Travels in the 2nd half

  I have visited the city of Florence more times than any other in Italy. I have spent many days exploring its museums and streets. So, when mt photography class had the city on its itinerary, I wasn’t sure what I would focus on. But our instructor gave us a clear mandate - Take pictures of the people we encounter. We started our day at the Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, and then the Piazza della Republica. Santa Maria Novella Church Of course, no day of people watching would be complete without visits to two of Florence’s busiest and most crowded spaces, the Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria. Not even a steady rain kept the crowds away.   Out final stop of the day was at the Ponte Vecchio, with its jewelry stores casting light into the very wet evening. Spending a day looking at people, not places, was a new experience for me, one I plan on repeating often.

Mt. Vesuvius   Last week, we took a walk through the centro storico of Naples. But the city has other wonderful treasure to explore. After walking all morning, we stopped for lunch. Our class instructor chose L’Angolo degli Amici for their excellent pizza. They make their pie with a crust stuffed with ricotta cheese. This stops it from burning in the oven, and it is delicious. As we walked toward the waterfront, we stopped at the Galleria Umberto I. This public shopping mall was built in 1890 as a space that combined shops, cafes, business offices and apartments, all covered by a vaulted glass ceiling. At the waterfront is the Castle Nouvo. The castle was originally built in 1293 and served as the home of the King of Naples until 1734, when a new palace was built in town.  Of course, one of the best things to do when walking in a city is to spend time observing the people encountered on the way. We had a wonderful day in Naples. I only wish we had more time to explore. Nuts a...