Saturday Night, Sunday Morning

Our holiday started at this cafe, which was just opposite our apartment. It was so lucky, as we were early and the man with the keys was late. Where the buskers are standing is our front door! Delicious Margarita pizza! It is the perfect excuse to eat pizza, being in Rome!

Once we had the keys, and while waiting for Antony, we went for a little walk.

I love this graffiti. Not very professionally executed, but the message is good.

Later this graffiti man caught my eye.

He was opposite another cafe.

We were lucky to be staying very centrally,

and so there were lots of little places to eat and drink.

I don't know what this notice says, apart from the obvious word. Perhaps it says,

'Attention!

Be very careful when crossing the roads.

But!

To cross them at all, even when there are crossing signs,

You have to force your way out.

Yes!

Force your way out.

Keep eye contact with the drivers at all times.

Good luck softy English tourist!'

The people we met were all so friendly. But not the ones behind the wheel of a car! In the few very thrilling taxi rides we had, I noticed a habit in the Roman driver of making their own lanes. Where there is no lane, there shall be one! Vrrrooommm!

I do love seeing different driving habits.

It is kind of a boring obsession of mine, along with police driving programmes.

Our street, the Via del Boschetto, in the early morning, before setting off for the Colosseum.
I used a photo of the beautiful ochre painted and weathered wall opposite, as the texture.

This is our view from the cafe where we had breakfast. It had a great view of the Colosseum and the start of the Palatine Hill. We visited the Colosseum, but not the Palatine Hill or the Forum, so I definitely need to go back!

This building was what inspired our trip-Antony was up one weekend and we watched a great programme on the discovery channel all about it.

Shadow Shot Sunday

Greenwich Observatory, shadows on the trees and one on the moon.
Long woman of Greenwich Park.

Hotel window at Crieff. The marks in the shadow that look

like water are from the wiggly, imperfect, old glass.

Shadows in the Winter Garden at Crieff. This is one of my favourite parts of the hotel.

It is lovely to sit here with your coffee and people watch!

Visit Hey Harriet for more shadows from around the world.

Satnav Envy

Views around Crieff Hydro.... I imagine fairies live here.
And here.
Horses going to work in the morning.
Acer tree on the way into Crieff. (I was, not the tree!)

Another bright tree.

Loch Earn

A horse who lives at Loch Earn-and thought I was his food bringer. As soon as he saw me he rushed through the trees with a real sense of purpose. He seemed to enjoy a little attention but not as much as he would have enjoyed some food. As we were leaving a woman with buckets was seen approaching.

The beautiful view from The Knock-a steep hill near the hotel.

The sun was rising and caught the mountain.

Wet bracken.

As we sat in traffic yesterday on the very long drive back from Scotland, I caught glimpses of people's bright and friendly satnavs on their dashboards. As we were driving around Glasgow by accident yesterday morning, (it looks lovely but I didn't want to go there at that time) instead of on the way to Edinburgh, on the route we had planned, I wanted a satnav. I have gradually been coming round to the idea of owning one, having previously taken the attitude that I can read a map and who needs all this technology? I can read a map, but not when I am driving around an unfamiliar city. Andy can read a map but it is no help when there are no signs, which I often find that there are not. I did try to investigate satnavs last week but am worried that I do not seem to have a cigarette lighter point in my car which is what I am told they need to run on. Our next long journey is not for some time so maybe by then I will have acquired one and motoring will never again have to be the potential cause of strife!

Above, to counter the slightly moany tone of this post, are some photos of beautiful things from the last few days away! We had a lovely time with Andy's family.