Windows, again

Another beautiful view of windows on an old building in Portogruaro. I love this one.

Maturity exams going on

It's time for examinations in Italy. In these days, "maturity exams" are going on: these are the the final examinations in high school, "graduation" exams. In this heat, schools without air conditioning, 18 year old kids have to go through a written essay (6 hours to write it), then a written exam specific for the type of school they attended (for example, Classical Liceum have either a Latin or Greek translation or Scientific Liceum have mathematical problems), a third written test (multiple choice) and finally an oral exam.

Good luck to all students! (My maturity exams have been ... 18 years ago!)

Medieval window

A beautiful window on a medieval building in Portogruaro. I will post more in the next days, there are some many beautiful spots to show you.

Nice hidden view

One of the very nice things about small and big towns in Italy is that often a building that isn't interesting looking at it from the street front, hides a wonderful and picturesque courtyard and garden. It is fun to walk around and try to get a quick look inside a doorway or a window ...

(This picture is made in Portogruaro)

Here I am

Again a drawing of myself, here. This one is made by my almost 3 year old son, that seems left handed and seems also very interested in drawing: he doesn't do it often, but when he does ... this is the result!

Christmas tree

The small fir tree, actually the Christmas tree, planted last year is still small .. but full of new buds. This is a clear sign that it is ok and ready to grow up high, in some (many) years!

More marketplace

Another shot of the Monday marketplace. This is the kitchenware stand. Always full of ladies ... and sometimes also some men!

Monday marketplace

On Monday morning, the center of Concordia is packed with stands selling plants, clothes, cheese, shoes, kitchenware and so on: it's the Monday market. Actually it is much more than a marketplace: most of the people strolling by the stands uses the marketplace as an excuse to end up chatting with someone or, better, sitting in uno of the many coffee bars sipping cappuccino and talking about what happened in the past week.

Peaches

Summer seems to be here, finally. Today 36°C (96°F) and a beautiful lught blue sky. The town is a desert, everyone is at the seaside (or at home with AC running!). We are enjoying the sun and ... wainting for the peaches to get ripe! (We already ate apricots and cherries from the tree and raspberries from the bushes!)

Drainage basins

The countryside approaching the seaside has many drainage basins. When the rivers and the canals in the inland get too full and the water doesn't flow quick enough into the sea, the damns are opened and the basins get filled with the water in excess, permitting the small towns not to get underwater.