ISTANBUL.....The mere name is evocative of mazes of bazaars, exotic spices, palaces, minarets, and the call to prayer. What I wasn't prepared for was the intensity of color, the absolute vibrancy of life in the streets! 

The sights and sounds of Istanbul are staggeringly beautiful! For years I have wanted to see this gorgeous city, and it was well worth the wait! Istanbul doesn't disappoint!

I had the opportunity to stay in the older part of the city, just a stones throw from Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace. Impressive architecture everywhere you look. 

Galata Tower in the distance is a medieval stone tower in the Galata/Karakoy quarter of Istanbul, just off the Bosphorus. 

 The Blue Mosque....  It is hauntingly beautiful when the call to prayer begins from the multitude of mosques. each voice echoing and reverberating throughout the entire area. 

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Color surrounds and astounds.... pottery, carpets, towels, clothes, and lights! Everywhere lights!  

Texture...  Absolutely sumptuous! I would love to fill my entire house with these pillows! 

Antique Carpet Market... Yes, I ended up with a couple, and yes, I  probably over paid.... but they are so lovely!

Lights! I simply love all of the chandeliers throughout the city. Beautiful and functional!

Tradition and superstition... Trinkets and jewelry to ward off evil eye. Really taken more in fun.....

Vibrant... Scarves and pashminas are not only colorful and beautiful, but in the cold winter months are a true necessity when walking in the cold wind. 

What I found in Khobar one morning.....

The Bizarre....

 

The Macabre...

 

The Incongruous...

 

The Sensual...

And the Festive...

If you went walking in your area, what would YOU expect to find???

Beautiful Decay

The old area of any city is automatically my favorite place to go sightseeing. It gives me a window to the past, an idea of what was, and is (in the case of preservation), important to it's people.

The abundance of beautiful woodwork and design shows the expert workmanship of the past.

But while beauty was important to the people of Jeddah, as is seen by the artistry and the craftsmanship of the balconies and facades, it was not the only objective.

The open spaces and the lattice work is a case of form meeting function.

In a time when no modern air conditioning was available, this very beautiful balcony would allow this building's occupants to open doors and windows in order to enjoy a soft sea breeze, while protecting their privacy.

Although we can see the ravages of time on some of these buildings, their beauty remains, eternal.

The next time you see a work of art, whether arcitectural or otherwise, take a close look and see what is behind the design.

There may just be more than meets the eye.   : )

Arabian Graffitti

Color My World...

I adore COLOR! I thrive on color! Color makes me happy and fuels my imagination! Living in Saudi Arabia, it is sometimes easy to think in terms of shades of beige and taupe. Houses, Sand, Stone, etc. So I have gone on an expedition to find the random bits of color in Riyadh.

The first thing I came across of interest was this bench outside someones home. What a nice idea! A resting spot in the shade of a wall for those days when some person, or very likely some cat, just needs to take a moment to catch their breath.....
And looking at the wall behind the bench, you can really appreciate what a bright spark of color that turquoise and mustard makes on that street!


A few minutes later, this row of rooms in the process of being torn down caught my eye. Pink, red, yellow, lavender, cream, and turquoise. You can't get much more colorful than that in an empty lot!

This is the window of an Indian restaurant in town. I absolutely love the window, and the building, but it looks like it would host an art studio or exhibit much more fittingly than it does the restaurant.

These intense blue tiles are another hit of color in this deeply hued brick building. They are very small (I'm guessing 2"X2" tiles) but very effective in livening up what otherwise might be a very forgetable spot.

Last are these blue on blue Arabesque tiles at the foot of some steps. Fantastic! I am now convinced that Riyadh is not as devoid of color as I once thought..... I just have to look in the right places.

More Afghani Jewelry

When my good friend Rehma saw my Afghani earrings (posted June 3, 2011) , she said that she had a pair that were very similar. She said she bought them on her honeymoon at Sawat Hill Station, Pakistan, which is just on the Afghani border, and has kept them for all these years.

This is a view of the pair. Gorgeous! I love the details and the handwork.
These bangle bracelets also belong to Rehma. I don't know if they have an interesting story as the earrings do, but they are so fun with the dangly bells that swing back and forth when you wear them.
They really don't make any noise to speak of, but just look at all those bells!

I Love, Love, Love these necklaces! The pendants are about the size of the palm of my hand! Look at the detail on them! This one has a metal stick attached to the lid, so that you could use it as a kohl container (although it would take a LOT of kohl to fill it up!) or you could use it for perfume oil and the stick could be the applicator. That is more likely what it is meant for.
And look at this one! It's like a little messenger bag, and the top opens up. You could use it to keep small mementos, found objects, or a handwritten poem.

What would you put inside?

Pattern and Design

Art is the imposing of a pattern on experience, and our aesthetic enjoyment is recognition of the pattern....
~Alfred North Whitehead

In the old markets, which by now you all know are my favorite places to hang out, there is pattern everywhere! The most mundane objects are arranged into pleasing displays that allow the viewer to see the most merchandise. As most shops are very small, this gives the effect of showing the customer an abundance of style and variety, while allowing the shop owner to relax and bargain rather than running back and forth to a storage area. Clever!

Stemming from these groupings of like objects is....... you guessed it! Pattern!

Line, shape, form..... this display exhibits these building blocks of design, along with unity, harmony, and balance.


Here is pattern and design in a stack of colorfully stripped rugs.

And cusions!

And tassles!

And yet more cusions!

And more tassles!

How could you not be cheered by sitting in a room furnished with these traditional, colorful textiles?

I could spend an entire weekend taking photos in this market and still find more of interest that I would have to return for the next weekend. In every shop, around every corner, I find a feast for the eyes. The textiles, the jewelry, the people. Even the above 100F can't keep me away!