I just returned from Italy a few days ago and wanted to share some of my experiences and pictures with you. If you are familiar with my diaries then you know that I am food-obsessed. Most of the photos were taken at the Rialto Market in Venice and the Mercato Centrale in Florence. I was in heaven in these places, sheer ecststacy.
Other photos come from Catania, Sicily. I don't think this is a place many of you will ever visit so I thought I would share some pictures of my Grandfather's homeland. Catania sits at the base of Mt Etna. I consider myself very lucky to have survived a trip to an active volcano in light of the current events in Iceland.
Photo Essay below the fold...
Fifteen days in Italy, the trip of a lifetime. I ate some wonderful meals and saw some beautiful sights. That about does it for the "diary" portion of this diary. I will just share some pictures with you.
VENIZIA
The view from the Rialto Bridge in Venice.
The view from one of the many canal bridges in the city.
One of the numerous vegetable stands in the Rialto Market.
In this photo: apples, blood oranges, asparagus,tomatos, zucchini
cauliflower, artichokes, green beans,radicchio
Sardines!!!!!!!!!!
FIRENZE
The Ponte Vecchio
Statues in the Piazza della Signorina
Street Art
Various Offal from the Mercato Centrale
Roosters and Capons
Cured hams
The old wood-fired oven from a pasticceria near the market
CATANIA
Mt Etna, an active volcano, last erupted in 2003 I believe
Church in the Piazza del Dumo
The symbol of the city
Crowds on a Sunday at the Public Market
Gladiator tunnels in the old Roman theater
So there you have it. i hope that you have enjoyed these pictures and they have brightened up your Sunday a little bit. Be good. Have a wonderful day.