Where the seagull rests

Ischia (SouthEast Coast)

I was at the coffee corner at my job, some days ago when I was approached by one of the senior system engineers of my department. He came close to the vending machine where I was leaning on with my shoulders while turning round a little stick into my coffe and, pointing his finger at me, told me: "You are from an island that's been the first Greek settlement in Italy, my town was founded by your ancestors, therefore I am somehow a relative of yours". He was not drunk and I don't have reasons to think he's assuming drugs. I stared at him after this revelation and, continuing circling an already cold coffee, answered: "I think so ...".

As I'll have to wait until next Summer before knowing if I'll be able to get back there, I turned my attention to my hard-disk and pulled these pictures of a boat tour around the island that I had last July. You'll see only rocks formations, what's left from latest eruptions. It's some kind of celebration of the power of nature. A sign of respect for the vulcan sleeping few hundreds meters under the island surface.

Flowers

The B&W elaboration of all flowers samples I took last summer when I was in Ischia has just begun. I think sooner or later I'll have to put on stage a photobook that collects them all.

Penelope

Fishing is reportedly something for men (what ever the age). Not everyone's necessarily to be happy about it.

Good catches

Still digging into my disk for some good Summer' shots. Could it be it's already time for a break?

Time to go

Up hill

These are just few samples of the local Tyrrhenian architecture that I was able to snap early in the morning, along on our daily climb to reach the beach of Maronti. It might sound strange, on the island you always have to climb before going down and enter the sea. It's a healthy, training process that slowly strengthen your mind and body.

Upon leaving and getting back to the city, you end up missing the heat, the fresh sweat that constantly stains your shirt and drips from your forehead, the smell of green volcanic sponge rock upon which everything stands and that makes up the surface of every wall.

Taxi Boats

Lido dei Maronti, Ischia. The southern side of the island observed from the hill on a quiet morning. Two taxi boats cross their trails on the plain water surface.

The Diver

A good sight

I haven't had much time to walk around and shoot alone and without restrictions during the two weeks I've recently spent on Ischia. Kids and relatives have had the master's voice: they decided and planned for me and my wife. I'm not saying that I regret the way time passed. I just let the things happen and waited for the events to fall upon me. That's in some extent the real vacation. Besides, since I had been away from the island for nine years, the list of things to be done and shown to my kids before leaving was so long that time for shooting was inevitably put on a second, if not third, layer. Shooting demands for time. Time demands for all the other tasks to be done and distracting thoughts swept away.

We will certainly go back in Ischia again (at least before I get too old to complete the list of things to be done). I'll find (or reserve) the right amount of time to walk around the island and take good shots.

Surf and Turf

Ischia is more than an simple island. It's a whole world, with every kind of natural environment one could ever image to find on a stretch of less than 50 Kmq. More than for the surrounding sea, it is well known for the thermal springs that the underlying volcano heats up and the abundant products of its soil: wine above all. The ancient Romans called it Aenaria (the island of wine), whereas the Greeks used to call it Pithaecusa (the island of the apes). Both aspects are still reflected today by the modern inhabitants: at the same time skillful growers and winemakers (not to mention drinkers) and ... great talkers, men and women always keen to discussions and quarrels. My DNA is 50% from there: I do recognize some "hints" of these features in myself too.

The beast sleeping under its surface, the volcano has given its inhabitants one of the most fertile lands, provided there's enough rain in late springtime. After our arrival, beginning of this month, we had the pleasure to spend some time, every day, in the orchards of our relatives where they grow every kind of fruits and vegetables. We left our children going around and pick sample of almost everything. This is the time of the year when you get the most. Our kids were not used to pick fruits form the plant. I strive to think they have ever done it before. Books and Internet don't teach these things. It's the bitter wage of living in a large town.

Ischia - III

Approaching the final destination.

Ischia - II

First stop to Procida, the Island of Arturo.

Ischia - I

The sea crossing to the island.