Hugh’s Photo Challenge : Wrong Position

Run Away With Me, Juliet.

This photo was taken last summer in Verona, at the famous statue of Juliet, I don’t think Romeo would be too impressed with Juliet’s new suitor!

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Symmetry

The Roman Arena in Vernona

The Roman Arena in Verona, Italy, dating back to the first century,  is a splendid example of symmetry,with two floors of arched windows, in a round structure, looking out on the people in the square, as it has done for centuries.

And the pair of African grey hornbills, are almost symmetrical, as they sit and contemplate the fishing on the lake, and wait for the setting sun.

African hornbills

Linked to Weekly Photo Challenge: Symmetry

Sunday Stills : Entrances and Doorways

Come and look at some interesting entrances and doors I found on my travels!

St Marks Church,Venice

Church in Riva del Garda

Inside of church in Riva

The Roman Arena in Verona

Verona

Linked to SundayStills, where you can check out some more of this interesting challenge

Romeo, Romeo!

William Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet, a tragedy about two young lovers from opposing noble families, the House of Capulet (Juliet’s family)  and the house of Montague, of which Romeo was a son.   Both houses were sworn enemies of each other, so when Romeo and Juliet fell in love the families were not pleased, and they did everything in their power to stop the romance, and it all ends in tragedy.   You can read a synopsis of the story here if you are not familiar with it.  The original Romeo and Juliet and their families date back to the 13th century.

Oddly enough, though Shakespeare based the story in Verona, where the two families lived, and also wrote ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’ he had never visited Verona.  The original story of the star crossed lovers was written by Dante Aligheiri (The Divine Comedy), in the 13th century, this was translated into English from Italian and is said to have given Shakespeare the idea for the play.

We visited Verona recently, and one of the most visited attractions there is Juliet’s Balcony, where, according to Shakespeare, Romeo climbed up to visit her in her room.   That may be poetic licence, as our guide told us that  balconies didn’t exist at the time that the original star crossed lovers did.    However, anything for a good story, and there is now a balcony attached to the old house, and outside the house is a statue of Juliet.   Tradition is that if you touch the right arm of Juliet, you will have a long life with success in love, and therefore everyone likes to touch Juliet, either on the arm or other places!

Juliet

Juliet’s Balcony

Touch her arm for love

Oh look, another Juliet on the balcony

Locks placed on a railing for undying love

 

Weekly Photo Challenge : Between

Looking up between the buildings

I love the hazy view of the mountains in the background, between the narrow streets of Riva del Garda.

Archway through the building

This old archway in the city of Verona has a date of 1687, which was during the Crimean War, you can see the cannons mounted into the wall, and who knows how many soldiers passed between these walls on their way to battle.

The bridges of Venice

The canals in Venice that flow between the buildings, are always busy with water buses, water taxis, gondolas, and speed boats, as people go about their daily business in this city which is made up of over 100 small islands, all connected by the canals that run between.

 

 

Wordless Wednesday : Lock Up Your Heart