Saturday, August 31, 2013

Have a wonderful new month

Canon G-11

On the Seine at dusk

This young couple was having a snack in the early evening on the Seine. I hope they were talking about love. This scene reminds me of a poem written by Antonio de Curtis, the great comedian Toto'
that I translated from the original Neapolitan.



At night when the Sun goes inside
And hands it over to the moon
It whispers softly in her ears
Take good care of all the lovers

Trapani, i portoni

The old part of Trapani has some very wonderful baroque buildings with great looking, intricate doors.






Friday, August 30, 2013

Erice

I love Paris but my heart is always in Sicily. Staying in the Latin Quarter with it's bustle of activity is wonderful as I love city life. Yet, I look back at this quiet side street in Erice with some nostalgia.



Piramide du Louvre


State forest








This past June traveling north in Rhode Island, after passing Westerly, we came upon a lovely state forest. I tried to work with the light. I just love the full and flush woods
during early summer.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Le musee d"Orsay

This wonderful museum replete with really famous works of art was once the Gare D'Orsay, or the Orsay Railroad Station. The architecture is also stunning and well renovated.


A Catholic country...perhaps Catholic light

These condom dispensers may be found almost everywhere in Italy. This one was in Trapani. They  come in different types and make life more pleasant.


Baskets

The basket weaving art is still practiced in Sicily although it's  dying fast. Still one still sees roadside stands where wonderful baskets are sold.




Tuesday, August 27, 2013

How does Sony do it?

All of this for $ 399.00. Amazing.

Sony's newest interchangeable lens camera apperas to be an SLR, but  an it's all NEX. The Sony A3000 comes with 20.1 megapixel APS-C sensor, a built-in electronic viewfinder, full HD video and a Sony E-mount for interchangeable lenses all for an  amazing MSRP of $399 with an 18-55mm kit lens no less. The  very competitively priced A3000 has all the features of an entry-level DSLR including a fixed 3.0-inch LCD, built-in flash and hot shoe for use with an external  flash unit.  We think that this is amazing and great look for anyone on a budget

Hello from Paris

More photos will follow soon  from this amazing city.

 


Block Party, part 2

Some of the people, my neighbors.




Monday, August 26, 2013

Kitchen wares fro olive wood / Canon G-11




Olive wood is not only beautiful but also durable. Here in Sicily where olives grow practically everywhere, craftsmen make all sorts of items from this hard wood. The items above are kitchen wares that are sold near the belvedere that overlooks Castellamare. The man is from Salemi his wife is from Tunisia. They make really excellent items. One drawback is the weight. Many item are very  heavy  and travelers on airplanes find them unsuitable. But they are lovely.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

A classic

The Fiat 500 is considered on of the all times classic cars along with a few others such as the Ford Model T.  Occasionally you still see one and they are now collector items. This was on Via Verdi in Castellammare.


Sicilian block party

Being feast time, our neighbors first decided to hang string of festive flags. But Amma Maria, a very kind and generous woman volunteered to make  an infornata di pane or an oven full of bread to make pani cunsatu  [ hot Sicilian bread cut in half  and  made into sort of a sandwich with olive oil, anchovies, tomatoes, fresh pecorino and oregano] and some sfincione or the traditional Sicilian thick pizza. We volunteered to provide, plates, glasses, napkins, water, iced tea etc.  Others provided wines, mellons, figs and other fruits. Angela another lovely neighbor made cakes.  The whole thing was planned for the following day. Following a thundershower scare that luckily missed us, we had this impromptu party. Everyone had a great time. The people here are super friendly, An English family visiting from Brighton was asked to join us and they could not believe the warmth of our people. They also had a great time. We hope that this becomes an annual event.

Anna Maria, foreground, the heroine of our party





Fall splendor