I hope everyone is having a great (cold) Saturday. I thought this dreary weather could use a dose of Barcelona color. I love the ancient stained glass found in all of the local churches. Somehow, the older the better; the colors are just that much more vivid!
The stucco facade on the buildings surrounding the Placa de Santa Maria were the perfect shade of ochre, esp with the greenery for contrast!
Not only does my friend Marisa currently live in India, she is a world traveler! Along with the Indian pictures she provided me with yesterday, she sent these enticing photos from her recent trip to Istanbul. 
The colors in the skyline photograph surprised me. I think I always pictured the city as dry and dusty, not lush and green. But what the city is most well known for are its' mosques. 
Dominating the skyline is the Blue Mosque, or Sultan Ahmed Mosque, which dates back to 1609. The blue in the name refers to the blue tiled interior.
More famous is the Hagia Sophia, dating from 532. It began life as an Orthodox Basilica, was converted to a Roman Catholic Cathedral in 1204, was later converted to an Islamic Mosque in 1453 and since 1935 has been a museum.
Because of its' rich history, the iconography on the interior is all over the map: Christian, Islamic and everything in between.
The size of the space is immense -just look at those tiny people on the floor below! I love this shot with the chandeliers dangling below the viewer: it reminds me of views of land from an airplane between the clouds.
And what is a trip to Turkey without a Turkish bath? Great architecture, beautiful views, fascinating history and a spa trip rolled into one. This just may be another destination to add to the list after India! 
You may have noticed on her blog that Dominique Browning is leading a trip through India as part of her Slow Love Life tour. Talk about the trip of a lifetime! read the itinerary here.
Who hasn't been fascinated by this exotic country and I for one can think of no better place to travel to with the fascinating Browning; I only wish I could go!
India is a study in contrasts, according to a good friend of mine who has lived there for the past 2 years and who provided me with these photos. Incredible wealth and incredible poverty coexist in a land rich with tradition and beauty but rife with problems facing many developing nations. Her monthly emails of her encounters and trials keep me fascinated with this exotic country.
I hope someone will go on this tour and report back to me their many experiences!
As I've said before, there is nothing as satisfying as a white bathroom. This example by Paul Vincent Wiseman from the book House Beautiful Color fits the bill nicely. I especially love the use of frosted glass at the window (instead of fussy curtains) and echoing these with mirror around the tub makes for a great enclosure.
White doesn't date; this photos spread is 20 years old but, in my opinion, is timeless. You can't miss with the classics!
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