Original Watercolour 15" x 11"
A walk through the narrow streets of the old town brings glimpses of the towering 'Dalt Vila' in the background. I tried to capture the light here streaming down the alley way and catching the tops of the shop blinds. The streets have a mixture of different traders - street traders and up market boutiques.
Original Watercolour 15" x 11"
In the 17th century, Sultan Ahmet I wished to build an Islamic place of worship that would be even better than the Hagia Sophia, and the mosque named for him is the result. The two great architectural achievements now stand next to each other in Istanbul's main square, and it is up to visitors to decide which is more impressive. The Sultanahmet Mosque is the only mosque in Turkey that has six minarets. It's also called the Blue Mosque because of some blue tiles high up inside the interior. Apart from that it's not really blue at all, but its a great piece of byzantine architecture with wonderful cascading domes. Right by the mosque has to be the best Kofte restaurant in the world - Sultanahmet Koftecisi.
Original Watercolour 15" x 11"
The side of the harbour, below the citdel 'Dalt Vila', has great views across the wide bay, a natural harbour for Ibiza town itself. Not many people venture to the end, so it's eerily quiet, especially during siesta time, apart for the odd stray dog. There seemed to be more pigeons in the sky than seagulls!
Original Watercolour 15" x 11"
San Antonio, the second largest city/town on Ibiza (and club capitol of the world?) and sitting on one side of a bay lined with tourist hotels and resorts. The impressive marina running the whole length of the town runs parallel to the shady broad walk at it's side. Up and down the bay, water taxis and boats ferry visitors to all the major hotels opposite the town.
Original Watercolour 15" x 11"
It's May and the start of the Summer holiday season, sparks a hive of activity on the beach front at Talamanca. Restaurateurs are cleaning their premises, putting a new lick of paint on their furniture, and sweeping away the sands blown in on winter gales. Whilst there's not many tourists on the beach, the municipal JCBs and dumper trucks are out picking up tons and tons of washed up dried seaweed covering the beach.
Original Watercolour 15" x 11"
There's an odd mixture of up market boutiques and corner shops in the old town Ibiza, and a constant buzz of activity with shoppers, locals and tourists looking for a bargain. It's not all clinical and clean: There's an odd bit of graffiti you would see in any European city and the normal corporate waste bins out on the street, but they give a bit of contrast in my painting as their lids catch the morning light.
Original Watercolour 15" x 11"
The Simbad Hotel at one end of the sweeping Talamanca Bay, Ibiza, stands out like a solid white block against the dark green pine covered hills behind. It's a nice walk along the bay, with less and less habitation as you walk further away from Ibiza Town itself. A popular stretch some 2 miles long with dog walkers and early morning joggers.
Original Watercolour 15" x 11"
A walk up the harbour-side old town Ibiza, brings a mixture of quiet shady squares beside the expanse of the bay beyond. Now and again the peace is disturbed by ferries coming and going to the other Balearic isles and the mainland. A few streets further into town though and it's the complete opposite with traffic and noise.
Original Watercolour 15" x 11"
Taxis waiting for passengers arriving on the ferries at Ibiza Town Harbour, and drivers probably discussing the day's fares no doubt, football, politics..... They must be doing quite well for themselves as most of them are driving big Mercs!
Original Watercolour 10" x 7"
Some quiet streets with typical Canarian houses behind the cathedral of St John the Baptist. This is a lovely shaded square containing the municipal gardens and a welcome cool spot from the midday sun.