Molfetta Daily Photo

Mystery Revealed, no. 12

2011-03-04T14:46:00.000+01:00

Well, it was not too much of a mystery for VP, bfarr and Eleonora to guess that yesterday's Mystery Photo showed mooring rings. These are located along the port for fishing boats to tie up to while they are in harbour.

Mystery Photo, no. 12

2011-03-03T09:21:00.001+01:00

It's time once more to play Mystery Photo, where you tell me what you think the thingamagig in the photo is all about.

Hint: it's not actually meant to be a giant ashtray!

Answer to be revealed in tomorrow's post.

Monthly Theme Day: My Favorite Part of Town

2011-03-01T14:36:00.001+01:00

My favorite part of town is the port, it's a nice place to take a walk most days of the year and most times of day.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Fishmobile

2011-02-27T14:57:00.001+01:00

This mobile fish shop which, if you believe what's written on its blue backdrop, offers "the best of the sea," reminds me of the bookmobile of my childhood in the US.

Crocheted Handicrafts

2011-02-10T09:37:00.001+01:00

The town of Alberbello (see previous post here) is known for its handworked crocheted linens. They are very pretty and also quite affordable. One shopowner was very happy and willing to give me a demonstration of how she worked her cotton threads.

You can see some of her creations on the wall to the right, and on the bench she is seated on.

She told me, "This is all I do all day, every day!"

Polignano a Mare

2011-02-08T19:12:00.002+01:00

Polignano Mare is located to the south of Bari on the Adriatic Sea. It is the birthplace of Domenico Modugno, the writer of one of the most famous Italian songs of all times "Volare."

Roadside Shrine

2011-02-06T10:53:00.002+01:00

Photo by: John DePasquale

This little shrine was located on the side of the road, in the middle of nowhere, at the foot of a large crucified Jesus, on a bluff overlooking the valley leading to the Adriatic Sea from Alberobello.

Photo by: Jessie DePasquale

I'm guessing this cross was situated here in part because the site is quite spectacular, offering a breathtaking 180° panoramic view of olive groves, farm houses, the coastal cities, and the beautiful Adriatic Sea. And certainly, in part, to ask for protection for those driving this curvy road with a dramatic dropoff to one side.

Photo by: me!

Today's post was a photographic collaboration between my parents and myself!

Alberobello

2011-02-05T10:41:00.001+01:00

Alberobello is world famous as the Trullo Town. What's a trullo you ask? It's a little round house with this unique conical roof made of limestone slabs piled one atop the other without the benefit of mortar to hold them together. There are many theories behind the origin of the design. One of the more popular theories is that due to high taxation on property the people of the Itria Valley created dry wall constructions so that they could be dismantled when inspectors were in the area. Apparently, they were taxed per roof..no roof, no tax!

These structures can be found throughout the Puglia region, but they are usually used as storage sheds for farm equipment in the countryside. You can see some of my previous trullo shots both from the inside and out here, here and here.

Rutigliano Whistle Festival

2011-02-02T09:56:00.004+01:00

Photo by: Svetlana Kousmenko

The city of Rutigliano, located southwest of Bari, held its 23rd annual ceramic whistle festival in mid-January. The key event of this festival is a national competition for most attractive whistle. This year's theme was "Whistles and Italian Unification" because 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the formation of the republic of Italy. Groups of whistle-makers from all over the country participated in the competition.

Alongside the competition, there is a large street fair set up in the town's historic centre where local whistle-makers hawk their wares. Traditional (and not so traditional) foods are sold on the street and local folk music can be heard.

Photo of the Year 2010

2011-01-01T17:04:00.003+01:00

April 23, 2010

This is my absolutely favorite photo from this year. It was shot in the field across the country lane from my house.

Here's wishing each and every one of you a 2011 as sunny and bright as these flowers!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Snow in Molfetta

2010-12-15T09:44:00.001+01:00

We had quite a snowstorm this morning in Molfetta. Rather a surprise in this strangely temperate winter.

I wonder if the oranges on that poor tree turned into frozen orange juice?

Italy 1 - Paraguay 1

2010-06-15T16:36:00.003+02:00

This photo (taken on my husband's cellphone) is of poor quality, but I couldn't resist showing you some of the wacky World Cup fever that has grabbed all of Italy by the...shoulders and is taking the nation by storm. You can't go anywhere without hearing, seeing or being immersed in World Cup-ness! My older son, who is a big soccer fan and remembers the last "Mondiali" quite well, is amazed at how much more commercial and omnipresent the whole event has become this year. He is tickled by all the dancing of the South African fans but rather annoyed by those horns they blow on constantly!

