Amasra, Turkey. September, 2014

The indoor market here in this Black Sea town had an astounding collection of BIG things. Just take a look at this accumulation of home-grown garlic. This is also the market where I encountered the biggest cabbages I've even seen. They looked as if they were about to go condo. I remember that most vendors were a bit reserved...until I dropped a little of the Turkish language I had learned. And I do mean a little. Mostly I can say, "I speak a little Turkish but my Turkish is not very good" or "Unfortunately I have no money at all." The first elicits a fine response. The second, no.

Napoli. October, 2015

Once again, the benefit and pleasure of looking down instead of up. This beautiful mosaic floor within the Galleria Umberto. One of many in this spacious downtown arcade.

Istanbul. September, 2014

I have been trying to limit my carbohydrates (again) lately. No flour, no sugar, no potatoes, you understand. So naturally it's this delivery van at an Istanbul farmers market that haunts my dreams. I just want to crawl right in there and hang out for awhile.

Agrigento, Sicily. October, 2015

Every time I visit ruins like this, I always think about the thousands of people who have walked here before. And perhaps still do. What were they wearing, talking about, worrying about? What did they have for lunch? What kind of shoes did they have on. I can't help it. And besides, those thoughts are much more interesting to me than whatever some chatterbox guide may be talking about.

Watertown, MA. August, 2015

In all the years of hearing about hailstorms, I'd never really experienced any hail larger than a snowflake. Until last August, when the warm skies opened and yielded an abundance of golfball-size hailstones. Seeing them fall was one thing. Hearing them land on the roof and windowpanes was quite another. This photo really doesn't do justice to the specimens you see on the grass through the trees. I should have provided a size reference (at Bose we always used a compact disc) but I was not about to go outside and be pelted.

Catania, Sicily. October, 2015

This little girl, mesmerized by the offerings at the daily fish market, has appeared on this blog before. But she was such a standout in the crowd of otherwise grizzly vendors and determined shoppers, that I had to take many photos of her. Here's another.

Valletta, Malta. October, 2015

The fortress town of Valletta is built almost entirely of golden stone. And nowhere is this more evident than upon leaving the sheltered harbor toward sunset.