Central Italy's hills

I've just come back from Umbria Region in Central Italy. The weather was not too hot and humidity level wasn't high in the hills

As promised to Mandy , I post some photos that I took there while I was visiting two historic walled hill towns in Umbria Region. 

I noticed that many people from Norther Europe are interested in visiting such medieval village located in the hills. Glad to see they enjoyed that special corner of Italy. 

From the 30th of July to the 19th of August a historical event involving the town's four districs takes place in Montefalco, Central Italy. 

This part of Italy located in the Umbria's hills is famous for medieval streets, reinessance frescoes, delicious red wine and good olive oil.

Today, August 15, is the Assumption of Mary, a major national public holiday here in Italy. 

I hope you'll have a lovely weekend 🍉☀🌻

The church of the heads of death in Naples

 

Located in the medieval center of Naples, the beautiful and small church of Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio ad Arco is also known to the Neapolitan people as the church "de' e cape 'e morte" (the heads of death). When you cross the threshold of that hidden jem, you begin a real journey in the Neapolitan culture between art, faith, life and death. 

                 

If you visited Naples in South Italy, don't forget to cross the threshold of this beautiful 17-century baroque church and its atmospheric underground hypogeum.

Have a lovely weekend 🍉☀🌻

Effect of a prolonged aggression

Just a quick thought about US attack on Iran. A prolonged aggression against Iran will cause a closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Consequently, this could send crude oil to $ 130 a barrel, revive inflaction and force central banks to raise interests rates despite slowing economic growth.

In the meanwhile, on the climate front, the weather is too hot on the 1st of August here down on 42nd parallel. Unfortunately,  the humidity level is high too.

I've noticed a fast reproduction of algae. Hot weather causes algae to rapidly multiply because warm water, high sunlight and stagnant conditions create ideal growth speeds.

Have a lovely month of August 🌻☀🍉⛵

Strike on Iran again

It easy to see that as soon as the FIFA World Cup goes to an end, Washington begins to strike Iran once again.

China is Iran's primary customer, purchasing over 80% of Iran total oil export. This is a fact. In this perspective, how can Beijing tolerate Washington's arrogance? With regards to Iran, Venezuela and Greenland, if China had done the same politics of the US, people and journalists would have said that Beijing is wrong and arrogant. They would have held a completely opposite view. 

Have a lovely weekend ☀

Tourist traps

It's always lovely to go and eat where locals go. There are no doubt. Twelve out of twelve blogging friends, who left a comment on my previous post, agree on this. I appreciate my blogging friends sharing their point of view on tourist accomodation and restaurants run by big corporations. Thank you for that. 

A tourist trap is a location, like a shop, restaurant or attraction, that caters specifically to visitors and preys on them with high prices, low quality and inauthentic goods. The photo above shows a Cape Verdean woman running a small shop selling traditional handicrafs. I hope shops like that one one will be never run by big corporations.

               

This morning, on a sunny Sunday, while I was going to the beach I drove through the countryside covered with sunflowers 🌻☀🚗 I have noticed there are a lot of sunflowers in Rome's surroundings. Perhaps the production of this cereal has been increased in Italy because it is no longer possible to import it from Ukraine and Russia.

This Sunday is perfect for swimming and sunbathing. 

Have a lovely Sunday and a great new week ☀  

1200 Km on three wheels

 

Yesterday I saw  a man who was parking his three wheeled vehicle close to the supermarket. He came from Switzerland and he had been driving his three wheled vehicle for 1200 km. 

On the environment front, the weather is still too hot here in Central Italy. Many tourists from North Europe and Canada say they would have never thought of such extreme terperature in South Europe. 

Speaking of tourists, I've noticed that foreign visitors don't like to have lunch or dinner at restaurants specifically made for them. They would like to meet both locals and tourists while they are at restaurants or coffee shops. I agree with them. Actually, tourists who visit my town always ask me for a place where they can have pizza or other typical Italian food. I don't recommend tourist-oriented restaurants  🍷 🍕🥣

Do you like to have breakfast or dinner in a restaurant mainly visited by tourists when you are abroad ❓

Have a lovely weekend ☀

Unrestricted smartphone

I took the photo below in Naples' metro (subway) last month. It reminds me that  leaving children with smartphone can negatively impact emotional regulation, sleep cycle, and mental health. Not to mention of harmful contents or predators. 

                   

In the next photo I share the image of three collared doves while they were sharing information on the highway. 

      

Have a great first week of the summer ☀

Writing on trains without permission

Writing on buildings or trains without permission is illegal. That's vandalism. 

Unfortunately, penal law doesn't prescribe the vandals' punishment as it should.

I would like to force the vandals to pay for all repair and cleaning. 

Have a lovely weekend 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃 ☀

A sign in Santa Maria's beach

While I was walking towards Santa Maria's beach, on the island of Sal, Cabo Verde, I saw some colourful signs written on the wood.

