Skywatch Friday

Happy New Year from the Big Apple!  No Times Square, 
but here's the one building that says "New York" more 
than any other.  All the best to my wonderful
 blog pals—those I've met, those I've yet to meet, 
and everyone who passes by here.
Hope that 2011 is a wonderful year for us all!

[See more skies from around the world here.]

Thursday Challenge — "lights"

Beaucoup de lumiere here at Sacré Coeur, in Paris.
They just seem to go on forever, n'est-ce pas?

[See more lights here.]

abc wednesday - X is for "Xmas"

Does Brooklyn know how to decorate?  Fuggedaboutit!  
This is our main downtown shopping street, seriously 
decked out for the season.  There are some who feel 
that "Xmas" is not—shall we say—correct.  
I'd point out (as Wikipedia says) that: The "-mas" part is from 
the Latin-derived Old English word for "mass", while the "X" comes from the 
Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek 
word Χριστός, translated as "Christ."  Seems okay to me.

[See more ABC Wednesday here.]

That's My World

Went for a little walk (more like a trudge—through 3- and 4-foot drifts)
around the neighborhood.  Took me an hour to cover a distance 
that normally takes about 10 minutes. The cars that weren't buried
were either abandoned in the middle of the street or stuck! 
Love the sign in the photo at bottom right: Keep Intersection Clear.
Snowshoes (and ski poles) were definitely the best way to get around today.

[See more of the world here.]

Mellow Yellow Monday

Mentioned this little ornament (which I've had for
a looong time) in a post last year (and it's still my fave).
Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas—and a nice Boxing Day!

[See more Mellow Yellow here.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

 Do you know what you're wearing on New Year's Eve?
(Confession: I'd wear pj's if I could!)  If not, here are
some suggestions compliments of Macy's.

[See more Shadow Shots here.]

Photo Hunt — "circle"

Had to be this kind of circle—it's Christmas!  I have a friend who goes 
over the top for the holidays, with a vast nutcracker collection 
and multiple trees.  This one looks like it's been out in a blizzard
 (and gets all the glittery ornaments)—beautiful!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Happy Christmas!

This big tree stands in front of the house where daughter Lila lives.
The owners (our good friends) LOVE to decorate for the holidays
and the tree is wrapped in lights as well—very festive.
(Of course, it all stays up there year-round!)

[See more Skywatch (or post your own)  here.]

Thursday Challenge — "toys"

Doesn't everyone have toys in their office?  Well, if

you work at a magazine devoted to little kids

and their parents, you probably do!

abc wednesday - W is for "window"

This colorful window is in the Doge's palace, way up top.
Could I have one just like it in my house, please?
On the other hand . . .

Casanova could see two of them from 
his cell when he was a "guest" of 
the doge.  Do you suppose he 
appreciated their beauty?

[You can see more ABC Wednesday here]. 

That's My World

 New York is all decked out for the season!  This is just
one of the smaller stores on Fifth Avenue.

[See more of the world here.]

Mellow Yellow Monday

In Florence, it can be treacherous walking out of the city proper.
The roads are narrow, winding, and most have no sidewalks.
These mirrors come in handy for checking around a blind curve
for a large, fast-moving vehicle—and while you're at it
you might want to mutter a little prayer as well!

[See more Mellow Yellow here.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

Snuck this pic of the little putto
—and its shadow—
 in the Palazzo Vecchio, in Florence.

[You can see more Shadow Shots here.]

photo Hunt — "male"

Yes, it's the ex—enjoying the view from the campanile
in Venice.  He's here because today is his birthday
(and he's a male)—Happy B-day, Steve!

[See more "males" here, at tnchick's meme.]

Skywatch Friday

The setting sun was briefly reflected
in these beautiful Roman streetlamps.
I shot this from the Capitoline Museum.

[You can see more Skywatch (or add your own) here.]

thursday Challenge — "food"

I have dozens of pix of food: raw, cooked, fancy, plain. 
There are fruits and veggies from markets around the world, 
ditto restaurant meals from 3-star to diner.  Too hard to choose!  
But I realized that a lot of the very best things I've ever 
eaten were that good because the chef didn't skimp on . . . butter!  
So I've chosen this essential ingredient—accept no substitutes 
(and get the good stuff for your own cooking).

