From Venice to Colombo in the blink of an eye – well, it’s not a direct flight, but a very comfortable one, on Emirates – leaving at a reasonable time, arriving at a reasonable time – for some reason an unusual occurrence for flights to my Paradise isle.
The recently renovated old Dutch Hospital building next to Police Headquarters just outside Colombo Fort is now a shopping precinct. I hope it will be successful, for it is a joy to see this gracious old building in all its glory once again.
As you approach across an expanse of cobbles you become aware of the windows, recessed in the shade of the veranda like smiling eyes behind heavy bangs …
Security bars and a peep inside – how thick is that wall
Thanks to Sandra Connor’s Thursday’s Windows for the prompt.
The Wanderlust Gene 
Fantastic details!
Beautiful patina of age and subtle colours.
I love the way you describe things: ‘like smiling eyes behind heavy bangs’. Love it :). What a beautiful, graceful old building. My eyes were drawn to the curious curlicue next to a column in the top shot.
As Rachel says, part of the beauty comes from your words…I love the last one…Complete and cropped!!
Great images, and windows. Man made yet organic.
What a lovely place to go shopping. 🙂
Nice that they kept some of the old brackets and hinges in the renovation too . Lovely description 🙂
very cool images…
sumptuously gorgeous images meredith, it looks cool and inviting, although i am not much good at shopping!
How fortunate you are to be able to travel and see such things! Loved the pictures.
I love the hinge and hardware; very intriguing.
Interesting selection of wooden windows… 🙂
Nice to see old windows restored and looking so beautiful again. 🙂
True! 🙂
Only when you see the details, you appreciate it more. Thanks you, TWG!!
I’m glad you enjoyed the details Amy. I too thought they added to the picture of the whole renovation 🙂
Lovely old architecture that reminds me of the Southwest of the US. So, you flew back to Australia while I wasn’t paying attention! Have a grand holiday. 🙂
Interesting that the architecture reminds you of the Southwest. I suppose the Spanish element … in Sri Lanka it was the Portuguese, but similar enough that tropical renditions would look much the same.
No, George – I’m still here in Sri Lanka. Was planning to leave at the end of January but have changed my mind and will go after Easter.
Do you prefer Australia? I would not like the bugs and spiders there, but oh how I would love the birds! 😉 There is something about your descriptions of Sri Lanka that make me a little sad to hear that you are leaving. I know, silly of me!
I too am sad to be leaving, but it’s the right thing to do if I’m to resettle while I’m still young enough to make a new life for myself. I’m working toward looking forward to going ‘home’, and I admit there’s a growing list of things on the ‘plus’ side that I’ll enjoy exploring. Bugs don’t figure on any side of the equation for me, George – especially after living here in Paradise 🙂
🙂 🙂 Of course, I forgot about the bugs in Paradise…
Yeah 🙂
That is a gorgeous building. The old Frangipani adds to its appeal. Wasn’t there a brief Dutch period in Sri Lanka, apart from the Portuguese and British?
Indeed there was – and it wasn’t that short – almost 160 years, from 1640 to 1796. There’s a lot of Dutch influence here, from protestantism to bakery, and everything in between 🙂
Yes, we used to know a Burgher couple with Dutch surnames.
Ah yes, them too!