Rocco Galatioto, nice photos and good food

As promised, here are a few more views from the cittadella and on two images the city's mura or walls can be seen. Many of  Florence's best minds, including Michelangelo. worked on these fortifications.

We went to find these two old timers in the country because they knew and had worked for my maternal grand father. They told us many tales that brought back pleasant memories. They were as feisty as ever and in excellent spirits. These shots are also with a Canon point and shoot camera that rose to the occasion; as it were.

Always very innovative In a brief note on its Japanese website, Sigma has announced that the Sony and Pentax mount versions of its highly-regarded 35mm F1.4 DG HSM 'Art' lens will go on sale on 31st May. It's also announced that the Nikon-mount version of its 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM 'Sports' telephoto zoom will be available at the same time. We gave the 35mm F1.4 our Gold Award when we reviewed it back in December, for its combination of exceptionally good optics and solid build at a price rather lower than the camera manufacturers' equivalents.

This fortress on the side of the Arno where we find the Palazzo Pitti and Piazzale Michelangelo, is worth while visiting not only for it's beauty but for it's great views of the city. We will post some of these views later on. The camera was the Canon 5-D  and they were shot in April of 2008.

Olympus E PL-2

Shot way back in June of 2006 with the Canon 30-D at the New York City Seaport. The Brooklyn Philharmonic was having a free open air concert with it's piece de resistance being Handel's water Music Suite with the accompaniment of real fireworks.  I took advantage of taking a few shots  before the concert while the light permitted it. Where else but in New York. I love this city.

These photos of the cathedral of Mazara del Vallo in Sicily attest to what can be achieved with a simple point and shoot camera. They are from the summer of 2006 and the camera was the Canon  Powershot 620 that sported a mere 6 megapixels. It was small and very portable and it was really the beginning of the idea of leaving the big cameras at home when traveling. The camera doesn't take the picture...you know the rest. At any rate, Mazara is a very rich small city that has the largest fishing fleet in Europe. In this cathedral - it is a see- are supposedly relics of the lungs of saint Vitus, the city's patron saint. The whole idea sounds rather macabre but for the faithful this is normal. Who am I to say what's macabre or what is normal. I just take the pictures.

Our last post on Selinunte showed what archeologists were able to re assemble from the devastation caused by the Carthaginians. Here we see the actual results of the city's destruction. Still this is a very important historical site and should not be missed.

The saline in Mozia, in the north western  corner of Sicily is where the most delicious sea salt is made. This shallow body of water called   lu stagghiuni is where the wind and the sun work their magic and this complex salt, [actually sodium chloride and other salts] is produced. The wind mills were used to grind the salt into the small crystals that we are so familiar with. Today they are no longer used as modern machinery do this task. We arrived before our visit to Salinunte and it was still not as hot as it got later on. This is a must for anyone visiting this fabulous island also known as Persephone's island. The history and mythology are still palpable here in it's well kept ruins and in its many folk tales. Of course the food is of great anthropological interest as it combines flavors and traditions of a place smack in the center of the Mediterranean and conquered 14 times but never fully dominated.

Canon 1-D II