Herculaneum, an ancient Roman town destroyed by volcanic pyroclastic flows in 79 A.D.
It's a powerfully stunning place to visit. I would like to return there one day when the light isn't so bright and spend an entire day, or 3, wandering.
One Night in Rome
I'm trying to work out if I like this shot or not. No better way than to post it here on the blog ...
I took it back in 2009, without a tripod ... just kind of making do.
A Recipe for Dreaming
The streets in Genova pull me out into them ... I can spend hours walking there, lost in the now. I am missing those days where images came in through my camera lens as a deluge of colours and textures.
In New Zealand I was the kid and later, the woman, who disappeared constantly ... on my bike or in the car, with my dog, I was off, in search of a place to dream. Rivers, lakes, the beach or, more simply, a school field.
In Genova I find that space more easily in a cityscape than anyplace else I've lived so far. It used to be Nature, now it seems that this remarkable old Italian city can soothe my soul.
The Farinata, Genova
Just across the alley from the place where I write and work, while in Genova, is this tiny shop that sells the most delicious farinata, pies and Genovese snacks.
Some days, the scent of the food being cooked down in the wood-fired oven there, almost drives me out of my mind.
I was on my way back from another journey through the caruggi with my camera and voila, the sun created this image ...
Often, if you want to use your phone, you need to lean on the windowsill or step out into the street. The gate of the massive city wall can be seen on the right side of the photograph. It blocks some technology ... my usb modem has hang, on the end of the cable, up on the window.
Genova, Northern Italy
Leaving again ...
This morning, I set the alarm for 6.15am, giving me time to clean the apartment before leaving ... two loads of laundry to do.
I woke at 5.20am and lay thinking how unfair it was, knowing there was no way to sleep again.
I showered, put the first load of laundry through, and packed. I began mopping floors and then voila, almost 8am, and I needed breakfast.
I sat at an outside table at Caffe Degli Specchi, with a cappuccino and brioche, realising that today was the day of leaving Genova ... again.
And so I walked, through the city's centro storico ... walked until just after 8.30am. The air is a soft 17 degrees celsius, the sun is out and, as always, all around me was the quiet hum of this city I love.
'Ciao!' is everywhere. It makes me smile. People arrive in the cafes, pass each other in the street, arrive at work ... 'Ciao'.
I'll miss that.
Someone has written a long story on the footpaths here. Beautiful Liguria has the story on Facebook. I didn't have my camera but I stopped this young guy and asked what it was about. Apparently, it's something to do with WWII. It's neatly written and seemed like another of those surprises that Genova presents to her people. It happened in the night I think.
Anna, from the Beautiful Liguria website, let me know about the story today: 'It is a story of love between a Jewish lady and a Russian guy in world war II.'
Laundry is already out and hanging across via Ravecca. My kitchen window is open and, here I am, this New Zealander who simply loves those times when she comes stay awhile in this private, elegant, chaotic, sometimes dirty, exquisite, secretive, ancient, post-modern city nestled between the hills and sea.
