A drift around the stairways of Positano, Italy

The last couple of weeks gave me a very different change of location for my wanderings, where I spent a wonderful two weeks on the Amalfi coast in southern Italy. This post features a few pictures of some of the stairways in the town of Positano. We trekked up and down these stairs on a daily basis, but there were so many different sets of steps I'm pretty sure we didn't cover them all.

Stairway, Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Stairway, Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Doorway, Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Stairway, Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Stairway, Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Stairway, Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Stairway, Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Stairway, Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Passage, Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Stairway, Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Narrow passge, Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Old gateway, Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Stairway, Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Stairway, Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Stairway, Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

    

I'm now back home, and the weather could not be more of a contrast with almost permanent rain today. It feels more like Autumn than Summer. I am however looking forward to more Urban Wanders around London, and was planning some for later this week although given the pending tune strikes I may need to reconsider where I head off to.

An evening drift around Kensington, in search of mews

With time on my hands after work one evening this week, and my passion for London Mews reignited, I set out on a Psychogeography inspired, Urban Wander around Kensington in search of more. This first mews I have passed plenty of times before, but usually in the dark, so it never really presented itself as a good photo opportunity, and also I had never ventured within, so a good excuse to put that right. This is not a conventional mews, being more of a courtyard, with garages beneath the two and three storey houses, linked by metal stairways, and balconies beautifully decorated with flowers in window boxes and hanging baskets. It’s not quite a gate community but the entrance barrier, which fortunately I managed to avoid in my photos, makes it look a little intimidating. Maybe next time I’ll be brave enough to venture further within, and climb the stairs to the first floor. I did try to see if I could see this mews-cum-courtyard from the other side but without any luck.

Kensington Court, London W8

Kensington Court, London W8

 Kensington Court, London W8

Kensington Court, London W8

Next we come to Cornwall Mews, with its magnificent arches and urban topiary. I say magnificent in relation to the arches as they seem disproportionately large in comparison to the mews houses, although perhaps more in keeping with the grandiose style of the houses on the outside of the mews.

Cornwall Mews, Kensington, London W8

 Cornwall Mews, Kensington, London W8

 Cornwall Mews, Kensington, London W8

Cornwall Mews, Kensington, London W8

A little further beyond Cornwall Mews was this delightful little passageway, open only from dawn to dusk, which as it was approaching dusk as can be seen from the photo below, was quite handy and offered a good photo opportunity.

Narrow passageway, Kensington, London W8

This whole area seems to have an abundance of mews and I found a few more as I made my way back.

Unidentified mews, Kensington, London W8

Unidentified passageway, Kensington, London W8

Unidentified mews, Kensington, London W8

And as I headed west from Kensington, into the sunset, I managed to capture this one.

Sunset over Kensington, London W8

Finally on this wander, I cam across this curious, red-striped house, which I’m fairly sure was not painted in such a manner last time I walked past it. I’m sure there’s a story behind it.

Red striped house, Kensington, London W8

An urban wander along Adam and Eve Mews, Kensington, London W8

With time on my hands one lunchtime last week, I popped out for a quick wander around Kensington. Those of you who remember my early posts way back when, may remember that I was slightly obsessed with London Mews. Whilst I may have veered away from exclusively mews focused posts over the past few months and years, I still marvel over their beauty, dotted across Village London. These pictures are all from the wonderfully named, Adam and Eve Mews, which is just off the hustle and bustle of Kensington High Street. My only regret was that it seemed to be bin day and there are dustbins of varying colours and sizes in most of the shots.

Adam and Eve Mews, Kensington, London W8

I loved the turquoise colour of these doors but was disappointed by the photo and not being able to capture both sets of doors in full.

Adam and Eve Mews, Kensington, London W8

 From the turquoise garage style doors above, to this rustic looking door, I don't think I saw two doors the same in the whole mews.

Adam and Eve Mews, Kensington, London W8

A lovely piece of urban topiary, which even with the dustbins looks ok.

Adam and Eve Mews, Kensington, London W8

This was probably my favourite door in the mews. Tall, thin and elegant, although I suspect the postman is none too please at having to get down on his hands and knees to deliver the letters through the almost ground level letter box.

Adam and Eve Mews, Kensington, London W8

Adam and Eve Mews, Kensington, London W8

Adam and Eve Mews, Kensington, London W8