mosaic road

Shabby Chic in Zagreb

Wandering Zabreb we came across this very shabby chic avenue of white wooden chalets in a lush park. The rotundas and trees was full of these big floating pale pink bows. The chalets were decorated with paper chains and wooden ornaments and were selling cakes, sweets and ice-cream . It was a true dessert heaven. 

Another Pool Day

Its the only way to beat the heat in Marrakech. The soaring temperatures make the city a sauna. Up to a point you learn to live with it and pace yourself  but when you feel enough is enough then a day by and in the pool is the answer.

 

Same Shape, Worlds Apart

To Cap It Off

Oh I was so happy to see this vintage-esque hat shop in Zagreb. It exuded classic old world charm that cannot be recreated. Prices seemed OK too for these mens pure wool caps, fully lined !!!

North, South, East and West

What a luxury to sit outside in great weather on a rooftop and  have a lovely meal with friends plus have a view in each direction. The ocean, other rooftop cafes and gardens will be in your line of vision . That surely ticks every box and it's likely to happen if you visit Essaouira. Most cafes have a terrace on their roof where you can linger over local cuisine enjoying the vistas. Some even serve wine !!

 

look before You Leap

I was jut not daring enough to take the plunge. The water looked so magnificent but I just don't have the dare devil gene ! There are lots of rocky outcrops on the Croatian coastline where little cafes and bars perch and the intrepid types dive into the calm and warm Adriatic waters. Maybe it is to do with age !!!

Pool Day Accomplished

I spent a lot of today submerged in this beautiful swimming pool at the Hotel de la Koutoubia. They offer an exceptionally good value pool day pass. A two hundred dirham (about 20 euros)  pass permits me to wallow from 10 am till 6 pm and allocates me also a sun lounge, towel and parasol all in a divine garden environment. There is no better way to spend a day when the temperatures hovers in the mid 40s. I see many lore of these days in my future !!

Colorpop

Despite the heat, yesterday I headed to the medina and had a wander around the souks, only  for an hour at most. I loved it as usual but it was pretty stifling and airless under the densely woven roofing. When I finally trudged home and looked at my slew of photos (thank heavens for the delete button) I noticed most had pink and puce hues...funny how one colour can overshadow on a given day. Once in India I came home after a day of markets with only blues dominating my photos. No accounting for what goes on in my brain !!

I Am a Morning Person

The city of Marrakech never sleeps but the early morning does see quietude and serenity in the streets and souks. If I am working then it means an early start so I have  the chance to wander slowly to the riad enjoying the unusual state of no heaving crowds and very few motorbikes revving their way through the alleyways. Instead I see the hard workers blearily opening their shutters and taking deliveries, I see mothers whipping out to get bread for the breakfast table and covered ladies going to early shifts. I get to see things quite differently too as I can look around instead of purely being hell bent on avoiding the crazy weaving traffic. The opportunity to watch a city wake up is wonderful to me, that poignant and restful time before the relentless racket of daily living takes over.

Budva Ballerina

Very little is known about this quite lovely bronze statue  that is perched en pointe on a rocky outcrop on a very pebbly beach in Budva, Montenegro. It is undecided by the powers that be if she is a gymnast or a ballerina sans tutu !!! Regardless, she is a frequent subject for the touristic photo due to the wonderful backdrop of the old town, Stari Grad.