Photo a day - San Vitale

This is some detail from the botanical part of the mosaic design in the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. Photo from November 2009.

Photo a day - Arrivederci Roma!

Today we are leaving Rome to return to the US. We will miss this place terribly! Forgive the tourist photo.



Photo taken in April 2011.

Photo a day - Galla Placidia

During a trip to Ravenna, we visited the mausoleum of Galla Placidia, famous for its beautiful ceiling mosaics. This photo was taken in November 2009.

Photo a day - San Marino

In November 2009, we visited San Marino, a tiny country whose boundaries are entirely within Italy.

Photo a day - Bernini's angel

All along the Ponte Sant'Angelo, the bridge that goes across the Tiber (Tevere) River to Castel Sant'Angelo, are angel sculptures by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Here's one photographed in November 2009.

Photo a day - Tarquinia

Tarquinia was an Etruscan city dating back to the 7th century BC or so. One can tour its necropoli, which feature detailed frescoes in an impressive state of preservation. This fresco depicts a banquet. I like the leopards above.

Photo a day - Duomo demons

This photo was taken in the cathedral (duomo) of Florence in October 2009. We climbed the stairs to the top of the dome, which allowed us a close-up view of the ceiling and its amazing fresco. This detail cannot be seen from the floor of the church, probably to the great relief of the parishioners.

Photo a day - Monti Simbruini hike

This was taken during a hike in September 2009 somewhere near Jenne, Lazio in the Parco Regionale dell'Appennino Monti Simbruini.



Later this day, we were driving on a dirt road, came to a crossroads, and paused as we considered which way to go next. A complete stranger waved us over and invited us to join a picnic. It was the Raduno Nazionale di Mitsubishi Outlander, the annual gathering of a car club of Outlander SUV owners. Members came from all over Italy, and each of them brought a food specialty from his or her town. They happily shared their delicious offerings with us despite the fact that we were not even in a SUV, let alone an Outlander. This is one of our most wonderful memories of Italy.

Check it out - they included us in their video, calling us "L'Americano e la First Lady."

Photo a day - Lagonda

This picture was taken at the FIVA World Rally (Rome) in September 2009. If you look closely, you can see us in the photo.

Photo a day - Circo Massimo

This used to be my view at lunchtime (taken from the roof terrace of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization). It's the Circus Maximus, an ancient Roman race track and sporting field.

Photo a day - moo

We went hiking in Parco Nazionale Gran Sasso (Abruzzo) in September 2009 and came upon some healthy-looking grazers:

No time - photo a day series begins

We're getting ready to depart Rome and are finding less time to do things other than sort and pack belongings, so I've pre-posted a photo a day for the next little while. Hopefully this will hold over our faithful two, possibly as many as five, readers until we have time and internet access again.

The photo for today was taken at the Piero Taruffi Car Museum (in the town of Bagnoregio) in August 2009. As you might guess, it's a 1957 Spatz. Whaddaya mean, you never heard of it?

Morocco, part 9: Meknes and Volubilis

The last place we stayed in Morocco was the pleasant city of Meknes. We found a wonderful dar (small hotel) and got a beautifully decorated room.



Here's the view of a tower from the rooftop terrace...



...and the view looking down into the dar's courtyard.



Volubilis was a Roman city two thousand years ago. It still exists, but in ruins. It is well worth a visit if you happen to be in Morocco.

The arch below is dedicated to the Roman emperor Caracalla and his mother, Julia Domna.



Storks have made a home in Volubilis.



They seem comfortable atop the column.



Volubilis is famous for its many beautiful mosaics. Bacchus and Ariadne are in this one, although there's not much of Ariadne left.



I really liked this one, with animals and trees in the center and a series of intricate borders around them.



The mosaic below, in the House of Venus, depicts the goddess Diana bathing.



We visited on the perfect day, uncrowded, warm but not hot. The site is large enough to hold one's interest but not so huge as to be unmanageable.



Here's a view of the Decumanus Maxius, the ceremonial road.



Volubilis was one of the major highlights of our Morocco trip. From here we drove back to the Fes airport and flew back to Rome. Tip for those spending time in the Fes airport: bring reading material! There's no newsstand.

Morocco, part 8: Azemmour

From Essaouira, we went northeast on the coastal road, thinking we might stay in El-Jadida. We chose to stay in untouristy Azemmour instead.

There seemed to be a lot of people out and about as we walked around looking for a place to eat dinner. Later we found out that there had been a demonstration in town that day, and dinner time must've been when they were wrapping up. Oblivious.

The riad (small hotel) we read about was closed, but some boys who saw us knocking on the unanswered door led us to another one, which had been redone by the owner, a French architect. We liked it and got a room there. We were the only guests that night.

This photo is from the upstairs hallway, which looks down into the courtyard.



The little courtyard has a tiny pool in the center, sort of like the ancient Roman style of house with an impluvium.



The next morning, we were going to eat breakfast on the roof terrace, but it was quite foggy and a bit cold.



Before we left Azemmour, though, the sun began to shine like mad.