Edinburgh Is Number One For Romance

Once in the year, there is a special period, when every relationship can fly up. Even if you have problems with your partner, this period is the best time for getting it right. I write about the Valentine's Day. Book your Edinburgh accommodation -and forget about the noisy reality.

Make an unusual treat to your partner and pass a romantic weekend in Edinburgh. This city is very special because it brings romance in people, who knows why. It can be for the cobbled streets and interesting pubs Or the striking castle gives out the emanations of special energy. It is possible that the spirit of Mary, Queen of Scots, appeals to all couples in love...

Get lyrical, inspire the air of romance and feel loved up by this magic place. There were thousands of writters, poets and painters that did it before you. It's enough to think about it and plan your trip remembering the possibilities of nightlife too. Edinburgh accommodation can be choosed not far from the places of your main interest. From there you can visit theaters or partecipate on cruises for example.

Don't forget your Valentine's dinner. There are many romantic settings where you will find not only relaxed atmosphere and memorable meal. Restaurants offer special Valentine's Menu, it's clear. There are champagne testings and great wine lists. But the most interesting is the locally sourced Brittish and Scottish food. When you plan your romantic weekend, search for great chefs and dedicated places. You go away in Edinburgh to taste THAT life, so enjoy this great event.

For those who like shopping there are many attractions too. There are businesses that suit all your needs, where you can find absolutely unique and bespoke gifts in air of romance. Allow that all thiscreate a special atmosphere and feel loved up by the life.

The Golden Ring of Russia

These are the "open air museums" not too far from Moscow. Some antique towns with unique architecture from XII century. The region is called Zalesye and the towns are Sergiyev Posad, Pereslavl-Zalesskiy, Rostov Velikiy, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Gus-Khrustalny, Suzdal, Vladimir, Rybinsk, Uglich and Alexandrov. (Read Russian Churches Of XII Century too)

Unfortunatelly, I had never the possibility to visit these towns. It's sad, you kow. We travel around the world and do not visit the places of our country, our nation. I know, it's the same for everybody all over the world.

This is Rostov Velikiy (not Rostov -it's another city)


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Here is Suzdal


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Russian Churches Of XII Century

If we want to speak about Russian architecture that I love so much ( The Golden Ring of Russia ), we have to remember the churches of Velikij Novgorod. The pure beauty (inspired by Byzantine art, they say) impress your imagination. So, if you plan to "study" them, don't forget this destination.

The church "Spas At The Nerediza"


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Lifting The Dredge

When I hear the word dredge, I usually think of the process of excavating a harbor bottom to make it more navigable. A dredge however, is an oystering term, as well. It is an odd looking contraption, that I can only describe as being part-basket and part-rake. Instead of  altering the Sound's bottom, it's purpose is to gather oysters with as little damage as possible. Damage to the bottom means damage to the oysters, and a bed not properly dredged, can destroy the harvest. 

Careless dredging isn't the only threat to an oyster. Strong noreasters and hurricanes can wreak havoc on  beds by burying them under sand. A large presence of starfish can devour a bed over time, as well. Pollution meanwhile, remains the  most constant and pressing threat (later post). While I was aware of these threats, Norman Bloom mentioned another that I had not considered;... theft. 

Often the oyster beds are marked by little more than a wooden stake that rises a few feet from the surface. In certain years, some beds may flourish while others do not. Norman described a scenario where a boat may be working a bed with limited results, but finds the edge of the bed is more productive. It can be very tempting to cross over that line and dredge someone elses bed. "You have to keep your eyes open". Norman said.

The moment he said those words, it answered a question I had not asked earlier. On our way out of the harbor, I noticed he didn't follow the channel's eastern course, and instead seemed to be zig-zagging all over the place. At one point we were over near Sprite Island, which was far north of the channel and our destination. "Maybe he is taking me on the scenic route." I joked to myself. It now seems very clear that while he was talking to me about getting only 31 cents an oyster, he was also keeping an eye out for other boats dredging his beds. 

