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 ☀

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 ☀

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.

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 ☕☀🌼

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 🌺🌻🌼

Himalayan monkey

Last year in late August my daughter took the picture below while she was visiting Nepal. 

There is a great talk in Nepal on crop-raiding monkeys. I would have never thought that farmers in Nepal don't like those monkeys. 

These creatures are found in the South Asian country in a wide variety of habitats, including urban areas. 

Swans in winter

 

Just to show those flocks of beautiful swans, ducks and other birds that were spot in Stockolm early this month. 

Those marvelous creatures were enjoying water in the coldest part of winter in the Northern side of Europe. 

 

  

                                           

Photo courtesy of Stefano Gazzano. He is a friend of mine who went to Stockolm for job.

 ❄  🦢  🇸🇪

With regards to another Northern country of the world touching the Arctic Circle, I appreciate the Canadian president, Mark Carney, for sharing his thoughts at Davos, Switzerland, last week. He said publicy that "In a world of great power rivalry, the countries in between have a choice: compete with each other for favour, or to combine to create third path".    

Vegetables out of season's disadvantages

During this first week of September the weather was still warm. Consequently, we haven't to forget to maintain good fluid balance in our body. Many fruit and vegetables that grow in late summer contain high percentage of water. They can contribute to our daily fluid intake, alongside drinking water. Obviously I'm talking about in-season fruit and vegetables that haven't been shipped from other continents.

Producing vegetables out of season presents several disadvantages, such as high up-front costs to build the structure an no natural pollination. 

Furthermore, production is limited to high-value crops and significant knowledge level is required.  Not to mention of awful landscape and visual impact , special permitting and expensive cost of production. 

Last week I was so glad to see young people enjoying donkeys.

 

Donkey remains useful in many parts of the world today. In some Italian villages, located in mountainous ares, those marvelous creatures are used for sheperding and for waste collection due to narrow ancient alleys, where motorized vehicle is impractical.

 

Have a nice weekend🌻☀🚴‍♂️  

Two grasshoppers

This post was inspired by our Scottish blogging friend Ananka, as she sometimes shows marvelous creatures on her blog. I've just taken two pictures in my Mother's garden. 

Have a nice 2nd weekend of August  🚴‍♂️ ☀  🌻

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!

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 ☀