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Andrys Basten | profile | all galleries >> ITALY Photos - Tuscany photos - 2006 (partial) >> San Gimignano photos, #1 of 2 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Rome photos - Day One | Rome tourbus photos : Impressions from a doubledecker | Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel Tour Photos | Rome photos: Arch of Constantine & Colosseum visits | Civita di Bagnoregio Photos | Pitigliano photos | Photos: Sorano and Sovana day trip | Montepulciano photos | Photos : Pienza to Siena and Montalcino | Siena Photos, Part 1 | Siena Photos, Part 2 | Colle di Val d'Elsa photos, #1 of 2 | San Gimignano photos, #1 of 2 | San Gimignano photos, #2 of 2 | Colle di Val d'Elsa photos, #2 of 2 | Volterra photos - (In progress) | Lucca photos, Day 1 | Life atop the Lucca Wall - Lucca Photos 2 | Carrara photos - Fantiscritti Quarry, Michelangelo's marble source | Florence photos, #1-a of 5 | Florence photos, #1-b - Michelangelo's DAVID, Ghiberti, Fra Angelico | Florence , #2 of 5 - Duomo and Uffizi Museum photos | Florence photos, #4 - Cellini's Perseus, Michelangelo's David | Florence photos #5 of 5 - duomo area details | Tourist House Ghiberti photos- our Florence b&b

San Gimignano photos, #1 of 2

This is the first page of two, the second one here.
  In San Gimignano, the Manhattan skyline of old Tuscany, I got really carried away.  The towers were fortresses, lodging and symbols of personal power ("Mine is taller than yours") and, unlike other ones, were not destroyed in the constant wars because the owners had already lost power and were considered no threat.

 Will delete some duplicates eventually.   Notice there were, that day, no huge crowds (click for NY Times article), even in May.   Very rare!
  Will add Exif data later that a stubborn pbase.com server failed to record.

EXPERIENCING ITALY -- Italy was the source of an incredible explosion of supreme art that still inspires, of course.  Being there, you can understand why.  I took lots of shots of other tourists (some from Italy itself), as I find tourist enthusiasms contagious and I identify with visitor exhaustion (and awe) from 'must see' lists or just trying to see so much wonderful stuff that's offered with the little time we have with our short vacations.  Travel partners and children sometimes look dragged around to things they are not as keen to see, and I get a kick out of that too.  And then there are the lucky residents, who are obviously enjoying their good fortune.

( For FULL SCREEN: PC's, press/toggle F11.  Mac's, maximize screen. )

Arrival, at medieval Manhattan skyline
Arrival, at medieval Manhattan skyline		 There are about 14 of these standing
There are about 14 of these standing		 The top of the 3rd one in previous shot
The top of the 3rd one in previous shot
A little balcony area on a tower
A little balcony area on a tower		 A marketplace, near the main piazza,
A marketplace, near the main piazza,		 Cell-like openings in towers
Cell-like openings in towers
These were awesome to me. Can you tell?
These were awesome to me. Can you tell?		 Wedding party at the main church
Wedding party at the main church		 Well, that's how I felt there
Well, that's how I felt there
The church from further back
The church from further back		 Other tourists, getting to sit down
Other tourists, getting to sit down		 From my seat in the loggia in the Piazza Duomo
From my seat in the loggia in the Piazza Duomo
Enjoying the heights
Enjoying the heights		 Visiting from the wedding party
Visiting from the wedding party		 These folks know how to dress. Is that you, Charlie C.? :-)
These folks know how to dress. Is that you, Charlie C.? :-)
They're using the same Elph I normally use, I think.
They're using the same Elph I normally use, I think.		 People in Tuscany know how to enjoy a day
People in Tuscany know how to enjoy a day		 Here, people rush around less, laugh more.
Here, people rush around less, laugh more.
One on the right got carried around a lot.
One on the right got carried around a lot.		 Loved these two
Loved these two		 Unimpressed child. Colorful pants, certainly.
Unimpressed child. Colorful pants, certainly.
May is warm enough to need a drink always.
May is warm enough to need a drink always.		 Touristy place, but there's a reason for that
Touristy place, but there's a reason for that		 Bringing something back (all of them)
Bringing something back (all of them)
Inner worlds
Inner worlds		 The church via zoom from within loggia
The church via zoom from within loggia		 Fresco on wall at end of loggia
Fresco on wall at end of loggia
Still sitting lazily in Piazza Duomo loggia spot
Still sitting lazily in Piazza Duomo loggia spot		 Used zoom lens for this one, from same spot
Used zoom lens for this one, from same spot		 At next table in cafe, a mischievous boy
At next table in cafe, a mischievous boy
Mom's had enough, could use baby's umbrella
Mom's had enough, could use baby's umbrella		 Dad never stopped shooting (I should talk)
Dad never stopped shooting (I should talk)		 Our outdoor cafe (inexpensive!) faced this.
Our outdoor cafe (inexpensive!) faced this.
Loved this
Loved this		 And here
And here		 Very wistful eyes
Very wistful eyes
The two from previous shots
The two from previous shots		 That gelato was maybe not so great?
That gelato was maybe not so great?		 Piazza cleaner and gelato cleaners
Piazza cleaner and gelato cleaners

comment | share
Andrys Basten13-Oct-2007 09:27
Virginia,
The gelati helped, everyday, everywhere! :-) Even in May. Thanks for your fun words.
Virginia 13-Oct-2007 01:48
Great pics!
It was really WARM in August but the gelati helped.
I loved it too!
Guest 13-Jan-2007 17:54
did you run around the town water well 5 times? if you did you will one day return to this town..
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