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! 

St. Peter's

Today we have tickets for the Vatican Museum (pre-booked—

don't want to risk a long line even in November), and 

hope we don't encounter stormy skies like this because I'd 

love to climb up to the top of the dome (again, after 32 years!).

abc wednesday - R is for "Roma!"

That's right—arrived this morning with the ex for a little Italian viaggio

(3 days each in Rome, Florence, and Venice).  I've scheduled my posts and

(only somewhat reluctantly) left the laptop at home.  Will try to stay focused

on other things: art, beauty, food, wine.  Shouldn't be too difficult!

[See more abc wednesday here.]

bon voyage

I'm leavin' on a jet plane—finally using my vacation days.  

There's a clue here to where I'm headed—I'm sure you can guess!  

I'll be mostly offline for the next nine days, but I've scheduled

my posts and I hope that my blogpals will visit while I'm away

and leave some comments for me to find when I return.

[I'm linking back to That's My World. To see more, go here.]

Grand Central

Grand Central Terminal (not Station!) at a slow time of day
—especially when you consider that three quarters of a
million people pass through here every weekday!

Shadow Shot Sunday

Downtown Manhattan (by City Hall), and this reporter 
is patiently waiting to tell us all whatever exciting news 
he can come up with (I didn't see any, btw).

[You can see more Shadow Shots (or post one of your own) here.]

Chrysler Reflected

Here's the sublimely beautiful (IMHO, and 
even more so at night) Chrysler Building, 
reflected in the Hyatt Hotel across Lexington Ave. 
to the west.  I get to see this every day 
and—no—I never take it for granted! 

Skywatch Friday

Taken from the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge—and 
you can see that I shot this one before we "fell back" last weekend.  
Tonight when I crossed the bridge, it was pitch dark 
at this hour—but much less crowded, so fine with me!

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

Thursday Challenge — "autumn"

The leaves on the tree that "grows in Brooklyn" 
are finally beginning to turn.  Don't know if it's global 
warming or what, but I was starting to wonder if 
we were ever going to see this around here.

[See more of this Thursday "autumn" challenge here.]

abc wednesday - Q is for "Queen Mary 2"

Was biking around Governor's Island recently when I spotted the
fireboat; when I caught up to it, I realized it was there
to accompany the QM2 out of the Buttermilk Channel (she
docks in Brooklyn these days!) as she started off for home.

[See more abc wednesday here.]

She's a beauty!

That's My World Tuesday

This is actually a sculpture— "Weather Beacon," by Eric Guzman.

I don't pretend to understand how it works, but I like it!

[See more of the world here.]

Mellow Yellow Monday

So why is it that people don't really wear hats anymore 

(unless it's 4° below, that is)?  Saw these at the 

Brooklyn Flea—I'll take the straw job with the 

three white flowers; anything strike your fancy?

[See more Mellow Yellow here.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

And this is the arcade of the beautiful Palais Royal, 

in Paris—where you'll find arches and gates—and 

shadows neatly lined up (just how I like them).

[See more Shadow Shots here.]

Photo Hunt — "alive"

This beautiful animal is a "retired" show horse.  
She's earned her retirement, and is living the good life in the 
Virginia countryside—and she's still very much alive!

[To see more things that are "alive," go here to tnchick's meme.]

Skywatch Friday

I do love a New Jersey sunset—all those chemicals just add to
the drama!  And, yes, that is the Statue of Liberty there on the left.

[You can see more Skywatch—or post one of your own—here.]

Thursday Challenge — "crafts"

The tools of the trade for crafters: buttons, and 
pom-poms, and chenille stems—oh, my!
One of the editors at my magazine is in charge 
of all the "crafty" stories, and I raided 
her well-stocked cubicle for these shots.

[You can see more crafts here.]

abc wednesday - P is for "piano"

                                                                  

This beauty—a 19th-century Steinway grand—belongs 
to my brother Chris.  On weekends, when he's 
not playing drums with the Lone Sharks he can usually 
be found right here making a different kind of beautiful music.

[See more abc wednesday posts here.]

That's My World Tuesday

This lovely art deco building is in NYC's financial district.  

It was completed in 1932, and is the 5th tallest

 building in New York (39th in the world). It's also the 

headquarters of the now infamous American 

International Group (AIG).  Remember when the Fed 

bailed them out to the tune of about $125 billion, 

and they turned right around and handed out 

$165 million in bonuses to their top execs?

Apparently the glass-enclosed observation deck up 

there at the top used to be open to the public, 

but is now the exclusive domain of those same 

AIG execs.  Personally, I think the arrogant 

ingrates should open it up to the

 rest of us taxpayers, who bailed them out!

[To see more of That's My World, go here.]

Mellow Yellow Monday

Watched New York's famous annual Halloween Parade from the

safety of an apartment 10 floors above the craziness.  From what

I could see, these folks—dressed as the recently rescued Chilean 

miners, with their rescue pod—were a huge crowd favorite.  

Here's an overview of the festivities:

You can see more Mellow Yellow here.]