 

do enjoy the beautiful windows and facade instead!

 A shiny one from Barcelona.

 A majestic one from the Spanish village, Barcelona.

Another one from Barcelona.

 An ornate one from Barcelona.

From Gaudi's Casa Batllo, Barcelona.

A beautiful one again from Barcelona.

A fantastic piece from Florence. 

This one's right from St Peter's Basilica, Vatican.

Well, I think its time I wind up this rather lengthy trail of my random clicks! 

A personal observation - I think one way to make a holiday more memorable is to get a better feel of the place, its sights, sounds and smells by roaming around on foot instead of just visiting the important landmarks or monuments that form a mandatory part of a guided tour. Also paying attention to tiny, obscure nitty-gritties of a place, do add that additional punch to your holiday memories!

 

A trivia - I still have scores of pictures covering diverse subjects such as beautiful and unique architectural facades, aesthetic windows, quaint cobbled streets, colorful marble flooring, different types of canopied trees and lots more!! 

But relax, I am not planning to inundate everyone with all those collections....hehehe, some treasures I hoard for personal perusal!

A shout out to all folks who love clicking equally random pictures....woohoo guys!

Its not the big things that give me as much satisfaction as the pleasure of seemingly trivial objects and sights!

After all, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, doesn't it?!

Do share your stories with me! 

Copyright © 2016 KALA RAVI