Santa goes skiing and me too

I was going to use this picture (from my archives) for Ruby Tuesday but I don't have any time to blog anymore this year! which means I won't be able to spread the comment sheer the way I wanted to... See you in 2010.  You made this blogging year another wonderful one,  thanks! Make sure you have a

                                         Merry Xmas and a happy New Year!!

fast

photohunt is hosted by tnchick .

This is a fast post to show a detail of the shutters posted below, after some fast  online editing.  A fast way  to wish all photo hunters and visitors of this blog  a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. It's been a fun hunting year again, which  went by way too fast, thanks tnchick  for hosting  this meme!!

V is for ventana

which means w i n d o w in Spanish. This particular one was found in France, where there is a tiny Santa Claus  village near Geneva open all year 'round . In fact, I took this picture last April (see the site in French here). I will be looking out the window (in a figurative way, I am actually going to the airport) because we are expecting family to arrive today. Which is the reason why I won't be around much,  I will try my best to multitask and visit, but if you miss me or I am late, know that real life is keeping me busy. And happy!!

ABC Wednesday       Window Views

fire run

Correfocs (meaning "fire run") are amongst the most striking of Catalonia's festive events: "devils" play with fire and with the people. These devils are not the incarnation of evil; they are sprightly and festive, dancing to the sound of the drums and the traditional gralla, while they set off their fireworks. Source + read more here. Another note here. They are fun to watch, but it is safe to  keep a  distance! This shot was also taken at the local festivities last Tuesday.

Ruby Tuesday

these feet are made for dancing

Ball de bastons (Catalan for "stick dance") is the name of a ritual weapon dance spread throughout Europe and the rest of the Iberian area. English and Welsh Morris dances are well-known relatives to these traditions.  In the most common set, two opposite rows of dancers - who carry one or two sticks (bastons) , about 40-50 cm long and 5 cm thick- elaborate some patterns of stick-clashing. Info from the net. It all requires much coordination!! Find short videos ( 50 secs) of this kind of dance posted in the net here and here.

The occasion was last Tuesday's festival in my village.   I particularly like the ornaments, the little bells make an angel sound when the dancers move... and they are constantly moving, so getting the picture below was not an easy task! The canvas shoes are espadrilles.

Blue Monday              Mellow Yellow Monday

photo hunt: undesirable

(click to enlarge)

Rain, clouds and fog are undesirable companions when you are visiting a magical place like the  Pena National Palace (located in  Sintra near Lisbon, Portugal), even if you are not planning to use a camera... It was a fascinating tour, though, which started with a train ride,  I wish we would have had sunshine that day (for a sunny picture of the palace click here).






At least there was room to have some fun editing the picture:

photohunt is hosted by tnchick on Saturdays.

think big

A local festivity last Tuesday brought the village's giants out. Meet Arnau, Jordana,  Constança and Jaume, from right to left. They even did a little dance for you.

U is for unoccupied

ABC Wednesday : U

I took the train on Monday to go into the city. For one, lunch plans with Mr Mar were made and I also wanted to window shop and take pictures of the Christmas decorations. But the crowd I encountered was no fun at all, we were lucky the restaurant of our choice was a quiet spot, although located next to two main avenues.  I also liked the minimalist Christmas decorations...We sat indoors while the 18ºC / 65ºF weather would have been inviting for any other European! we are spoiled like that. The terrace had lovely walls covered by ivory bands.

curved

photohunt is hosted by tnchick on Saturdays.

Brass tea light holder, one of my little Christmas decorations at home.

Note: this is a very long weekend in Spain as Tuesday is a Catholic holiday. I will be taking a blogging break  to enjoy mundane events. I will still visit and comment but regular posting will be resumed on Wednesday, stay tuned!

cream petals

true colours thursday:  c r e a m

This is an Eremurus stenophyllus (bungei) (pls correct me if I am wrong!), a beautiful plant I encountered for the first time in Lisbon last month. I think the petals match this week's color: Cream (#FFFDD0) as defined by the wiki here.

T is for tram

ABC Wednesday : T

Trams are characteristic in Lisbon, Portugal. Particularly the nr. 28 (see picture here). But you seldom see the inside in pictures, I waited until everybody got off for this shot.

Bonus Track: T is for ...TP!!

Bathroom decoration behind a glass wall at the Museum for Design in Lisbon!! it was absolutely new for me (I buy plain white and soft TP ::grin::), the Portuguese company even delivers "the s*exiest paper on Earth"  to your door . This is NOT a sponsored post but click here  to see the site.

my xmas cactus

Ruby Tuesday

I didn't buy a poinsettia this year, but a Xmas cactus for the first time and I am very pleased with it.


Updated: Participating in home-4-the-holidays-2009, check it out!!