own a santorini home

There is quite a lot of abandoned/unused houses in Santorini.....Just waiting for you perhaps? Imagine, a holiday home overlooking the caldera and a private balcony to view the famous Santorini sunsets. hmmmm. But I still wonder how they get through the rainy seasons there. I'd probably be forever slipping on those marble steps.

Athens

What I loved most about Athens are the quaint streets that takes you back, quite literally, in time...

The huge amount of antiquities, and you can't help but imagine what it would have been like to lived during the times when Zeus was worshipped and these ruins are still gleaming.

Maybe it was something like this. All white and shiny...

But amidst all that splendour, there is still find time to see the beauty in the not so beautiful (can I pry those shutters off?)....

More images of Bath

The Roman City of Bath

I have been before, so we have missed seeing the "baths" and queuing at Sally Lunn's for lunch on purpose. Instead we've spent time walking by the canal, sampling seafood at the Riverside Cafe and Moon & Sixpence, and listening to DADIO (jazz band) at Gascoyne's place.

Ok, it wasn't all nice, I spent a bit of time stressing over First Great Western invalidating our tickets because we have to catch the next train (where here, if you miss your train and bought advance tickets, you have to buy another set of tickets - SO DON'T BUY ONLINE unless you're absolutely sure you can catch that train!). Sorry. Rant over.

grounded

Today is not looking like it will be a very good day. I am supposed to start living my daydreams of my home in Manila. I had not been back for 3 long years. But the ash clouds are standing in the way.

I am supposed to start spending time with my family after my grandmother's death and stay until her 40th day death anniversary - we have this is a tradition of celebrating the 40th day as we believe it is the time the earth-bound soul of the departed finally leaves this earth and goes into heaven. It will be a bittersweet time. A time for those who are left behind to start moving on and learn to celebrate the departed's life.

Now, I content myself with looking at pictures of my grandmother's home.

Venezia

I'm looking around Brooke Gianetti's blog. And...sigh...some people are just so lucky. If you haven't been stalking her blog like I do, she's got a really lovely home and is an absolutely talented designer. I drool over the photos in her blog most of the time.

Anyway, she is currently in Venice. And I am reminiscing my time in this most wonderful of cities.

If this looks familiar, this is my the image behind the text in my button.

My love affair with old stuffs goes much farther than when I started this blog

colourful Burano

Sleepy Dover

I was there to sit still at the beach, in spite of the freezing winds. But along the way, I wonder what happened to this town, the crumbling buildings, the quiet Saturday mornings, all telling me this town is a bit past its prime. But it is still full of character.

Reykjavik: Part 2

I had coffee and the most delicious-smelling waffles in Reykjavik's oldest coffeehouse - Tiu Dropar. I've learned a new way of eating waffles by watching the locals - cut off a square at a time and dunk it in syrup/cream/chocolate sauce (each square was a biteful, so it was a huge waffle). Ok, that might not be new for some of you, but I always attack my waffles however which way. Some of the locals came in with their knitting as they catch up with friends over coffee or tea. The interiors were kitschy, using lots of old teapots, old lamps, antique framed photos of maps, tables and chairs.

This is inside Saegrefinn, a seafood shack by the harbour. They're famed for their fish and lobster soup and grilled fish skewers. Point what you like from the fridge and they'll grill it for you. Not sure if the stuffed animals qualify as vintage?

And I love Scandinavian houses - peaked roofs, balconies, huge windows, steps to the front door.

Reykjavik: Part 1

I had a few days off and what better to spend the winter than experiencing the cold as near the Arctic as possible, right? Yes, a lot have laughed at my holiday idea. But I was the one laughing back as Iceland was actually warmer than London the first couple of days I was there (and snow was wrecking havoc in London). It was below 0 the next days but it is still not as freezing as I have expected. Temperature only went as low as -6(but it is still the coldest place I've been to).

And it seems that vintage and antiques are well and alive in Reykjavik, occupying several shops in the premier shopping district in Laugavegur. Look at the shops I spied.

This bookshop is one I would love to get lost in. Thousands of volumes. Quite a lot in languages I don't understand. Organised like an unloved library, there are books on the floor in the corners, some in dust and cobwebs. They're right across the street from the hotel where I stayed. But I've never seen them open. sigh

Posh-looking antique shop. I can only look through the window, as always.

This is in the other end of Laugavegur, nearer the harbour. I grew up with religious statues and icons. And this just brings me back (though I know there are people who are freaked out by religious statues).

There's actually a few vintage clothing shops in Laugavegur. This is one of them.

Tomorrow, a cafe and a seafood shack as well as houses I would love to move in to.