Nerium Oleander

2010-06-13T16:43:00.003+02:00

The Oleander is another flowering tree in my front yard. I love its delicate pink petals and had no idea until looking it up online that it is one of the most poisonous plants in the world and contains numerous toxic compounds, many of which are deadly to people, especially young children. (Despite this fact, it is often grown in school yards.) The toxicity of Oleander is considered extremely high, and it has been reported that in some cases only a small amount had lethal or near-lethal effects. Who knew?

Coastline

2010-06-12T16:04:00.001+02:00

Punica Granatum

2010-06-11T11:56:00.002+02:00

These are the buds and flowers on the ornamental pomegranate tree growing in my front yard. I love the delicate and variegated color of the petals. These trees do not make edible fruit, but are pretty and create some shade. They are carefree and drought resistant, and don't mind the southern Italian heat. Which, by the way, has arrived with a vengeance!

Gesticulation

2010-06-10T11:30:00.006+02:00

This is not a particularly great photo (I just happened to take it accidentally while playing with my camera), but I wanted to share it because it somehow captures a bit of the Italian spirit.

These two men are fathers at the end-of-school celebration at my younger son's elementary school. The fifth-graders have completed their first school cycle in the Italian system after having spent 5 years with the same classmates and the same teachers. Next year they will go to junior high and have to start all over, with a new school, new classmates and new professors.

But, back to the "Italian-ness" of the guys in the photo...they are both quite attractive, casually well-dressed and making grand gestures. Why the gestures? Because the children were marching toward them, waving little colored handkerchiefs.

Italians are famous for their gesturing, most cannot talk without moving their hands because Italian gestures have specific meanings and add content to a discussion. They are not just flailing their hands about willy-nilly, no they are saying something with each gesture. That's why they even gesture when talking on the telephone!

Jannis Kounellis Exhibit

2010-06-09T08:29:00.003+02:00

The Teatro Margherita in Bari is the site of an exhibit of installations by Jannis Kounellis, the "patriarch" of Italy's 1960s arte povera movement. Arte povera was a movement meant to shake up the art world and redefine the very concept of art. Kounellis introduced "found" objects in his paintings, among them live animals, but also fire, earth, burlap sacks, gold. He replaced the canvas with bed frames, doorways, windows or simply the gallery itself.
The Teatro Margherita has been rennovated externally, but has been an empty shell for the 20 years that I have lived in Apulia, and perhaps longer. Kounellis designed these installations specifically to use the large unfinished spaces inside the theater.

His artwork has been called "Kafkaesque" and, personally, I find it a bit dark and depressing. I felt weighed down and flattened by his work...but perhaps that is exactly the effect he is trying to achieve!

For more information on Kounellis, you can read this review in English of another exhibit of his.

The exhibit in Bari is running until September 20.

Orange Flower

2010-06-08T17:06:00.004+02:00

Who can help me identify this pretty orange flower growing in my garden? I thought it might be a tiger lily, but it's not. It doesn't have those noticeable stamen in the center like a lily. Plus, a characteristic of each bloom is that one petal curls downward in a lovely curlique. Any horticulturist readers in the know?

I am honored that Molfetta Daily Photo has been selected as a Travelavenue Favorite Blog 2010. Travelavenue browses the web to find blogs which offer "content quality, originality but also tips and local advice." They believe this helps their readers "to discover destinations through a completely different perspective." Why not check out their site when you're planning your next trip anywhere in the world?

Vespa Star at the Beach

2010-06-07T14:21:00.002+02:00

With the lovely warm days during the past week, it's safe to say that beach season has officially arrived in Molfetta. What says "summer" better than this cheerful light blue Vespa Star parked at the Torre Gavettone beach?

Capparis spinosa L.

2010-06-05T10:56:00.002+02:00

The beauty of caper flowers is as fragile and short-lived as that of poppy flowers: The delicate, cream-white petals and lively purple stamina persist only a few hours. When cultivated for the capers, the flower never blooms as the bud must be harvested before it blooms.

Capers are essential for several Mediterranean cuisines and are mostly associated with Italian (and Cypriot) foods. They are mostly used in tomato or wine sauces and suit poultry and fish. Furthermore, they are popular with cold meat and frequently used on pizza. Capers harmonize with most other Mediterranean spices (basil, oregano and garlic, just to name a few) and are frequently combined with pickled olives.

