Bench, Interrupted

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

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

Pink and Blue

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

Molfetta by Night

Aerial Views of Molfetta

I don't often get a chance to fly over Molfetta snapping photos on the wing, but a friend of a friend of mine does! And he was kind enough to let me post the aerial shots I'll be showing you over the next few days.

This shot shows the seafront promenade (bottom left), the regional seminary (center left), the historical center (center right) - and here you can really see how it was once an island - and the commercial and tourist harbours (upper right). You can also get a feel for how very flat the land is around here.

White on White

We have been having a lot of rain with thunderstorms over the past week. This is quite unusual for June and has been ruining a lot people's vacation plans...people who organised beach holidays and instead of lying around in the sun in bikinis had to stay indoors with long pants and sweatshirts!

But, the rain is wonderful for the local vegetation and we have to be thankful for every drop that falls in a region that is battling against the phenomenon of desertification. And the cooler temperatures are a welcome relief from the oppressive heat that plagues us for most of the summer months.

p.s. My comment yesterday about the "architectural splendors" to be unveiled was tongue-in-cheek. I'm sure what lies below the wrappings on that building will be no more interesting than say, the building in this picture. Despite the great view on our seaside promenade when looking towards the sea, if you turn around and look inland the buildings are pretty dismally bland.

All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go

This apartment building on the seafront promenade is under wraps while its exterior is being renovated. Who knows what marvels of architectural splendour will be revealed when it is unwrapped!

Tiny

Nothing like perspective to make you feel tiny and insignificant in the great big world.

Public Housing

These buildings are "case popolari," or low-cost public housing. They are very bare bones architecturally, both inside and out, and looking a little worse for wear. What you can't see in this picture, however, is that they are located on the seafront. On the other side of the building they have a beautiful view of the sea!

Pruned to the Bone

I have been enjoying the "bad tree" series on Liege Daily Photo and couldn't believe my eyes when I discovered that trees have been punished in Molfetta, too! All of the trees along the seafront have been pruned so drastically they look positively stunted. But, I know green leaves will be sprouting forth soon. The sooner the better!

Low Tide

A view of Molfetta Vecchia, the old town, taken from the Lungomare, or seafront. For a similar view shot last July and a bit of town history, click here.

Giovinazzo in the Distance

From the end of the Lungomare there's a pretty good view of the Giovinazzo skyline, six kilometers south of Molfetta. Between the two towns lie several public and private beaches which are heavily populated in the summer months.

If you enlarge the photo, and look at the tip of land that extends furthest out into the sea, you can see the bell towers of the Giovinazzo cathedral, built in the 1100s. My husband and I were married in the cathedral's crypt.

Along the Lungomare

The "lungomare" is the street that runs along the seafront from Molfetta's historic center south as far as the city swimming pool. Alongside the street there is a wide sidewalk where people go to stroll, chat with friends, breathe the sea air and admire the beauty of the sea. This is a more popular activity in the summertime, but I find the sea beautiful in all seasons.

p.s. 1 p.m. Molfetta time...it's snowing!!!

A Little Bit of Christmas

I took a walk around Molfetta Vecchia (the historical center of town) yesterday evening and was surprised by the minimal quantity of Christmas decorations. But then, maybe just a little is better than way too much.

This house is located on the edge of the old town, just at the beginning of the Lungomare Marcantonio Colonna, the street that runs along the seafront.