Cloudy Wednesday

The 2nd week of March is cloudy. According to metereologits the coming days will be rainy. Today in the early morning, on this cloudy Wednesday, I walked 45 minutes at a fast pace, although the weather conditions. While I was walking I noticed that the statue of the American sailor and the girl (picture above on the left) has nothing to do with Italy ... I don't agree with the Mayor's choice. 

The sky was also cloudy yesterday at night. This image is the view out of my window at night.

The owner of this XXVII century old building (picture below), which is located in the historical center of Civitavecchia, offers reneved air-conditionig rooms with private bathrooms, free WiFi and Kitchenette with fridge. It's perfect for both long stays or quick visits.  

Tourists can discover this architectural gem, which was built on the ruins of a castle.

Have a nice Wednesday!

Laundry drying

If you were too visit older neighborhoods in the Italy's cities, you would probably see drying laundry and clothes on the building facade in your country. I hope you wouldn't get bored of  laundry drying outside windows. This is typical in Central and South Italy, mainly in the buildings located in the older neighborhoods.

Obviously, you will never see laundry drying outside windows of historical buildings like the image  below :-) :-) :-) LOL ... the historical building in the picture below is located in Rome close to Vatican Square. I took it last week.

Still in Italy, the traditional breakfast here relies heavily on a mix of coffee, milk, and baked cakes. It's also small in size and sweet in taste.

Have a nice Sunday! 

1st week of the year in Naples

 A few pictures taken in Naples (South Italy) from 30th December to 6th January.

A coffee shop's owner painted a big skull on the wall :-) :-) :-)

The picture below shows an old building located in the historical centre of Naples, which belonged to a noble Spanish family.

Many old Naples' neighbohood are rich in history and tradition. They are place of art and culture, full of faith and hope.

Tomorrow, January 6th, is Epiphany, also called Three Kings Day. It's a Christian holy day that celebrates the revelation of the baby Jesus to the world.

Forgotten old villages in Central Italy

Just to show the serenity of some old villages in Central Italy, 80 km North from Rome. There isn't any car in those historical villages. And there isn't any noise when I walk through the narrowest  alleys. Those places make me feel good. I went there for job last week. It's name is Latera, 775 inhabitants! Fantastic!

Since the epidemic began to spread, in early 2020, many people have decided to come back to small  villages. Many people, who can do their job from home (or anywhere they choose). Some remote workers, such as virtual assistants, website testers or online educators, can choose to live in one of those amazing old villages. 

Today is a Christian holiday celebrated in honour af all the Saints of the church. All Saints' Day is also known as All Hallows' Day.

Have a happy all Saints' Day!

First two days of the week

 

During the first two days of this I week went to Rome and Trevignano for job. On this two sunny days  many tourists were visiting Rome's oldest neighborhoods,  and its main landmarks, as usual. I have never noticed before that close to Vatican city most advertisements are written in English language.

Great to see that Trevignano's oldest neighborhood is car-free zone for a better environment. Trevignano, with its old stone houses, is a small village of 5,000 inhabitants. It is located 50 km North from Rome and close to the Bracciano lake. 

While I was walking along the oldest part of this typical Italian village I took some pictures of the wooden doors. 

Enjoy the rest of this week!

Assumption of Mary, 15th of August

Today, the 15th of August, we celebrate the day the Virgin Mary entered heaven. It's a public holiday all over the Christian world, and in many European countries. The holiday always falls on the 15th of August, no matter what day of the week that happens to be. 

Today 15th of August, 2022, is Monday. 

Many Italians who are already on holiday don't go abroad this Summer. The sea is increasingly gathering people on its beauriful beaches. 

Have a nice week!

Port of Civitavecchia on a sunny Wednesday

 

I noticed that big boats and yachts that docks in Civitavecchia's port have the opportunity to enjoy the Fort Michelangelo. It was built in 1535 on the harbour, exactly on the site of Roman buildings. The blue superyacht I saw this morning on this sunny Wednesday has a British flag.

This morning I also saw two three-wheeled vehicles. 

This type of three-wheeled cargo veiches is also so popular in South Asia, mainly India and Bangla Desh. It was firstly manufactured in Italy more than 75 years ago.