They are also hardy little plants. The plant in this photo grew out of the wall on my front patio...without any dirt...and it broke the terracotta baseboard. The "spinosa" in its Latin name refers to its sharp thorns. An example of the "strength" of beauty!

Bari - Cathedral of Saint Sabinus

2010-05-28T18:26:00.002+02:00

Took a walk around the old town of Bari last Saturday afternoon. This is the Cathedral of Saint Sabinus. Strangely, we found a large statue of Saint Nicholas inside. Where is Saint Sabinus, I ask? Bari is just crazy for Saint Nicholas, so I guess Saint Sabinus gets short shrift...

Man Ray - The 50 Faces of Juliet 1941-1955

2010-05-27T14:39:00.003+02:00

A collection of original photos by Man Ray entitled "The 50 Faces of Juliet" is on exhibit at the Lorusso Gallery in Andria. The photos are all of Man Ray's wife, Juliet Browner, and were taken between 1941 and 1955. Also on exhibit are some of his famous Objects d'Affection, which are objects of daily use, removed from their usual context and reinterpreted. The exhibit runs until July 30.

Man Ray was a dadaist and a surrealist, and taking photos of his photos felt like a rather surreal experience itself.

Giro d'Italia in Molfetta

2010-05-18T19:14:00.003+02:00

The Giro d'Italia passed through Molfetta this afternoon. It was quite exciting and a very rare event, since the Giro doesn't usually make it down our way. In fact, the last time it came through these parts was about 20 years ago they tell me.

My thanks to my friend Svetlana, and her fast reflexes, for this photo. I arrived just as the cyclists were zipping by and they were SO fast that by time I whipped my camera out...they were gone!

Pink Rose Bud

2010-05-12T07:01:00.001+02:00

Here's another rose...just because it's beautiful.

(The careful observer will spot the insect on the open rose. All of my flower shots seem to have insects in them recently. You can tell it's spring!)

Enzo Rosa Blu

2010-05-11T07:05:00.000+02:00

I have mentioned my interest in the way Italian truckers sometimes decorate their cabs with their names, crucifixes, posters, neon lights...the individual trucker's imagination and sense of "style" are probably the only limits. It's not an easy thing to photograph, though, because I usually see these trucks when they are barrelling down the highway in the opposite direction at 90+ kilometers per hour. So, I was happy to catch this parked truck belonging to Enzo "Pink Blue." I think the crucifixes are so common because if you are on the road as often as a trucker you need all the help you can get to stay safe!

At the Fish Market

2010-05-10T07:04:00.000+02:00

Lots to choose from at the daily fish market...

Cuttlefish...

Oysters at 5€ a kilo...

Squid and other fish...

...and lots and lots of shrimp!

And here's a video I took of some fishmonger talk. (Check out his bling!)

Red, Red Rose

2010-05-09T08:39:00.002+02:00

For all the mothers and all of their love!

A Different Angle on the Duomo

2010-05-08T21:02:00.007+02:00

It's the symbol of Molfetta!
See it from other angles here, here and here.

Kids at Play

2010-04-30T19:35:00.003+02:00

This small park on the corners of Via Massimo D'Azeglio and Via Goffredo Mamelli was recently cleaned up and provided with new lawns, benches and play equipment. That's nice because there aren't a lot of places where children can play safely around town.

Red Clover

2010-04-29T17:51:00.005+02:00

The fields around Noci were filled with vast expanses of these red flowers. I have never seen red clover before, have you?

Terracotta tiles

2010-04-28T18:40:00.002+02:00

A view of a tiled roof at the Masseria Abbondanza in Noci. I thought the stones balancing across the top were a curious touch!

4th National Farm Guesthouse Day

2010-04-25T19:04:00.004+02:00

April 25th is the Day of Liberation which celebrates Italy's freedom from Mussolini's dictatorship. It's a national holiday, which is celebrated in a variety of different events around the country. This year we participated in an event called the 4th National Farm Guesthouse Day by visiting an "agriturismo" called Masseria Abbondanza, located near the town of Noci. Demonstrations of how to make focaccia and mozzarella were held, with taste-testing of the final product, of course! Rides were available in several different kinds of horse-drawn carts and there was a guided tour through the brush of the Murgia, the area of high flatland were this farm is located.

Margheritaville & 500th Post!

2010-04-23T15:30:00.005+02:00

Don't let this sunny image fool you, it's raining here again. But I've had enough gray for one year, so no more photos of the wet stuff. I don't know what kind of insect this is exactly, but the flowers are full of them these days!

