Chic Birdcages

Bird cages from William Ashley's Christmas window.

Since this Christmas I kept seeing Birdcages used as chic decorations in store windows and for the home. The Birdcages from the William Ashley store in the picture above looked so magical on their Christmas window. They decorated their store window with golden Birdcages filled with the birds and owl China figurines hand crafted from the Royal Crown Derby. Then this month, while stopping by at one of my favourite stores here in Toronto, I saw this huge birdcage from Pottery Barn used as a curio cabinet for the Living Room to display your plants, books, photo frames and other knick knacks that you can fill it with. I thought the Birdcage was so chic and functional at the same time to display your items inside the house instead of using a traditional glass cabinet. Here are some style inspirations using the Birdcage inside the home. What do you think? 

I love this style idea from Pottery Barn. 

The birdcage has double doors behind it in order to put in your collections and to display in your Living Room.

The Pottery Barn Birdcage in a Living Room setting.

Photo credit: Pottery Barn

A birdcage on display on a table. 

Photo credit: Habitually Chic Pinterest

May you have a fabulous and inspiring week! 

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Snowscapes

The Saturday morning after our first snow storm here in Toronto, everything was covered with snow and looked so picturesque. Our first snow storm last Friday night decided to arrive on a Friday Rush hour. The drive home felt like forever. But waking up to these views on a Saturday morning was just lovely. I decided to bring along my camera as Barkley and I had our morning walk around the neighbourhood. I also photographed our Garden here at home. This is our winter scene. 

A majestic Pine Tree in our neighbourhood. 

Our Front Garden covered with snow. 

Here are some Winter Berries from our garden.

The snow has settled on the lamp posts and plants. 

The snow has settled on the Reindeer and on lamp posts. 

A view of our snow covered Garden. 

The snow formed like cotton balls on the branches. Spotted a Bird's nest covered with snow. That's our little Bird's house on our tree. 

The snow are like cotton balls on the branches. 

That's Barkley in our snow covered Backyard. 

May you all have a wonderful week!

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The Gem of Cordoba

View of Cordoba with the Cathedral towering in the Centre. A flock of sheep in the foreground.

Among all of the Andalusian cities of Southern Spain, Cordoba is one of the multi-faceted cities as it still represent the strong influence of both the Islamic and Christian cultures and traditions. Nothing else stand out in the city but the one and only Mezquita which is now known as the Catedral de Cordoba. This site was formerly a martyr's Church of  San Vicente. Following the Islamic Invasion of Cordoba, the City was dominated by the Muslims where they destroyed the Church to build their own Mosque, the Mezquita. The Mezquita was the most important sanctuary of Western Islam during the year 785 and beyond. Then in 1236, King Ferdinand III reconquered Cordoba from the Muslims and transformed the Mezquita into a Cathedral for Christian worship. In the same building, the Spanish Reconquistas built a Cathedral over the Mosque which resulted in forever preserving the Islamic influence in the City and the whole of Spain. Visiting the Cathedral was so fascinating for me as I saw the blending of the different architectural styles of the Muslim Mosque arches and the elaborate Baroque Christian Cathedral. Even UNESCO has designated the Cathedral as one of Spain's World Heritage Sites.  The Spanish call the Cathedral of Cordoba A live witness to our history.

We crossed this Pedestrian only Puente Romano (Bridge) to reach the City of Cordoba. 

A statue of St. Michael the Archangel, stands on the Puente Romano which reminded me of the Ponte Sant' Angelo in Rome.
  The Rio Guadalquivir flows beside the City. 

Entrance to the City.

Different Architectural styles representing Muslim and Andalusian influences. 

Entrance to the Mezquita.

Intricately carved Muslim arches. When Spanish Reconquistas took over, they transformed the Mosque by adding Christian Icons like the Holy Cross. 

A statue of St. Michael the Archangel amongst the Mosque architecture.

Here is the blending of the Muslim Mosque arches and the Christian Cathedral architecture. 

Inside the Cathedral are Christian paintings and more grand Christian icons. 

The Cathedral was consecrated as the mother church of the Diocese in the year 1236. Since then, the Cathedral is still a place of worship for Roman Catholics. Holy Mass and other religious ceremonies are still celebrated in the Cathedral.

In Cordoba, the Muslims, the Catholics and the Jewish religions are represented. All of these religions, their history, traditions and treasures are the Gems of Cordoba.

Outside of Cordoba,  a view of the natural wonder of Andalusia. Both the Cathedral and the beautiful nature outside of Cordoba show the Glory of God.


Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Stay warm.

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Street of the Flowers

There is an Arctic Deep Freeze across Canada this week from Alberta all the way to the Atlantic provinces. Here in Toronto we are currently experiencing -14C in temperature but feels like -23C with the windchill.  As I share here my walk on the Street of Flowers in Cordoba, Spain, I am feeling the warm atmosphere of that visit last Fall in this beautiful City.

Besides the Mezquita, Cordoba, Spain is also famous for the The Street of the Flowers, known as Calleja de las Flores.  It is really more of an Alleyway as the streets in this Andalusian City of Cordoba were very narrow. There were hanging potted flowers in every turn. Most of their houses were painted white with upper patios, iron grilled windows and elaborately carved wooden doors. Then the residents display their potted flower plants hanging outside on the facade of their own houses creating a very pretty display as we walked along. It was very easy to get lost here as all of the houses were painted white. But part of the joys of travelling is the joy to discover new things in every turn of our adventure. 

Here is one of the al fresco Restaurant we discovered during our walk around Cordoba's Calleja de las Flores. It makes me happy to discover unexpected beautiful places like this.  Outdoor dining in this courtyard surrounded by this luscious greenery makes travelling more enjoyable and memorable.

Keep warm everyone! 

