When is a door not a door? When it is ajar.
Many of us learned this little riddle as children, right? Well, there’s another time when a door is not a door: when Norm, the host of Thursday Doors, is away on vacation.
Over that last several Thursdays, I’ve been sharing doors from my recent stay in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. San Miguel is rich in unique and beautiful doors, but it also has lovely windows, intricate iron gates, and exquisite stonework. With Norm safely off the continent (and, hopefully taking lots of pictures of the doors he finds in Italy), I thought that I would take advantage of his absence and share a few openings I found in San Miguel that aren’t really doors.
Now, head on over to Manja’s blog to see her beautiful collection of doors. Since she is guest hosting Thursday Doors in Norm’s absence this week, you will find that cute little blue frog at the end of her post that will take you to links to see other doors… and maybe even share a few of your own.
Retirementally Challenged 
Terrific photos of doors and doorways. I love the ribbons and the iron rusted gate image.
We look forward to one day visiting San Miguel de Allende. Have read and heard so much about it and now friends of ours have moved there, so hopefully one day soon.
Peta
I hope that you are able to get there. We have loved traveling to Mexico (and, for us, it’s an easy journey).
Doors or not, they are lovely!
Thank you, Anabel. I’m glad you liked them… even though they weren’t technically doors 🙂
I’ve enjoyed all of your pictures from San Miguel. The architecture, the colors, it looks more like an art gallery than a town.
That’s a good description of San Miguel.
Loving the gorgeous colors. And when I have a door again, I want my front door to be like the Privida Del Sol
Isn’t that great?! I was so impressed with the intricate stone carving… I have no idea how it was done.
These doors and not doors are beautiful. I like the colorful ribbons hanging down (and the bicycle and the dog). I’m also a sucker for iron gates, so this post was right on target.
Thanks, Dan… you and I share similar tastes. I love gates… the rustier the better.
Ahh, these are marvellous pictures, be it windows or ajars. 😀 I have never heard this riddle, I love it! And you’re right, a door might not be a door without Norm but where he’s at, there are so many doors that his head will be swimming with them by the time he is ready to return (if!). Thank you for linking to me!
I sincerely hope I don’t get you in trouble with Norm for so blatantly disobeying the rules 🙂 … but, you are right, he probably won’t even notice. Thanks so much for hosting while he is traveling.
No no, he notices everything. 😉
Great colors! Love the dog shot!
Isn’t he cute? Normally you see cats sitting in high-up windows. It looked like he was cooling his bum in the breeze.
I love when I walk by a building and see a dog or cat sitting in it!
They love to peer out and watch the world go by. Although this pooch seemed much more interested in what was going on inside… maybe lunch was being served?
They look so cute sitting in a window!
The garage door with the woman painted on it is really cool!
I’m not sure which one you are referring to… but thank you! 🙂
That huge pot with the Agave (?) sitting in front of the rusted gate photo is gorgeous…for me, it’s all about the patina!
Are these posts helping you to organize all these fantastic photos?
I love the patina too… just allowing things to age beautifully, naturally (like us! 🙂 ). I hope to create a personal picture book of our trip (rather than let the photos languish in a computer file) so we can share and revisit them now and then. So, yes, these posts have been handy to help me decide which ones to include.
HA! I’ll have to remember that pot on days when I’d rather watch it ‘age beautifully’ instead of noticing my own patina increase! HA!
😀
Did you ever find out what the ribbons were for? Maybe that’s a way of keeping flying bugs at bay?
That’s a good guess. I tried to find out more info online but was unable to discover anything. I should have asked someone while we were there.
Hi, Janis – I love your “non-doors”. My favorite is the wooden bicycle in the ribboned doorway.
I needed to super enlarge my screen to ensure that the animal in the gated window was a dog….I was sure that it was a cat!
Definitely a dog 🙂 but, you are right, it’s normally a cat sitting in a window enjoying the sun.
I think these qualify as doors since they perhaps have a doorjamb? These are all quite lovely, Janis, all beautifully captured. I posted a while back the opening of the tunnel into Yosemite Valley, definitely not a door but a gateway into the Valley 🙂
Yes, I’m pretty sure that Norm is very liberal in what qualifies as a door 🙂 I even posted a Thursday Doors that was all cemetery “doors” for Halloween. Certainly your pic of the tunnel into Yosemite Valley would qualify.
Terrific photo collection, Janis. I like the rusted iron gate with green potted plants.
I found those in an art studio/showroom colony. Not only was the art on the walls beautiful, but the grounds were lovely too.
More beautiful photos of San Miguel, Janis. The little dog in the window is quite a-door-able.
