24 June 2015 ~ Jack London Square / LuLu's / Warfield

The Dynamites, feat. Charles Walker and Bettye LaVette ~ A Celebration of Resurrection

My friend Haleh came to visit a few weeks back and one night for dinner we went to Oakland's Jack London Square for dinner. A big fan of his books, we had a picture with "White Fang".

Last weekend I went to LuLu's Restaurant in San Francisco. I liked the hanging boat from the ceiling the most.

After LuLu's I went to see Brit Floyd at the Warfield. It was my first time back at this great venue in 8 years (it had closed for renovation, but still took a great band to pull me back). If you haven't seen this band live, or on Public Television when they played a concert at Red Rocks, AND you are a Pink Floyd fan, you should check them out. Excellent Floyd cover band.

15 June 2015 ~ Around Napoli

Listening to:  Roo Panes ~ Home from Home (Land of the Living)


The last day in Naples I did a city tour.

The Saint Dominic statue and obelisk in the famous San Domenico Maggiore square was built in 1656 after the plague.

Saint Dominic is the patron saint of astronomers.

The Nile Statue represents the Nile God, recumbent with a cornucopia and lying on a now mutilated sphinx.

I also took a walk down Via San Gregorio Armeno, the street of the nativity scene makers. During Christmas time, more than half a million tourists come to see the shops with the original miniature figurines. Every house has a nativity scene during the holidays, whether religious or not, and even if not Christian.

The tour was in a 1962 Fiat. No power steering or window. Bare minimum inside, but it ran well. Lots of people would stop to ask questions, even at stop lights. I'm a little bummed the tour guide didn't focus this shot well, but it will do.

2 June 2015 ~ Capri

Listening to:  Freddy Jones ~ This Time Around

What better way to spend a Sunday morning than by taking a ferry from Naples to the island of Capri? It was a short walk from the hotel to the Port of Naples to catch the 10:10.

First view of the island.

I rode the Funicular (cableway) from the port to the terrace near the Piazzetta.

In any Italian town, the "Piazza" is a significant spot, being the hub of social life, where one engages in the "national sports" of relaxing, socializing, looking, and being looked at.

Found a table to enjoy some Prosecco and do just that.

This square's original name was "Piazza Umberto I". In the past it was just the site of the fish market.

Umberto I was the King of Italy from 9 January 1878 until his death in July 1900.

The Torre del Orologio is doubtless the most recognized symbol of Capri's Piazzetta, one of the most unique free-standing clock towers in Italy. It marks every quarter hour, though the languid pace of the island seems to stretch out the minutes here just a bit longer.

 Enjoying the sun and the wind on the ferry ride back to Naples.