Moving Right Along

Imitation

Weekly Photo Challenge: Life Imitates Art

Since it’s -25C out there today and my only excursion will be to places where art generally imitates life, I’m taking a trip down memory lane to Bochum, Germany in 2010.

We encountered this art installation, with different versions of the same theme placed in various locations in the downtown core. Fortunately, (for the purposes of this challenge) one of our party decided to come out to play.

Thanks for visiting …

Dorothy

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©Dorothy Chiotti … All Rights Reserved 2016

Blooms

Blooms

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Another layer of snow fell last night and it’s still cccccolddd out there.

These beautiful blooms at the Keukenhof Gardens in The Netherlands remind me that spring is just six weeks. 🙂

Thanks for visiting …

Dorothy

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©Dorothy Chiotti … Aimwell CreativeWorks 2015

Travelling Light

Monochrome Madness: Week 37

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Tired

There’s a lot to be said for travelling light.

This image was captured while I was sitting down for dinner in the Campo Santa Maria Formosa in Venice.

This young girl had been pushing her heavy suitcase through the square when she artfully collapsed upon it in exhaustion in front of these beautiful weather-beaten doors.

Venice is a particular challenge to negotiate with baggage.

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Baggage

Following a short break, this young lady, and her well-stuffed travel bag, forged ahead once again.

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In both life and my journeys to foreign places I’m learning to let go of unwanted baggage and to travel light.

It’s liberating, to say the least. 😉

Thanks for visiting …

Dorothy

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©Dorothy Chiotti … Aimwell CreativeWorks 2014

Venetian Water Ways

 

Parking

An enduring and romantic symbol of the water city that is Venice,
a lone gondola rests on the Grand Canal.

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Grand Canal

I remember my first visit to Venice some years ago.

The whole notion of boats taking the place of cars, buses and delivery vehicles as primary modes of transportation was such a fascinating concept.

In fact, it still fascinates me.

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Traffic Jam

Instead of the crush of cars there are, naturally, traffic jams of gondola, especially in the smaller channels.

This is particularly so during the day when cruise ship passengers invade the city. It’s kind of surreal, in a way, but a classic reflection of this beautiful old city.

We experienced our gondola ride in the early evening. Much less traffic. Highly recommended.

A story for another day.

Thanks for visiting …

Dorothy

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©Dorothy Chiotti … Aimwell CreativeWorks 2014

Tuscan Tranquility

Weekly Photo Challenge: Summer Lovin’

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The Villa

For one week last month my husband and I, and five other couples from our neighbourhood, took a trip of a life time/checked a box on our bucket list …

we rented a villa in Tuscany.

From the moment everyone was on board it took about a year of planning, including locating a suitable villa that met ALL of our specifications.

None of us had done anything like this before so there was a bit of flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants-type planning, but in the end we got exactly what we wanted …

Tuscan tranquility.

The beautiful infinity pool played a major part in the vacation equation.

When the early June temps rose to 35C we enjoyed nothing more than a dip in the pool after a long day of sightseeing.

It was pure heaven … in pure heaven.

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The Pool

Oh … the view!!!

We bought a ball at the local market and played with it in the water, and then left it there for the next group coming in.

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Pool

Cooling off after a long day sightseeing. Bellissimo!

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Back of Villa

Our room on the second floor overlooked the pool.

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Ultimate

Oh, glorious sunset!

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Radiant

Now, after looking at these images, I just want to go back.

This was probably one of the loveliest experiences of my life so far.

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More on our Tuscan adventure in later posts …

Arrivederci!

Dorothy 🙂

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©Dorothy Chiotti … Aimwell CreativeWorks 2014

Shout Outs

Travels and Trifles

Santiago the Shepherd

Out of Office Reply On

Container of Containers

Weekly Photo Challenge: Containers

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Container for containers

A colourful candy boutique in beautiful Barcelona ~ an enticing container of containers.

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Bow tied

Sweet treats in pretty packages stacked in pleasant displays lure us in to sample the decadent delights.

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Fuzzy Valentine

Something special for your funny Valentine?

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Candy Contained

Even simple plastic wrap gives an impression of towering gold.

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Needless to say, we did not leave empty handed. 😉

Thanks for visiting …

Dorothy

©Dorothy Chiotti … Aimwell CreativeWorks 2014

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Shout Outs

The Greener Bench

Spice.Light | photography

Maverick Mist

Serendipity

Across the Bored

 

The In-Between … Florence, Italy

 

 

Between

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We were in Italy the past couple of weeks. Started in Florence for a few days, rented a spectacular villa in Tuscany for a week with five couples from our neighbourhood, and then spent the last four days in Venice.

This trip proved an epiphany for me ~ a sign that the worst of my journey with adrenal fatigue is likely behind me, and that I can now look forward to being more fully engaged with life.

I can hardly express my relief.

For the past few years I’ve inhabited the in-between ~ crossing the bridge from a life time of PTSD, and all the dysfunction that implies, to a healthier and more functional way of being. I’ve been healing and this trip to a land steeped in culture and history and landscape and pizza has proven just how far I’ve come.

Italy, my panacea ~ the flavourful food, the delicious wines, the interesting character(s), the incredible vistas, the intense colours, the ornate murano glass, the exquisite leathers and fabrics, the refreshing gelato … an exquisite jumping off point to another amazing chapter in my life.

I feel so fortunate.

Of course, the healing journey continues, but I can move forward now knowing that the progress has been worth the pain and that I am on the right track.

So, with beautiful Italy still very much forefront in my mind it seems appropriate to share this image taken from the Ponte San Trinita in Florence, looking down the River Arno toward the Ponte alla Carraia. Beyond this second bridge and waving between the arches is a sculpted stickman planted on some kind of jetty in the middle of the river ~ no doubt there to add a little whimsy and amuse those, like myself, addicted to standing on a bridge capturing countless images of the setting sun in Italy.

Thanks for visiting …

Dorothy 🙂

©Dorothy Chiotti, Aimwell CreativeWorks 2014

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Shout Outs

Weekly Photo Challenge: Between

Travel with Intent

Please … don’t move!

This Artful Journey

2812 photography

Beyond the Brush

Lean On Me … Amsterdam, NL

Lean On Me

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My second Monochrome Madness submission to Leanne Cole’s wonderful weekly challenge.

This image was taken during a trip to Amsterdam.

I’m left to wonder what it must be like to be inside that building and on the second floor.
Does it feel like it’s leaning?

Thanks for stopping by …

Dorothy 🙂

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©Dorothy Chiotti, Aimwell CreativeWorks 2014