Today in Naples ...

There was the baby shower at the beautiful apartment overlooking the islands below Naples ... the one where I met some lovely people, an Australian included.

There was the long conversation with a couple of Canadian military guys while I was working on photographs taken at the baby shower and later, of the children and the bubble-blowing session on the balcony here.

Then there was that long table, outdoors and loaded down with Neopolitan bbq brilliance and red wine.

It's 22 celsius as I write this down at 23.28pm.
It has been a lovely day here in this land that I love.

Facts taken from a book titled tutta napoli state that naples takes up 11,727 square kilometres in total municipal area, that there are 4,059,196 inhabitants in the province, that the population density is 8,566 people per square kilometre.

There are 5 universities, 17 shipping lines using the port, 3 catacombs, 64 consulates, 7 national museums, 14 municipal libraries and the list continues ...

Crazy beautiful Rome

Crazy beautiful Rome, originally uploaded by - di.

Rome

An Artist in Piazza Navona, Roma, originally uploaded by - di.

I land in bella Roma on Tuesday ... heading for Naples on the train.

Those who know me can imagine the huge happy smile.

Piazza Navona, Roma

Piazza Navona, Roma, originally uploaded by - di.

Work in Brussels today.

I have some delicious projects coming up with them. A small exhibition in September and all kinds of other photography-related happenings.

The newsletter will go out tonight or early tomorrow morning .

Hmmm and tomorrow I start working on the June exhibition photography in the city.

It's okay here in the flatlands today.

Postcards ...

Remembering Rome, originally uploaded by - di.

Today I took time out from everything else and called in at the print shop to price postcards for the exhibition at work in September and placemats, part of this June exhibition display.

I had a sample of each made up and was so childishly delighted with my first ever Di Mackey postcard. So delighted.

I only had 4 printed this time but I can see this is going to become a future feature.

Piazza Navona, Rome

Piazza Navona, Rome, originally uploaded by - di.

I loved this one, the more I looked, the more I saw.

There are even bubbles floating about ...

A Roman, originally uploaded by - di.

Rome

Rome Bubbles, originally uploaded by - di.

I was working my way through my Rome series, checking levels and found this ...

Castel Sant'Angelo II, Rome

Castel Sant'Angelo II, Rome, originally uploaded by - di.

I used to sit on the banks with a raft and watch the water roll lazily by. One day I pushed my raft into the shallows of the water and found the water moved swifter than I thought. My raft was actually a boat. Then, after some time, I rowed my little boat into deeper water. There were great storms, mighty winds, tremendous waves, and sometimes I felt so alone. But I have noticed my little rowboat is now a mighty ship manned by my friends and loved ones; and beautiful calm seas, warm sunny days, and nights filled with comfortable dreams always double after a storm. Now, I could never go back and sit on the bank. In fact, I search for deeper water. Such is life when lived.
B.D. Gulledge

Thank you, Raquel.

a visual life ...

Genova city scene II, Italy, originally uploaded by - di.

One should really use the camera as though tomorrow you'd be stricken blind. To live a visual life is an enormous undertaking, practically unattainable. I've only touched it, just touched it.
Dorothea Lange 1895-1965.

Grazie, Tara.

Italy ...

Gevona city scene, Italy, originally uploaded by - di.

I was standing in the piazza, looking around after a satisfying early morning wander and I noticed this scene ...

La vita e bella.

Boccadasse Storm, Italy

Boccadasse Storm, Italy, originally uploaded by - di.

I loved this series ...

I was out at Boccadasse 4 or 5 times and each time the mood and the sea offered me something different.

The Coast, Genova

Boccadasse Storm III, originally uploaded by - di.

Later, I heard that this storm was the worst in 8 years and I saw evidence of it where ever I went, from broken boats through to jetsam and flotsam littering beaches and rocky shores where ever I went.

Boccadasse Storm II, Italy

Boccadasse Storm II, originally uploaded by - di.

The wind was pummeling me during these shots but I couldn't walk away ...

Just this...

Fishing Nets, Camogli, Italy, originally uploaded by - di.

These fishing nets caught my eye while I was wandering the streets and alleyways of Camogli.

For some reason, I found them aesthetically pleasing ...

I loved the way ...

Early morning light, Genova, Italy, originally uploaded by - di.

I loved the way the light slowly revealed the beautiful buildings of Genova.

The way that I would wake in the mornings... with people calling out and greeting each other in the street where I was living.

I loved the way that I woke not only needing a cappuchino for my breakfast but knowing that I could go find the best cappuccino I have tasted, just a few hundred metres down the road.

I loved the way the focaccia was soaked in just the right amount of oil and salt.

I loved choosing my fresh pasta and sauce and unwrapping the gift-wrapped package when it came time to cook it.

I loved walking lost in the alleyways of the old city, aperitivo, Italian wine, the chocolates, the architecture, the sea, the bookshops, the language and the Genovese.

Camogli - after the worst storm in 8 years

November in Camogli, Italy, originally uploaded by - di.

We wandered out, via an 3.80euro return train fare, to Camogli - about half an hour from the city.

Everything here is just so very beautiful, although Boccadasse remains my favourite section of coastline here, this was unbearably stunning too.

Off to take photographs on my last full day in Genova.

Ciao from this kiwi in love with Genova!

Oh and yes, those were people swimming, it was that warm.

Richard Wagner writes about Genova

For various days I lived in real ecstasy. Unable to follow a set plan to visit the masterpieces in town, I gave myself up to the enjoyment of that new environment in what might be called a musical guise. I have never seen anything like this Genoa! It is something indescribably beautiful, grandiose, characteristic … I really would not know how to start explaining the impression that all this has had and is continuing to have on me …
Richard Wagner in a letter to Minna Wagner, 1853.

That house in Boccadasse, Italy

That house in Boccadasse, Genova, Italy, originally uploaded by - di.

I guess I'm counting on the owners of this house not reading my blog, or if they do, that they forgive me for wanting to live there.

It's perfect and I can only imagine how superb a spring tide or a storm might be. It's out on the point, back behind it is the beautiful curve of the bay at Boccadasse, complete with all kinds of good restaurants and gelato shops.

So yes, this is the place I would like to live ...

God Rays, Genova

Boccadasse III, Genova, Italy, originally uploaded by - di.

I heard that god rays was the name given to these stunning beams of light ...

It was like watching a symphony as this storm came slowly down from the hills and rolled over the sea, with the clouds breaking open and roiling around.

It was truly stunning.