Looking up in Porto at facades and roofs

Ah, just look at those blue skies - I was editing my photos and could almost feel the heat from our trip in October, either that or I had the central heating up a notch or two higher than normal. We've had blue skies here, but they've been distinctly lacking in heat haven't they?

I've already shared some of my tile pictures from Porto, and they are the most obvious part of its charm but as we wandered I was looking up and started to notice some strange going ons on the roofs of Porto. Like many cities many properties are unable to expand outwards, in London there's a trend to dig down, but it seems in Porto for many years the attraction has been to extend up. 

But not just extending, we also spotted plenty of roof lanterns, there's three in the photo below - and yes, you can only just see the top of the third, it was on a relatively busy junction and I didn't get too many chances to get the best shot and live to tell the tale.

I couldn't help but wonder what they were like on the inside. It wasn't long before we walked past our first facade, and in our short time there it turned out we would walk past many.  I had to do a double take to see where the rest of the building was, but the giveaway was the very top floor and being able to see the sky through the openings. 

Even with the graffiti many of the facades are still beautiful, and by retaining the frontage it's most likely what's led to the higgledy-piggledy-ness nature, which is spectacularly charming. I'm sure the recent years and hardship haven't helped many in Porto and of course for some the buildings will also fall into disrepair. 

There was evidence though of building projects which is always a good sign, we know that from redevelopment in London too. The hardship isn't restricted to any one area, although clearly some have been more affected and less affected than others. 

There's a mix of materials used too, just look at the yellow, red and black building below. I think its unusual to have the darker colour at the top, but - and I know it's a smaller footprint - but it doesn't dominate does it? 

Even on the more touristy waterfront there's also upward extensions - my favourite part of the photo below is the pink drainpipe on the black roof extension - quirky isn't it?

Also on the waterfront, snuggled alongside the bridge over to Gaia was this small three storey property - obviously the colour caught my eye, but look at the tiles on the property next door.  In Porto, any colour, any tile pattern really does go!

I lost count of the number of these shed-like extensions, many clad with corrugated steel, some weathering beautifully.

I'm a big fan of looking up - and in Porto it really did pay it was much more rewarding than I ever expected it would, and we noticed parts of the city that I suspect passes many people by.  

A wander through the pretty village of Orford

We've been enjoying some lovely weather again in London these last few days and it's been great. I'd *almost* forgotten what summer felt like and I suspect if the weather continues it wouldn't be too long before there were moans of it being too warm. We're a fickle bunch aren't we? Sadly though the forecast is for rain and another storm to head our way, but I'm hopeful that we'll have a great autumn, not only because I want there to be some tomatoes to harvest, but also because, well the world just seems a happier place when the sun's out.  

Cliched I know, but true.

I thought while the sun was still out we should take a walk around the pretty Suffolk village of Orford which we visited for the first time on our recent break. It has traditional cottages as you'd expect, is well known for its nature reserve and has the blue-est of quaysides as my first couple of photos show.  

Our visit was shorter than we'd hoped as this was what turned into our day of almosts.  We parked at the quayside car park and headed off to explore, quickly discovering that Orford Ness nature reserve was closed on a Monday, we were ok with that though as I think if we'd really wanted to visit that's information we would have been sure to have known in advance.  

After a walk along the shore we headed into the pretty village admiring the traditional cottages and quirky architecture to see what there was to see and to work out what to do next.  The traditional row of cottages caught my eye for their postcard looks, but also because of the grass right up to the front door. With my practical head on I couldn't help but think that it would be a right faff in the winter with your shopping walking across the grass. It seems that some of the residents must also think that as it was clear that these weren't always the main entrance to the property.

Roses and hollyhocks accompanied the whitewashed cottages and over the road some quirkier architecture popped its head over the hedgerow.

Typically cottage garden plants spilled onto the narrow pavement which ran alongside the greens. I'm always asking MOH what plants are to test him as we wander past, especially now he's more interested in gardening - maybe that's an age thing?!  And I did that as wandered past the Valerian below; it's a plant I know he knows, but one he normally can't remember so imagine my surprise when he came straight out with it!  Usually we have to do the "it begins with V" and my best clue "think of an Amy Winehouse song" which usually clinches it as he likes his music (and I'm rather proud of my clue as I'm rubbish with who sang what).  So there you go unscientific proof of something I'm sure, though I'm not sure what.

The village had some great brick walls too.  I know that's not the usual thing to look at, but well faced with this wall surely you must start to see the attraction... or is that just me?

Ah yes, remember what I was saying about there being some good brick walls.  Here's another.  

