My window views from different cities, states, and islands and countries.
For The Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge, Windows.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Windows
Tag: Churches
Thursday Doors August 31: Because yet again, we never ever tire of Italy!
Ok. I know, I know – my last few posts have been limited to Thursday’s Door challenge (though, a lovely challenge it is!). If only that pesky work thing didn’t burden my days!
Volterra. I struggle with saying it was my favorite hill town in Italy. Because those who’ve been know – it’s near impossible to have one favorite spot in Italy. That said, I adored this splendid town, and have pics to view that would put us all to sleep. In a good way, to sleep. Its fairy tail “pinch me” charm goes unsurmounted…
For Joey’s (Norm’s on vacation!) Thursday Doors Challenge!
Thursday Doors August 24: Roma Sampler
As it goes with the 2300+ photos I shot whilst in Italy, I sort thru, and sort thru again, and again…. well, you get my point. I have enough to post on my blog for months perhaps, but wouldn’t want to overdo it on Italy (is there ever such a thing, I wonder??) 🙂
For today’s doors, a few from Rome. While I focused on Trastevere, a rione (district) of Rome, in a previous post, I’ve not visited my overall Roma collection of doors. Here, a diverse mix.
For Norm’s Thursday Doors Challenge.
Through the looking glass, Italian style
Windows, windows – I hadn’t realized how many I had photographed in Italy. It’s high time to share!
These run the full spectrum of Rome, Volterra, Cinque Terre, Lucca, Florence, Orvieto, and the uber-charmant Civita di Bagnoregio.
A brief taste of Lucca Love
Lucca is the smallest portfolio of my photos, in having had only part of a day to visit. As anyone who’s been there could probably agree with, our brief stop left me stomping my feet out of frustration for wanting to see more. Alas, there’s always next time, this I am certain of!! And now, even looking back and sorting through photos, I see exactly why I left wanting more.
Lucca is a charmer – a Tuscan town, an ancient wall surrounding it’s loveliness. Present day, that same wall graces a delightful rampart, where heavenly Tiglio (Linden) trees beckoned us forth. If you’ve not been graced with the fragrance of a Linden tree in bloom, well, I surely can’t begin to describe it here. Perhaps like the blending of honey and lemon peel – and well, even though that sounds wonderful, it still leaves no room for actually strolling under them on a warm summer day – what a glorious experience. The Linden clearly defined Lucca for me, that day.
And so, I give you, Lucca.
Thursday Doors, July 6: A tale of two Italian towns
My last two hill towns of Italy left me with a sense that surely nothing could surpass them (though, my friend Manja tells me that’s just not so – I’ll have to believe her, for now 🙂 … )
Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio, the last of my Italy destinations, dished out a lovely assortment of doors (and more).
Thursday Doors June 29: Boho Trastevere
When in Rome – wind your way on whichever path you happen to be, to the Trastevere neighborhood. Our new friends Manja and Marco hit it spot on in sharing this crunchy, eclectic, and always on neighborhood with us – with plenty of history, food, friendship – and oh yes – many delightful doors mixed in!
Even before traveling to Italy and meeting Manja in person, I pretty much knew we were kindred spirits in our love for photography. Who knew we’d go gaga over shooting doors together?
Manja’s lovely photographic art can be found here, The Mexi Movie.
Gems of Italy: Swoon-worthy Cinque Terre, +1
When I first discovered we wouldn’t be staying in any of the five dreamy villages of the Italian Riveria region the Cinque Terre, I was a little disappointed. Levanto, a town just north of the “fifth” town, Monterosso al-Mare, isn’t technically part of the Cinque Terre. But, as our trip had gone, and how Italy had not disappointed even one iota, Levanto – I quickly discovered – was the place to stay while visiting this ever growing tourist attracting Italian coast.
Between lazily swimming in the Ligurian Sea, hiking the cliffside trail between Vernazza and Corneglia, and gazing upon cliffs of grapevines and olive trees – oh, and eating the out of this world local seafood/food – our two days in the Cinque Terre and Levanto were utterly magnificent.
As a side note, it’s incredibly difficult to discern which photos to post, as I took so many throughout Italy. Cinque Terre was no exception to this dilemna!
Our first stop, the northern-most of the 5 villages, Monterosso al Mare.
Monterosso al Mare
North of Monterosso al Mare was our town of Levanto. We arrived late in the afternoon, and for dinner had one of the best meals there, a delightful Tuscan feast of local seafoods (and rabbit, and pesto that the chef made for us as a demonstration beforehand!)
Fresh mussels, anchovies, calamari, crab, bruschetta, pasta with pesto, risotto with porcini mushrooms. Profiteroles and limoncello. A very memorable meal.
Levanto
Levanto
Cinque Terre: Vernazza
A few pretty pictures in Vernazza while walking to the trail head entrance (above).
Leaving early gave us the narrow trail mostly to ourselves. We were told it can get quite busy, and my hike mates Paulette and Charlie were early birds like me; we made for pretty decent hiking partners 🙂
Vernazza
Vernazza
Tiered vineyards
Vernazza
Vernazza
Looking back at Vernazza as we ascend the beginning of the trail. Stunning!
Charlie checking out the Olive tree grove
Lots of interesting flora along the way.
A section of train tracks thru the hills
Most of the trail was narrow like this, with lots of up!
Gorgeous Ligurian Sea
Some highlights from our hike (above).
Olive tree nets, which sure looked like hammocks to me!
Baby olives!
The olive tree nets (sprawled out when harvested) sure looked like hammocks to me!
Corniglia
Pretty Cinque Terre
Corniglia in sight! Fortunately it was mostly downhill from here 🙂
Oratory of the Disciplinati of Santa Caterina
The bathroom we used had quite the view!
My hiking buddies, Paulette and Charlie
Gorgeous Ligurian Sea
The hills of Corneglia.
Trastevere: It feels just like it sounds…
…but just be sure to speak it in Italian, not American…
I had read about Trastevere before we left for our trip – so when Marco and Manja suggested it part of our day long trek around Rome, I knew it wouldn’t disappoint.
I should mention, all of the places we I visited had scrumptuous street art – including doors and windows, that qualify as art to me. I’ve decided to post most street art, door, and window captures separately. They each deserve their own.
However, a good bit of it speaks to the flair and verve of each of the neighborhoods, towns, and cities we visited. So I’ll include ones that were standouts.
Trastevere also has a spectacular church – you’d never know it by it’s relatively plain Jane exterior: The Basilica of Santa Maria, stunning. After seeing St Paul’s huge glorious-ness, we shifted gears to a more modest (well, not really) size. The basic floor plan and structure dates back to the 340’s. Yes. That’s the year three hundred forty.
We ate gelato. I should mention that. By the end of our trip, we had a ranking for our top five places.
Manja snuck in a picture of me doing my thing. It was a treat having a fellow photographer with us!
Fetching the World 