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.