Blackbirds

 

It's nice too see blackbirds on old alleys' cobblestones.

Maybe they're looking for crumbs, due to the fact that some restaurants owners place their tables along the alley at night. 

Unfortunately, the air conditioners on the facade of this 19th century building are less beautiful that the blackbirds. Those awful machines alter the perspective of those old Italian windows with their typical wooden shutters. 

 

Have a nice weekend!

The birthplace of Margherita pizza

Naples' most famous pizza maker is located in a characteristic alley in the heart of the old part of the town. That lovely place has been in business since 1780.

The old pizzeria Brandi is the birthplace of the Margherita pizza. In 1889 the pizzeria owner concocted a patriotic pizza while Queen Margherita of Savoy was visiting Naples. The old pizza maker modeled a new pizza, which he named Margherita, after the colors of the country's new flag: white cheese, red tomato sauce and green basil.

An official plaque still is on the wall outside,  as the new pizza won the applause of the Queen.

The fresh white cheese is the main ingredient of the Margherita pizza. That typical white cheese is made from a combination between cow's milk and buffalo-milk. Its name is mozzarella. Most buffalo-milk mozzarella sold in the Unites States is imported from Italy and South America.

In early May I hosted two Canadian tourists from Nova Scotia, Juanita and Mike, who went to Naples after staying in Rome and its surroundings. While they were visiting Naples they learnt how to make pizza. They sent me two photos that they took while they were learning how to make pizza.

I am so glad to see they enjoyed both visiting my born place and making pizza.

Pope Francis' thoughts about Ukraine-Russia war

Last week we saw Turkey's diplomatic engaged both with the United States and Russia. The next step will be made by the US president, as he is going to hold separate phone calls with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts.

As mentioned by Pope Francis in a 2022 interview, "NATO barking at Russia's door" caused the Kremlin to "react badly and unleash the conflict". 

The interview was published by the Italian newpaper "Corriere della Sera" and other International news agencies.

                             Photo courtesy by the lebanese website https://nna-leb.gov.lb/en/

It's easy to understand what was the reaction of the so-called Western world, considering that from that day on Pope Francis has never again expressed his point of view on the reasons that triggered Moscow's reaction.

On a sunny Monday I wrote down this post today, which is not related to tourist destinations or beautiful corners of the world. I know that some topics, such as Ukraine-Russia ceasefire or Palestine genocide, are boring. Sorry for that. It was just to share my thoughts, as it seems that those who barked at the Kremlin's gates (according to 2022 Pope Francis' interview) are now trying to make a negotiation.

Have a nice new week. 

Pigeons on a sunny morning.

On a sunny morning last month I saw a group of pigeons gathering in Budapest's urban environment. 

I thought that flocking helps them to evade predators. 

I took the picture of the pigeons in Ferencvaros, a Budapest neighborhood located close to the Danube river. 

Cute small birds

 

There were many small cute birds inside the terminal building of Budapest international airport.

Some trees were placed inside the passengers hall at the Budapest international airport, thanks to a strock of genius of Zoltán Tima, the architect who designed the SkyCourt (that's the name of that steel, glass and concrete building).  

I noticed those trees were giving shelter to small birds, which were fed by the crumbs left by travellers. 

I have never seen before small birds living indoor with human beings.

Have a nice 2° weekend of May ☀

Szechenyi baths

 

As request by our blogging friend Andrea, I show two pictures of Budapest Szecheny thermal baths, which I visited from the 25th to the 30th of April. Unfortunately, the main part of the outdoor pools was closed for maintenance (right side of the above photo). 

I spent four days in Budapest. Public Transport is perfect in the Hungarian capital and people are kind. Many of them speak English well.

Hungary is one of the European countries which has not yet lost its sovereignity, despite being member of both NATO and EU. 

               

I have been to the Danube river five times in five different countries. I firstly saw the Danube river in Vienna and Bratislava (Austria and Slovakia). A few years later I saw the same river in Vidin and Calafat (Bulgaria and Romania), as I went there for job. And last month I saw the Danube in Budapest (Hungary). 

I recommend to visit this country and its pleasant capital located on the Danube river.