Pollution, starfish, storms, and theft. There are a lot of things to keep an eye on at once. 

(More To Follow)

Norm Bloom & Son

Soundbounder: The Fruits Of Winter (part one)

Soundbounder: I Love It Out Here This Time Of Year (part two)

Soundbounder: Mary Colman (part three)

A good time had by all ....

Great walk yesterday, with the initially very cold weather turning out to be pretty good for a long hike. Thanks to all who participated, and especially to Chris and Barry for the photos. In March we go back to two walks per month as usual, so lots of spring walking to come.

Mary Colman

Like many farming and fishing industries, there are both good and bad years for oystering. Sometimes the good or bad years can last a decade. One of the first questions I asked Norman Bloom was what kind of year has it been. Perhaps I didn't phrase my question correctly, or maybe he fully understood , but decided to take a different angle with his answer. He said the biggest problem is the costs for fuel, maintenance, insurance, etc, are all going up, but he is still being paid the same price for oysters as he was twenty years ago. I asked him what he gets paid for a bushel, and he told me that they are no longer priced per bushel.Oysters are now sold by the count of one hundred. A bushel of one hundred sells for 31 dollars, or 31 cents per oyster."And that includes delivery in most cases", he told me.



He seemed disgusted by the fact that the price of oysters in restaurants and seafood markets has increased significantly, while the price he is paid remains stagnant.* I am not sure if this was a plan in the works, or if he was simply brainstorming, but Norman talked about wanting to set up a system where he would sell directly to restaurants and stores in the region. The oysters could be sold at a lower price, so long as the savings was passed on to the consumers. "The goal is to get more people eating oysters", he said.

We approached the Mary Colman, which is another 1920's era oyster boat in the fleet. She is a smaller version of the Ringgold Brothers but appeared to be in much better condition. The pre-fab pilothouse was a clear indication she had undergone extensive renovation. The crew seemed especially happy to see us. Perhaps the isolation of being on a boat in Long Isand Sound during February, made any interaction a special occasion. Then again, maybe they were just glad it was Friday afternoon, and the paychecks had arrived.



(More To Follow)

Soundbounder: The Fruits Of Winter (part one)

Soundbounder: I Love It Out Here This Time Of Year (part two)

Soundbounder: Lifting The Dredge (part four)

Norm Bloom & Son



* I call this the Poinsettia Process. North of San Diego is the town of Carlsbad CA, which is famous for it's poinsettias. Every November the plants are shipped to wholesalers, who then ship them to the distribution centers of chain stores. Eventually they make it back to the grocery stores and Home Depots in San Diego, and sell for the same price as they do in Hartford and Brooklyn. It happens with seafood too.

San Pietro A Corte and Archeological Group of Salerno

You ask me from time to time, what I do in our excavations site in Salerno. Now I'll try to tell you about it .

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San Pietro A Corte is one of the 3 most important sites in Salerno. Here you can meet the story of the town from Roman times through the Early Middle Ages, Normann period till today.

We, volunteers of the Archeological Group, try to do all the possible to open this site every day. If it was not so, the site was close for visits as all other interesting places are. The town and the region has not funds for it. Actually we open it every day except monday.

To the persons that come to visit the excavations, tourists and residents, we tell the story of the town, of this site.
Not only we tell many interesting things to them but we learn from them too. Specially when residents remember what they have seen with their eyes and what they heard from their parents and grandies is very interesting.

Here, Felice Pastore, our president, with a group of tourists


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Pietro Crivelli, one of the eldest members of the group.


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Aurora, an other member of our group, with the tourists in the part over the Roman bath and Paleochristian church.


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The other part of the complex is the St. Anne's chapel


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When nobody comes to visit us we speak about everything. I love to listen to other members when they tell peculiarities from the story of Italy and this region. I ask allways and everytime. So, the shifts in S.Pietro are very informative and interesting for me.


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