5/25/3

Back home in Santa Barbara again..recovering from jet lag from a great vacation. I finally made it to Europe.  Italy and France were beautiful..a great experience, but it's great to be home too. Nice to be back with loved ones, and back in touch by phone, able to read the signs, talk the language and get around in familiar teritory. The weather has been beautiful here, sunny in the low 70's and the blue Jacaranda trees are in full bloom.

One of my favorite images I was able to capture myself in Paris. It was quite a thrill to see it for the 1st time in person:

The swallow at San Gimignano

Yesterday at the restaurant in S.G. we had a close encounter with a wild swallow.  He seemed almost tame, sitting for a long time on the top of the door in the restaurant..about 10 feet from our seats.  We soon discovered he had built his nest on the ledge over Dave's head. Dave decided to put his hat on!

The door the bird perches on..A beautiful view of the mountainside through this door.

 The view is the amazing outside the restaurant.  A view of Tuscany countryside from the wall around San Gimignano.

The swallows nest was right over Dave's head!

.Linda and I are both bird lovers so this was an extra special treat for us to have the swallow working on his next at close range while we dined.   A grapevine arbor is to my left  in the couryard,with sunlight filtering through the leaves.  The swallow is able to gain access to his nest this way when the door is closed
.

This beautiful view was a little further down, on the walkway, outside the restaurant.

Le Casacce..Tuscany

Here's some shots at La Casacce..where we are staying. 

View from our mountain top here

This is the back of our main bldg. at Le Casacce (My suite upstairs).  Outdoor dining under the arch area with beautiful views on the left side of patio..lined with beautiful roses.

my favorite roses on the property

Inside the Abby on our tour..great lighting..they had just had mass with incense. Monks singing gregorian chant. Lovely.

Tuscany Italy 5-13

I'm going into my second week in Tuscany {"Toscano"). Georgeous place in the mountains here..green, green hillsides. Ancient cities with quaint narrow alleyways full of beautiful old masonry buildings, loved the arched wooden doors with interesting hardware.  Food is very rich, big portions. Lots of cheese (pecarino, sheep, pasta homemade, wild boar meet, truffles, olive oil, good wine abounds. Le Casacce (www.tuscanmuse.com) is  where I'm staying, 2 week photo workshop..then to Paris for 2 days, 3 nights before home again.

Here's some pics:

Patio outdoor dining when the weather permits.