Entrancing Entrances for Jake

This week, Jake has requested entrances. Here are some of my favourite ones from our trip to Spain and Morocco. I thought I’d start off with a few palaces.

This is an entrance to the Alhambra Palace in Granada. It was originally constructed as a fortress in 889, and was converted into a palace in 1333.

The Royal Palace in Fez, is one of the most elegant buildings in Morocco. Unfortunately for us, it was not open to the public, so we didn’t get to pass through these beautiful golden gates.

Here is the entrance to the ‘Palacio Real de Madrid, the largest palace in Europe and the official residence of the Spanish Royal family. It has 2,000 luxuriously decorated rooms, so plenty of space for visitors. 🙂

The Alcázar of Seville, is also a royal palace, and was once a Moorish fortress. Today, the Spanish Royal family use only the top floors of the palace.

Here is the entrance to the Park Güell in which the Gaudi House Museum stands. Gaudi lived here for twenty years, until his death in 1926. In 1963, it was turned into a museum, which houses many of his sculptures, paintings and drawings, as well as furniture designed by him.

His greatest and most ambitious work, La Sagrada Familia is still under construction over a century later. It was started in 1882, and when objections were raised as to the extended completion date of the Basilica, Gaudi replied, “Don’t worry, my client isn’t in a hurry.” 🙂

Last but by no means least, is the entrance to Rick’s Cafe, a popular landmark in Casablanca. It is housed in a 1930’s mansion, which has been totally refurbished to recreate the bar made famous in the Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman movie classic, ‘Casablanca’.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my entrances for Jake’s theme. To see his wonderful graphics and links to more interpretations of the theme, just click here.

Jake’s Sunday Post theme, ‘Door’

Jake’s Sunday Post theme this week, is “Door.” I was reminded of my trip to Morocco, and the photo we took of the entrance to the Royal Palace, built in the 17th century, and situated right in the centre of Fez. It’s reputed to be one of the most elegant structures in Morocco, but alas, the beautiful and ornate doors are not open to the general public. As you can see, even from the outside it’s an impressive sight.

I was itching to go inside, as I believe that this palace houses innumerable valuable artifacts from all over Morocco, including carpets from Rabat, pottery, silk fabrics and ancient manuscripts. It also has beautifully painted ceilings and intricate mosaic work.The palace, which comprises 80 hectares of land, is said to have lovely gardens and mosques inside the compound, and is still used as the residence for the king of Morocco when he visits the area. If I had a holiday home like that, I’d want everyone to see and admire it, wouldn’t you?  😉

Anyway, getting away from the sublime, I decided to show you my own front door, which should you decide to visit, I will gladly open to you.

My next door neighbour is not so friendly, but I persuaded hubby to creep up and poke the camera through his security gate, so that I could show you his custom-made door, on which are carved “The Big Five,” as they are known in Africa. The phrase was coined by big game hunters, and refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa, to hunt on foot. These are, the African Elephant, Black Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Lion, and Leopard. Come to think of it, my neighbour is probably the sixth most dangerous. 😉

I hope you enjoyed my choice of doors for the challenge. You can go and check out other bloggers takes on the theme, here.