I love that people put flowering plants everywhere around their homes. Balconies, window ledges, stairs, and walkways abound in their colors and scents. To me it causes the ancient towns and crowded cities to be as refreshing as a drive in the country. In reality, italians bring the country to their homes by shopping outdoor markets full of fresh produce and foliage. Just reviewing the pictures to choose which ones to include here excites me and makes me want to wander around to see what else I can discover. I hope that Italy never ceases to amaze me.
Remember that you can click on the photos to make them larger.
Here is my other website:
A Moment in Italy
Support this site's advertisers by opening any ads that interest you.
I find it sad that passports expire, don't you? We get to keep them for 10 years during which time they travel with us wherever we go. We show them to enter a new country, when we check into a new hotel, when we rent a car, and when we leave the country. We get stamps, notes, visas, etc. They become worn, soft, bendable, and full of memories. It seems to me that just when I get it broken in the way I like it, it expires. My old one was set to expire this August so I had to renew it. The new one is stiff and empty. My old one had my name taped on the back because when we traveled to Brazil with 5 of our children, it made it easier to find the right passport without opening seven to get to the right one. We just turned them all over and could easily find the needed passport quickly. My new one is clean and shiny. My old passport had a much younger photo looking out from the pages. My new one........ well, the subject is ten years older. My old passport had pages full of memories. My new one is empty. My old passport now has holes punched in it so that it easily recognized as being retired. I guess I could look at it as my new passport is full of possibilities. It's waiting to be filled with new stamps, visas, notes, etc. Perhaps when it travels a bit it will grow on me. For now though, it just looks sad.
I just love the vibrant colors of some buildings here in Italy. The selection seems never ending. It's as though the very buildings are in bloom. They never seem garish to me, but full of personality.
The people of Italy are as colorful as their buildings.
Click on the photos for an expanded view.
Naples
I found that, for me, Naples isn't somewhere I am comfortable. It's the first time in 18 months, since I've been traveling alone, that I have felt uncomfortable. Being a woman alone, I have to trust my senses. Rome is a quiet city compared to the confusion, crowdedness, and unpleasantness I found in Naples. There was, however, only one motorcycle driving on the sidewalk, so... >>>
In each city I've visited, looking down the side streets is one of my favorite past times. The archways, the metal work over doors and windows, the laundry hanging seemingly haphazardly from windows and balconies, the stone streets.... all of these things tell a story of the inhabitants behind the walls of each place I encounter.
While I was in Viterbo, the capital city of the Lazio region here in Italy, I found a local map and followed it to the various parts of the city, just sort of mindlessly ambling. Well, not mindlessly; with no agenda or purpose, but taking in every new experience. I met a couple of American girls who are exchange students here in Italy. Their italian was excellent and they were sweet and willing to share their experiences with me. I met them in a little place I stopped for lunch. It was a Turkish shop that sold something called a Donar Kabob. Yum! My new friends said they have a "bob" about once a week to break the tradition of having pasta as the first course of every meal. It was good stuff. The gentleman who ran it was very patient and kind. It amazes me that here in Italy, when you order food at a little place like this one, they never want you to pay at first. Just relax and enjoy your food, then take care of the money. He told me to sit, sit, enjoy and eat. When I was finished, he was more than willing to wrap the rest of my sandwich (it was huge) and then asked me to remind him what I ate. It was relaxing as well as pleasing for my stomach. I have had Donar Kabobs at other places in Italy and they are always good, but nothing takes the place of your first time trying something new, especially it is served with kindness and humility.
Check out my other website:
A Moment in Italy *Support this site's advertisers by opening the links to any ads that interest you.
RSS Feed