THE COLORFUL DOORS OF IRELAND

     

I'm wishing everyone a Happy St Patrick's Day, not because I'm Irish, or have a love for green beer or corn beef and cabbage. But, because I've been to Ireland and it is one of the most beautiful and welcoming countries I have ever visited. I especially love the bright, colorful doors and the belief by many that there is a warm welcome behind every Irish door.

The Irish are known for storytelling and there are many tales as to why the doors are multicolored. One of the legends is that when Queen Victoria passed away in 1901, Dubliners were ordered to paint their doors black to mourn her death. In rebellion, they painted them in bright colors instead.

Some believe that the bright doors were painted by the wives who wanted to ensure that their drunk husbands returned to the right home at night.

Or perhaps they were just painted to brighten one's mood when the persistent rain and gray skies of Ireland prevail. 

Related Posts: "More Than a Door"      May 11, 2020                                  "Vintage Doors in LePanier, the oldest District in Marseille, France"      May 29, 2022

"OPEN THE DOOR, IT MAY LEAD YOU TO SOMETHING UNEXPECTED"

"TODAY IS A PERFECT DAY FOR OPENING A NEW DOOR"

"OLD WAYS WON'T OPEN NEW DOORS"

"TAKE A DEEP BREATH, YOU'RE HOME NOW"

"IF IT DOESN'T OPEN, IT'S NOT YOUR DOOR"

"LEAVE YOUR EXCUSES AT THE DOOR"

MAY YOUR TROUBLES BE LESS,
AND YOUR BLESSINGS BE MORE,
AND NOTHING BUT HAPPINESS,
COME THROUGH YOUR DOOR.  -Irish Blessing

VINTAGE DOORS IN LE PANIER, THE OLDEST DISTRICT IN MARSEILLE, FRANCE

 

   
     

In 600 BC the Greeks discovered three hills overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and decided this was the perfect place to begin a city. The small area, where it all began, is referred to as Le Panier—the oldest district in Marseille, France.

     Through the years, this district in Marseille has developed into a magical work of art and a delight to wander through. The narrow brick streets are lined with colorful street art, outdoor cafes, plazas, and shops.

Le Panier, which means “basket” in French, is a paradise for anyone that loves old doors—especially when they have been embellished with street art. Here are some of my favorites:

Related Posts:  “More than a Door”  May 11, 2020

MORE THAN A DOOR

TARIFA, SPAIN

Walking down an old street looking for an interesting door to photograph is, for me, like visiting an art museum and searching for a favorite work of art. My eyes seem to gravitate to the doors and entryways, and if one of them catches my eye I will often linger a while to view it from different perspectives and take photos.

TALLINN, ESTONIA

For thousands of years, doors have served as entryways to dwellings throughout the world and across all cultures. The first recorded history was found over 4,000 years ago on Egyptian tomb paintings. Early doors used throughout Mesopotamia and the ancient world were merely hides or textiles. Craftsmanship was at its finest in the 15th and 16th centuries during the Renaissance period--a time when Michelangelo described doors as the "gates of paradise."

FRASCATI, ITALY

Doors come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. They can be elegant, quirky, exotic, faded, or run down. Some come with stained-glass windows, graffiti, latticework, cobblestone steps, or pointed arches. Many are adorned with handles and knockers that are relics. Nearby patios, benches, pets, columns, flowerpots, rocks, lighting, or ironwork frequently add interest.

Someday I plan to roam those old streets again, but for now, I will have to be content with the memories and spend my extra time organizing photos. Thanks to Google Photos, I now have online travel albums that include my favorite, Doors.

Thanks for reading my blog. If anyone has any door photos or stories to share please send them to MyVintageJourneys@gmail.com. I will add them to this post.

MALAGA, SPAIN

FRIGLIANA, ITALY

VENICE, ITALY

KRAKOW, POLAND

     

RED DOORS & HOLIDAY GREETINGS

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season and a New Year filled with many open doors and new adventures.  

VINTAGE DOORS OF THE GASLAMP QUARTER

WILLIAM HEATH DAVIS HOUSE

    Today, I enjoyed a leisurely morning walk to observe the many architectural wonders in the Gaslamp Quarter. There are 94 historical buildings in the 16 block area in downtown San Diego. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  A walk along 5th and 4th Avenues, between Harbor Drive and Broadway, is the best route to observe the many Victorian-style buildings.
     One of the earliest residences is the William Heath Davis house, built-in 1850, which currently houses the Gaslamp Museum--if you need a rest, Pocket Park is right next door.
     In the late 1800s the Gaslamp Quarter was the heart of entertainment for the city--it was known for gambling, saloons, gunmen, prostitutes, and speculators along with hordes of tourists and sailors.

WYATT EARP

LOUIS BANK BUILDING &
GREELEY BUILDING

    
    


HORTON GRAND HOTEL

     Between 1885 and 1887, Wyatt Earp and his third wife Josie moved to the Gaslamp Quarter (called Stingaree district in the 1880s). They leased four saloons and gambling halls. The most famous was the Oyster Bar located in the Louis Bank Building at 837 5th Avenue. They lived in the Horton Grand Hotel, 311 Island Avenue, most of the seven years they were in San Diego. Earp and his wife left in the 1890s to travel the racehorse circuit.
     Today the Gaslamp Quarter is filled with hundreds of shops, restaurants, services, hotels, and nightclubs. It offers a great opportunity to look inside renovated 100-year-old buildings. Considered the entertainment center of San Diego, in the evenings it is crowded and a bit raucous. This "vintage traveler" prefers visiting in the morning with a cup of coffee in hand.


FUNKY GARCIA'S AT SUN CAFE

At 421 Market Street, there is the Funky Garcia's at Sun Cafe--originally a shooting gallery that served soup on the side. The soup became so popular that it became a restaurant owned by the Obayashi family. This Japanese family was sent to an internment camp in 1942. Fortunately, a friend operated it until they returned. The Obayashi's sold the cafe in the 1960s.
     Goorin Bros. Hat Shop on 5th Avenue is full of any kind of hat you can think of.
     The Cafe 21 on 5th Avenue is the busiest place in the morning (other than Starbuck's)--it gets good reviews for healthful food.

     There is almost no end to the interesting places you can take a peek at--especially when the San Diego sun is shining, and you have plenty of time to explore.

DUBLIN SQUARE

CHINESE MUSEUM

I.O.O.F. BUILDING

GOORIN BROS. HAT SHOP

SAMUEL I. FOX BUILDING

VINTAGE STYLES - MARCHE D'ALIGRE PARIS

FLEA MARKET WITH EVERYTHING

My recent trip to  Paris included morning visits to the famous Marche D/Aligre Market. - located behind the Bastille between the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine and the Rue de Charenton.  It is a great place because it is lively, colorful and surrounded by interesting shops and restaurants. Of course, it was full of a variety of items including old books and odd items , food stalls, however,  most of my shared photos are of the Vintage Styles that I find so entertaining.   (Now that the Vintage traveler is back home she plans to seek out some Vintage styles in Minnesota - wish her luck.)

COVERED MARKET
MARCHE BEAUVAU