There's no connection between this photo and Jimmy Buffet's famous song Margaritaville, except that "margherita" means "daisy" in Italian. And I guess I could use a dose of sun, spongecake and margaritas right about now!

I'd like to thank all the little people...

2010-04-19T15:56:00.004+02:00

These little fellows are on display inside Molfetta's Duomo, or ancient cathedral.

You can see the duomo here, here and here.

Church of St. Peter

2010-04-18T06:09:00.000+02:00

It is difficult to get a good shot of buildings in the old town because the streets are so narrow that you can't get far enough away to get the whole structure in the frame. This is part of the Church of Saint Peter, built in 1174 and rennovated once in 1660 and again between 1750-56, when it was given its Baroque facade. It is home to an order of cloistered nuns.

This second shot gives you a good idea of some of the things blocking a straight view to the church!

Convenient Parking Available

2010-04-17T08:25:00.004+02:00

That spot may have seemed like a good idea when you dragged yourself home in who knows what shape in the middle of the night, but come morning things look a little different. What if, by chance, someone actually wants to get in or out of that doctor's office (left) or apartment building (on the right)?

Pavement

2010-04-16T15:33:00.003+02:00

The streets in the older sections of town are paved with "chianche" or large rectangular stones. The stones are chipped on the top surface to provide more grip for cars and pedestrians, but when it's been raining (like this morning) I can assure you from personal experience that they are quite treacherous. I have taken a dive several times. Luckily I have never caused myself serious bodily harm, just massive levels of embarrassment!

Sunrise over the Adriatic

2010-04-15T06:49:00.000+02:00

This is the view from our first-floor porch. That little square structure built on what looks like a finger of land sticking out into the sea in the bottom right-hand corner of the photo is the Torre Gavetone, which I have shown you before here.

Discussion

2010-04-14T09:36:00.001+02:00

Downtown Skyscraper

2010-04-13T12:19:00.003+02:00

This is the tallest building in Molfetta's center...10 whole stories! Other buildings as tall or taller have been built on the outskirts of town, but for many years this was Molfetta's only "skyscraper."

Good Dog

2010-04-11T13:02:00.002+02:00

Nice doggie! Please don't shake off that water right here next to me! I know you are having a great time diving into the sea to retrieve sticks. What could be more fun? But, please don't shake right here...oops! Too late...

Fishing Boat

2010-04-10T15:26:00.001+02:00

Discovery

2010-04-09T12:07:00.002+02:00

What wonders the sea has to offer to those who stop to look.

Wisteria

2010-04-08T17:15:00.002+02:00

Petito Cafè

2010-04-07T06:15:00.003+02:00

The Petito Cafè is a new bar/restaurant/night-spot with snazzy interior design and a rotating exhibit of works of art by local artists.

Avid Soccer Player?

2010-04-06T09:35:00.002+02:00

Easter Sunday at Savelletri

2010-04-04T18:34:00.003+02:00

Rather than having a traditional Easter lunch at home, we decided to drive down to Savelletri and dine at an open-air eatery on the sea. At Savelletri the coast is dotted with these places which serve a variety of seafood, but specialise in raw hedgehog sea urchins. These are served cut open and you can either scoop out the edible part with a piece of bread or just lick it with your tongue.

Personally, I don't care for raw seafood, but I did not go hungry. My lunch started with an octopus salad.

And continued with a grilled swordfish steak.

My husband and son had spaghetti with seafood after their sea urchins.

And a side order of steamed mussels.

Happy Easter!

Easter Eggs

2010-04-03T16:18:00.004+02:00

Each year my sons and I buy a "case" of eggs to decorate for Easter. There are two chicken farms that sell fresh eggs daily. Both are located just outside of town and are, actually, situated right next to each other.

The photo above shows the farm run by two rather unfriendly fellows who seem to just want you to buy your eggs and get out of their way as fast as possible. They have the same sort of no-nonsense approach in the way they keep their hens, which are locked up in individual cages allowing them only enough space to move their heads.

The farm next door is run by a much friendlier vegetarian, who keeps her 2000 chickens in a large communal space. It's not quite free-range, but at least they can move around a bit.

I know where I'd rather come to roost if I were a chicken!

Easter Sepulchres

2010-04-02T06:29:00.001+02:00

One of the most treasured traditions of Holy Week in Molfetta is visiting the "sepulchres" on the evening of Holy Thursday. Every church in town creates its own interpretation of Christ's tomb and the streets are filled with Molfettans who walk from church to church to see them and say a prayer.

