Round water lilles
I’m sure I have more rounds but being short on time the first thing I thought of was the water lilies from Longwood Gardens in Wilmington, DE. Amazing place to visit if you get the chance.
Posted by: gardner310 | January 13, 2013
A Word a Week Photo Challenge-Round
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: A Word A Week Photo Challenge, flowers, gardens, Longwood Gardens
Posted by: gardner310 | January 10, 2013
A Word A Week Challenge-Clouds
It’s taken me a week just to get organized to put these clouds in a post. I’ve been enjoying reading Sue’s posts and the wonderful photos from all the bloggers. Thanks for keeping me entertained. See Sue’s blog for more great photos. http://suellewellyn2011.wordpress.com/author/skinnywench/
These photos include clouds from Cambodia at Angkor Wat, St. John’s in the Caribbean, mountains of Alaska and the fiery skies of Rouen, France. I’m a sucker for reflections and clouds are sometimes the perfect subject.
Posted in photography, Travel | Tags: A Word A Week Photo Challenge, Alaska, Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Caribbean, clouds, mountains of alaska, nature, Rouen, rouen france
Posted by: gardner310 | January 8, 2013
Pisa Has More than the Leaning Tower
Famous Leaning Tower
Rather than go back to Florence I decided Michael should see Pisa so we found our way to the bus station and got to the train station, which is miles out of downtown Livorno. The trains from Livorno run quite frequently to Pisa and take about 45 minutes. From there we walked across the river and through the main university area to the CAMPUS where the famous Leaning Tower, Duomo and Baptistry are located. As in every Italian town, the doors and windows called to my camera. It’s fun to listen to the comments from the multitude of tourists eyeing the Tower. “It really is leaning.” “It’s smaller than I thought” “It’s bigger than I thought.” At least half of the photos taken are of people pretending to hold up the tower. It’s such a cliche tourist attraction, you have to remind yourself of the beauty of the architecture. Do not miss the town itself which has many wonderful cafes and pedestrian streets through which to wander and sit a spell. Bellisima.
Posted in Cruise, Europe, Holland America, Italy, Working on Cruise Ship | Tags: Baptistry, cafes, Duomo, Holland America, Italy, Leaning Tower, Pisa, river, Travel
Posted by: gardner310 | December 14, 2012
Nieuw Amsterdam Brings Christmas to Half Moon Cay
I was charged with getting the pink Christmas tree to Half Moon Cay shops so that the Eurodam could pick it up on their next stop. But I thought the tree would like to visit the island before it had to go to the Eurodam. We brought a little Christmas to Half Moon Cay.
Bringing Christmas to the island
Posted in Caribbean, Holland America, Travel, Working on Cruise Ship | Tags: Chrstmas, Cruising, Half Moon Cay, Holland America, Nieuw Amsterdam
Posted by: gardner310 | December 9, 2012
Gelato Rules, Livorno
These photos were taken as I was waiting for a bus in Livorno. Notice even the baby is getting his share of calcium.
I wish I had thought to take a few earlier because gelato is a passion in Italy and it’s almost as much fun to watch people enjoying it as it is eating it myself. Almost.
Posted by: gardner310 | December 5, 2012
Little Tiny Tiles
Little tiny tiles make up this wonderful mosaic
I spent the day visiting the various museums with examples of the mosaics for which Ravenna is famous. And they are amazing, these huge art works done with pieces no larger than my little fingernail in most cases. Tried to take some photos but as usual the photos do not do the proper pieces justice.
Grabbed a late afternoon panino in the supermarket and went to the park to find a bench for supper.I was enjoying listening to my book, the 3rd in the Game of Thrones series, when a local lady in her 80’s sat down and began a conversation. Bless her, she was looking for company because even when I explained I spoke
Anna from Ravenna on left
“piccolo Italiano” she just chatted on. I could tell her where I was from, yes I was married and my husband was in Venice waiting for me, yes the bambini (children) were having fun in the park, yes Ravenna was lovely and the mosaics were amazing. I can understand way more than I can speak so a nod here and there kept her going. She proceeded to explain to me that Columbus did not discover America but that it was an Italian, Amerigo Vespuci who discovered it. Pleased that I could understand her, I had to laugh at my unlikely history lesson.
When I left to return to my hotel, she moved on to the next bench and started a new conversation.
For more Ravenna photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gardner310/sets/72157632180433442/
Posted in Europe, Italy, photography, Puglia, Travel, Working on Cruise Ship
Posted by: gardner310 | December 2, 2012
The Road to Padre Pio
Burial place of Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo
Today was my longest drive yet, 5 hours north to San Giovanni Rotondo, home of Padre Pio on a westward jutting peninsula. What I didn’t realize was that besides being a bit west, San Giovanni is also high in altitude. Got to do the switchback Italian driving up these narrow roads. I stayed Hotel Pace, so far the most basic of properties but it is only 2 blocks from the big shrine and church so the location was perfect. This was, of course, after driving around town in circles for about 20 minutes not finding my road. The shrine is really impressive. Padre Pio is a modern saint, confirmed in 2002. In the Catholic church, it takes a lot to get the title “saint”. At about 25 years old he received the stigmata, replicas of Christ’s wounds from the cross in his hands and feet. He lived with these wounds and pain for 50 years, performing his duties as a Franciscan brother. The shrine is done in tiny mosaics in a large chapel with amazing color, mostly gold. His body rests in the chapel and people come in busloads to visit. Impressive is all I can say. Ended up that night at Trattoria Antica with wonderful bruschetta, vino rosso and free wifi for a perfect evening.