I was keen to see what was on the other side but MOH looked at me like I was slightly mad, well more than usual anyway and quickly ushered me along the lane.  Quickly distracted I spotted a cut through and decided we'd head up there instead. And guess what we found?

The village allotments.

I didn't go in there either, but it's the village that has everything.  Even allotments.  But sadly for us no fish and chips after 2:30 pm - and guess what time we decided to stop for lunch, yes 2:35 pm.  You couldn't make it up.  And you know that thing when someone suggests fish and chips by the coast - which everyone knows makes them taste even better - well then you just can't get it out of your mind. It became our quest too and so we headed back to the car and drove onto Aldeburgh, certain we'd be more successful there.

Turns out our optimism was short-lived as the fish and chip shops didn't reopen until 6pm, so resigned to the fact there wouldn't be fish and chips for lunch we headed to a cafe instead. Another slightly surreal experience as despite having cornish pasties in the display cabinet we were only allowed to buy cake - surreal also because I'm complaining about that!  Turns out that because it came with salad we couldn't have it, it was only for sale from the adjoining sister shop. So we had tea and cake and left.  See, a day of almosts.  I almost had a cornish pasty.

While eating the cake though we'd cracked a master plan for fish and chips, we'd buy some on the way back to the cottage as by the time we mastered the diversion en-route, surely the chippie would be open. And no doubt it would have been, in fact it might even have shut by the time we mastered the detour. We looped it three times and still couldn't find the road we needed. Being increasingly short of patience, plan C was put into place and the car took us to Southwold. Surely there'd be fish and chips there.

There was. Along with a bit of a queue. And so finally we got our fish and chip takeaway and sat overlooking the sea with our coastal fish and chips and a rather large tub of tomato ketchup.  Pure bliss.  And mission most definitely accomplished.

An architectural wander into Hastings Old Town

Last Christmas we escaped the usual rituals and London and headed down to a cottage in Hastings for the duration. Browsing through the photos on my phone - yes most of my blog photos are taken on my iPhone as it's always close to hand - I was taken by just how charming and quaint our walk into the Old Town in search of the sea was. That's such a seaside thing to do isn't it, head off to see the sea?

I'd been to Hastings many years ago, and remembered the funicular, mainly because my uncle tried to convince the ticket seller he was one of the children, and of course the six children found it hilarious. I've no idea what fare he paid, or rather my dad paid, because why would the child pay, but it's a memory that stuck. I think it may have obscured all my other Hastings memory as none of the rest of it looked familiar, not even the fish sheds (more on those another day), but then again at that age I probably wasn't that interested in them and no doubt the seafront has changed in the many years that have gone by.

But I'm not sure all of the views have changed, just look:

It looks so much more appealing than a standard row of terraced houses doesn't it?  You might imagine that even all the higgledy-piggledy-ness soon gets taken for granted but there is such a mix of architectural styles it was almost too much to take in on a single visit. Almost. It was one of those walks that was very stop-start, much to MOH's fake annoyance - it had to be fake annoyance as I'm sure no one could be annoyed with stopping to look at these, and on Christmas Day morning too.

I was fascinated by the brickwork on the house below, and the flower pots on top of the bay, which I presume hints there's an outdoor space up there. But even the ironwork on the front of the upper bay, and then the alleyway leading to another part of the town. 

And the more modern style of the grey, sleek and stylish house next door. It's a real reminder that traditional and contemporary styles really can work together, which is always a relief as I can never choose between the two.  Further along there's an old shop converted into living accommodation but in keeping with the street, retaining the fantastic - and dare I call it - vintage sign.

The colours too contribute to the general ambience, and it's not just pastels either as you'll see further down the post.  Unsurprisingly for a seaside town blue and white features heavily, but splashes of pinks and yellows and corals add to the mix.

I'd been looking out for the Piece of Cheese Cottage, and never did I expect it to be so yellow and cheese-coloured, or even shaped like a wedge of cheese, but it was. It's easy to see how it got its name isn't it?

Going back to colour there's pale pinks and brighter pinks, creamy yellows and cheese yellows and brick fronted houses too. Plus the coral or orange which on its own might appear garish, but not here.

As we reached the front the wood panelled or clapboard style buildings, and they were a hint of what was to come as we wandered around the fish sheds. It was eerily quiet in this part of town, most likely because everyone else was no doubt opening presents!

But we weren't quite done yet. We found an even more quirky house, whose outside was just full of texture and charm. And check out the name plate.

There was one more house that I insisted we stop and investigate and all because it had these giant plants and seedheads seemingly growing out of the building's foundations. Their shape though, made them appear to be decorations, in the most rustic of styles.

And now we really were ready for all the usual trimmings of the day, all that remained was to find our way back to our holiday cottage and work out how to use the oven!