Portals
Decorative doorways, stained-glass windows, winding stairwells - this collection is of portals that invite us into a new world.
My favorite stairwell in the "Blue City", Chefchouen, Morocco.
Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco.
Blue Osa Yoga Retreat, Costa Rica
Virupaksha Cave, where Sri Ramana Maharshi stayed on Arunachala mountain, in Tiruvannamalai, India.
Westminster Abbey in London, England.
Al-Atterine Madrasa (or Medersa al-Attarine), a center of religious learning for Islamic scholars in Fez, Morocco.
Liverpool Central Library, England.
Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Iconic blue doorways of the "Blue City", Chefchouen, Morocco.
Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida.
Polishing the Royal Palace in Fez, Morocco.
House of the Aluxes at Palmaia, Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
An unexpected guest on the wreath of the doorway of our airbnb in Missouri.
Bhairab gateway of the Royal Palace of Patan, Nepal. The gateway leads to the central Mul Chowk courtyard, and is flanked by two stone lions and colorful murals of Shiva in his wrathful incarnation as Bhairab.
"When a door closes..." Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, France
Attarine Medersa in Fez, Morocco.
Artisans in Chinchero, Peru.
"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine" - Rick's Cafe, Casablanca, Morocco.
Buckingham Palace, London, England.
Tiruvannamalai, India
Moray, Peru. View of the staircase connecting the nested concentric circles of irrigation terraces created by the Inca at Moray. "Scientists still marvel at the agricultural technology the Inca used at Moray. Taking advantage of four natural depressions in the ground and angles of sunlight, indigenous engineers fashioned concentric circular irrigation terraces, 500 ft from top to bottom, and could create a difference of 60 degrees F from top to bottom. The result was a series of engineered mini-climates perfect for adapting, experimenting, mixing, matching, and cultivating foods, especially of maize, the staple of the Inca empire, normally impossible to grow at this altitude." (Fodor's Peru guidebook)
Peacock Window, Bhaktapur, Nepal. Also referred to as the "Mona Lisa of Nepal", this Newar Window is from the 15th century and is a beautiful example of traditional Nepalese architecture. It adorns the Pujari Math in Bhaktapur, home to the Woodcarving Museum.
The "Blue City", Chefchouen, Morocco.
Rose Window of Notre-Dame de Paris, France
Inca ashlar masonry (mortarless) in the original temple of Qorikancha in Cusco, Peru.
The Golden Gate (Sun Dhoka) to the Royal Palace in Bhaktapur, Nepal.
Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool, England.
Big door, little door. The Royal Palace in Fez, Morocco.
Courtauld Gallery, London, England.
La Tour Hassan hotel, Rabat, Nepal.
Swayambhunath - the "Monkey Temple," in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Hallway of our hotel in Chefchouen, Morocco.
Bab Mansour in Meknes, Morocco. Built in 1732. "Widely considered North Africa's most beautiful gate"--Fodor's Morocco guidebook.
Entryway to Notre-Dame de Paris, France
The "Blue City", Chefchouen, Morocco.
La Tour Hassan hotel, Rabat, Nepal.
Norwich Cathedral, a cathedral church for the Church of England Diocese of Norwich.
Tiruvannamalai, India
Patan Museum, Nepal. Displaying the traditional sacred arts of Nepal.
Norwich Cathedral, a cathedral church for the Church of England Diocese of Norwich.
Shop doors after closing in Rabat, Morocco.
Mosque of the Marinid complex in the Chellah Ruins, Rabat, Morocco.
Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, India.
The "Blue City", Chefchouen, Morocco.
Bhairab gateway of the Royal Palace of Patan, Nepal. The gateway leads to the central Mul Chowk courtyard. It looks to me like one large door with a smaller one for hobbits.
Rabat, Morocco.
Golden Temple, a unique Buddhist monastery in Patan, Nepal. "The main priest of the temple is a young boy under the age of 12, who serves for 30 days before handing the job over to another young boy." --Lonely Planet Nepal Guidebook
Old olive tree in the Medina, Chefchaouen, Morocco.
The front door to our hotel, Casa Hassan-Dar Baibou in the "Blue City", Chefchouen, Morocco. This is a 350-year old family home with darling guest rooms. Highly recommend!
Mosque of the Marinid complex in the Chellah Ruins, Rabat, Morocco.
Chefchaouen, Morocco
Shop doorways in the early morning before opening, in Bhaktapur, Nepal.
Inside our hotel, Casa Hassan, in Chefchaouen, Morocco. A 350-year old family home with a handful of guest rooms.
Stone guardians, Royal Palace of Bhaktapur, Nepal.
A green door in the "Blue City", Chefchouen, Morocco.
Golden door and golden window of the Patan Museum in Durbar Square, Patan, Nepal.
The "Blue City", Chefchouen, Morocco.
Swayambhunath - the "Monkey Temple," in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Notre-Dame de Paris, France.
600yr-old stupa at Pim Bahal Pokhari in Patan, Nepal.
Palmaia, Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Entry gate to the Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Gateway in the courtyard of Sundari Chowk, in the Patan Royal Palace Complex in Patan Durbar Square, Nepal.
Norwich Cathedral, a cathedral church for the Church of England Diocese of Norwich.
Iconic blue doors of the "Blue City", Chefchouen, Morocco.