Two things are important when "doing the sepulchres." The first is that you must visit an odd number of churches: 1, 3, 5, 7, etc. The second important aspect element of the evening is to eat a "pizzaridd," which is a tuna sandwich.

I forgot my memory stick at home (how could I?!) so my husband used his cellphone to take this photo of the sepulchre at the Church of Saint Anthony in the historical center. If you look carefully, you can see a statue of Jesus on the cross inside the entryway.

Monthly Theme Day: Red

2010-04-01T16:53:00.003+02:00

The first poppies are blooming in the countryside around Molfetta. Soon whole fields will be full of them in a gorgeous red explosion of color.

To see other expressions of this month's theme "red" check out other City Daily Photo blogs.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Gone Fishin'

2010-03-30T14:52:00.001+02:00

The Promise of Spring

2010-03-26T17:59:00.003+01:00

The iris's history is rich, dating back to Ancient Greek times when the Greek Goddess Iris, the messenger of the gods and the personification of the rainbow, acted as the link between heaven and earth. Purple irises were planted over the graves of women to summon the Goddess to guide the dead in their journey. Ancient Egyptian kings marveled in the iris’s exotic nature, and drawings have been found of the flower in a number of Egyptian palaces.

Through its intricate history, the meanings of the iris have come to include faith, hope, and wisdom. I guess I have the wisdom to faithfully hope for spring to arrive!

Mistico Cosimo

2010-03-25T10:33:00.006+01:00

Italian truckers often decorate the cabs of their rigs with all kinds of paraphernalia including placards with their name or "handle," small, medium or large crucifixes, which may or may not be illuminated with lights, images of Jesus, the Madonna or a favorite saint, colorful pon-pons...let your imagination run wild! I would love to do a photo series of these guys, but I usually see them while driving down the highway where photo ops are limited!

This truck is quite tame, but I love the trucker's name: "Mystical Cosimo"!

Mystery Revealed, 7

2010-03-23T09:20:00.004+01:00

Many of you who guessed at yesterday's Mystery Photo were close, or even technically correct! These are tubes. But Valeria of Verona Daily Photo hit the nail on the head when she guessed they were used for watering. They are irrigation tubes, on sale at the Iovino gardening supply shop! The shiny colors and vortex-like image caught my attention.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to play Mystery Photo!

Mystery Photo, 7

2010-03-22T16:18:00.002+01:00

Please take a guess at what you think this is a photo of. The "mystery" will be solved tomorrow.

A Flock of Seagulls

2010-03-21T08:06:00.003+01:00

A flock of Molfettan seagulls feeding in the area that is being developed into a commercial harbor.

And A Flock of Seagulls with funny hair...

Acqua e Vino

2010-03-20T16:37:00.002+01:00

These are the first spring flowers blooming in the fields around Molfetta. They surely have a proper scientific name, but my husband knows them as "Acqua e Vino" which means "Water and Wine." When he was a child, he and his friends would suck the liquid out of their stems and they thought it tasted like wine diluted with water.

Rooftop Garden

2010-03-15T08:06:00.000+01:00

Necessity, the Mother of Invention

2010-03-13T07:37:00.001+01:00

Families that live on the ground floor and whose front door opens straight on to the street do not have the luxury of a balcony to hang their laundry out to dry on. They are forced to hang their clothes, and in this case towels, out on the sidewalk on one of these drying racks. Personally, I'm glad I don't have to do this...it would bother me to think that anyone walking by could look at my stuff.

Urban Sunset

2010-03-12T09:12:00.003+01:00

Sunset over Viale Antonio Gramsci.

I havent posted for a while due to minor health problems, but fear not, all is well at Molfetta Daily Photo! Since my last post was of a sunset, I thought it appropriate to return with another one.

Sunset Through the Olive Trees

2010-03-04T16:06:00.001+01:00

Men at Work

2010-03-03T14:49:00.000+01:00

Bench, Interrupted

2010-03-02T09:02:00.002+01:00

This scene reminds me of something my husband says when joking with the kids,

"Pull up a chair and sit down on the floor!"

Monthly Theme Day: Passageway

2010-02-28T10:01:00.004+01:00

Last night's full moon shot in a cloudy sky seems to create a passageway to the universe.

The first day of each month is Theme Day at the City Daily Photo community. This month's theme is Passageways.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Blue

2010-02-27T08:06:00.003+01:00

A freighter glides past Molfetta Vecchia (the town's historical center) on its way into the commercial harbour.

Trani Pigeon

2010-02-26T18:51:00.004+01:00

Not only vampires, but mutant pigeons can be found in Trani! This specimen has a suspiciously intelligent, and vaguely bloodthirsty, look in its eye...perhaps it's a vampigeon!