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Shopping in Malaga

Shopping in Spain is one of the best in Europe. Besides all of the major shopping in Cities in Europe like Paris, London, Rome, Milan and Florence, the major Cities in Spain have their own local brands that are fashionable, high quality and well priced. We are all familiar and also love the major Spanish Fashion brands like Zara, Mango and the even the luxury leather goods brand, Loewe, which is now owned by LVMH. Here are some shops that I came across in Malaga that offers some really stylish clothes and shoes. 

Desigual is a popular brand all across Europe. They are famous for their colourful fashion. I have seen this brand in London at Harrods and they have stores all over Spain. 

Punto Roma is one of my favourite brands in Spain. It is a one stop shopping for they offer all Stylish clothes, Accessories, Bags and Shoes. I purchased a Bag, some tops and Boots from the store. 

Here is Massimo Dutti for Men. 

Massimo Dutti for Men and Women offers very stylish and high quality clothes and accessories. Shopping here is like the Armani style but in a different price range. Their style is classic with a good quality. 

Bags and Shoes Made in Spain are a very good buy here in Spain. 

Shop till you drop here in Spain. There were many visitors shopping in Spain for their shoes and especially for the Boots! The Bags and shoes from Spain are stylish, comfortable and made from soft leather. I like it that they are stylish and affordable. You don't have to break the Bank to shop in Spain.

May you all have a wonderful week ahead.

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Surprising Malaga

Viva La Feria Shop with the display of Spanish Flamenco gowns, colourful tiled wall and a view of Malaga's narrow street.

Visiting Malaga, Spain last October was surprising to us because we never thought it to be such a beautiful, popular and refreshing City. We usually prefer to Travel to Europe during Spring or Fall to avoid the huge tourist crowds and also to beat the heat. After we arrived at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, we immediately walked to the Air France counter to ask them if they can change our flight to Malaga for an earlier flight? Air France told us that all flights to Malaga were fully booked! In October?!  When we finally boarded our full flight and arrived in Malaga, we finally understood why this City was such a popular destination of many Europeans from the British, the French, the Dutch, Scandinavians and Germans. It's the Beach, the warm weather, the Sun,  Spanish food, Spanish wine and beer. Another reason was the fresh breeze of Sea air coming from the ever blue Mediterranean Sea which we enjoyed during our stay. That Sea breeze was so refreshing and made our bodies feel to slow down.

Malaga is a major trading port in Southern Spain. The Phoenicians founded the City in 770BC. A City that have been greatly influenced by the Greeks, the Romans, the Moors and Christians. During the Reconquista in 1487, the Christians defeated the Muslims and thus began the Christianization of Malaga under the rule of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Malaga now is a major city with a major port and located within the Costa del Sol beaches of Southern Spain.

My Mother posing in front of the Plaza fountain. My mother instilled in us the love to travel and for adventure.

La Catedral de la Encarnacion

Completed  until 1782 in the Renaissance Style, the Cathedral is known as  La Manquita (The One-Armed Lady)  for the tower on the right was not finished. The Tower was not finished due to lack of funds during that time. Up to the present, the locals refused to finish it and just left the tower as unfinished. Above the Central Main Door is the Medallion of the Incarnation from which the cathedral was named as La Catedral de la Encarnacion, decicated to the Mother Mary.

The interior of the Cathedral was designed  in the Baroque style with grand columns, elaborate carved ceilings, stained windows and Grand Altars with Centuries old Religious Icons. The Cathedral has a rectangular floor with three naves in which 15 chapels and 25 altars were inserted. It was so huge inside. As every great Cathedral built, it made the visitor look up to view its grandness, beauty and to look up to God.

Facade of the Episcopal Palace beside the Cathedral.

Museums

This building of the Museo Picasso is the Birth place of Pablo Picasso. The art collection here is the private collection of Christine and Bernard Ruiz-Picasso, daughter-in-law and Grandson of Pablo Picasso.  Many of the artworks on the Collection have been exhibited before the public for the first time here in this Museum. The facade was under construction during our visit.  

Another Museum worth visiting is the Museo Carmen Thyssen which show case a private collection of Spanish paintings. One of them here was painted in 1854 by Manuel Cabral Aguado Bejarano.

Shopping

Shopping in Spain is one of my favourites. No exception here in Malaga where the shopping was fantastic!

Alcazaba and Teatro Romano

The picture above is the Alcazaba built on a Hill during the 11th Century overlooking the whole City of Malaga. The Alcazaba was thought to be built as a Fortress but was used by the Spanish Monarchs as their own Royal Palace up to the 17th Century. The Teatro Romano is evidence of the Roman influence on the City.

Entrance to the Alcazaba known as the Arch of Christ.

One of the many gardens inside the Alcazaba.

Views of Malaga from the Alcazaba

Even here at the Alcazaba, we sat down to admire the view and we felt the fresh sea breeze coming from the Mediterranean Sea.

Port of Malaga with the view of a Major Cruise liner taking port there.

During siesta time, back to the Hotel Rooftop pool for a swim and relaxation with this great view of the Cathedral. We stayed at the Vincci Seleccion Posada-del-Patio Hotel right in the Malaga Centre. The Hotel has a delicious and fabulous Breakfast Buffet offering Spanish cuisine.It is a walking distance to the Major sights and shopping areas. Their service is impeccable. Sometimes, when we departed early to join our day tours out of town, and cannot make it to Breakfast, the Hotel packed us our Breakfast in a bag filled generously with Tuna sandwich, Ham sandwich, apples, yogurts, cookies, Apple juice and bottles of Water. I will definitely go back to Malaga again. This time just to visit all of the Beaches along the coast and also to visit Morocco for a few more days. During that time in October, I dove into the pool for a swim and admired the gorgeous view.

Have a wonderful and adventurous weekend everyone!

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