I wish you a lovely weekend  🌷☀🌼

Goats in Cabo Verde

 

As requested by Alexandra, I share more photos of Sal, which is one of the islands of Cabo Verde in the Central Atlantic Ocean. It's the first time I publish an Instagram-style post on my humble blog. Thank you for asking me, Alexandra. 

While I was watching goats in the Island of Sal, I was amazed by their ability to survive and thrive in hersh environment. I noticed that goats can withstand prolonged drought in arid zone or areas with poor vegetation, such as sub-saharian regions.                               

I also saw many black crows on that arid island.

Sal Island has on average 350 days of sunshine per year, and the "rainy" season is from late July to October.

I found a huge variety of street art on different corners of the islands, which perfectly matches the already colourful houses.

Cabo Verde is now the world's largest nesting aggregation for Caretta turtles. Hunting and harvesting such vulnerable species and their eggs is illegal under Cabo Verde's law. In addition, sea turtles' protections are heavily enforced by international treaties.

Have a nice weekend ☀

Back blogging

 Hello everyone. Just to say I'm back blogging.

I was pleased to meet this marvelous peacock in Sal Island, Cabo Verde. I saw it at Pachamama EcoPark, which is a magical botanical garden surrounded by desert on the island of Sal 🇨🇻

There were many crows despite the scarcity of  water in that African country.

Have a lovely weekend :-)

Wild Iberian goats

 

I've just got those three photos that were taken in the Cantabrian Mountains, in Northern Spain. My daughter encountered those creatures while she visiting that beautiful corner of Spain last week. It seems the goat disagrees with tourists :-) 🐐 

I hope I'll visit that beautiful corner of Spain. The good news is that there is now 2 hours and 45 minutes direct flight from Rome to Santiago del Monte, where Asturias airport is located.

I am stepping out back from posting for a little while.

Have a lovely new week.

Shots fired at an Italian convoy in Lebanon.

Last week warning shots were fired by Israel's sodiers at an Italian convoy of Italian peacekeepers in South Lebanon. The attack caused no injuries, but this allows the opportunity to suspend defence cooperation deal with Tel Aviv. 

Consequently, the good news is that yesterday the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, said that the government has decided to suspend its defence agreement with Israel.             

It seems the Italian Policy-makers are listening Italian civil society's willingness to end the Italian support and being part of the Israel's genocide in Palestine.  

The building in the above photo is the seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and it is not located in Rome's historic centre. It was built in the 1930s and marked an important stage in Italy's achitectural and urban debate. Nowadays the monumental style of the building has also been perfect for hosting a collection of artworks. 

Have a lovely Wednedsay ☀

A photo from Naples Zoo

Hello everyone. Just to show the photo of such colourful bird I saw at Naples Zoo, South Italy.

Have a nice Sunday ☕☀🌼

Still rising prices

 

Hello everyone. While Trump's war on Iran reveals who really dictates US foreign policy, severeal car manufacturers, particularly in France and Germany, are shifting production from civilian vehicles to defense and weapons technology. Consequently, consumers continue to experience higher prices for essentials like groceries, insurance and housing.  

The photo below shows that the price of a small sandwhich with prosciutto and white fresh cheese is € 7.90 in Rome 🙁 

And still in Rome a small bowl of salad with tomatoes, fresh white cheese and a few leaves of lettuce costs € 5.90 🤨🍅

A kilo of lemons costs almost € 5 in Italy, which is the second-largest lemon producer in the European Union  🍋🍋🍋

In this context, Trump war in Iran is only making things worse. And EU's refusal to condemn war against Iran shows its subservience to US & Israel neocolonial empire. According to David Miller , Zionist interests have captured and colonized the vital organs of Washington itself. Tel Aviv now dictates the terms of American foreign policy.

Enjoy the rest of this 2nd week of April. 

 

Pigeons on Rome's cobblestones

Last week some pigeons were enjoying their bath on Rome's cobblestones after the rain.

Have a nice new week.

The beginning of Spring

 

Spring has arrived in the Northern Emisphere, although the weather is still cloudy here down on the 42nd parallel.

The beginning of Spring often indicates equinox has occurred, warming weather and blooming flowers. I hope it would also indicate the end of the neo-colonial war in Iran.

                

On the Strait of Hormuz front, I've just heard that the "Epstein coalition" (US & Israel) doesn't want to do a cease fire with Iran. In addition, the two members of the Espstein coalition call Europe countries "cowards" over lack of support for their war on Iran. And I think that's a good news, as it means there are some people in Europe who reason, as they refused to allow their soil to attack Iran. 

I am so glad to hear that France and Italy have opened talks with Iran seeking to negotiate a deal to guarantee safe passage of their ships through the Strait of Hormuz. China, Russia and Britain have already done the same. The US and Israel are increasingly isolated. 

               

Have a lovely Spring 🌺🌻🌼