Trani Old Town

2010-02-25T08:39:00.003+01:00

These are a few photos I took while walking through Trani's Historical Center. The photo above is a detail inside a courtyard.

This wall encloses another courtyard.

Love this gentleman exiting the Demarinis Salumeria (delicatessen) and the shiny red bike, but darn that car for getting in the way!

This is a capentry shop filled with dust and worktables.

Trani Cathedral

2010-02-24T06:06:00.001+01:00

To follow up on my vampire insinuations of the other day, I decided to visit the Diocesan Museum in the town of Trani. Housed in this museum is a bust of Monsignor Davanzati, Archbishop of Trani in the early 1700s and author of a Dissertation on Vampires, which was not a novel, but the most exhaustive analysis of the vampire phenomenon ever written. It has chapters with titles like "On the Power Delegated to the Demon" and "Which Physical Causes Could Produce Vampire Appearances."

Unfortunately, the museum is closed for restoration for three months, so I spent some time in and around Trani's magnificent cathedral, completed in 1143, reputed to be the finest example of Apulian-Romanesque architecture. This style is known for its lack of adornment, sort of the opposite of Baroque.

The photo above shows the backside of the church. The front is being restored and is covered with scaffolding, but if you are curious to see it, click here. I think the dark and gloomy sky here sort of gives it a vampirey feeling!

This is the altar in the uppermost level of the church. Below this level are two crypts and even further down a hypogeum, or underground, pre-Christian temple or tomb.

This fellow was industriously holding up one of the columns along the side wall of the church.

A fresco and altarpiece in the upper of the two crypts.

A statue of Saint Nicholas the Pilgrim, for whom the cathedral is named, is located in the lower crypt. This is not the St. Nick of Christmas lore (he is the patron saint of Bari, the capital of this region), but another Nicholas altogether. He came from the east to meet the Pope, but only made it as far as Trani before starving to death, according to some, or being assassinated, according to others, in 1094.

Blooms in the Rain

2010-02-23T08:02:00.004+01:00

I hope you don't mind another photo of the same tree as yesterday, but I just love the movement in these branches. They remind me of a Japanese ikebana flower arrangement. The tree is either a peach or a plum, I'll know for sure when the flowers turn into the fruit!

Check out the link on my sidebar Likely Links to a new site on Molfetta. It is called I Love Molfetta and is available in English, Italian and Spanish. You can see more photos and videos of Molfetta, including some amazing snow scenes.

Buds and Blooms

2010-02-22T09:12:00.001+01:00

Despite the grey skies and the rain...spring is on its way!

Parrocchia San Giuseppe

2010-02-21T13:37:00.003+01:00

The steeple of St. Joseph's parish is crisscrossed by the lines and wires located along the train tracks which pass close by. See that blue sky? I love it!

Twilight

2010-02-20T09:39:00.002+01:00

No, not *that* Twilight! Just the plain old time of day "twilight." We have no tradition of vampires here in Molfetta. If you're looking for those, you'll have to travel two towns up the Adriatic coast to Trani, where they have a long tradition of vampire lore and even have archaeological "proof" of their existence!

Church Spire and Laundry Lines

2010-02-19T06:16:00.002+01:00

Seems fitting that this church should be located at the corner of Via Paradiso and Via Immacolata.

After the Parade

2010-02-18T15:10:00.002+01:00

Carneval has gone, making way for the much more sober period of Lent, but not without leaving its mark!

(photo by Fulvio)

Ice Cream Cremeria

2010-02-17T14:28:00.005+01:00

What better to lift your spirits on a cold and wet February night than a stop at the Ice Cream Cremeria's new locale. Not only do they have a wide variety of delicious ice cream flavours, made fresh each day, but they also make various frozen desserts and treats.

Molfetta's 51st Annual Carneval Parade

2010-02-16T06:48:00.001+01:00

It's Carneval time again and these are three of the four floats in this year's parade.
I was lucky enough to find them parked and waiting for today's parade early this morning before I went to work. Lucky because otherwise I could never have shared them with you because I refuse to go to Carneval parades.

I am a cold weather wimp and just cannot embrace any sort of activity that forces me to be outside in the evening in the nasty cold and bone-chillingly damp climate we have here at this time of year. Plus the whole crowd scene...I do not handle crowds well!

