Patterns at the Palace/Morocco

Such colors and designs!

all photos taken at the Bahia Palace in Marrakesh, Morocco. Feb 2011

 Every available surface is patterned and decorated.

In the first courtyard

  

and the second.....

 Even the doors of the cupboards.....

And beneath the old, magic mirror....

Such floors!

This last picture is of Sindibad, the handsomest cat in Marrakesh who 

isn't in the palace but wanted to be in the blog!

Dazzling Palace Interiors/India

These pictures were taken at the Fort at Jodhpur which was astoundingly high up and could therefore withstand sieges. There were gates on several levels, one of which had huge spikes so that elephants -- even when hopped up on opium -- would not be able to break through. Some of the later pictures of City Palace in Udaipur.

The exteriors are imposing, the interiors luxuriant. Here an inner courtyard.

The floors are almost always marble. Here turquoise is inset into the walls. (Udaipur).

Here a wooden screen representing a very important person.

Such mirrors and jewels. No wonder common people are overawed. (Udaipur)

Colored glass windows at Jodhpur.

And decorative glass balls hanging from the ceiling at the same place.

And more mirrors and zigzags. (Udaipur).

Elephants fighting in a frieze round the walls.

And another very important person who has a cool mustache too. (Udaipur).

The Fort at Bikaner, India

Like much of the economy worldwide, tourism is suffering but there were always lots of families visiting historic sites.

In the fort at Bikaner there was a splendid deHavilland plane given to the Maharajah of Bikaner from a grateful British Empire in recognition of raising a regiment to fight in the First World War. The Maharajah was one of those who signed the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

The plane soars for ever in a great hall.

In another building in Bikaner trophies hang on the wall.

There are lots of portraits too including this curious one.

I got the photos in the wrong order. Here the lovely warm sandstone of the courtyard of the fort with complicated stone carved window screens.

Elephant details abound.

A tranquil pool.

A bedroom fit for a princess with mirrored walls.

And a bedroom whose ceiling is decorated with clouds - balm in an almost desert climate. The mirror silvering lends a mysterious air.

No live Tigers

No strollers. Babies are either carried or walk on their own!
Very few tourists either but marvellous countryside and enchanting palaces which will be pictured at a later date. Lots of peacocks and colored glass and glass balls hanging from the ceilings and golden gods.

Yesterday I offered a garland of fragrant pink roses for a friend's mother in a Hindu temple in Udaipur.
There were a group of elderly ladies sitting cross-legged on the floor and singing the most lovely songs to the accompaniment of a drummer.
It was very peaceful.

I bought a miniature of an elephant family and a little drawing of a pink cow.
Today I bought a postcard of a dog drawn by a little boy who was thrilled with his big sale.

We are now in a real palace in Kota - it was designed by an Englishman who had been in Italy - so a complete melange of British, Italianate, and Indian.
Monkey families roam the grounds.
It reminds me a bit of English boarding schools to be honest.
The wiring is interesting and our bedroom ceiling about 28ft high.
Pictures soon - I promise.