snowcalypse

Baltimore, USA.

2 days and 2 Feet of snow and Baltimore has turned into a pristine white fairyland with snow covered trees and white mounts of fluff. It maybe a infrastructure nightmare, but snow transforms even the most mundane landscapes into magical ones. It reminds me of the white architectural models we built in school. The white mask nullifies the inherent textures and colors creating it’s own special identity. 

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fading histories

Lisbon, Portugal.

Colorful and with it’s highs and lows. Exciting in every way, Lisbon reminded me every moment of Goa, the Portuguese colony along coastal India. The tile and cobble work, the use of color, the narrow streets leading to the beautiful waters, the smells- everything took me back to Panjim-except the food. Portuguese cuisine doesn’t come close to the Goan counterpart beyond the love for fish. Lisbon’s beauty is in its simple details. Details which seem to be fading every passing day with time and a stressed economy. Every scaffolding in spain irked the photographer in me, but also signaled the care with which each stone was being cleaned. Lisbon on the other hand has been mostly left to the elements. But then there is an another kind of charm in the rugged aging landscape of Lisbon. Underwear drying outside the windows, cars parked over sidewalks, the web of tram lines, and stunning views of the Tagus river and the city marked our stay in this charming city.

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the spanish grand

Madrid, Spain.

If Barcelona was beautiful, Madrid is beautiful and grander. It does not defy it’s image of the capital of the Spanish throne. The grand avenues, plazas, fountains all exude the pride of the old Spanish Empire. Being the central capital, has made Madrid a melting pot for Spanish culture and cuisine. Some amazing food, restaurants, sangria and of course beautiful women.

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soaking history

Valencia, Spain.

Sunday morning in Valencia and the town’s entire old population was out for mass. The young men had partied through the wee hours of the morning and were still in bed. The church bells rang in the background and the bright sun cast a deeper shadow on every corroding stone. History resonated itself through the city and yet the modern made it’s presence felt strongly. Laid back but not flat and boring, Valencia wasn’t merely about oranges, the cathedrals, paella and Agua de Valencia. Calatrava’s Cathedral of Sciences, the reclaimed river park, and the Formula1 and Sailing destinations complimented the heritage. A must go by bus if you are visiting Barcelona, to soak the beauty of the orange groves lining the entire highway.

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