Amazing Anacapri

Capri, an island in Italy’s Bay of Naples, is famed for its rugged landscape, turquoise blue waters and Caprese salads....oh, and capri trousers!  We were there earlier this month., staying in an Airbnb in the slightly less busy Anacapri towards the western end of the island. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't busy, but as is often the case with very touristy places, it's easy enough to shake off the crowds by taking a few turns away from the crowded central squares and streets. 

The island is spectacular. It is small, only 10.4km2, yet the highest point on the island, Monte Solaro, is 589m. The landscape is steep, rocky and dramatic. 

The roads are very windy and very steep, and many places are only reachable by using small pathways or lanes, and stairs, LOTS of stairs.

The secondary roads on the island would have been built for donkeys and carts. Present day cars certainly can't use them, which makes them perfect for walking along.

Nowadays if you're a local in Capri you are likely to move around on a vespa...

... or a vespa-van. There were lots of vespa-vans.

These quiet lanes were also perfect for admiring the local flora.

The fauna was okay too!

Piazza San Marco Early in the Morning

In going to Venice in July we knew we wouldn't be alone, and 'no' it would be fair to say we weren't. Having said that, as long as we weren't within 5 minutes walk from Piazza San Marco or the Rialto bridge, we could meander along the narrow alley ways in comparative peace. We live in Montmartre in Paris so we're accustomed to crowds of tourists in our neighbourhood during the summer. Venice didn't feel much worse. The apartment we had rented was in a totally secluded spot where we only ever met one or two people during the whole week we were there. 

One morning during our stay I woke up very early and decided to seize the day and head towards Piazza San Marco to avoid the crowds. It was about 7h30 am. I wasn't the first there by any means, but it was definitely very quiet.

The cafes were certainly empty.

As were the arcades running alongside the Piazza. The previous day when we had been in the same place I hadn't realised what beautiful paving lined the arcades.

People were setting up their stalls for the day.

I was alone when I took this photo of the Bridge of Sighs.

Here are some gondole before the customers arrive.

The following day we went up the bell tower of San Giorgio Maggiore on the island opposite San Marco and got a fantastic view of the Basilica across the Grand Canal. The many tiny coloured dots you can see in this photo show that it was not taken at 7h30!

Venice: Lovely Laundry

Every time I saw laundry hanging artfully across a small street or canal in Venice I would grab my camera and take a photo. I soon realised that there were going to be many many laundry photo taking opportunities and  I needed to be a bit selective. The majority of apartments in Venice get little direct sunshine, few people have gardens, and for most people their homes are probably quite small. Where better than to hang up the washing outside, hanging over the streets ...

... or canals.

They use pulley systems to maximise washing line possibilities. I think if I lived in an apartment in Venice that faced onto a canal, many of my clothes would end up in the water.

White wash. Coloured wash.

I'm guessing you have to be careful to hang the washing just so, to avoid neighbourly discontent. 

Burano, a tiny island north of Venice where the houses are all painted in rainbow colours provided particularly attractive laundry photos. No photoshop, no colour enhancement, this is the way it is.

On a sunny day even the shadows provide some lovely images.

You can find more Venice laundry photos on my Flickr account, here.

Southern Shutter Swatches.

I've written about Arles shutters before (here). I love pretty much everything about them, their colour, their weathered texture, with cracks and peeling paint that show the passage of time. During our holiday in Arles this summer I took some close up photos of a selection of these moveable window covers. Shutter swatches.

And here are some shutters in situ, looking wonderful against the creamy Arlesienne stone.



Previous Arles posts:

A Room With a View.

Round and About in Arles.

A Room With a View

We're back in one of our favourite places, Arles. A Provencal town 40 kms inland from the Mediterranean and 90 kms west of Marseilles. Arles is steeped in history and culture. Apart from the Roman amphitheatre, a Classical Theatre, and antique baths there are endless, narrow, incredibly picturesque streets that wind around each other in unpredictable ways. A pleasure to get lost in.

We're staying in the Hotel du Forum on the main square. Up on the third floor we have a beautiful view across the rooftops. Curved Roman terracotta tiles prevail.

Looking down and across the Place du Forum.

A window above Le Café Van Gogh, the Café which Van Gogh famously painted in 1888 while he was living in Arles. 

From our hotel room we can also see this domed tower on the top of the Mairie d'Arles. 

In the morning.

In the evening.

We move rooms today, the view is different but just as good. More photos to come!

Arles photos from previous visits.

Arles: shutters, clear skies and dragon flies.

Round and About in Arles.