Finally, I’ve gotten around to updating my gallery – a few months late. Most pictures from Italy, Africa and Argentina are up. A sampler below.
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italy
It has taken me nearly four months, but I’ve finally uploaded a good selection from our trip through Italy in August. I’ve got to say that Italy is one of the best countries in the world. If all you had was a few weeks to explore Europe, GO TO ITALY. The history, the scenery, the weather and the food will make for a life changing holiday. I love it so much that I have decided I’m going to live there for a while – it’s only a matter of when and for how long. =)
Oh la dolce vida!
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This was taken from our hotel window in Sienna. We had such luck here. We booked the hotel upon arriving at the train station and realized once we go there that we were staying in the Civetta neighbourhood – the winning contrada of this year’s Palio race. The hotel was old, gorgeous and large – rated 3 stars but priced at 1 (because it didn’t have air-conditioning)! These moments of serendipity happened throughout our time in Italy. More on Sienna in the coming days!
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Traveling through Italy in the heat of August may sound crazy to some (heck, most of the locals flee the country during this time) but to me, it was heaven. There is nothing more sensual than walking through ancient villages in the hot humid heat of the Italian summer sun. Your mind turns to mush, your skin moistens with a tanned sweat and the only possible worries that cross your mind are what flavour gelato to eat before lunch and if you should try fig instead of coconut today. If you want to renew your soul and get in touch with the simple abundance of life, go visit Italy in the scorching heat of the summer and see if you don’t come back changed.
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Wow, do I ever look dark in this photograph. A month in Africa and then a month in Italy will do this to you. I’m finally starting to get around to processing oh, about 1000 or so pictures from the last 4 months of travel. It is hard work and really needs some time.
This photo was taken in Verona, on a very hot August day on our way to one of the most beautifully situated Roman amphitheaters I’ve seen. We walked for miles and saw the city through a local’s eyes. We tried horse in a random cafe for lunch, visited a converted museum and walked in on a rehearsal for a dance recital to Stravinsky’s Puccinella. Mmmmm… Italy, how I love thee.
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From the Museum of Human Anatomy at the University of Bologna. I just love morbid things like this!
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City of porticos. When the guidebook said that Bologna is like no other city in Italy, it wasn’t kidding! So glad we didn’t miss this!
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No… I didn’t mean to write ‘Livin la vita loca’. You were about to break out into Riki Martin weren’t you? 
It has been five days, onetwothreefourfive, FIVE days since I’ve had real Italian gelato. How many days? FIVE. Why?! Why, you ask?! Because we decided last weekend to cross from Italy into Slovenia and Austria. It seemed like a good idea at the time – to go experience a different culture, see what a place called Leeyoobleeahnaaa might be like and get away from this Italian heat. Well, the earth is back on its axis because we’ve just crossed from Austria back into Italy and already I’m instantly giddy. I hear Italian again. It’s hot in this train. The sun is shining and my bunny nose can smell the olive oil and the wine and the coconut gelatohhhhh. My Pavlonian-trained Italian alter-ego (where my name is Natalia or Teresa or something with a girly “ah” sound at the end) is already salivating over the thought of dinner (Gorgonzola cheese melted over figs and nuts? Strawberry rissotto? Pear faggattoni? Yes please!). Tonight I change from my trousers and trainers into the short shorts and skirts and dresses and flowery tank tops that this hot, sensual, beautiful climate inspires. The tan will continue to crispen, the afternoons will burn, aperitivos will be sipped in beautiful squares, dinners and walks will last well into the hot night. Life is back to its rightful sweetness. Ciao Italia. I’m baaaaaaaaaack!!!!!!!!!
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We spent two nights in Verona to meet up with some friends for an evening of opera (Aida) at the Roman arena. It was beautiful. Long, but beautiful. And though admittedly I’m not an avid opera fan, the experience of Aida in Verona in the dead heat of the August summer in an ancient Roman arena is pretty incredible. A crescent moon, open air, zero microphones and a live orchestra. It felt like traveling back in time. The raw heat and juxtaposition between ancient and modern times was unforgetable. The marble was still emanating the day’s heat by the time the show finished at 1am.
Verona is flambuoyantly beautiful. The architecture is much the same of that in other Italian cities, like Florence, but with a grandeur and flirtatiousness that can’t easily be described. Balconies are ornate and adorned with hanging vines and flowers. Frescoes hundreds of years old cover apartment blocks. Smooth marble streets wind through the old squares and shopping districts. There is on overwhelming romance and sensuality to the place that is only apparent after you leave.
At Juliet’s house (yes, Shakespeare’s Juliet), there are walls covered in love notes. It seemed so corny when we were there, especially because the place was packed with tourists, but in hindsight it really was quite beautiful. Love’s hopes and dreams plastered on the walls – in sticky notes, pencil, paint, pen, or marker. And in every language and colour imaginable. It was the best user-generated art I’ve seen – inspired by Cupid’s arrow. So magical.
All of Italy can be described as sensual – warmly colourful, so delicious in its tastes and textures, beautiful just for the sake of being beautiful. Traveling through it is like falling in love – you just have no idea how hopelessly enraptured you are until it’s too late. And really, isn’t that the only way to live our days?
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