NikonGear'23

Travelogues => Travel Diaries => Topic started by: simato73 on July 03, 2016, 23:05:41

Title: Southern Tuscany
Post by: simato73 on July 03, 2016, 23:05:41
I have recently been 10 days on holidays.
Lots of sunshine, hot weather, a home 50 metres from the beach, nice fish restaurants at dinner and no television, no internet, no mobile phones. Pure bliss.
It has been a very relaxed, static beach holiday without much driving around etc. but I did manage a few outings and still took many pictures - just most of them of my dauchter on the beach, so not interesting here (btw the Nikon 1 AW1 is perfect on the beach!).

We stayed in Castiglione della Pescaia, and it is from this that I will begin, since it is an interesting place. Nothing major, but it does have a small port and very clean beaches, overlooked by a castle on a small hill, with narrow, pretty cobbled roads. The walled village is quiet and has a few nice restaurants (the majority are down in the new town, near the port).
Next, some evening shots from within the town walls:

 
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: Frank Fremerey on July 03, 2016, 23:25:41
I love Italy.
I love Tuscany.
Your shots bring back memories.

The first shot. I feel I can smell the scene.

Thank You.
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: simato73 on July 03, 2016, 23:31:43
I love Italy.
I love Tuscany.
Your shots bring back memories.

The first shot. I feel I can smell the scene.

Thank You.

Thank you, Tuscany is my home, I am glad you like it.
Why not go back?
I would heartily recommend Castiglione Della Pescaia for a family seaside holiday, especially during quieter times , like June and September.
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: basker on July 04, 2016, 00:23:22
Thank you for the beautifully illustrated tour. XT19374 gives me an extra smile when the light through the shuttered window flickers during scrolling.

Sam
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: simato73 on July 11, 2016, 22:10:59
This was mainly a seaside family holiday.
Much of the day revolved around taking my daughter to the beach.
But when she was resting I would hit out on my own for some swimming with fins, snorkel and the AW1. I have to say that this camera felt like the perfect camera for this type of holiday. Here are some images taken while snorkeling; the hit rate is abysmally low, but better than my previous attempts with the RX100 in an underwater case.

1. and 2. : Inside the sea cave
3. The castle on Punta Rocchette from out at sea
4. Sea urchin
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: Jakov Minić on July 11, 2016, 22:43:35
Simone, 3. The castle on Punta Rocchette from out at sea is simply phenomenal!!!
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: simato73 on July 11, 2016, 23:14:03
Simone, 3. The castle on Punta Rocchette from out at sea is simply phenomenal!!!

Thank you Jakov.
I stayed there bobbing in the big waves coming from the open sea for quite while, waiting to get this image, and it took many images in several fast bursts.
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: Frank Fremerey on July 12, 2016, 08:05:17
Oh, that brings back memories: http://fotokontext.de/frank/meer2002_sardegna.html
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: Akira on July 12, 2016, 12:40:34
Simone, thanks for sharing these envious images.  :D

I love the last one from the first batch for the pleasant light painting.  And I totally agree with Jakov about the second batch.  The image is literally other-worldly.
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: simato73 on July 12, 2016, 18:24:08
Simone, thanks for sharing these envious images.  :D

I love the last one from the first batch for the pleasant light painting.  And I totally agree with Jakov about the second batch.  The image is literally other-worldly.

Thank you Akira, that image is one of my favourites from the holiday.
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: John Geerts on July 12, 2016, 18:50:54
I can imagine. It's a great shot !
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: Thomas Stellwag on July 12, 2016, 19:12:18
Simone, 3. The castle on Punta Rocchette from out at sea is simply phenomenal!!!

+1
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: armando_m on July 12, 2016, 21:27:16
Terrific series !

Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: elsa hoffmann on July 12, 2016, 21:47:52
it's funny - I can almost feel I was there too - so your series is very interesting to me. I like them a lot.
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: simato73 on July 12, 2016, 23:13:44
John, Thomas, Armando and Elsa, thank you for the comments.
I am pleasantly surprised at the general positive response to the castle shot.
That is probably going to be the highlight of this thread, but I will try to see in the next days if I can find other interesting images to share.
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: simato73 on July 14, 2016, 10:28:18
One hot afternoon we went to visit the sleepy and picturesque village of Vetulonia, which is built on the namesake once might Etruscan city.

