I used to be a little enamored of graffiti, maybe because my two boys came of age as Shepard Fairey was gaining notoriety, maybe because the idea of leaving a mark, any mark, holds presumptive value. There’s rebellion in graffiti. There can be artistry.
But this trip changed my mind. Rome, especially, seemed dirtied and marred by graffiti. It was everywhere.
I came home two pounds lighter even though my carb count was sky high and every day included at least one serving of gelato. Speaks to quality of ingredients, I think. Well, and those 14,000 – 19,000 step count days!
I’m jumping around. Indulge me.
If I’d had more space in my luggage and more disposable dollars, I would have bought some pottery. It was bright, cheerful, and so evocative of the landscape that it would’ve been a nice memento. One cereal-sized bowl I picked up was priced at 65 Euros. Craft worthy of the price — just not for me that day.
I did treat myself to a cheap pair of earrings from L’Accadamie’s gift store.
I’ll end with a movie recommendation. We picked it out because most of it takes place in Rome. That’s the Castel Sant’Angelo. We crossed that bridge! Are those the Spanish Steps? Trevi Fountain with four people at its lip? Sure, a little movie conceit.
It happens to be an uplifting story about second chances — one of my favorite themes. Also, I don’t even know why but I love the actor Bill Nighy. Here he plays a wise soccer (er – football) coach to England’s Homeless World Cup team. Highly recommend, especially if you’ve spent the day reading about Alito and the Orange Menace.
PS forgive the repetition from earlier posts. I can hardly remember what I put in an Instagram story and what here and what nowhere at all, so I need to give myself permission to be repetitive!
I’ve had the same mixed feelings about graffiti. When it is done as art…oh I don’t know. I’m sure you’ve heard of the downtown L.A. building…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgSG385I-EQ
Anyway, it sounds like you had a wonderful trip and not repetitive at all on my end, here on the blog. That is sure a lot of steps!! Good for you!!
Your ferns are beautiful. My parents planted two kinds of ferns in our backyard, as they were a good plant to have around the pool – which did not attract bees to sting us teenage swimmers! haha
I have seen those buildings in LA. They’ve stalled in their development right? The amount of daring-do and finesse required to tag a Skyscraper fills me with admiration, I’ll admit.
I have referred to my trip to Italy as “the gelato tour.” 🙂 It’s been fun seeing all your pictures and remembering.
Deb G (I guess I need to sign myself in again…)
Don’t bother. Just sign your comment. That’s what I do over on Nancy’s site because google gives me such a headache signing in.
I love how completely normalized eating gelato is there. And how unbelievably available!
Walking through Tallinn and Helsinki I said to husband: from now on we’ll be looking to see if we recognise the streets in all those Scandi-crime series we love to watch!
Flying does prevent one from over buying…..love those earrings and you in the photo!
Last night we watched gladiator.
Well, I have a lot of sad feelings about graffiti that ruins good rocks in the landscape. But, I love the graffiti marks that enhance the ugliness of American cities. The graffiti you chose to photograph is some of the best I’ve ever seen. Really too bad it’s defacing a such beautiful city. Could it be signaling the loss of person to person connection, where we find it? The good news is that the Writers are groups of people who are doing something together that they consider important(?).
We are not in a recession (this random from reading about politics) we are experiencing unprecedented corporate greed, maybe should call it rapacious greed.
Back to graffiti:
In our town, parents paint little stones with their children, in a very cute manner. Then the kids hide them and collect other kid’s painted stones. I would prefer it if they let the stones be stones. Couldn’t they paint pieces of unrecyclables? Alas, I can’t think of anything but bottle tops that are so lightweight they’d just blow around.
Glad you had such a great time! Great hair cut with fab earrings and what a lovely profile w/attitude!!
I actually love those little painted stones when I see them!
The weird perceptions Americans have about our economy is really something.