Category: Uncategorized

Teatro Antico Taormina . . .

Posted on Posted in History, Photography, Sicily, Travel, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , 13 Comments

. . . and some of the views from it!

The theatre was built by the Greeks and then re-built by the Romans, on the side of a hill overlooking Giardini-Naxos and Mount Etna. Originally it could seat 5000 and the Romans used it for gladiator battles, today it is still in use. We had just missed a film festival and the throne in the photo was for the next production, Verdi’s Rigoletto.  I can imagine that it would be mind blowing in this setting. Apparently Plato conceived his theory of forms in the amphitheatre, and it does have a feel about it that somehow grabs at the belly.

Sicily is full of antiquities, but if you go, visit Taormina and the theatre that is part of its ancient heart.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Masterpiece

Posted on Posted in Childbirth, Photography, Uncategorized, Weekly Photo ChallengeTagged , , , , 60 Comments

Welcome to a brand new masterpiece, baby Scarlett arrived at 2.30 am today, weighing 8lbs 1 oz! She is my new grandchild and I am a very happy and proud Mma. Well done to my brave daughter and clever, handsome extra son!

Scarlett

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/07/26/out-of-this-world/

I’m sorry I don’t think I’ll be able to catch up with  your blogs, I haven’t had much sleep in the last couple of nights waiting for Scarlett and now I’m shattered but I’ll see you soon!

 

Black and White Photo Challenge: Abstract

Posted on Posted in Photography, UncategorizedTagged , 12 Comments

This is what Sonel has to say about her theme this week.

‘Abstract photography is a process of using different shapes, lines, curves and patterns combined to create an image and rules, such as composition and accurate focusing hold no values. With no true meaning or no clear subject involved, the abstract photo does not necessarily mean the same thing to everyone. It leaves more to the imagination and aids us to concentrate on feeling and thought rather than the whole subject. Patterns and Close-ups of flowers and other plant life make for great abstract images.  There are no guidelines for creating good abstract photography.  Just use your imagination along with the natural world to create your master piece.’

and some shots of mine.

IMG_4640

For Lynne, the answer to your question, a little hut!http://lynneayersbeyondthebrush.wordpress.com/2013/07/23/distracted-by-abstract/

Taormina

Posted on Posted in Photography, Sicily, Travel, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , 18 Comments

I think this must be taken on the streets for festivals because it had long handles. It was inside St Pancras , a chiesa built on the ruins of a Greek temple of Jupiter.

From S Pancras

Just up the hill are the ruins of a small Roman Odeon.

Roman Odeon

Some impressions of the town

The beautiful Piazza 1x Aprile

Piazza 1x Aprile

I wasn’t very interested in going to Taormina because it’s such a tourist trap, but of course there’s a reason for that – it’s stunning! I’ll be back in a few days to share some more photos.

Bella bella!Farewell for now.

 

 

The Fastest Way to Slow Down!

Posted on Posted in England, Photography, Travel, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , 15 Comments

Dave was the  skipper yesterday when I went for a trip on the Grand Western Canal, on the last horse drawn barge in the South West of England. He delivered the Health and Safety rules with humour and a broad Devonshire accent. Our horse was Dandy, a 15 year old Clydesdale working his last season, Dave said that he loves cuddle and polo mints – Dandy that is not Dave.

The most frequent question people ask is how the horse manages to pull such a heavy load, with 43 people onboard it weighs 17 tons. Well, once the barge gets moving it has its own momentum and Dave said that we work harder pushing a fully loaded supermarket trolley than Dandy does, so he has an easy life. Dandy himself weighs three quarters of a ton.

The barge has a bar for snacks, drinks and ice cream, womanned by the lovely Katie, they need every penny they can make to keep them going. It is painted in the traditional Barge art, seats 75 and runs trips twice daily from late March to the end of October.

