17 January 2008
love *is* all around
P is currently working on a house for a Swiss man, so I have been taking photos and sending them by email to the new owner to keep him up to date on the progress.
Of course this gives me an excuse to wander around a bit and take more village photos–but as it turns out, I don’t have to roam very far from that house to remind me that love really *is* all around.
These are all a few steps from where P parks his motorino:
These images are overseen by a gorgeous stone angel who is on la Chiesa di San Nicola, the center of the small quadrant of the village that the families of both P and me are from.
The church was built in 1239 and is mentioned by name in George Gissing’s classic travel memoir By the Ionian Sea: Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy; the author had happened upon the church’s parroco on a train, which led Gissing to write:
I would ask nothing better than to visit him, some autumn-tide,
when grapes are ripening above the Ionian Sea.
I wonder if Gissing ever did get the pleasure of having this face look down upon him.
Happy Love Thursday everyone!
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Technorati Tags: love thursday, hearts, angels, george gissing, by the ionian sea, ionian sea, badolato, san nicola, chiese, churches
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Erin on 17 Jan 2008 at 8:27 am #
i love the title…reminds me of Love Actually which I’ve watched about 4 times this month
Erin’s last blog post..characters in the city
Such an awesome movie. Happy to remind you
bermudabluez on 17 Jan 2008 at 8:52 am #
Great Photos!! And Love Actually really is a great movie!!
bermudabluez’s last blog post..Simply Crepes!
Thanks, and I wholeheartedly agree on the movie
Diane Mandy on 17 Jan 2008 at 10:38 am #
I’m dating myself here, but as soon as I read the title I started humming the old 70s song, “Love is in the Air.” I love the details of architecture and am fascinated with the large wooden doors on buildings in the little German village I am in. I can’t wait to get to Italy (April) to explore the details there.
Diane Mandy’s last blog post..Now what?
I *love* that song! And it sounds like you’re going to love exploring our nooks and crannies
nyc/caribbean ragazza on 17 Jan 2008 at 3:18 pm #
Diane - I hear you. I starting thinking of that song as well. I think I need to go buy it on iTunes right now.
beautiful photos Michelle!
nyc/caribbean ragazza’s last blog post..“No Country for Old Men” directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
Thanks…I think I may have to contact the Love is in the Air *and* Love Actually people
Karina on 17 Jan 2008 at 4:24 pm #
I love that you find these small details that mean so much. And by the way, I really do love the new look of your new site! It’s so calming and inviting!
Karina’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #38
Thanks Karina, on both accounts
Eryn on 17 Jan 2008 at 5:00 pm #
Loved the heart pics! so cool. i can’t believe that church was built in 1239. wow really puts a lot into perspective!
Ciao Eryn, every now and again it *really* hits me just how long some of this stuff has been around. Incredible indeed.
jen of a2eatwrite on 17 Jan 2008 at 7:46 pm #
Gorgeous photos! This would have made (or would still make) a great Valentine’s Day post, too!
jen of a2eatwrite’s last blog post..What’s Cooking Wednesday: Revised Turkey Tetrazzini
Jen, you’re right. Dang it. Now I have to find *more* hearts….
Gil on 17 Jan 2008 at 8:15 pm #
I wonder how long the heart has been a symbol for love. I never really thought that it even went back as far as 1239. Thanks for posting those interesting pictures.
Well Gil, only the angel (or cherub or putti?) comes from 1239–the hearts are from later, I’m sure, and didn’t symbolize love, I don’t think, so much as a window protection
But you’ve intrigued me about the heart being a symbol. I think I just found a Valentine’s post 
qualcosa di bello on 17 Jan 2008 at 8:56 pm #
details done right…another of the glories of italia~!
qualcosa di bello’s last blog post..a state of being
Qualcosa, they even make iron bars on windows look pretty don’t they? Amazing!
Freelance Cynic on 17 Jan 2008 at 10:59 pm #
It’s true. Just this morning I found love in my bathtub. Still, I washed it down the plughole anyway
Cynic, another fact of life–sometimes love is fleeting. Lessons are all around too
rochambeau on 18 Jan 2008 at 2:19 am #
Your photos discovered hearts and the angel make me happy.
rochambeau’s last blog post..Hear Ye ~Hear Ye !
And I’m happy to hear it!
Butterfly Mama on 18 Jan 2008 at 4:54 am #
Great shots!!!!
Butterfly Mama’s last blog post..Five Beautiful Months
Thanks Heidi! Good to see you!
Jeff on 18 Jan 2008 at 10:11 am #
I’m reminded of Pat Benatar’s “Love is a Battlefield”. Maybe I have the wrong attitude!
Or maybe it’s my age….
Jeff’s last blog post..Focara di Novoli part 2
Hah! What a great song! There’s room for all kinds of love in the love spectrum methinks
Frances on 20 Jan 2008 at 5:48 am #
Absolutely beautiful photos.
You know where they will be appearing next
I’m loving the new blog.
Though I must say I always thought the other one was lovely too
Waving at you from New York,
Frances
Frances’s last blog post..quote for a sunday 1/20/08
Thanks so much Frances! Ooh I see I should change my link to you too