Roadside Shrine

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?