Some of the canal bridges have very narrow towpaths and it can get a bit tight for a large shire horse to squeeze under, they can easily bang their heads on the curve. Dandy has even fallen in, while tractor watching one day, he got a bit distracted and in he splashed. Unfazed though, he swam to the other side, had a bit of a mooch around and then headed back upstream! The canal has several horse, one of their others Taffy, is a bit of a Prima Donna, he has his own Facebook page and has been featured in local and even national newspapers. Dandy is my favourite though and I hope he has a long and happy retirement.

Should you find yourself in Devon, pop up to Tiverton, a nice little market town for a canal trip. It’s a mini escape, a tranquil and silent way to explore. I usually walk along the bank, but yesterday was hot and the barge was so tranquil. There is plenty of wildlife if you are very observant, we only saw ducks, moorhens, damsel and dragonflies and even those evaded my camera – I was too relaxed.

Related posts

https://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/grand-western-canal-2/

https://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2013/02/02/grand-western-canal/

East of Etna

Posted on Posted in Photography, Sicly, Travel, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , 18 Comments

To the east of Mount Etna lies a coastal small town, Fiumefreddo di Sicilia – meaning Cold River, with a population of about ten thousand. Fiumefreddo is well placed for visiting both Etna, the Alcantara range and the tourist hotspots of Taormina and Isola Bella, beside the Ionian sea. Several scenes from the Godfather films were shot there ,and it’s easy to get off the tourist trail to visit sleepy little villages, and drive along empty roads. The town’s beach at Marina di Cottone is shingle with a couple of Lidos to choose from and is edged with bamboo and eucalyptus trees.

The town is along the main road from Catania, Sicily’s second city, with its airport and historic Messina to the north, a port city that is the gateway to mainland Italy. The region is known for it’s citrus and olive groves, as well as vineyards. Along with Travelling Friend I stayed at an Agriturism Hotel, with it’s own large citrus groves and exotic plant nursery. La Terra dei Sogni was a lucky find, wonderful food, friendly helpful staff and a super location made this a perfect place to stay. It was ultra relaxing and had a mix of Italian, German, French and British guests, so chance to test my few words in several languages.

The photos in the gallery below are all taken within a mile on one of my early morning walks, before seven that is.

I’ll be back in a few days with some more about my holiday in Sicily, perhaps I’ll show you my jeep day.

A bridge inTaormina

Posted on Posted in Photography, Sicily, Travel, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , 15 Comments

Sonel asks that we post a photo of a bridge for her black and white challenge this week.  I’ve just got back from Sicily where I saw this one above the Roman Naumachies, or gymnasium in Taormina.

Bridge at Naumachies

You can join in at http://sonelcorner.wordpress.com/black-and-white-photo-challenge/

Thank you all for your lovely visits while I’ve been away, hope to catch up soon!

Wild Woodbury Orchids

Posted on Posted in Devon, England, Flowers, Photography, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , 24 Comments

Woodbury common is an area of heathland a few miles east of Exeter, with an ancient hill fort known as Woodbury Castle and stunning views of the sea and abundant wildlife. If you know the right place to look and the right time you may just get lucky and see these!

Wild Orchids – Dactylorhiza Maculata or Dactylorhiza Fuchsii – Can anyone clarify?

This is a scheduled post, see you soon!

Jake’s Sunday Post: Bridge

Posted on Posted in England, Photography, Travel, UncategorizedTagged , , , , 25 Comments

‘A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road,
for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle. There are many different designs that all serve unique purposes
and apply to different situations. Designs of bridges vary depending on the function of the bridge,
the nature of the terrain where the bridge is constructed and anchored, the material used to make it,
and the funds available to build.’ says Jake.

My bridge has been around a very long time. It may be small but must have kept an awful lot of feet dry so was well worth the enormous effort involved in creating it from a slab of granite. Small clapper Scorhill

Jake’s post with his clever animations can be found here http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/2013/06/23/sunday-post-bridge/