Haha… yes he was.
Loved this series of posts!
Thank you! Sadly, I think I’m now out of doors (or not doors 🙂 ) from this trip. I think I need to do some traveling again to reload my door file.
Yes you do, and report back your findings. 🙂
Maybe not doors, but interesting nonetheless. I really like the garden with the rusted iron gate!
Thank you. That was located in a lovely artists’ compound… lots of little vignettes like that.
Sounds beautiful and quaint.
These pictures are so clear and full of vibrant colors. They must be with an actual camera and not a phone, yes? – Marty
Hi Marty. A few are iPhone pics, a few DSLR. I like using my “actual” camera, but pics taken with my iPhone are so much easier to share.
Ah. Well, they really look nice. I think I’ve asked this question before. Sorry! 🙄
You mean I’m not the only one to repeat myself? 🙂
I think this wonderful location got under your skin and is now a part of you! Isn’t that what exceptional travel experiences should produce? I’m thrilled to see your delight, and must say, the doors are wonderful. I love them!
Mexico in general has gotten under my skin. I am actively searching out other locations to visit.
Oh I love these doors/not doors 🙂 Beautiful 🙂 And yes the dog is a cutie!
Thank you! If that dog had been closer to the ground (he was up on the second floor), I would have loved to give his tail a little tug. He was so cute!
i am late here – but had to say I love the not door theme – and the ribbons are cool
Never too late! I really loved the ribbons. I tried to discover the back story but, so far, I’ve been unable to. Next time I am in San Miguel, I’ll ask a native (which is what I should have done in the first place 🙂 ).
oh yes- the natives can be such rich sources of info (and especially for where to eat – well in some places)
and hope you have a nice weekend
Very nice shots of entryways. Your photos have a lot of character. Some of your photos remind me of my side of the world. Like many parts of Asia, it’s difficult to get to the doors because of the gates. Love the ribbons and the cat! 🙂
Fortunately in Mexico, and I assume Asia too, the gates are often as unique and beautiful as the doors. The ribbons were so bright and happy, I wish I knew the significance… or maybe they are there just to add some joyful color. Thank you for commenting!
Very true, here in Hong Kong there are lots of elaborate decorative gates. =)
The first door is truly beautiful.
Sorry, what I’m commenting on was behind a door. I think I need glasses, again. 🙂
Haha! Thank you for your comment, blurry or not.
LOL!
I like the ribbons and the rusted iron work — BUT THAT DOG! 😀
He is a cutie, isn’t he?
Absolutely!
I loved seeing your pictures from San Miguel de Allende. We visited there years ago when we were visiting the family of a Mexican exchange student who lived with us for a year when she was in high school. We flew to Mexico City and traveled north, stopping at various locations along the way to Monterrey, where the family lived. San Miguel was definitely a highlight of the trip! So glad I found your little corner of the internet. I am recently retired too!
Welcome to retirement! I know that you’ll love it as much as I do. We haven’t visited Mexico City yet but it (and a host of other Mexican towns) is definitely on our list. Thank you for your visit and comment… I’m off to check out your blog.
Thank you so much!
How embarrassing. I thought the dog was a cat … and I’m thinking it’s a very sorry looking cat too 😏
A very nice departure from the norm (pun intended … ok, it’s a bad pun, but work with me 😉). I like windows and often I find they add a special ambiance to a building . You’ve definitely found a few here. I love the old wooden bike. Some people just have a knack for taking something simple – like that window – and elevating its glamour.
You are forgiven for thinking that dog is a cat especially since it usually is a cat sitting in a window like that (and, yes, that would be a very sorry looking cat). I’m a big fan of puns and that was a good one!
Yay! Another lover of puns 🙂
I used to be rather ‘punny’ in my youth, but I had a teacher in high school who would roll his eyes and comment that puns were the lowest form of humour. I was eventually ‘shamed’ out of my punny ways. Interesting how incidents from our youth influence us – both good and bad. I ended up spending most of my life much too serious.
I disagree with your high school teacher! In fact, I think puns, and other types of word play, indicate a creative and intelligent mind. How sad that a stupid comment like that (he was probably jealous) shamed you into suppressing your punny self. Happy to know that you have thrown off those shackles! Pun on!
Then you and I are of the same mind!
Wow, what beautiful pictures! I’m always very drawn to the use of all the wonderful warm colors or southern European countries (I have never been to Mexico), I admire how the colors can make the simplest things interesting. I live in Denmark and here everything is very minimalistic and black and white.
Thank you! I have the same feeling when we get home and see the sameness of our typical suburban doors. I much prefer the colors and creativity. Thank you for your comment!