I'm not sure what they mean - this type of float generally has some sort of political satire behind it, but just as I met one of the event organisers, my train pulled into the station and I had to dash off. I'm just hoping the one in the first photo, entitled "Career Women," has some deeper meaning to it...if I find out, I'll let you know!

Can't Find the City Dump?

2010-02-15T07:02:00.001+01:00

...then just dump your junk under this handy bridge. I'm sure no one will notice or mind. And someone else will come clean it up. What a perfect solution for dealing with your large refuse! Or not...

Dirty Dogs

2010-02-14T06:40:00.003+01:00

Found outside the tobacconist's shop on Via Baccarini:

PLEASE

DO NOT

LET YOUR DOG

GO PEE-PEE

ON THIS CORNER

MANY THANKS

Come a Little Bit Closer...

2010-02-13T09:27:00.000+01:00

...you're my kind of cat!

Lines and Circles

2010-02-12T10:14:00.003+01:00

Uncertain Sky

2010-02-11T08:28:00.000+01:00

Cold and Wet

2010-02-10T12:49:00.003+01:00

It was one of those windy, rainy, cold kind of days here in Molfetta this morning. People were all bundled up with hats and gloves and scarves and umbrellas (which is "ombrelli" in Italian, don't you just love it when a word is sort of the same in another language?). And Saretta was distracting herself from the unpleasant meteorological conditions by taking surreptitious photos of peoples feet and backsides...

Mimmo

2010-02-08T14:07:00.000+01:00

Wedding at City Hall, Continued

2010-02-07T10:10:00.003+01:00

The wedding I showed you two posts ago continued yesterday with a lunch held at a beautiful restaurant on the sea at Polignano a Mare, located about an hour's drive south of Molfetta.

Let me introduce you to the groom today. His name is Fulvio and he is from Molfetta. He works as as a certified public accountant. He has good taste in women and restaurants, because Katja is a doll and the lunch was absolutely delicious, all seafood from the hors d'oeuvres on.

This is a view of Polignano from the window of the restaurant. Sorry if it's a bit blotchy, but the window was covered with sea spray. Polignano is famous for being the birthplace of Domenico Modugno, one of the most famous Italian singer/songwriters of all time.

Here's one of his most famous tunes...

Vittoria Facchini, Artist

2010-02-06T08:36:00.004+01:00

Vittoria Facchini is a Molfettan artist and is pictured here in her studio. In addition to painting, she is also an illustrator of children's books and has published a few books of her own. One of these is an illustrated version of the traditional Molfettan Christmas song, the Santa Allegrezza, which was released in December. To see a couple of photos about that event, click here and here. In the photo above she was discussing her "Pin-Up" series, which is inspired by 1950's pin-up calendars.

Her studio is a colorful and crazy collection of a thousand different odds and ends, plus two cats who crawl all over everything. I couldn't get a photo of them because they just wouldn't sit still. Vittoria wasn't all that easy to stop either!

Wedding at City Hall

2010-02-05T08:12:00.003+01:00

A wedding at the City Hall is much simpler than a church wedding. A city functionary reads the bride and groom the obligations that marriage implies (for example: cohabitation, support of the family by both the husband and the wife, supporting any children and guiding them into the career of their choice). Then both the couple and their witnesses sign a lot of papers and presto, bingo, they're married!

What a beautiful bride! Her name is Katia and she is not from Molfetta, nor even Italian actually. She is Bulgarian, studied to be a beautician in Germany and works in the tourism industry here in Apulia. She speaks Bulgarian, Russian, German, Italian and English...pretty impressive!

Pink and Blue

2010-02-04T12:16:00.001+01:00

Big, fat, fluffy, pink and blue clouds hang over the sea.

Ferrovie Appulo Lucane

2010-02-03T08:46:00.002+01:00

This is the main train station of a transportation company that runs trains and buses through the Apulia and Basilicata regions. This station is located in the center of Bari and I think it's interesting that the tracks are raised. Below the tracks you see here on the right are shops and offices. I imagine they have noise and vibration issues!

Citrus Fog

2010-02-02T16:28:00.002+01:00

I was searching for a bit of color in a gray and foggy day when I spotted these trees: oranges on the right and tangerine on the left, growing amidst the olive trees. Bright orbs that seem to promise that sun will return.

Monthly Theme Day: Wood

2010-02-01T06:35:00.004+01:00

Olive trees can live to be hundreds of years old and have amazing patterns in their bark.

This one is a tree with a view!

