The west coast of mainland Norway has a collection of islands off it which provide a reasonably sheltered passage north (or south.) Many ferries ply the waters, a vital lifeline in the days before North Sea oil and the building of roads to remoter regions, and still going.

Karmsund Strait is a passage between the island of Karmøy and the islands of Vestre Bokn and the mainland in the east.

The MV Black Watch approached the narrowest point of the strait towards nightfall:-

These were electric pylons on Karmøy but not I think the ones on the photograph on the link above:-

The very elegant Karmsund Bridge crosses the strait’s narrowest point:-

Closer view. Note more pylons:-

Karmsund Bridge from below:-

Reverse view:-

The area was fairly built-up compared to the previous parts of Norway we’d seen:-

There was even a house which might be described as Art Deco:-

These were more Moderne than Deco:-

I didn’t spot much that could be described as Art Deco on mainland Orkney. The lettering on mosaic background on this shop in Stromness came closest:-

Once a soda fountain and coffee salon the shop has now been repurposed to sell clothes:-

There isn’t much Art Deco in the centre of Bruges, of course, but in the approach to Smedenpoort we saw this. Good rounded balconies and column, porthole windows:-

And that building to the left has an interesting feature – a gold figure of a seated man:-

This one was a bit nearer to Smedenpoort. Rounded balcony, pillar, rule of three in windows, projecting canopy:-

This doorway was striking:-

I photographed this pair on the way back to the car. Note canopy over central bay on the one to the left:-

It had a good doorway too:-

And that greyer one had strong banding and a projection from its roofline. Pity its eyes have been “poked out”:-

We had a serendipitous metro stop opposite this lovely stylish building in Matosinhos. Pity the metro car’s windows intrude on the clarity:-

I have no idea of the building’s purpose but it’s another striking one:-

Rule of three in the extension’s windows:-

This stunning Art Deco building fetauring a green peacock motif below the Novidade lettering is Armazéns Cunhas, a department store.

The shop’s motto is apparently “novelties, we sell cheaper.”

Next door was the mundane by comparison, Era Porto Baixa:-

Gail Edwin Aguiar has some more stunning Deco from Porto on Flickr.

Coliseu at https://flic.kr/p/sWsaUi, Garagem Passos Manuel at https://flic.kr/p/tAJp5S.

And on Gail at Large, Serralves:-

The Wine Box, Porto, on the northern road approaches to Dom Luís I Bridge has Art Deco styling:-

Another tall Deco building. Note cartouche below roofline:,-

This one’s yellow paintwork emphasises the strong horizontals:-

Terrace of Deco:-

Zoom to lower down the terrace:-

Hotel Vincci, Porto, is a modern Deco style hotel by the banks of the River Douro. Helitours landing pad is in the foreground.

More of Hotel Vincci fron River Douro- plus heritage tram to left:-

Close-up. I like the clock:-

There’s a different view of the hotel here.

Almost Deco. Note Aragem sign on building in left foreground::-

We’d just walked past Aragem which had a very unusual appearance by its side door. The wall looked a sif it had part melted!:-

“Melted” wall upper portion:-

Aragem from a distance:-

Another canopied corner building:-

We discovered a fair few deco style buildings in Porto – far too many for one post

On the way down from Trindad metro station two were in the one street:-

Indeed, adjacent to each other:-

The second one had a lovely balconied curved corner aspect:-

Not to mention a good cartuche above the doorway:-

This one was a bit further on:-

There wasn’t much deco in Ferrol. We found two nice squares and this one, the Plaza de Espaňa, had a deco building on it:-

A Banca:-

Close-up showing deco detail on rounded corner:-

Balconied Deco:-

More Art Deco, Ferrol:-