This is the first of several posts on my a-w-e-s-o-m-e vacation to Spain and France. It's no wonder that my upcoming novel is called, "Flamenco & the Sitting Cat"! Barcelona is wonderful off-season. In October, the weather was mild and the densely populated ancient city offered my husband and me a great start to a Spain/France… Continue reading Beautiful Barcelona, Spain by da-AL→
Over a recent long holiday weekend, I visited Portland, Oregon for my first time. The weather was warm, with blue skies and no rain in sight. Book lovers rejoice! It’s home to Powell’s Books, where book goodness spreads over four generous floors! Mouthwatering food abounds! Cafes, bakeries, restaurants, chocolatiers, and even their many food trucks (aka… Continue reading Portland, Oregon: Wonderful in Unexpected Ways by da-AL→
I thought a public library was heaven on earth until fellow blogger Parul Joshi posted this. Check out her post that follows, and then here for more how it was built …
Have you ever felt like going to a secluded place far away from the usual raucous and monotony of your life? Have you ever wanted oh so desperately to have a place somewhere in the lap of nature where you could engulf yourself in the refreshing aura of what the nature has to offer? Have you ever wanted to close your eyes only to open them to find yourself in a room full of books stacked all over?
Well, there is one such place on our planet earth. Yes it is true that we have our own heaven on earth beckoning us; waiting to wrap its cool soothing arms around our withering souls. And yes this place is indeed in the very depths of the nature.
It is Hemmelig Rom or “secret room”, a secluded private library in upstate…
If you are planning a trip to Northern Africa soon, you may consider Tunisia as a potential candidate. No matter if you are a fan of Star Wars or simply enjoy architecture, these locations are worth a visit.
As an architect, I am fascinated by how these constructions previously existed and were accommodated in the film with so much respect for the local culture. In the same way, brand new creations blend quite well with the vernacular landscape. Most Tunisians, who haven’t even watched the movies, have kept the sets in remarkably good conditions. On one hand, they still make a lot of money out of it. However, I am more inclined to think they found something of their own in those excavated constructions made of earth materials – which wasn’t an accident by the way – and has become part of their current identity.
Paris. 
Sunday breakfast in the Jardin des Tuileries. 
The west façade of Notre-Dame Cathedral. Wonky composite of twelve photographs. 
Notre-Dame Cathedral. Detail 01, west façade. 
Notre-Dame Cathedral. Detail 02, west façade. 
Notre-Dame Cathedral. Detail 03, north façade. 
Notre-Dame Cathedral. Interior. 
Notre-Dame Cathedral. North façade Rose Window. 
Looking south from Montmartre. 
Detail. 
Montmartre street. 
Pont de l’Archevêché. 
Louvre approach through the Passage Richelieu. 
“Was it busy?”… “Yeah, quite busy.” 
Jardin des Tuileries. 
Chair. Terrasse du Bord de l’Eau. 
Musée d’Orsay. 
Poster. 
Pompidou Centre / Rue du Renard. 
Pompidou Centre / Place Georges Pompidou. 
Wall / Art. 
Love / Heart. 
Arc de Triomphe 01. 
Arc de Triomphe 02. 
Avenue des Champs-Élysées. 
Avenue d’Iéna. 
Rue de Buenos Ayres. 
Tour Eiffel 01. 
Tour Eiffel 02. 
River Seine / from the Tour Eiffel. 
I thought a public library was heaven on earth until fellow blogger Parul Joshi posted this. Check out her post that follows, and then here for more how it was built …
