Fascinated ... by this 'gift-wrapped' building

I love to go walking in the city.  Sometimes in the early morning light, sometimes just before nightfall.

I noticed this 'gift-wrapped' dome a few weeks ago and photographed it, enjoying the surprise of it there on the skyline.

Last night though, my eye was caught by the way the setting sun seemed to be lighting it from inside.  It almost appears to be on fire. 

I've been busy, too busy to post it seems.  Paperwork like my codice fiscale and a bank account, had to be organised.  Then my work here, and the horror that has been moving my stuff from the UK.  I learned a lot.  And finding a new place to live.

However it's a blue-sky morning, here in Genoa, today.  I must go out.  There were puddles and reflections last night but it was a wee bit dark when I found them.  And coffee, I am in need of good coffee.

Buongiorno!

Raffaele Kohler ...!!!

Yesterday ... M.U.R.A was happening, here in the centro storico, in Genova.

It was fantastic!  I kid you not.  They promised 2 days, 16 hours, 30 locations and 40 events.  

I don't know if they kept their promises but I can only presume they did because ... the quality of the artists performing was so high that there was no way to see and hear everyone.  I wanted to linger and listen everywhere I went.

I heard Raffaele Kohler, play trumpet at a concert a few years ago, here in Genova.  I never forgot being completely stunned by his performance then and had looked for his CD.  I didn't find one.  I have one this time.  Grazie mille.

And the delicious thing is that he's not just musician but he's an entertainer too.  He's hilarious, if the audience response to his stories was anything to go by.  Then there were scenes like the one above ...

It felt like he gave us his all during the two hours of free concert out in Piazza Lavagna...

But wait, he was part of a trio and honestly, the other two were truly superb musicians too ... it's only that I wanted, so much, to hear him perform again that I am so focused on the delight I felt in catching his performance.

Ottavo Richter gifted us two hours of beautiful music, laughter and joy really.  

Grazie mille to M.U.R.A for organising this beautiful 16 hours, and for finding so many talented artists.  It was a magical night, one where I wandered alone until midnight.  

And, finally, I got to hear  Raffaele Kohler play again.

This City ... ! I Love It.

I find Genova quite the magic city.  I suspect I could go walking here, every single day, and find something quietly exquisite.

Sometimes it's an object, other times it's the light.  

I had never noticed this part of the fountain before.  And I have photographed the fountain, so many times.  It was the light I think.

I saw the reflection first, then climbed up onto the edge of the fountain and chased the image created by the buildings in reflection.

There were more ... 

Small Glimpses from the City

Life ebbs and flow, here in Genova, Italy.  I live with a very mixed amount of pleasure and challenge. 

The pleasure is surely all about going out with my camera, exploring this city I've been exploring for 8 years , and finding new ways to capture it.

Everyday scenes ...

The challenges ... well, I'm not quite ready to blog of most of them yet.  One pressing concern is the fact that my camera is full of dirt and it's a problem that will be time-consuming and costly to repair.  It has never been serviced.

I'm an early morning woman in this world, and it's okay.  Slowly locating my places, favourite cafes for my coffee, favourite walks for my soul.

The clouds were impressing me yesterday.  I climbed the hill and found this ...

You can see why I love it here, can't you ... 

After the Storm ... Genova

On my Love Notes to Genoa Facebook page, I wrote: 'Today, as I wandered the centro storico with my camera, I understood something. People don't photograph the world reflected in puddles because they understand ... they would seem insane.

Mmmhmmm, but it is, quite often, a beautiful way of seeing the world. A storm passed through this afternoon and left behind some beautiful puddles.'

I love this city reflected, after rain.  The tiles on the pavements often create something quite magical.

And then there are the gaps in the ancient stones ...

It was a good day.  A rather exquisite 24 hours, actually.

My Genova Life ... 24 hours.

Yesterday, I was invited to Imperia ... to the Imperia Vintage Yacht Challenge.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I loved that.  Temple Perrotta invited a group of us up to her home, had organised a boat trip that allowed us to be out there among the boats, and watch fireworks from her balcony ... after a lovely dinner down in the village.

I had octopus for dinner.  It was divine.  It was probably of the best meals I've ever eaten.  I would go back to Imperia, more than 100kms from Genova, just for the octopus.  It was like that ... 

I woke at 8am today, after a 2am bedtime, but fell back into bed and slept until 10am.  It delighted me.  It's so rare I manage to sleep in.

We had a storm here today.  An impressive one.  Huge explosions of thunder rolled around above the city, causing the Genoa versus Florence football match to be suspended, once the rain arrived.

I went wandering, towards the end of the downpour ... my camera and I. We found beautiful things, of course.. 

This umbrella was just lying there, spotted as I passed by an alleyway, down near the port.  I backed up, looked around, dug my camera out and played with the light some.

It has been a truly superb 24 hours.