No, these are not the famous umbrellas of Cherbourg, but in fact, they belong to my favorite home design store, J. Semmler International Collections, on 5th Ave South in Naples.
But since they made me think of Les Parapluies de Cherbourg and the divine Catherine Deneuve, here's a trailer to the French musical. Enjoy!
Today's quiz can only work under the honor system - you promise not to Google and I promise not to giggle at your answers ;-)
Hint: the inspiration for the quiz came from this photo of the snowy egret and his reflection...
Today's question is: from which famous novel comes the following quote:
"Hence it came about that I concealed my pleasures; and that when I reached years of reflection, and began to look round me, and take stock of my progress and position in the world, I stood already committed to a profound duplicity of life."
UPDATE: Time for another hint, another quote:
"All human beings... are commingled out of good and evil."
Downtown Old Naples, in front of the Opus building, which is the headquarters of a land development company.
Do you recognize the yellow car? Yes, it's the British Mini Cooper, and when I lived in Paris, I would see them around every corner. They seemed to fit in nicely with the French Renault and Peugeot but had an extra "cuteness" factor to them (and you know how important that is ;-)
So can you blame me for wanting to "adopt" one and bring it home with me (to the US)? I even went as far as to build my own model . But then the reality set in - do I really want to be intimidated and pushed around by the jumbo SUV's on the Tamiami Trail (main throughfare in Naples)?
So, no, this isn't my Mini, but I wish it was...especially now, with the gas prices soaring!
The start of the Memorial Day weekend on the Naples Pier.
Some will be fishing, some will be boating, some will be relaxing on the beach.
But the pelicans will remain ever vigilant - any fish you fail to reel in, is their gain :-)
Well, after 4 days of lying belly up, we've taken a walk along the coast that brought us smack into Ft. Myers Beach, about 30 miles north of Naples (I know it's a hefty walk, but just humor me ;-). If you enlarge the photo you will see the bridge to Sanibel Island in the distance, but I digress...
Today's question is: what are those sunbathers gawking and pointing at?
Update: Dolphin sighting! Unfortunately, you just have to take my word for it - he was too fast for my old Kodak. With a little imagination, you can almost ;-) see him here.
Friday I showed you the Naples Beach north of the Pier. It is mainly family-oriented, rather quiet and sedate, with the emphasis on rest and relaxation.
South of the Pier is a different world - young, hip, active and hot (feel free to enlarge the photo ;-). Sail boat rentals, beer tents, music DJ, ball tournaments...
So I'm conducting this social experiment in order to get to know you better - on which side of the Pier will you spread your towel?
We are now on the historic Naples Pier - a favorite location of fishermen. It features a concession stand and bait shop, and fishing from the pier does not require a fishing license. The place is teeming with colorful characters...
For some reason, "The Old Man and the Sea" by Hemingway comes to mind:
"Fish, I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before this day ends".
I hope you've been working out lately and tightening up those abs...We are going to the beach today (and for the next few days) and I don't want you to embarrass me ;-)
With fine white sand on the shore of the deep blue Gulf of Mexico, this is the Municipal Naples Beach and Fishing Pier (photos to come).
So swim, work on your tan, play volleyball, read or snooze - this is the Paradise Coast and the living is easy...
At one time, we shared our life with an Old English Sheepdog who, as much as she loved being around us, was uncomfortable and shy around strangers.
Whenever we had company, she tried to hide under the coffee table. The only problem was, that at 90 lbs (40 kg), the only thing that would fit under the table was her head. But somehow in her canine logic, she figured that if she can't see anyone, no one can see her...
I wonder if the egret thinks he's hidden?
What you are seeing, took place recently at Fort Myers Beach. I was watching it from the pier, together with a group of beachcombers and fishermen . Sorry I can not divulge any more details right now, but I know how clever you are - you'll figure it out :-).
Today's question is: can you describe what is taking place in this photo?
UPDATE: This scene is part of a dramatic rescue mission! Two seagulls got tangled up in the fishing line, with a hook stuck in one of their wings. They were sure to die...
This young man jumped in the water with some clippers to free them but it was not an easy task - the birds were wriggling, hissing, biting, getting entangled even worse...
Finally, after half an hour and another pair of helping hands, they were freed and brought onto the beach to recuperate. Obviously they were stressed and dazed and I hope they made out OK...
For more photos of the rescue, please click here.
My earliest memory of Mom was her scent. Whenever she leaned over to pick-me up, I was bathed in jasmine, her favorite perfume.
Today, my Mom lives on the other side of the world and we don't see each other often. But the heady evening scent of the jasmine vine, climbing up my courtyard wall, keeps her close to my heart...
For that special bond we share, this is dedicated to all the mothers and daughters out there:
Martina McBride - In My Daughter's Eyes (LIVE)
The shoppes at Promenade
Doing what comes naturally on Saturdays - running errands ;-)
Let's see...farmer's market, library, post office, cleaners...You too?
Shall we meet up here for a respite and perhaps a glass of wine?
Al is uncharacteristically bashful today...Still, he wants me to convey his wishes for a great week-end!
