I can't stress enough that if you're headed to Liguria and want to enjoy it to the full, your legs and overall stamina had better be in top form. Liguria is the land of stairs, and they be no joke folks. That said, the payoff if you can hang is high. And on high! The views from the top are always amazing.
That's lovely Lerici on the left and my favorite Camogli on the right.
Location: Liguria, Italy ★
Still on the topic of trompe l'oeil, the most enchanting applications aren't hidden behind palace doors. Instead you can find them outside, gracing the exteriors of traditional residential buildings and churches throughout the region.
The example on the left was a pleasant surprise after a long climb to the top of Sori, and the two on the right are in equally steep and soulful Camogli.
Location: Liguria, Italy ★
Though I'm generally not a fan of organized religion, I am a huge fan of churches - mainly of the external architecture, but sometimes the internal art and architecture, too. And while I'm not enough of an architecture buff to know for certain, it seems that as striped churches in Italy go, Liguria is the place to go to find the most magnificent variety.
The black-and-white striped church on the right is in the Cinque Terre town of Monterosso. A busy and well-touristed town, it seems a challenge to get a moment alone with this charming church during normal business hours, so to speak. I was in a thick crowd of gawkers on a weekday in May when I snapped this shot.
In contrast, the church on the right in Camogli is delightfully difficult to reach, and I was entirely alone with it. I'd spotted it on its hilltop perch from much lower down in town, and asked a group of local men how I might get up there. They pointed out the route and explained that it was connected to a monastery.
The next week I promptly got sick and all but gave up on seeing the church up close on this visit to Italy. But, by the grace of God perhaps, I felt strong enough on my last day to make the trek. I did it in honor of my youngest brother, who I'd found out a day or two before was in the hospital with a mysterious and virulent pneumonia. I'm agnostic, so I thought it would be nice to make the climb and say a prayer for him on the off chance that it might actually help.
I'm happy to say that two weeks later, my brother was released from the hospital to recover at home. He's still recovering and I like to think that in some small way, my visit to this pretty, sunny-striped church and the prayer I said for him there is part of why he's cruising comfortably back to good health now.
Location: Liguria, Italy ★
This was essentially the weather for the duration of my two-week trip (Camogli on the left, Monterosso on the right, shot on the same picture-perfect day). Sadly, I only really got out and about for week one, as I spent pretty much all of week two sick with a nasty cold. The first week was so amazing though, as you can see, that I can't complain about lost week two photo opps. Plus, the second week was too hot to explore much, with temperatures rising into the 80s and feeling like it was well into the 90s. The first week was perfect - low to mid 70s every day.
Location: Liguria, Italy ★
For those of you who admired the shadow of the laundry hanging out to dry in yesterday's post, here's the bigger picture. There's the colorful laundry line and just to the left of where the guy in red is sitting is where my guy in blue was standing and posing for his portrait.
Location: Camogli, Italy ★
I met this dapper gent on the first day of my trip in my favorite Ligurian fishing village, Camogli. Our conversation was entirely in Italian, so it was entirely a miracle that we seemed to be having a conversation at all. I didn't catch his name, but did learn that he is a transplant to Camogli from Abruzzo, after the war, which I gathered to be WWII. We marveled at the perfect weather that morning and he wondered how Camogli could be in any way superior to California. I assured him that in many more ways than one, it was. He didn't seem convinced. Perhaps if my command of Italian wasn't so limited I could have swayed him.
For the next little - or long - while, since I've been so badly neglecting this blog, I'm going to post a photo a day - I hope - from my recent trip to Liguria. This is good incentive for me to slowly go through my photos and share pieces of the experience publicly. I'd normally whip everything into an immediate post-trip blog post on Notes but life is so busy lately that I just can't make that happen. Plus, it'd be nice to share bits of my journey without the pressure to compose a more journalistic detailing of events. I'll save that for later when I truly have the time. And I don't necessarily want to make available or feel that these image are ready for purchase, so my Fotomotologue is also the wrong place to publish them at present. So in the meantime, I hope you enjoy a look at Liguria here, day by day (or as close to day by day as I can manage), as seen through my eyes this spring.
Location: Camogli, Italy ★
Alas, life has been far too busy lately. Not enough time for so many things, including this beloved blog! But finally I've found a moment to post a pretty picture. In this case, an enchanting image of Camogli. One of the towns that I am thrilled at the thought of revisiting on my trip to Italy later this year.
While there are so many magical towns and villages dotting this strip of the Italian coast, Camogli is undoubtedly one of the loveliest. Words and images don't do it justice. To truly appreciate its charm and beauty, you've simply got to get there and experience it firsthand for yourself.
Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - luca.martellucci - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!
Location: Camogli, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of luca.martellucci
It's difficult not to find yourself caught up with Camogli like a fish in the net. All of Italy, all of Liguria is special, but Camogli has a little something extra, if you ask me. Can't wait to get back there and explore again.
Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - perypezye - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!
Location: Camogli, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of perypezye
My trip to Camogli is finally coming together. It's going to be glorious and dreamy, just like this photo!
Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - .in a good star. - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!
Location: Paris, France ★
Photo courtesy of .in a good star.
I am *so* looking forward to next year's trip to Camogli. Even if it's overcast, it's going to be lovely. As you can see here.
Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - shalhevet1 - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!
Location: Camogli, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of shalhevet1
If you haven't yet been and ever have the chance, get yourself to the Ligurian seaside town of Camogli. I stayed there, years ago, on a trip to the region. It was my home base for daily sojourns to nearby jewels like the Cinque Terre, Portofino, Sestri Levante, and other, sleepier spots. Camogli is truly lovely, and largely less touristed, in its own right.
Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Ciccio Pizzettaro - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!
Location: Camogli, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of Ciccio Pizzettaro
