I thought I was being clever in this little cafe by photographing the coffee cup so that I could record the name but it turns out that it's printed with the make of coffee not the name of the establishment (and no it was 'illy' or some such!) It was near the Post Office and I'd like to recommend it because it was a little haven from the heat with everything you could want from an Italian cafe - charming proprietress of a significant age, ageing dandy with quite magnificent peppermint and white seersucker jacket and the man who sits in the corner and feeds the birds. Oh and delicious coffee.
Little birds how wonderful....they must be so used to him feeding them! It all sounds very Italian...is Florence in Italy...I hope I haven't made a faux pas!! Lots of lovely ambience... lovely & foreign on a holiday abroad!!
@happypat Yes - Italy!! I've decided to go in winter sometime - I don't care if it rains - it would be great to avoid the crowds and just work my way around the churches.
Much better & with no men wanting to do other things...so much to see! me & my sister vow to go to Rome one day & do just that! You could photo anything you liked then, taking your time!
@happypat We all loved Rome - again I'd like to go back out of season (if there is such a thing!) - and the Uffizi guide recommended Assisi and a place called Urbino in Umbria - and then there's Venice!! I'll let Nigel come (he even suggested we go in a few churches!) but no kids even though Adam was pretty game about everything we did - I just want to do what we want to do!! You do have to get used to the cost of coffee though...
This is a great shot - love the sepia old dude and his birds. I've never been to Italy. I think I'd like wandering round off season Rome too. But we have a number of years of kid-holidaying to get done first.
Mmm. Big if. We did worse hols ever in a camper van in cornwall two years back (it started raining as we crossed the county boundary and didn't stop for two weeks).
a super candid "street photography" shot Judith. The monochrome treatment was a 'must' . I would have been proud to take a picture like this .... I can almost smell the coffee . I've not done any street photography for a while
@phil_howcroft Oh thanks! Adam told me off as he said I shouldn't be taking people innocently drinking their coffee but the chap knew I was doing it and didn't seem to mind.
@judithg I can understand why Adam said it, but it's a difficult call taking candid "street shots" ....it's social history in the making and I think it's an important genre
I completely love this and so like the sound of the cafe and its staff. We went to Rome a few years ago - Graham was on a conference and spouses were invited too. Perfect, while he was conferencing I could wander aimlessly around galleries etc. which would have bored the pants off him. I walked miles. It was late October, not too busy and the weather was perfect.
@jewelsandbinoculars enjoy those bucket and spade days, neither of mine want to go on holiday for more than a couple of days any more unless it is totally tropical or with a big group of people. They would rather be with their mates.
@jantan not yet you don't. My brother & I have just started going on holiday with our parents again, after 20 or so years of thinking we were too cool for it. It's when yours start holidaying with you again that you'll know you're getting on!
@jewelsandbinoculars@jantan Adam barely paused for breath after saying he'd enjoyed it before telling us we needn't expect him to join us many more times. Trouble is I feel like we're in limbo - they don't want to come with us but it's not straightforward going without them. I sorted out all the life insurance info before 3 out of 4 of us got on the plane!
Blimey, I didn't even think about that, which is most unlike me, being a natural-born pessimist. Maybe you should travel separately like the royal family.
@jantan it kept me awake the night before we left (for some reason it was only the outbound flight that might crash) - I think Rachel quite fancied the thought of a house of her own and a big fat cheque but I was worried nobody would bother to rescue Monty from the kennel!
Judith -- I spent a couple of weeks in Italy several winters ago -- Rome (New Year's Eve was spectacular), Florence, and Venice. Rome and Florence were sunny and mild, crowded but not overrun. Venice was colder but wonderful anyway. I went with a small group led by an art professor from the local community college. I'm thinking of going again this winter and seeing the art and churches all over again.