Posted by: gardner310 | November 26, 2012
A Real Find in Italy, A Sand Beach
Lunch view in Gallipoli
The next field trip was Gallipoli. Not Turkey, if you are thinking I am an idiot to do that in one day. It’s on the west coast of the heel and is another ancient walled town that was occupied by several countries over the centuries. It is now a resort town with a REAL beach, meaning sand. And it has FREE parking, my kind of town. But I get ahead of myself…
I thought I should add another stop in the day and chose Nardo famous for its olive oil and now famous streets. I got myself into the old town easily but then as the streets narrowed, I got a bit panicky as I thought I would either get lost or stuck. Found my way out, excited to walk through the area ,and parked the car. Imagine my surprise when the nice signore said that it was gratis parking. Two lovely churches grace the piazza area and the streets just shouted “Take my photo”. Happily I obliged. Left town with olive oil and some handmade sun dried tomatoes from the lady who owns the fattoria.
Gallipoli was the easiest town to find parking, free in the port area. It made me smile as I wandered the passegiatta area with shops, cafes and laundry hanging anywhere. Did my usual street walking to get they lay of the land and the photos. Decided that the beach was definitely calling to me so headed back to the car to change and get my beach gear. A cafe with a view showed up on my walk and I ordered a pizza margherita and a drink. The bloody pizza was so huge for 4 euros, I didn’t even finish it, and headed to the beach.
In the old days, when I spent time at the Jersey shore – south Jersey, I will add, the best time to be at the beach was when the families packed up about 5pm and the sun was still high but not so hot. Today was like that, people were leaving and there was a nice breeze. Unfortunately a couple of families with boys decided to stay and they were playing a soccer match on the beach. I ended up with a lot of sand on my towel and had to stop the ball more than once. I said the only word I know that would apply, “basta”, it means enough. Fortunately a local lady told them them to move their game in no uncertain terms. That worked better. I found another reason I need to know more Italian.
These young lovers were so cute I had to capture them. They asked me to take their photo so they got to take home a digital memory as as well.
I waited for the sunset and returned to Lecce for my final evening stroll.
Posted by: gardner310 | November 25, 2012
Never too old to get picked up…
I made an unscheduled stop in a town enroute to Santa Maria de Leuca that I could not see a name for. I noticed a great piazza and twisty streets so I actually found a place to park on the street and started walking. What a cute place and a highpoint of my day happened when an elderly signore replied to my buon giorno. Such a chatty gentleman. I learned his name, Rafaello and that he is 84 years old. He wanted to know where I was from, my name, my age and if I was single. Told him I was solo qui so he asked if I had a husband, marito, mentioning that he (husband) was in Venezia. I got an invitation to breakfast from him but explained I was on my way to Santa Maria de Leuca. He gave me a great toothless smile and a buon viaggio. A little Italian goes a long way. I was sorry that I didn’t ask to take his photo, he had a great face.
Posted in Europe, Italy, photography, Travel | Tags: Italian, Italy, Puglia, southern Italy, Travel
Posted by: gardner310 | November 21, 2012
Andy Warhol in Otranto, Who Knew?
Otranto, Puglia Seaside
I took the coast road to Otranto and it was equivalent to driving the Amalfi Coast with the winding and narrow roads but the sea was off to my right and I got some breathtaking views. Unfortunately the road is so narrow you can’t pull over to get a good photo, or any photo. Memories…
Otranto was the next stop and it is a fortified city on the sea, very important for centuries. The castello is in great shape and acts as a museum. In utter contrast to the fortress, there was an exhibit of Andy Warhol’s “I am a Machine” work. And the question remains,”Why did I not buy the Campbell’s Soup” painting in the 1970’s? It would have been a stretch to spend the $100 (yes, you can gag now) but I could have a 6 digit bank account on that print alone. Hindsight gotta love it.
I shoulda bought one of these!
Otranto’s promenade along the waterfront is wide and well-kept and the beach (rocks) has plenty of large rocks on which to stretch out, which many were doing. A lot of folks just bring chairs to the pier area and congregate in groups to sun themselves. From families to friends “of a certain age” (mine or older) are enjoying the sea and the sun. It’s a great way to spend a few hours watching and in my case, having dinner on a bench. My rustico and arancini were perfect at 6pm allowing me to skip a heavy meal in the evening. Cost? All of 3 euros.
Ancient Roman mosaic work in a cathedral, not the unusual themes
The basilica is a heart stopper once you open the door. The floor is completely done in mosaics. What is more surprising is that the theme is of a nature worshiping culture in a Catholic church and has just recently been uncovered. The multicolored marble work holds its own as well but that floor… Wow!
Wandered back through the yet again narrow streets (are there any other kind in these old towns) and bested the crowd at a local pasta shop to grab some tri-colored orchietta, olive oil and tapenade. I’m doing my best to keep my purchases at a minimum but the food keeps calling to me. Since I am not flying home from Europe, I figure I can indulge a bit and if we get the wine and cheese parties going, we will eat some of the goodies.
Made it home, got my car parked properly and decided to stay in, work on the photos and sleep. One out of two? Tomorrow, Gallipoli and more seacoast.
Living in an Inside Cabin 