We celebrated our 54th wedding anniversary today. Renee pulled out an old album and we were quite shocked to see how we have aged! But the real issue is that we have enjoyed every moment of it and look forward to much more time together!
Continuing with my theme of interesting doors and windows, I can add the following. Once again I am fascinated to imagine who passed through, or looked through, these varied openings, and what craftsmen laboured to produce them, using ancient tools.
Door furniture. It is a strange name, but for people in the building trade it is the term used for door handles, hinges and the like, i.e. metal fittings required for doors to operate. Pretty mundane stuff, I hear you say, but, once again, I would far rather be photographing interesting old door furniture than taking selfies! The images below will tell you why!
I often wonder why, when faced with the beautiful textures that abound everywhere, one might be tempted to always take selfies. Selfies can never compare with stone walls, as is evidenced by the images below.
When travelling in South Africa, one cannot just walk into churches at will. They are only open for services and are otherwise locked. In Europe, however, where there is little likelihood of theft or vandalisation, all the churches are always open, and they offer a haven of peace and tranquility to the passer by. One can sit and admire the art – and there is a lot of it, even if only architectural in some instances, commune with one’s God, or just be at peace with the world. I like the latter and I also like to photograph the beautiful lines and features that one sees.
There are so many things that are quintessentially Italian. Looking back through my photographic archives, I come across so many – some I wish to share with you, as they evoke such fond memories of our last visit.
If one is looking for a beautiful walk along the Italian coast, one could do no better than to tackle the Cinque Terre. It is around 80 km and one hugs the rugged coastline, passing through quaint fishing villages with wonderful photo-opportunities at every turn. It is, in fact the only decent way to get between the villages, as the train travels mainly through tunnels carved into the cliffs. We stayed in Riomaggiore and used the train to get back in the evenings and get to our previous stopping point in the mornings.
Part of the joy of visiting Italy is that one gets to see different things, and to get from one to the other, one must use their streets. This in itself is an experience, as every street and alley has a story to tell, if one reads the signs and images along the way. Once again, armed with a camera, one is able to capture fleeting moments from times past and present, reflected in architecture, signage and art.
People who have neck problems should be wary of straying into European churches and looking up at their ceilings. Better to just lie on the floor, or things could get really bad for that neck, as the art above your head can get quite compulsive!
A walk in Italy is an almost spiritual experience. One traverses roads that have borne the weight of western history and one can only wonder at what went before. The Italian people are very much in touch with their past and it is well preserved in nearly every village and building. I found it very stimulating to be armed with a camera and having the opportunity to capture little glimpses of former times.
roncorylus 