Capri: a pleasant stroll to lunch below the Faraglioni

Good morning

Another round of photos from my recent trip to a beautiful part of Italy.  My first time to Capri - three nights which really should have been doubled.  Another visit is necessary.

After a morning spent visiting the very top of the island (Monte Solaro, reached from chairlift from Anacapri), I had lunch at the very bottom of the island - at the base of the Faraglioni.  These are some photos from my stroll and lunch at Da Luigi ai Faraglioni.

Starting down the hill:

Fontellina Beach:

Da Luigi:

A villa overlooking the Faraglioni:

Another villa overlooking the Faraglioni.  I think I want to live here.

Tada!

Wandering around after my meal:

Ahhhhhhh...  bliss!

What a fabulous day.  If I were stuck in the movie Groundhog Day, THIS would be one of the days I'd like to repeat. 

Enjoy your weekend!

Colors and textures: Herculaneum

Good morning and welcome back to my sorely neglected blog.  Has it really been five months since I last posted anything here? 

I am not even remotely organized yet, and am merely picking through my photos randomly instead of logically.  These few caught my eye this morning.  I can't even tell you precisely where inside Herculanuem I took them although with a bit of googling I could sort it out (and may come back later to do so).

So for now, just enjoy a little color and texture this morning.  And I'd love it if you came back occasionally, I plan to post more regularly now that I have a fresh crop of photos to add!

Xmas in Paris, IV

OK, technically not Paris.  This is inside Reims cathedral.  But it was during my trip to Paris over the hols.

Xmas in Paris, III

I had never been to the roof of Galeries Lafayette.  I plan to go many times - the views are stunning.

Here is a photo from one foggy morning.

Xmas in Paris, II

The Pantheon, in the 5th arrondissement.  My favorite hotel, Hotel des Grands Hommes, is directly across the street.  On this day there was a huge, loud demonstration going on - directly behind me as I took this picture.  Looks pretty tranquil here though, huh?

It's beginning to look a lot like Xmas!

Everywhere you go...

The next several posts will be photos from Paris.  I love Paris at Christmas time!

Backroads: Dalmatian Coast. Good timing!

I have slipped a little this weekend on posting of photos.  In case my fellow hikers were wondering if I took pictures of just about EVERYTHING, here is proof...  I took my camera to the water with me, sat in the surf and let the waves wash over my legs...  

Backroads: Dalmatian Coast. More of the wall.

Here are a few more photos taken from the wall in Dubrovnik.

Backroads: Dalmatian Coast. Walking around Split

More randomness!  Our Backroads tour ended in Split so I was alone at this point.  On my last full day in Croatia I decided to walk up the Marjan Hill.  What beautiful views!  There is a fortress of sorts at the very top which had views over the Adriatic and the nearby islands.  There was also a 13th century church which was closed up - I've no idea if it is open on certain days.  It was tiny-tiny.

I also saw a Dalmatian - the only one on I saw on the whole trip.

Backroads: Dalmatian Coast. How much is that doggie in the window?

Split, Diocletian's Palace on a Saturday morning.  Spot the doggie.

Backroads: Dalmatian Coast. Hiking on Hvar Island

Good morning!

My planned "one photo per day" on this blog is turning into a morning story telling.  Oops.  By the time I finally finish sorting the photos to share with the group, I will have shown most of them here!

A few weeks ago in Croatia we hiked part of the coastline of Hvar Island.  Such blue clear waters - just like all the other places we visited that week.  Our walk ended at a fabulous outdoor lunch, perhaps the best of the whole trip.

Backroads: Dalmatian Coast. Peljesac Peninsula hike

Good morning!  Today's photos are a few from the day of our hike on the Peljesac Peninsula. 

We had lunch with a view overlooking Korcula, and on our hike passed a number of abandoned houses and churches (although the graveyards were still being tended).

We even saw a massive yacht with its own helicopter pad (complete with helicopter).  Maybe he got lost looking for the Riviera?

Backroads: Dalmatian Coast. Pucisca

This morning I have five photos to show you.  On our last full day of the trip we stayed in Pucisca, on Brac Island.  We stayed in a beautiful 15th century castle which was right on the harbor.  These are a few photos from my wander around town, as well as a few taken from my balcony in my room.

 

Backroads: Dalmatian Coast. Architecture

I loved the architectural details I saw in Dubrovnik.  There were clearly some Venetian influences, and the red rooftops instantly signify Dubrovnik.  Not sure what influenced the dome below, does anyone know?

The first one below is Sponza Palace.  I am not sure what the second one is, but I was standing in the same spot.  Perhaps part of Church of St. Blaise?

Finally, another view of the rooftops.  Air conditioning units, satellite dishes, attic dormer windows, laundry flapping in the breeze...  some things old, some things new. 

Backroads: Dalmatian Coast. Some more of the boat!

More random photos - nothing has been in chron order so far.

These below were taken the day we "met" Bozidar and sailed to Hvar.  We had a dinghy ride over to where she was anchored and then we swam for a little bit, in order to replace our sweat-salt with sea-salt on our bodies.  At least we cooled down though.  No swimming photos, alas, as I was one of the swimmers. 

En route, there was quite a bit of excitement when we realized we were being paced by dolphins!  How cool is that!  Definitely rates as a highlight.  They shimmied along side us for a while - and we had to have been going 20 miles an hour I'd say.  Maybe more.  How fun!