Mellow Yellow Monday

These details of "The Coronation of Charlemagne"
are in my favorite part of the Vatican Museum,
the Raphael rooms.  Although Raphael is believed
to have made the design for this composition,
the work was probably done by a couple of artists
from his workshop.  Either way, I think it's stunning.

I also love it when the artist includes
a figure like this,  peering out of
the canvas—usually it's a
self-portrait, so I wonder if
this is Raphael (or one of his
colleagues) as a child.
[See more Mellow Yellow here.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

I took this picture more than a year ago, right after I discovered 
this fun meme.  Just wanted to finally post it and also say that 
I still love looking for shadow shots (great idea, Tracy!).
[You can see more Shadow Shots here.]

photo Hunt — "standing"

This column has been standing (more or less) up on 
the Acropolis, in Athens, since the middle of the 
6th century B.C.  I know I'm stating the obvious, 
but that's a very, very long time.
[You can see more things that are standing here, at tnchick's meme.]

Skywatch Friday

Went out at lunchtime on Wednesday and caught
this shot at the corner of 42nd and 3rd Avenue.
Welcome to winter 2011 in NYC—snow, snow, snow!
(And by the next day, we had 19 inches.)
[See more Skywatch here.]

Thursday Challenge — "cold"

If the fountains are frozen, you know it's cold!  We've been
experiencing some bitter weather here lately—with temps
well below 0° Celcius. This shot was taken by my daughter
Lila (who "doesn't believe in gloves").  Really, Lila?
[You can see more that's cold here.]

abc wednesday — B is for "butcher"

I'm still a meat-eater, but I realized as I watched these
cute butchers (at Eataly) do their thing:  If I stood here
long enough, it very well might turn me into a vegetarian.

If that should happen, I can still find a couple of 
things here that fit the category. (BTW, I bought 
some of these breadsticks: in a word—delizioso!)

[You can see more ABC here.]

Terrace Envy

Yes, I still suffer from it.  But really, imagine having 
this amazing terrace overlooking the Piazza Navona and 
Bernini's fabulous Quattro Fiume fountain. Heaven.
[See more of the world here, at That's My World Tuesday.]

Mellow Yellow Monday

Okay, I want to stay in this motel. (Well, actually . . .)
On the other hand, it is right next door to the
funky, fun diner I showed you yesterday.
[See more Mellow Yellow here.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

Can't remember the last time I saw one of these things.
This classic coke machine is in the Pink Cadillac
Diner (which is absolutely chock-a-block with
cool stuff like this). It's out on the Lee (of course) 
Highway, in beautiful Natural Bridge, Virginia.
[See more Shadow Shots here.]

Photo Hunt — "hands"

This is another challenge where I had too many shots
to choose from (who doesn't love to photograph hands?).
Finally settled on this one, because I also love reliquaries
(creepy but beautiful).  This one is in the Santa Maria
Novella church, in Florence. Don't know for sure, but
I'd guess that it contains some part of St. Sebastian.

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

Skywatch Friday

For some reason, I really like this image.  It's 
industrial Brooklyn: sunrise from a speeding car.
[You can see more Skywatch here.]

Thursday Challenge — "window"

I had a hard time choosing an image for this challenge—
because I have too many!  There are Manhattan buildings
that are all windows, beautiful shapely Venetian windows,
and killer views seen through Roman windows.  But if
I'm going to choose just one, I'd have to say that the
stained-glass windows in the Sainte Chapelle trump them all!

[You can see more windows here.]

abc wednesday - A is for "aqua alta"

And here's the main drag of the Venetian island
of Burano.  Had lunch at this place, and by the time we'd
finished our fabulous meal of fish risotto, the
water was already receding (as I noted before,
the tide comes in and the tide goes out).

[See more ABC Wednesday here.]

random New Yorkers

I was going through my photos and moved a bunch of  them into a
folder that I titled "random New Yorkers."  I snuck this woman's photo
because she has a beautiful, strong profile—and her hair is a-mazing!
(How do I know she's a New Yorker? We were headed into
Brooklyn very late at night—and non-locals just don't do that.)
[I'm linking this back to That's My World Tuesday. See more of the world here.]

