Italian Journey Part One

 Time seems to be flying by this year, with little left to catch up with my blogs. I have been taking a little time this week to catch up with some outstanding posts. Here is a selection of images from a visit to Tuscany in May of this year.

Sunset in Pisa, the late evening glow reflected in the still waters of the Arno.

A panorama of the Val di Chiana from the walls of Cortona, Lake Trasimeno can be glimpsed in the distance.

The Etruscan walled hill top town of Cortona, perched high above the Val di Chiana, Tuscany.

In Tuscany every lane is an adventure, new vistas await at every turn.

The ancient olives are like figures in conversation.

The narrow streets and ancient high walls of Cortona glow with heat and light on warm summer evenings.

The Church of Santa Maria Nuova, designed by Vasari, glows in evening sunlight.

The hills of Umbria viewed from the the walls of Perugia.

Perugia, another hill top town of ancient walls.
 

A school outing, Perugia

Local pottery, Perugia

Piazza IV Novembre, Perugia

The ancient aqueduct in Perugia is now an old town walkway.

A sudden afternoon thunderstorm moves away at sunset, the sun breaks through the fast moving clouds to spread golden light across the Val di Chiana.

After sunset the clouds still retain the warm afterglow.

Next day, after the storm, the air is crisp and clear, the Tuscan countryside vibrant green, dust washed away by the storm.

The hills around Cortona offer wonderful views of Lake Trasimeno.

The roadside shrine at Bramasole, made famous in the book "Under The Tuscan Sun"

Le Celle, a hermitage nestled in the hills near Cortona, a beautiful serene spot where St Francis of Assisi used to retreat to a small cell carved out of the hillside.

Le Celle, where the air is filled with birdsong and the sound of running water.

At sunset in Cortona, the air is filled with the calls of swifts as they dart and swoop through the air.

Black and Gold Autumn Days in Dublin

A recent visit to Dublin during beautiful cold crisp autumn days

and a long overdue visit to the Guinness Storehouse, one of the most

popular tourist attractions in Ireland.

Amazing architecture inside the old brewery which has been converted to this tourist attraction,

seven storeys of glass and iron inside a huge pint glass.

The "Made of More" sculpture which features much of the Guinness advertising used over the years.

 A welcome sight inside the Gravity bar on the seventh floor,

the perfect pint of Guinness awaits its final top up.

 You can enjoy your pint whilst viewing the city of Dublin from one of its tallest buildings.

   "The Power and The Glory".

A lovely sky to end the day, the view across Dublin Bay towards the old power station at sunset.

A lonely cloud high in the sky as the sun sets below the Wicklow Hills.

Evening cool, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Andalucía

Sanlúcar de Barrameda, a quiet coastal town at the mouth of the Rio Guadalquivir, famous for its sherry and home to the Palace of the Dukes of Medina Sidonia, now a hotel with peaceful gardens, a cool area of tranquility, away from the heat of the day.

One of the many seaside homes in this coastal town

A good place for capturing the sunset at the mouth of the Rio Gualdalquivir