Day Four is it?... Florence, then Pisa

 Am losing track of days and time over here. Still not adapted to the seven hour difference in time between home and Italy.  Oh well, we are still seeing many great sights, capturing more photos than I will know what to do with...

Jumping into today, let's start with a quick walk around the piazza 

near our Hotel Roma in Florence.

Church Street Level Facade

Everybody bicycles here, no matter their age

One of the few homeless we have seen in Italy 

he has a guardian dog

Daytime Lovers

St Peter's Basilica rising in the mist

Then we drove through the Tuscan countryside 

with its straight rows of olive trees and grape vines. 

Almost looks fake, with its neat little rows.

Hmmm, Church and Tower don't seem

to align themselves

Under a Pisa street lamp

Every tourist wants to either straighten, embrace or hold up the tower...

in a photo.

We were content to watch it lean.

A street artist sketches...

One of the numerous African trinket vendors

Finally, a visit to a vineyard.

Grapes are ripe, harvest is in progress.

That concludes this day, tomorrow we trade the Tuscan countryside 

for a city with no streets...

only waterways, 

Venezia...  Venice.

CCjon

 

Day 3 San Gimignano street scenes

Changing the photo pace on our trip through Italy, 

more time was spent looking for intimate scenes with that Italian flavor.

Now for a few snapshoots from Florence and San Gimignano. 

First, walking the narrow streets of Florence, we find, 

Stock House - Breakfast with Friends

Around the corner, another dines alone

After lunch, we drove out to the small village of San Gimignano

Olive trees in the Tuscan countryside support the town, 

economically and culturally

Strolling the narrow streets in San Gimignano, 

 Wash Day

Two girls and a waiter..

Public water spigots for all to use

San Gimignano Jury.

Each day they sit, 

watching the show of tourists in their little village.

Back in Florence, Arno River

Reflections

Seeing a bit of Tuscany through my eyes.

Those were just a few impressions from Florence and San Gimignano.

CCjon

24 Hours in Rome, Day Two

The last 24 hours in Rome were mostly taking night photos, visiting the Vatican and taking more night photos.  You ask why? The popular tourist spots are packed with people, kids, strollers, food wrappings, cofffee cups, etc. during the day.  Often making it impossible to get any kind of decent photo. 

But then night photography seems to lend itself to B&W photography.

Looking over Via Veneto, Rome

Princess kisses her lover

Michelangelo designed Piazza for Rome's Mayor

Steps leading down to Tiber riverwalk.

Who doesn't want to walk along a river bank at 4 AM?

Next day, early city crosswalk

Walking faster than us to the Vatican, late to Mass?

Finally daylight, Vatican St. Peter's Square, 

before the crowds arrive. We had very short lines to enter this early. 

In St Peter's Basilica, Michelangelo's famous Pietà statue, now behind protective plexiglass. It was smashed by a Hungarian, Laszio Toth, in 1972 with a hammer. 

The minor damage was repaired, but is now better protected.

Spiral staircase inside the Vatican Museum

Last night was dinner in the Vatican, sorry, no photos.

Bridge over the Tiber River to Saint Angelo's Castle, now a museum

Avoiding the tourist crowds, we visited the famous Trevi Fountain at four AM. 

Even at that hour, there were two other couples and a photographer there with the same idea.

No coins were tossed, only had a credit card.

Then we walked the ancient pilgrim's way, Via dei Coronari.

This hour of the night is safer for strolling strange narrow streets and ancient alleyways than in daytime.

Don't get lost though.

There are magnificent churches, statues and fountains around every corner in city centre Rome.

Where else to lock up one's bicycle for the night? 

We finished the walk in Piazza Navona.

Spotted an open coffee bar for a cup before heading back to the hotel. 

That tiny hole-in-the-wall cafe had the lightest, most delicate croissant we had ever had.  

Delicioso.

This wraps up our time in Rome. Tomorrow we go to Florence for a few days.

Hope you are riding safe 

Nite all.

CCjon

24 Hours in Rome Day One

Finally getting back to traveling after staying home in 2020-21 for Covid-19 avoidance. 

We left Texas on Sept 28th to traveled to Italy, with plans to see Rome, Florence and Venice. Gave the new black & white camera a workout; learning to adjust the settings, finding the right combination for the right exposure. What follows are some of the images captured from the first walking 24 hours in Rome. AFTER resting for a day from the long flights and even longer walks thru airport terminals to get here. Enjoy...

Part of original city wall

Electric bicycles are a common sight here

Looks like a folding electric scooter. 

Not sure how it can keep up with the fast moving traffic.

Elderly gent and umbrella casting a shadow

Cobblestone streets in the old quarters

An infamous tourist hot spot obviously, 

looking down the Spanish Steps to the fountain below from the church

 4 AM, looking up the Spanish Steps from the plaza fountain below...  

where did all the tourists go??

Remembrance Wall in the Jewish Ghetto,

where in October 1943 citizens were rounded up,

railroaded to concentration camps in Germany.

Saturday night dining for the younger crowd

Romance in the shadows

Illuminated Roman columns

That concludes today's work. Walked more miles than thought I could. 

Camera shutter finger is exhausted.

Going to bed.

Nite!

Goldwinging thru West Virginia - Ohio - Texas

Joined a group of Goldwing riders gathering in eastern West Virginia, trying to find a straight road. We failed! Though a friend mentioned that West Virginia has lots of straight roads...

straight up and straight down 

Those roads we found.

Was the first opportunity to really try the Honda DCT transmission on twisting winding roads with a fast-riding group of heavy bikes. Being the only sidecar rig was a challenge to keep up with the other Wingers on the narrow mountain roads, but switching to Sport Mode, adding a case of water ballast in the sidecar then applying the sidecar control tips learned from Marcus Renfro, was able to hang with the faster riders. A spirited ride does give your arms and upper body a workout.

No photos were taken during the ride but grabbed several when we stopped for lunch.

Downtown Beverly, WV. The red brick building was the county courthouse. The Pool Hall next door, was rumored to have a still in the basement and a bordello upstairs during prohibition. 

During the depression, my mother worked for a red brick/tile manufacturer, keeping their books. Seeing these buildings remind me of her.

Someone has properly restored this victorian home, standing seam roof and all.

First time I have seen a V-twin steam locomotive. The Heisler is six-axle, gear driven to climb the mountain rails. Not a cog drive. This locomotive has drive wheels all the same size powered by a center drive shaft. Interesting engineering design...

Today Heisler #6 is still in service with the CASS Scenic Rail hauling tourists, but in its' day, hauled tons of logs off the West Virginia mountains.



If interested in Heisler, here is a link:tps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heisler_

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heisler_locomotive.

From West Virginia rode up to the Cleveland, Ohio area to visit my brother Charles and sister-in-law, Marilyn. From there, the next morning rode to Napoleon, Ohio to meet my sister Peggy who drove down from Ann Arbor. Together we visited our 96-year-old Aunt Helen in a nursing home. Helen is the last remaining member of our parent's generation. 

Was successful in dodging the numerous storm fronts riding from Texas to West Virginia. Returning from Ohio was a different story. Was caught in heavy rains every day riding home. 

The Goldwing performed perfectly, I have decided it is a keeper.

Ride safe and far, my friends

CCjon

locomotive