robert blu
quiet photographer
Ciao, io ho dovuto aspettare di essere in pensione per gustare l'Italia...
Hi, I had to wait for retirement age in order to enjoy Italy...
robert
robert blu
quiet photographer
Tuscany can be a windy place 
raid
Dad Photographer
I waited until I had a job that allowed me to attend international conferences once in a while. International travel can be very costly. This Italy trip was mostly a private trip for me. There are many places that I want to visit in the USA, such as Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, ...
There are many things in Europe that cost in € what you would pay in $ in the US. You start with a 30% loss up front, then add about $1500 for flight cost. The rest s comparable in cost. Having access to the internet helps greatly in leveling the playing field.
There are many things in Europe that cost in € what you would pay in $ in the US. You start with a 30% loss up front, then add about $1500 for flight cost. The rest s comparable in cost. Having access to the internet helps greatly in leveling the playing field.
raid
Dad Photographer
Here are some photos that Robert or his wife (Simo) took of us.
At Bagno Vignoni (hot water springs since th times of the Roman Empire):
Me and Robert eating Gelato in Bagno Vignoni or in Pisa:
In Lucca: I am taking a photo of my wife:
Dana and Lina having fun in Lucca:
My daughters and I in Pisa:
A rare Amin Family photo in Pisa:
At Nico's home! A Lucca RFF Meeting, so to speak.
At Bagno Vignoni (hot water springs since th times of the Roman Empire):
Me and Robert eating Gelato in Bagno Vignoni or in Pisa:
In Lucca: I am taking a photo of my wife:
Dana and Lina having fun in Lucca:
My daughters and I in Pisa:
A rare Amin Family photo in Pisa:
At Nico's home! A Lucca RFF Meeting, so to speak.
raid
Dad Photographer
Once we reached Nico's home, I was already tired from taking photos, so I did not take my camera with me there. I knew that Simo and/or Robert would take some photos. I have to tell you about one situation that happened there that I found fascinating. While Nico's baby daughter was sleeping, his older daughter (3 years old) played with Dana and Lina. At one time, we heard Lina reading to Alecia (or similar) a story in Italian! It did not seem to matter to the little girl that Lina did not speak Italian, and I have no clue how Lina just went ahead and read to her a story in Italian! Alecia's mom said that her daughter knows the story well. I know that Simo took a photo of it.
Highway 61
Revisited
Nice to see what Internet can bring out sometimes (I mean, people coming from all around the world and sharing some common interests, then meeting in the flesh somewhere, like old friends).
Lucca is delightful. I have been lucky enough to get some nice weather and many things screaming "Italia, Italia..." there...
Lucca - May 14th 2013
Lucca is delightful. I have been lucky enough to get some nice weather and many things screaming "Italia, Italia..." there...
Lucca - May 14th 2013
raid
Dad Photographer
Nice to see what Internet can bring out sometimes (I mean, people coming from all around the world and sharing some common interests, then meeting in the flesh somewhere, like old friends).
Lucca is delightful. I have been lucky enough to get some nice weather and many things screaming "Italia, Italia..." there...
Lucca - May 14th 2013
This image is a typical "Italia!" image.
Yes, I find the human aspect to RFF a very important factor for me.
mynikonf2
OEM
I have been enjoying them far too much to be counting & was actually hoping you had more to post.
raid
Dad Photographer
I have more to post, but I will first sort them so that they are by location. As long as there are some people here interested, I will post more images.
tjh
Well-known
This image is a typical "Italia!" image.
Yes, I find the human aspect to RFF a very important factor for me.
Me too - people are generally polite and constructive. I really like the RFFers I've met in person.
Tom
pete hogan
Well-known
Raid, very interesting posts. Please do more.
raid
Dad Photographer
Thank you, Pete. Will do. In the end, editing images is also useful for me for my family overseas.
raid
Dad Photographer
Colors!
raid
Dad Photographer
I was fascinated by the arches an walkways.
This is a driveway to some apartments. Cars and small trucks would actually drive through this "tunnel".
This is a driveway to some apartments. Cars and small trucks would actually drive through this "tunnel".
raid
Dad Photographer
The most annoying aspect of eating out was for us (especially for the girls) the timing. Dinner could not be before 7:30pm, in general. Restaurants were either closed or they were not ready to serve dishes by 7pm. This is a typical scene for us. We find a restaurant, and then it hits us (again) that even at 7pm, there is no service.
I was in very few images included, so this was my revenge: a self portrait!
My daughters are very different from each other! One likes bread, the other does not touch it, but she loves pasta ... etc. Both like Gelato, but one does not touch Vanilla while it is the favorite for the other.!
I was in very few images included, so this was my revenge: a self portrait!
My daughters are very different from each other! One likes bread, the other does not touch it, but she loves pasta ... etc. Both like Gelato, but one does not touch Vanilla while it is the favorite for the other.!
raid
Dad Photographer
The weather suddenly changed to very cold, and we were not prepared for it. It reached lower 40's with strong wind. If there is a next time for us, we will have rain gear and some winter gear too.
robert blu
quiet photographer
Raid says "The most annoying aspect of eating out was for us the timing. Dinner could not be before 7:30pm, in general. Restaurants were either closed or they were not ready to serve dishes by 7pm. This is a typical scene for us. We find a restaurant, and then it hits us (again) that even at 7pm, there is no service."
Robert says "this is Italy!
Robert says "this is Italy!
raid
Dad Photographer
Parking in Siena is a nightmare. The cost is around EURO 36 per 24 hours, unless you search for the free parking places. Cars park exactly beside your car, and it can get so close that you need to climb out from the back of the car. Our landlady emailed us the name and location of the best free parking lot, relative to the location of her apartment. With the GPS, it was easy to find. Bring with you a GPS.
raid
Dad Photographer
Exactly. We adjusted quickly to it, Robert. We would have a small snack at 4-5pm.
Please correct me whenever I state something incorrect here!
raid
Dad Photographer
We love having breakfasts at some bakery or small restaurant or any place serving bakery and some Cappuccino. This one was very close to our strategically located apartment. One Cappuccino here cost EURO 1.20. In some places, it is EURO 2-2.50.