[You can see more "food" here.]

abc wednesday - V is for "Venice"

The challenge—choose one image that 
says "Venice" to me.  Have to say, 
this comes close:  The campanile of San Marco, 
reflected in the aqua alta that flooded
Piazza San Marco each day I was there last month.

[See more abc wednesday /here.] 

Venezia . . . mezzanotte

My favorite campo in Venice: Campo Santa Margherita, where
 the students hang out—and the place that stays awake (this shot was
taken around midnight) while the rest of this early-to-bed city sleeps.
Your drink (usually a spritz) is served in a plastic cup,
so you can take it outside the minuscule (as most are) bar.

And here's my friend Pierre, from
Venice Daily Photo, who was 
ordering me a spritz a l'Aperol at Caffé 
when I took this shot.  I was so happy to 
finally meet this gregarious blogger—and his 
beautiful and charming girlfriend, Isabelle!

[I'm linking this post to That's My World Tuesday.
See more of the world here.]

Mellow Yellow Monday

In Venice in winter, you find color where you can: 
 I found it in the saturated hue of this stuccoed 
wall and in the vibrant yellow of the 
daisies in the window box.

[See more Mellow Yellow here.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

Been wanting to come to this place—Da Romano, 
on Burano—for years.  It's famous for its fish risotto, 
so much so that Tony Bourdain devoted part of 
the recent Venice episode of his show to this 
dish at this restaurant.  Word on the Web was mixed, 
but the service was perfect and the risotto was 
still excellent.  Hope they continue to keep it up!

[You can see lots more Sunday Shadows here at Harriet's fun meme.]

Photo Hunt — "funny"

Venetians have a great sense of humor.  
This is the statue of  Niccolo Tommaseo,
 in Campo Santo Stefano.  The locals 
like to refer to him as "Cagalibri," the
book pooper (gee, I wonder why).

[See more "funny" stuff here at tnchick's meme.]

Skywatch Friday

Rome—and the Victor Emmanuel monument, commonly
referred to as "the wedding cake."  Bit of a challenge
crossing the street anywhere near this place.

[See more Skywatch here.]

Thursday Challenge — "construction"

When this campanile—of the church of San Martino, 
on Burano—was constructed, they apparently didn't allow 
for the marshy land.  Oops, and yet it still stands.  
They're working on the belltower of San Marco, in Venice
(which doesn't even look like it's leaning and we're 
still allowed to go up into it), so I have to wonder 
if there are any plans to "straighten" this one.

[You can see more "construction" here.]

abc wednesday - U is for "under water"

In all the years I've been going to Venice, my recent visit was the first time

I've encountered aqua alta.  The sirens sounded, the passarelle (those

not-quite-wide-enough walkways) were up, Piazza San Marco was

inundated every day, and the poor pups were totally flummoxed.

[You can see more "U" posts here.]

That's My World Tuesday

Pick a title:
1.   I'm so over the '80s.
2.   I finally got a real life!
3.   What was I thinking?
4.   This band was the best, but my
       girlfriend is moving in and she
       just wouldn't understand.
5.   [Your choice]

{See more of the world here.}

Mellow Yellow Monday

Took this from up on the Gianicolo (the Janiculum) hill,
looking down on Trastevere.  From street level, it's 
one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in Rome.  
From up here, what stands out are all those satellite dishes!

[See more Mellow Yellow here.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

I've seen glassblowers at work, but I still can't imagine how
this oversized statue—on Murano, of course—was made.

[You can see more Shadow Shots here.]

Photo Hunt — "hard to find"

These long-stemmed beauties are all but impossible to find even
here in NYC—but easy to locate at the Rialto Market, in Venice.
And the price is right, too—at 10 for 4 euros (about $5.25).

Skywatch Friday

This lovely corkscrew lantern belongs to the 
church of Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza.  The church was 
designed by Borromini and begun in the 14th century 
as the chapel of the University of Rome
 (known as "La Sapienza").