See you later, alligator ;-)
Back to the Gallery Row, downtown Naples. I wrote about it in this post, but I will remind you that we have over 100 art galleries in our small town of 22,000 inhabitants! Pretty impressive, huh?
This photo also proves that our downtown architects know more than just one style - Mediterranean! And they listened to the town councilman who once eloquently proclaimed: "If I see one more building downtown, looking like a goddamn Italian wedding cake, I'll puke!"
And finally, is it me, or is the man in the photo sprouting a tail?
I am fascinated by Spanish Moss. It gracefully hangs from the branches of the large Live Oak tree in our front yard. I never grow tired of its beauty and charm.
It is neither a moss nor a parasite; rather, it is a tropical, epiphytic herb (air plant) which grows on another plant upon which it depends for mechanical support but not for nutrients. It ranges from the Southeastern US to South America, growing wherever the climate is warm and humid.
To me, Spanish Moss is a lacy, romantic symbol of the South...
Yorkie and the greyhounds at the Promenade
Great minds think alike - with a friendly nod to Gerald, today's quiz is more of a brain stretcher: Please come up with your best caption to this photo!
Ok, I will start you off: "How did I end up in Brobdingnag?"
Misty morning at Pelican Lake.
We continue our stroll thought the Coconut Point Mall. Next stop: Build-A-Bear Workshop. It's a place where you (the child) pick out a plush bear, record your own message, stuff it inside the bear with the rest of the filler, sew-it up, fluff it up, name it and finally take it home, along with his birth certificate. All for around $40.
The store's mission is: "To bring the Teddy Bear to life. An American icon, the Teddy Bear brings to mind warm thoughts about our childhood, about friendship, about trust and comfort, and also about love."
Call me jaded and dispassionate, but my childhood stuffed bear, Misiek, was just that. A stuffed animal. I have no recollection of how Misiek and I parted, but I assure you, if I saw him again, there would be no hysterical reunion. Mabe just a pat on his threadbare head ;-)
But hey, that's just me. How about you?
This is our new, hacienda-style movie theatre at the Coconut Point Mall. Sixteen screens with luxury extras and the prices to match...
For $20 you'll get the "Premier" experience, which includes a new, reclining love seat of 32 inches across (82 cm), along with free popcorn and sodas, valet parking and reserved seating. There is also talk of converting 2 auditoriums into bistros and serving full meals during the showings, thus giving a new meaning to the "dinner and a movie" concept ;-)
Spider-Man 3 opens this week-end - anyone fancy a movie and some chicken wings tonight?
I saw this little girl fishing in my pond (it's actually the community pond, but I pretend it is mine ;-). Very patient...very still.
We are on 3rd Street, downtown Naples, only about 200 feet from the beach, on the right.
I am telling you this for a reason. Hard as I try, I cannot find an explanation as to why do palm trees lean at 45-degree angle in the vicinity of the ocean?
There is nothing in the nature of a palm tree that makes it lean towards the water. Here are a couple of suggestions I found online:
1. The ground is lower towards the ocean, so the tree started leaning as the seed leaned when it germinated.
2. The prevailing winds bent the trunk.
I'm not totally convinced...So this time I turn to you, my learned visitors - do you have an explanation for this sloping phenomenon?
Bienvenue Chez Isabella, en Provence, mon coin préféré...
OK, it's a big, fat lie! This is actually an "estate home", in our community in Naples.
But admit it, for a while there I had you believing you were in the South of France, n'est-ce pas?
(Oh, yeah, I can see you nodding your head ;-)
Today is DP Theme Day and at least 75 other DP bloggers have participated. To view their contributions, please click on the following places:
Monte Carlo, Monaco - Singapore, Singapore - Tenerife, Spain - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Montréal (QC), Canada - Melbourne, Australia - Naples (FL), USA - Bastia, France - Hong Kong, China - Mazatlan, Mexico - Buenos Aeres, Argentina - Manila, Philippines - Arradon, France - Madison (WI), USA - Evry, France - Seoul, Korea - Shanghai, China - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Sequim (WA), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Budapest, Hungary - Baziège, France - Hamburg, Germany - Toruń, Poland - Nelson, New Zealand - Madison (WI), USA - Vantaa, Finland - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Mainz, Germany - Dubai, UAE - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Cork, Ireland - Stockholm, Sweden - Menton, France - Tel Aviv, Israel - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Kitakami, Japan - Stayton (OR), USA - Szentes, Hungary - Stavanger, Norway - Grenoble, France - Villigen, Switzerland - Paris, France - Hyde, UK - Moscow, Russia - Joplin (MO), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Greenville (SC), USA - Cape Town, South Africa - Asheville (NC), USA - Seattle (WA), USA - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Madrid, Spain - Auckland, New Zealand - Oulu, Finland - Lubbock (TX), USA - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Baton Rouge (LA), USA - Sydney, Australia - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Vancouver, Canada - Seattle (WA), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Manila, Philippines - Lyon, France - New York City (NY), USA - Los Angeles (CA), USA - Brookville (OH), USA - Hayle, UK - Wailea (HI), USA - Saarbrücken, Germany - San Diego (CA), USA