Mellow Yellow Monday

Welcome to the Virginia Horse Center, where you'll 
find beautiful animals and elegant riders
(and folks with a sense of humor!).
[See more Mellow Yellow here.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

Visited VMI (Virginia Military Institute), in Lexington, Va.,
recently. The houses of the commandant and other
bigwigs are all designed (like this one) to resemble a fort.
 I found it a tad bizarre—but love those shadows!
[You can see more shadows here.]

Ride the subway in your undies!

Okay, this is probably the worst picture I've ever posted.  But I had to catch it on the fly,
shooting quickly out the subway window as the train pulled out of the 14th Street
station.  Last Sunday was the 10th annual No Pants Subway Ride and, btw, it was cold!
Here are some better pictures.

Skywatch Friday

The ex took this (because he just has to have the window seat!) 
as we were about to come in for a landing at Amsterdam's 
Schipol airport—where it took 40 minutes to walk from one gate 
to the next and they are very serious about security (don't ask).
[You can see more Skywatch here.]

Thursday Challenge — "best of 2010"

Don't know if this is the best, but it may be my favorite Thursday Challenge
shot of 2010.  I posted it under the category "play" back in May.
A few weeks later I ran into this little boy and his dad in another
Brooklyn neighborhood, introduced myself, and got their e-mail address
so I could send them all the shots I'd taken of Dante that day.

[See more "bests" at the Thursday Photo Challenge,  here.]

abc wednesday - Z is for "zoom lens"

My digital zoom definitely comes in handy—especially when I want
a "close-up" shot of something that's (on average) 238,857 miles away!
[See more ABC Wednesday here.]

That's My World

Went to check out NYC's faaabulous 
new food emporium, Eataly.
The joint was jumpin' so I decided to skip the 
restaurants and get a carb fest to go.

Couldn't resist some of this wonderful Italian
butter to slather on that fresh-from-the-oven
baguette. The cashier told me I was only
missing one thing: chocolate!
[See more of the world here.]

Mellow Yellow Monday

When the aqua is alta, Venetians are ready. The "high water"
sirens had sounded, and all the locals on this vaporetto
were ready with their stivali (mostly Wellies like these).
[See more Mellow Yellow here.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

Can you see what's going on here? This tall building
(on 5th Avenue) was reflected in the overcast sky above.
Not the greatest picture ever, but I just though it was so cool.
[See more Shadow Shots here.]

Rome at Night

This town is surprisingly quiet at night (but,
of course, everything is relative—and
I live in the city that never sleeps).
[This is "free" week—your choice—at the 
Photo Hunt meme.  See more here.]

Skywatch Friday

Went down to Virginia for the New Year celebration (as always).
One morning I got up before dawn—and this was my reward!
[See more Skywatch here.]

From Here to . . .

Yes, I did it again (forgot to turn off one of my
electronic gadgets during takeoff).  From bottom
to top: New Jersey, lower Manhattan, Brooklyn,
Atlantic Ocean . . . and straight on to Italy! 

abc wednesday - Y is for "yearning"

These cute little guys were waiting just outside
my food co-op, while their owner shopped.
Every time someone walked out of the store they
jumped up and seemed to say, "Hey! Is it you?

[See more ABC Wednesday "Y" posts here.]

Y

New York at Night (9)

They've wrapped this tree in blue lights from top
to bottom.  Just hope they don't think they could
ever compete with the lights atop the Chrysler Building!
[This is part of That's My World. See more of the world here.]

That's Our World

Normally, my world is the concrete streets of
Manhattan.  But today, it's Virginia horse country.
 Can you see that these beautiful horses are
growing their winter coats?

Mellow Yellow Monday

What else can I say?
[You can see more Mellow Yellow here.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

Back to Rome—maybe even more magical at night.  For 
those of you who know the city (or are as addicted 
to Google Maps as I am), this is via Panisperna.

[See more Sunday Shadows here, at Harriet's meme.]

Photo Hunt — "fuzzy"

This is my friend Lisa, the hostess at last night's New Year's Eve bash, and a young guest.
This photo qualifies for the category on two counts:  First, it's a bit fuzzy
(yes, Champagne had been consumed)—and I get a warm, fuzzy feeling
when I'm able to celebrate the new year with family and good friends.
Hope you all had a great time last night too!
[You can see more fuzziness here, at tnchick's meme.]