[You can see more Skywatch here.]

Thursday Challenge — "brown"

This, so they claim, is part of the robe and belt
worn by Saint Francis of Assisi.  It's now displayed
in the Santa Croce church in Florence.
(Who hung onto this garment?  How did they know?)

[See more "brown—or add your own— here.]

abc wednesday - T is for "Trastevere"

. . . the Roman neighborhood where you 
can walk down a colorful back street 
and encounter—no one.

[Find more "T" words here at ABC Wednesday.]

That's My World Tuesday

Well, it was my world for a few days this month.  
This is Bernini's famous 1651 fountain of the 
Quattro Fiume, in Rome's Piazza Navona—with 
representations of a river for each of the continents
 known at the time.  This one is the Danube.

[See more of the world here.]

Mellow Yellow Monday

This is one of my favorite places to eat in Rome:  Da Augusto, 
in Trastevere—where the locals outnumber the tourists 
by at least 8 to 1 and I've never been given a menu 
(as the locals never are either).  And the food is fabulous!

[See more Mellow Yellow here.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

Found this in the Capitoline Museum, in Rome. 

 I'd love to tell you all about it but, fact is, I was in there 

for about four hours and saw more fabulous 

art than I could even process.  Let's just say it's 

very old and, I think, very beautiful.

[See more Shadow Shots here.]

Photo Hunt — "written"

I wonder what the monks who wrote these 
tomes would think of the Kindle!
This shot was snuck in low light (hence the poor quality) 
with a b. d. camera  in the Musée du Moyen Age, in Paris.

[You can see more things "written" here , at tnchick's meme.]

One last look

One campanile—and Palladio's beautiful church of San Giorgio Maggiore—seen
from another, the San Marco belltower, of course.  We're on our 
way back to reality today. I know I'm feeling just as François Mauriac 
did when he said, "On ne quitte pas Venise . . . On s'en arrache." 
 (You don't leave Venice. You tear yourself away.) 

pink palazzo

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!  

I'm missing my family's scrumptious turkey dinner, but 

I'm very thankful that I got to come back to Italy this 

year—and ride down the Grand Canal on the vaporetto, 

and dream of living in a place like this! 

Home domani (sigh). 

abc wednesday - S is for "superstitious"

This is the back of Ca' Dario, on the Grand Canal, 

immortalized most famously by Monet.  Some say this house 

is cursed, and it's true that its various owners have known 

more than their share of bankruptcy and untimely death—most 

from suicide or murder.  There was a rumor that Woody Allen 

was interested in purchasing this 15th-century palazzo—

until he learned its history.  Maybe he's superstitious.

[See more abc wednesday here.]

Aaah, Venezia!

This is the rio San Barnaba.  We're staying about halfway 

between the second and third bridges.  I took this shot from 

the attic of Ca' Rezzonico, which I plan to visit again 

while we're here (first time was many years ago, when my friend 

and I were the only ones there and it still looked pretty 

much as it had when Robert Browning's son, Pen, owned it).  

Now you're not allowed to take photos or—heaven forfend—touch 

anything.  Whatever—it's still a cool place.

San Lorenzo Market

I didn't stick around to see if she bought the bag 

(but I'll bet she did).  Over the years, my various traveling 

companions have gotten all kinds of leather goodies in 

this colorful market—belts, gloves, bags, jackets.

I've yet to drop a euro here, but maybe this time

 (yeah, probably not, but it's still fun to look).

Boboli Gardens

Since it's November, we'll be lucky if the weather is nice 

enough to enjoy this gorgeous garden.  Here's hoping!

so worth it

463 steps to the top of Bruneleschi's amazing dome, 

but I do it again and again for this view of the rooftops 

of Florence.  Besides, all that climbing means no 

guilt whatsoever over the copious quantities of pasta, 

wine, and gelato that will no doubt be consumed later! 

cacio e pepe

That's what this dish is called, and they make the best 

(imho) here at Da Stefano.  It's basically pasta, cheese, and 

fresh pepper—and what else do you need, really? 

Well, except for gelato (even in November), 

and Rome has some of the best of that too!