Pompeii, painted walls

While visiting Pompeii, you’ll find plenty of marvels, from the theater to the villas to the brothel, not to mention the technological wonders like the baths. What strikes the eye, however, are the interior decorations of the villas, specifically the painted walls.

DSC_3154One gets the sense of how the Roman people adorned their living spaces.

DSC_3186The scenes can be quite lively or rather mundane, no doubt based upon the resident’s taste.

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The artists of the era must have been extremely busy because there were paintings after paintings covering large walls in all the villas. And these are only the ones recovered from the disaster. Surely there were more.

Published in: on October 30, 2018 at 11:20 am  Leave a Comment  
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Cool pet ride!

I spotted this handsome BMW motorcycle on a street in Florence, Italy. It featured some unique storage gear.

DSC_3507Note the carrier on the rear of the motorcycle.

DSC_3505Looks like a specific build for “Pedro.” Here’s a closer look:

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There is a blanket in there and leash to keep Pedro ensconced in the unit while on the roll. A great piece of equipment from someone who surely enjoys travel with the pet.

Published in: on October 27, 2018 at 11:27 am  Comments (1)  
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Layers of History

I’ve been doing research for various writing projects and couldn’t help but mine through those old photographs again. I found this one of Rome, taken in the early 20th Century. On the far left is the old forum.

There has to be 2000 or more years of history in this image. There are churches, a triumphal arch, remnants of palaces and newer buildings. Amazing. One of the great things about writing stories is doing the research. I always end up learning things I never expected. That’s how I happened upon this photograph. While looking for something else, it popped up. Of course, it’s also why it takes so long to do the research. Inevitably, you get sidetracked into areas where you linger for the sheer pleasure of knowing the details. Anyway… back to work.

Published in: on September 23, 2008 at 5:40 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy

The Ponte Vecchio is probably one of the most photographed sights in Florence. Below is a panoramic shot taken before World War II.

The story goes that the bridge was first built by the Romans, which is probably true. The Romans hardly saw a river they didn’t bridge at least half a dozen times just because they could. Ponte Vecchio was noted in records gleaned from the year 996. Then it was destroyed in 1117 by a flood and again in 1333. So, it’s been a tough go over the centuries for this particular piece of real estate. Fortunately the bridge survived World War II, although buildings on both sides were destroyed to prevent the Allies crossing it easily. Luckily for us, we have photographic records like this to see what was.

I suppose the lesson once again, (and I mentioned this in an earlier post), is that you should print some of your photographs. If for no other reason, they will provide a record of the past for those people who inherit the future. I would recommend writing a few notes on the back of those photographs. A written document produced by contemporary sources is a rare and valuable find for historians. Your scribbling may become the lost link in a chain of events that today seem insignificant. Also, it may provide the context for a bigger issue, the details of which had been lost. Don’t spare the ink!

Published in: on September 15, 2008 at 2:33 pm  Leave a Comment  
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