Today is Monthly Theme Day in the City Daily Photo community. Our theme this month is "wood." Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

My Computer and My Dog

2010-01-30T12:55:00.002+01:00

My computer tells me that it doesn't like my camera's memory stick. This is a problem! I need these two to be on speaking terms, otherwise I can't upload my photos! I'm not sure what the disagreement is about, but the pc is quite adamant that it wants nothing to do with the memory stick!

I'll have to get my husband, The Computer Genius, to sit them down and talk it out. He's usually quite good at this type of negotiation, and is not above a bit of bullying and threatening if the parties involved are uncooperative!

So, today you get to see a photo of my dog, Piedina. Her name means "little foot" in Italian. She earned that name because when she turned up outside our yard she always used to give us her paw to shake. Whoever decided that it would be a good idea to abandon her at our house had obviously taught her this one and only trick. Luckily for her, we liked her and decided to keep her. One of these days I'll get a photo of her sleeping all curled up with the cats.

Parking Garage Mirror

2010-01-29T09:32:00.003+01:00

Just a silly photo today. It's still rainy/gray outside and I'm not feeling inspired!

Rain

2010-01-28T09:30:00.002+01:00

Rain is a good thing. I am not here to complain about it. It makes the plants grow and it fills the empty riverbeds and...and...it gets some of the dirt off my car...and... Well, I'm sure it does lots of great things! And, I for one am NOT going to complain about it!

At least rain is a weather event...the past couple of weeks of gray days have been killing me with a bad case of weather boredom. At least when it rains there's something happening!

Hurray for rain!

Strike!

2010-01-27T09:40:00.002+01:00

This is a photo of what I did NOT do today. I did not get on the regional train heading south to Bari to go to work. I would have if I could have, but I couldn't so I didn't! There is a train strike today. Normally when there's a strike, service is guaranteed until 9 a.m. and then you are on your own till 6 p.m. I am usually able to get into the city by train and then return home by bus. But today even the trains at 8 a.m. were suppressed.

So, no work for me today, pity...

Countryside No More

2010-01-26T09:11:00.002+01:00

This old building is located on the southbound road heading out of town. It was probably a supply shed for agricultural tools and machinery, but has been long abandoned. It was also, once upon a time, far outside of town. Now it finds itself in town, on a busy highway.

It is located across the road from the new Famila supermarket and you can see one of our high schools just behind it to the right. This is either the Professional Institute for Marine Industry and Activities or the Professional Institute for Hotel and Restaurant Services. This is kind of like my "police confusion" (see yesterday's post), there are just too many high schools, each with a particular slant, for me to keep straight.

Carabiniere Station

2010-01-25T15:16:00.002+01:00

Molfetta's Carabiniere station is located on the south edge of town, just one block from the beach. The Carabiniere are a branch of military police. I have never quite figured out the subtle differences between all the various types of Italian police: you have your vigili, polizie, carabinieri, finanzieri, aeronautico, marina militare, etc. The list goes on and includes your coast guard, forest service and environmental and zoological police to name a few others.

I guess their names are pretty self-explanatory. I'm just not sure when you should call the "polizia" or when it would be better to call the "carabinieri." Hopefully, I won't ever have to call either!

Winter Wildflowers

2010-01-24T15:37:00.001+01:00

Spotted in the field next door. You tell me what kind of flowers they are!

Secret Agent Man

2010-01-23T08:49:00.003+01:00

You'll have to jump over a few hurdles if you want to get to this guy who seems to be protecting the Molfetta train station from whatever danger may be lurking around the corner!

Winter Beach

2010-01-22T15:41:00.003+01:00

The Prima Cala beach is much more peaceful and infinitely cleaner during the winter months.

What about those fuzzy trees? Sometimes it seems like all the trees around here come out fuzzy in photos. Olive trees are terribly difficult to photograph (check out that silvery green blur in yesterday's shot) and these Marine pines are no better.

Maybe Molfetta's motto should be "Town of the Fuzzy Trees." No one would back me up on this, I know. Especially since Molfettans call their city the "Paese delle Belle Donne" which means the "Town of Beautiful Women." What would you choose for a motto...beautiful women or fuzzy trees?

Grey Smoke in a Grey Sky

2010-01-21T10:19:00.002+01:00

This photo is terribly grey, but that's just the kind of day it is here. Grey, grey, grey. I'm feeling kind of grey myself, actually... Southern Italy has a wonderful abundance of sun yearround, and I realise how spoiled I am when a few grey days start to get me down. How do people survive in areas with very little sun throughout the winter?

The smoke in this photo is from agricultural burning. Farmers are pruning olive trees and burning the smaller branches and leaves. Outside it smells like a big barbeque!