1. Narrow streets
2. The church
3. Poppies
4. Briscola paesana (villagers playing the popular "briscola" cards game)
5, 6. Custom trike
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: Akira on July 14, 2016, 11:23:51
Love the poppies shot.  And the custom trike is amazing!
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: Thomas Stellwag on July 14, 2016, 14:18:18
wanna go there again and again
do you know  the manufacturer of the motocarro?
I´d say MV Agusta...?
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: simato73 on July 14, 2016, 14:25:26
do you know  the manufacturer of the motocarro?
I´d say MV Agusta...?

Thanks Thomas.
No idea whatsoever.
I'll leave discovering the manufacturer to the petrolheads...
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: simato73 on July 16, 2016, 00:30:48
I guess it is time for some beach shots

1. Hats and sunglasses
2. "Nonna, I want that one" "Shut up, I am on the phone"
3. Our beach seen from the castle
4. Last enthusiasts catching the waves
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: simato73 on July 21, 2016, 22:48:23
Another hot afternoon we went to Massa Marittima, a little jewel of medieval architecture.
My daughter soon got bored and most of the time I had to carry her on my shoulders up and down the steep streets - very hard work indeed.

Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: armando_m on July 22, 2016, 16:24:22
I like the views of the beach and all of the last series, wonderful building !
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: simato73 on July 22, 2016, 16:57:00
I like the views of the beach and all of the last series, wonderful building !

Thank you Armando.
The cathedral on its steep steps is the architectural highlight of the town.
It is built in Pisan Romanesque style (a variant of the Romanesque with characteristic decorative elements originating from Pisa, my town. Pisa's cathedral is the best example of it).
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: Akira on July 22, 2016, 17:35:54
Simone, I like not only the beautiful images of the last batch but also the good sense and taste of them.  I enjoy browsing through them.  Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: frankv on July 22, 2016, 18:14:03
I love Italy as well, and have lost my heart to Liguria and Piemonte. Just returned from a three week holiday, also without internet and TV. I can attest to the bliss-factor of that. Logging off the world for a longer periode of time is recomendable. Simone, you know where I was :-) One of the highlights this year was watching the game between Germany and Italy with at bunch of crazy Italians at the home of one of the friends we have made there. If you think the english are crazy about football, you know nothing yet. :-)

Great images you present for us, and I already want to go back. (I returned yesterday) The castle from the water is spectacular, but all of the others are great as well.
 :)

All the best!
-frank-
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: simato73 on July 22, 2016, 20:09:17
I love Italy as well, and have lost my heart to Liguria and Piemonte. Just returned from a three week holiday, also without internet and TV. I can attest to the bliss-factor of that. Logging off the world for a longer periode of time is recomendable. Simone, you know where I was :-) One of the highlights this year was watching the game between Germany and Italy with at bunch of crazy Italians at the home of one of the friends we have made there. If you think the english are crazy about football, you know nothing yet. :-)

Great images you present for us, and I already want to go back. (I returned yesterday) The castle from the water is spectacular, but all of the others are great as well.
 :)

All the best!
-frank-

Frank, I know well how we Italians are about football, in good and bad ways.
One of the best way of seeing the good side is being in the historical city centres of any large-ish city, after a Word Cup win.
I wish old style Fiat 500's will last forever  - a world cup celebration is not the same without people waving the Tricolore from an open Fiat 500 roof.

Back to the topic, my holiday too was without phone and internet - bliss after the initial withdrawal syndrome.

Thanks for stopping by and commenting, hope to see you again for real.
Title: Re: Southern Tuscany
Post by: simato73 on July 22, 2016, 20:10:38
Simone, I like not only the beautiful images of the last batch but also the good sense and taste of them.  I enjoy browsing through them.  Thanks for sharing.

Thank you very much Akira :)