Gourd

From a pumpkin exhibition (a couple of years ago) for Theme Thursday

new

This is a new shopping mall in Barcelona, which was once a bullfighting ring (I like it much better like this!) The mall has a beautiful neo-Mudejar facade dating back to 1900 and striped Moorish arches. The remodelling of the long-abandoned bullring was completed in 2011 after many years of planning and construction. . Source

Brought to you by Theme Thursday

Architecture (in Spanish)

Thursday Theme: Fish

Perpignan building for Theme Thursday

late

 Theme Thursday: l a t e

It was late at night (and we were here)  but not too late to capture the beautiful full moon last November 2nd. During our short trip to Lisbon , which started in late October...

castle

Theme Thursday: c a s t l e

Castle of São Jorge overlooking Lisbon, the city where I spent the last 5 days. The castle is located atop the highest hill in the historic center of the city, its oldest parts date from the 6th century.Source.

I was trying to decide where to start blogging about Lisbon, Theme Thursday came to my rescue!

traffic

Theme Thursday: traffic

Tourist traffic inside the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, heading to admire this amazing mosaic I first saw in my highschool art textbooks... I simply couldn't believe my eyes, I stood in front of it for long, long minutes...

(click to enlarge)

The Deësis mosaic (...) probably dates from 1261. It was commissioned to mark the end of 57 years of Roman Catholic use and the return to the Orthodox faith. It is the third panel situated in the imperial enclosure of the upper galleries. It is widely considered the finest in Hagia Sophia, because of the softness of the features, the humane expressions and the tones of the mosaic. The style is close to that of the Italian painters of the late 13th or early 14th century, such as Duccio. In this panel the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist (Ioannes Prodromos), both shown in three-quarters profile, are imploring the intercession of Christ Pantocrator for humanity on Judgment Day. The bottom part of this mosaic is badly deteriorated, probably due to rain since the mosaic is next to the windows. This mosaic is considered as the beginning of the Renaissance in Byzantine pictorial art. Source.