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The Legacy of Ancient Greece and Rome in Italy
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March 23 9:03am |
March 23 9:13am |
Agrigento: temple MLS84530
I love it Honey. It's got that open plan great room that's all the rage these days. Look at all the character. They don't build them like this anymore. And real limestone! And the view! Don't you think it's got plenty of room for the kids? It's slightly beyond our price range, but this is the best one we've seen so far. We don't even have to remodel right away. Let's put in an offer right now. What do you think? |
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Olea europaea L.
Family Oleaceae
Olive Tree
Gnarly old tree. Rumored to be over 500 years old. I wonder at the level of effort to keep this tree contained and alive throughout the centuries. My own olive trees at home are overgrown, leggy, and full of noisy parrots. I don't have much patience to wait another 400 years to see if becomes anything like this specimen, there must be a shortcut. |
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March 23 9:34am |
March 23 9:31am |
Agrigento: cliff's edge
Look. I think I see gelato and granita di limone. |
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March 23 10:02am
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March 23 10:06am |
Agrigento: ditch
It's two products in one. Both a driveway and drainage channels. Can also be used as a floor wax.
Agrigento: temple 90210
In an IQ test, column #7 from the left would not belong in the series. |
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March 23 10:13am |
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March 23 10:26am |
March 23 2:23pm |
Agave americana
Family Agavaceae
Century Plant
Common in the deserts of the American Southwest and Mexico, century plants don't really take a century to bloom. The giant flower spike reminds me of asparagus. I imagine it wrapped with a giant slice of prosciutto, lightly sautéd with olive oil, with a sprinkling of freshly cracked pepper and parmigiano reggiano shavings.
Cedrus deodora
Family Pinaceae
Deodar Cedar
Native of the Himalayas, the deodar cedar was introduced to Europe in 1822. The name deodar derives from Sanskrit for "timber of the gods." Highly variable in form, I am not even 100% certain that this particular tree is actually a deodar cedar, despite the characteristic drooping branches. And I even have a 80+ year old mature deodar cedar growing in my front yard as an example. I peed behind the tree on the left. |
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On The Road: in the middle of nowhere
"Bottle of red. Bottle of white. It all depends on your appetite." Oh wait, what happened to the bottle of red? Did I just drink the entire jug? And why am I quoting Billy Joel? |
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March 23 2:50pm |
March 23 3:55pm |
Piazza Armerina: disoriented Americans
In every Stan photo taken today, he strikes a pose with arms akimbo, palms in back pocket, deep in thought.
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March 23 4:02pm |
Piazza Armerina:
The housekeeper is very lax here. There's a thick layer of dust everywhere, everything's dull and tarnished. It's as if nobody's lived here for 2500 years. |
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March 23 4:37pm |
March 22 4:42pm |
Piazza Armerina: hallway
They've got all the right conditions to setup a hydroponic tomato growing operation. Greenhouse, check. Warm water source, check. Appetite for fresh vegetables, check. |
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Piazza Armerina: the ladies
Bathing beauties. These mosaics are cool because you can tell if they have innie or outie belly buttons. |
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March 23 4:50pm |
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Next Day
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