Naples and Leghorn

 

In 2023 the Mexican street artist, Maker Garcia Chiavez, made this mural in via Tribunali, Naples. The painting shows the famous Italian actress, Sophia Loren, who starred in English-language Hollywood films starting in 1957.

Last week I visited Leghorn, a seaside town located in the Tuscany region, Central Italy.  Leghorn is the English name for the Italian port city of Livorno (photo above). The term Leghorn also refers to a common breed of domestic chicken, which was introduced to Britain from the United States in 1870. 🐓  It was originally exported from the Italian port of Leghorn, that's why this breed of domestic chicken has the same name as that Italian town. 

In the meanwhile, inflaction rate continues to increase, thanks to the rising cost of oil and gas. This morning the price of lemons on a grocery store shelf was 6,69 euros per kilo  🍋🍋🍋

Have a lovely weekend 🍁🍄🌰

Pretend it's 1995

Regarding my previous post published on the 22nd Sept, I appreciate my blogging friends for sharing their thoughts about the importance of waste recycling. In addition, Mandy and Andrea underlined that still more work needs to be done on the recycling side.  

The above photo shows a recycling facilty for metal scrap. It's located close to Rome. Physical resources on Earth are finite and bound by ecological limits. That's why landfills are not a sustainable waste management option. In this perspective, Alexandra mentioned health risk related to the landfill located near a residential area in her town, as it has been burning for over three weeks. Easy to see how pollution connected to landfills may harm human health and ecosystems.  

The 2nd and the 3rd photos have nothing to do with environmental protection. The picture below shows a sign I saw it last week in a Rome's coffee shop. I saw it after I had noticed that most people were watching their mobile phone while they were travelling by the subway.

I hope you'll have a lovely October.

Waste sorting

People support needed garbage collection service and waste sorting in the urban environment. But they sometimes oppose garbage areas being placed near their homes, due to fears of lower property values.

Considering alternative locations refers to the NIMBY phenomenon. Residents would accept garbage areas and infrastructure development, such as sewage and waste treatment systems, if they were built farther away. Considering alternative locations refers to the NIMBY phenomenon.

Is there the same social phenomenon in your country⁉️♻️🗑🚮🚯

This year astronomical autumn in the Northern hemisphere begins on 22/23 September with the Autumn equinox, rather than 24 September.

I wish all the members of our blogging community a lovely Autumn (maybe "fall" is the correct word in American English) 🍁

One of the seven wonders of the world

In the 3rd century BC Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huanh connected the existing walls into a single defense system. The construction of the Great Wall of China continued over 2,000 years, and the best-preserved section were built during the Ming Dynasty.

According to a Swiss-based initiative, the New7Wonders Foundation, the Great wall of China is one of the seven wonders of the world. 

I am pleased to hear the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, is also recognized as one of the seven wonders of the world.

The pictures of the Great Wall of China were taken this month by my daughters, who are still there in East Asia. 

Regarding the Colosseum, I took the picture in 2024 while we were having dinner in a Rome's restaurant.

This is the last weekend of August. I hope you'll enjoy it 🍉☀🌻

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 :-)