This land dips it's toes into three different seas,
north, south, east, and west a blue horizon.
Norman Cathedrals
The interiors have the lower levels done in Muslim non- figurative mosaics carried out by Arab craftsmen, and the upper levels done by Byzantine artists in the glittering Christian manner of mosaic work.
sitting chatting in the sun - an Arab legacy?
fertile soil - citrus groves
oranges and lemons
The beautiful yellow pom-poms of the Mimosa. These trees have particularly large pom-pom flowers. They are a different variety to the trees we have previously seen in the S.France.
Turkey. It looks beautiful. Hope you had fun and are rested.
ReplyDeleteDear Olive - that is a very good guess, I can understand why you chose Turkey - alas not quite there. Have another go if you feel like it. Yes, it was beautiful and we had a lovely time.
DeletePortugal? ( or maybe Spain....) I mean the ancient temple made me think of Greece but I am sure it's not. I 'll go for Portugal!
ReplyDeletelovely photos by the way...
Dearest Demie - I wish you were right, but not quite there - neither Portugal or Spain nor Greece, but think along your heritage links. Glad you liked the photos.
DeleteCyprus? Egypt? its those three seas that really confuse me!
DeleteDear Demie - one more clue especially for you - Tyrrhenian Sea/Mediterranean Sea/Ionian Sea.
DeleteMalta!
DeleteDearest Demie - the secret is out, it is Sicily. I do hope you have not wasted too much of your time looking at maps today, or else your husband will wonder where his supper is - just blame it all on to me. Thanks for putting in so much effort and time x
Deleteis it Greece?
ReplyDeletethat see looks so, so fine!
as the flowers
and the blue sky
sunshine!
lovely post
P.S.
the Helleborus lasted two days in the vase
;^(
Dear Patrice - the Helleborus are strange flowers the way they do not last, as I mentioned before they are so robust looking that you would think they would.
DeleteYes, the sunshine, blue skies, and flowers are a tonic at this time of year. You are getting warmer, but I am sorry it is not Greece.
Dear Rosemary..
ReplyDeleteWith my cup of morning coffee.. my thinking cap on.. and loving your blog.. i read it 4 times..
The men sitting could be Portuguese or Italian.. not French..
So here goes.. its the sea that gives it away.. I think its Sicily.!
I hope i got it right.
A place i have always wanted to go.
wait patiently for the answer.. fantastic photos..
xx val
Dear Val - I would love to join you for morning coffee with your thinking cap on. So pleased that you enjoyed the post - yes the men could be Portuguese or Italian, but they aren't. The strange thing is that men of that age do not do that here, perhaps its the weather.
DeleteRosemary.. Sicily is surrounded.. by The Mediterranean.. the Ionian and Tyrenian..
ReplyDeletecould it be..
val
Your sailing knowledge is a very handy asset!
Deletehello Rosemary:
ReplyDeleteOur guess would be Sicily, but as we have never been we are unsure. Whatever, you look to have had the most glorious weather, seen such interesting sights and we trust that you have enjoyed a wonderfully relaxing time.
Dear Jane and Lance - We did have glorious weather, and it is surprising how much you can do during a week when the food is prepared, the bed made and your time is your own.
DeleteI've been cheating... that's why I know you were in Sicily! I thought it is Greece... the blue of the sea is incredible... I am longing to put my feet in... the flowers, the citrus fruits and so much culture... heavenly! I am sure you enjoyed it to the fullest! I liked that little tour on your blog as well! Who knows one day.... Christa
ReplyDeleteDear Christa - the secret is out and you are number 3 to get it right. Well done, would like to know what you call cheating? I do not remember seeing you at the airport!
DeleteDear Rosemary, These images just blew me away!. You are such a sensational photographer. Wherever it is I must go there. Is it Cyprus? ox, Gina
ReplyDeleteDearest Gina - your comments have blown me away. I am such a great admirer of your photographs and all of the design elements on your blog - so thank you very much. No, I think you realised it was not Cyprus.
DeleteDear Rosemary, After thinking it over, the ceramic design is definitely Italian inspired. So, could it be the Isle of Capri? ox, Gina
ReplyDeleteYou are much closer Gina, and thinking along the right lines. I thought you would definitely get the answer. Here is another clue, if you want another shot - look at the very last image, and remember something that you said to Mark at All Things Ruffnerian a couple or so weeks ago, and your answer is there.
DeleteDear Rosemary, It's Sicily. Val (above) mentioned Sicily before me. So,I thought that Sicily was out.
ReplyDeleteNote: About Hellebore. Cut a slit all along the stem and place in water up to their necks and in a dark and cool place overnight. They will last a few days longer. Or wait until they have been pollinated and become a bit leathery.
Dear Gina - you are right - well done. I tried to answer those who got it right in a roundabout manner so as not to spoil it for others. You are number 4 Gina, and thank you for the tip regarding the helleborus.
DeleteDear Rosemary..
ReplyDeleteI was so intent on going through the seas.. that i forgot to ask , if you had a wonderful holiday.. I am sure you did.
Your photos as always are perfect.. such lovely vibrant images..
A lovely blog Rosemary.. thank you.. it was fun too.
best wishes
val xx
Dear Val - it was a very successful holiday which we both enjoyed so much that we intend to return again. I am pleased you enjoyed the photos, I do not have a special camera, just point and shoot, but it seems to do reasonably well.
DeleteI have been travelling a lot in Italy, but never to Sicily, well only to get off the ferry from Greece some thirty years ago. Soon time to go there again, your photos were very good PR for the island. I have started to learn italian...
ReplyDeleteSicily does have a bit of magic about it, and we shall certainly return to see some of the sites we did not have time to do.
DeleteWell done for learning Italian, do you have an ear for different languages?
Dearest Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the follow!
Looks like you were in a similar environment as we were on the island of Curaçao. Love the huge 27 acres (10.9 hectares) botanical gardens of the Hyatt Regency. Surrounded by natural beauty where we also found lots of mimosa blooming.
We lived in Italy, in the Venice area where we also worked for one year. Great memories of Italy!
You can just click on this hyperlink above the comment for placing a reply if you want to. That way you also are leaving your business card so to speak by leaving a link. Instead of stuffing it into your own mailbox.
Love to you,
Mariette
Dear Mariette - thanks for the visit and the comments. Not sure about how to use the hyperlink at the moment - trial and error will probably get me there. I love mimosa, and the trees in Sicily were particularly spectacular, they had such big pom-pom flowers.
Delete