Have a nice Wednesday, and enjoy the rest of this week :-)

T. Schmalz's statue in Vatican square

In 2019 Timothy Schmalz, a Canadian sculptor, created a new sculpure on the theme of immigrants and refugees. This artwork, which is dedicated to trafficking victims, was set up in Vatican square. And it is still there. 

This week I took a picture of this epic sculpture which shows a crowd of migrants upon a boat headed towards new places, new countries, and sometimes new continents.  

Timothy Schmalz's statue will be a permanent fixture in Vatican square.

Have a nice weekend! 

Trevignano

 

Yesterday I went to a small village in Central Italy, 50 kilometers North from Rome. The insoles technician works there, in Trevignano. In his workshop, which is located in that small village, he makes many types of insoles and appropriate footwears according to the problem of people's feet.

I bought there a pair of new insoles. The absorbing layer no the top of the entire insole enhances both the wearing comfort and the functionality.

After I had got the new insoles, I continued to visit that typical old village.     

Have a nice weekend!

Walking through Tolfa, on a rainy morning

Today, on a rainy Friday, I went to the small town of Tolfa, which is located in the hills (70 km North from Rome). I went there with a friend of mine, as he was looking for a small house there in Tolfa. He would like to run a "Room & Breakfast" accomodation for tourists there in the village of Tolfa.

Paving with cobblestones allows a road to be heavily used, as it prevents the build-up of ruts often found in dirt roads.

That's the entrance of the small house for sale ("vende" in Italian language). 

We have noticed that many tourists, mainly from Norther Europe, enjoy visiting that old village and its alleys all year long. Many of them from Norway have also bought same of those typical old houses.

Small white fig fruits are already on the trees ... I hope Spring's rain will not destroy them

Happy weekend to all the blogging community :-)

Tourists back to Italy

 

Yesterday I was glad while I was walking through Rome's streets and squares, as I saw many tourists coming back to Italy once again. Despite the war in East Europe and the pandemic, which is going to an end (I hope so), tourists are already here in order to enjoy Italy and its art, its architecture, its cookery and wine. I also enjoyed a dinner togheter followed by a walking tour: night lights make Coliseum one of the most spectacular Rome's landmark.  

I had pizza at dinner in Rome. Never seen before such a large pizza: it was larger than its white ceramic plate :-) 

The bad news is that the more tourists the more air pollution, due to the fact that they mainly travel by cruise ship. 

Meanwhile, crude oil and gas' prices still continue to rise in many European countries. Consequently, food, drink and clothes prices are increasing too. For example, the picture below shows that price per Kilogram of broccoli rose to € 2.38 ($ 2.62) this month in Rome and its surroundings. Last year we used to pay those veggies less than € 1.50.

Today it's a cloudy Sunday! ... And it is not possible to organize sailing boat trips.

Have a nice Sunday! 

Next stage of psychosis

 

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  This morning the waitress wrote in French languange on top of milk surface. I was so curious to know why she didn't write "good morning" or "buongiorno". She said she was proud of Quebec, the Canadian province where French is the sole official language. She also explained that this month mandatory vaccine requirement for truckers entering Canadian had met strong disapproval in Quebec. The Canadian Prime Minister may decide to invoke a never-before-used emergencies law. 
• Meanwhile, in my country this week 500 thousand unvaccinated Italian citizens over 50 have been suspended from work and left without salary. The Italian Prime Minister said: "The unvaccinated are not part of our society". That's typical of authoritarianism!
• In addition, Italian MPs that are over 50 and not triple-vaccinated are no longer allowed into the Parliament. They can't even vote against the decree that established that measure. No similar measure has been taken in the Western world. 
• Next stage of psychosis: taking children away from parents who refuse to vaccinate them. I think we (Westerners) are so oppressed we believe to be free. 
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• I took a picture yesterday while I was running close to the port. it has nothing to do with an authoritarian system that forces people to sign a piece of paper where it is written in black and white that the government didn't force them to inoculate vaccines. It shows a view of the port of Civitavecchia, 70 kilometers North from Rome. 
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• The last picture shows a "Vespa scooter", an Italian luxury brand  manufactured by Piaggio. Since the late 1940s, after WWII, the Vespa has evolved from a single model motor to a full line of scooters. A friend of mine owns the old Vespa below. It was manufactured more than 50 years ago. The name means Wasp in Italian language. 
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  I hope you will have a nice weekend!