Scenes from the Mezzogiorno, September 2008

This is what I do when I am avoiding work.  Plus, heck, I sorta feel like I owe it to my fans fan. 

A few pix of Italy's southland dating from those halcyon pre-crash days, oh a week, 10 days ago.

Below: Aglianico almost ripe for the picking: Vulture [VOOL-too-reh] DOC, Basilicata

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Betty Musto-Carmelitano in her best vineyard footwear.  She's 27 and has been running things for years.

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Vines across the road.  NOT tended by Betty's father Francesco.  "Natural" vines and wines are all well and good, but the vineyards really shouldn't be allowed to revert to a state of nature..

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Nice vineyard view in Castelfranci, province of Avellino.  One of the towns where the best Irpinian Aglianicos are made (Taurasi DOCG.)  Courtesy of Raffaele Boccella

Vineyard near Tufo (Greco di Tufo DOCG).  More steep vineyards where there's no mechanized harvesting.  Must account for the price differential between Greco and Fiano, not to mention Falanghina. This was taken near Colline del Sole, a winery run by the young, ambitious and passionate winemakers Roberto Iomazzo and his wife Bianca.

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The bustling metropolis of Giffone, Borgo di Terravecchia.  Great views, spartan accommodations.  You could hear a cat walk down the road. 
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Then at last Rome, wonderful Rome, Urbs Orbis and all that

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View from Excelsior.  There's a plaque dedicated to Fellini on the corner building (right).  Yes, it is the via Veneto!  Pretty staid these days. No doubt because Fortress America expresses itself in the US Embassy a block away.






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Bush & Cheney, circa 300 AD.  The Empire's best days were in the past.

Comments

[tirebouchon]

Come si chiama l'azienda di Betty Musto?
Le statue di Bush e Cheney sono da tramandare ai posteri e concordo sui giorni migliori dell'Impero.