Blog Status

I have been having a great deal of computer "issues" this month, as you may have noticed from the lack of posts in the last two weeks. We had no phone line, nor adsl, at my house for 10 days. Then my husband did a much needed overhaul of my whole pc, reinstalling everything and sort of giving the system a clean slate - which it really needed. But there are still some bugs to be worked out, such as the fact that the pc now doesn't recognize my camera's memory card and so I can't download any photos! But, these minor wrinkles will soon be worked out and Molfetta Daily Photo will be up and running again.

In the meantime, please enjoy what is considered to be Molfetta's nicest skyline.

Aritmia Mediterranea, 2

Part of the entertainment at Aritmia Mediterranea was a show put on by local breakdancers. When I asked them about their show, they modestly replied, "We just came to dance."

I filmed the video below on my little point and shoot camera...

Aritmia Mediterranea

The 7th annual Aritmia Mediterranea festival is taking place this weekend in Molfetta. Its goal is to promote "music, art and all forms of creativity." The centerpiece of the event is always the murales painted by local graffiti artists.
This year's theme is "Pulsioni Sotterranee," which means "underground drives" or "desires." A "pulsione" is that which pushes you to do something.

Today's photos show some of the artists in action. I have to go back today to photograph the completed works.

The artists featured here are (from top to bottom): Pino, Pokè, Miste and Gigi. Some of them were willing to be identified by the name they sign their work with and others preferred to use their actual name. There are legal issues for them to consider, since their creative efforts are considered vandalism in certain cases.

Life is Good

Seen on a small white Vespa, where you might expect a license plate:

"Life is Good"

V.F.C. is shorthand for a common Italian expletive, which I'd rather not translate literally, but more gently as :

"Piss Off"

Patron Saint's Festival

All types and sizes of boats accompany the Madonna around and around the port in Molfetta's patron saint's festival.
Rowboats

Motorboats

Boats in uniform

And some somewhat undressed!

It's That Time of Year Again

The Saint Conrad/Madonna of the Martyrs patron saint's festival is held every year from September 6-9. It is always a mix of the sacred and the profane, so I thought I'd show you a bit of both this year.

The Madonna is carried in a procession (top photo) from her church to the port, where she is greeted by enthusiastic crowds.

Some faces in the crowd...

Once she arrives at the port, she is loaded onto the middle of three fishing boats which have been tied together for the occasion. In the photo below, the boats are awaiting her arrival.

She is then escorted around the port for a few hours by anyone and everyone with a more or less seaworthy vessel. More on that tomorrow...

Entrance Hall, 3

Here's another entrance hall, this one in a building about 35 years old. It has a stairway that winds around a central elevator, large enough for about two adults only, and only if they are pretty slim and trim!

My favorite detail here is the pattern of tiles on the walls. Almost reminds me of Mondrian...

p.s. I'm running a contest (with prize!) on my Amid The Olive Trees blog. Come play!

Corato Old Town Festival

Corato is a small city located inland from Molfetta. On Saturday and Sunday, they held their annual street festival. Free performances of music, theater, puppet shows, acrobats and more were held all evening and into the night at seven different sites throughout the historic center of town. Food and wine tasting booths were also available.

These photos feature Silvano Vallone, a juggler with the Valona Blues troupe. He juggled knives and burning torches, sometimes while riding a unicycle. He involved the audience and put on an enjoyable show.

Zigzag Sunset

...and a crane. Otherwise, it wouldn't be Molfetta, would it?

Ciao

An unused entryway to Molfetta's soccer stadium.

September Beach

What better way to enjoy the last days of summer?

You Have Mail

What is the mailman trying to tell me?

Monthly Theme Day: Big

I'd like to celebrate my return to town in a BIG way, by participating in City Daily Photo's Monthly Theme Day, which this month is: BIG. I found this BIG notice in my friend's BIG apartment building entryway. It uses BIG letters to address a BIG problem that they are having, even though as BIG people one would hope they wouldn't even have to talk about such things, or make such a BIG deal out of it...

It translates as:

FOLLOWING UNPLEASANT EPISODES IN THE PAST FEW DAYS WHICH HAVE CREATED PROBLEMS FOR MRS. DALIANI-POLI, THE CONDOMINIUM INHABITANTS ARE INVITED TO NO LONGER DROP VARIOUS FOOD RESIDUE (mandarin oranges, bread, sausages), WATER, CIGARETTE BUTTS AND OTHER THINGS, OFF OF THEIR BALCONIES. WE TRUST IN EVERYONE'S COLLABORATION SO AS TO AVOID POINTLESS AND UNPLEASANT ARGUMENTS.

Poor Mrs. Daliani-Poli. Who knows what happened to her?! I think she needs a BIG hug!

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