Long Life Journey

26/01/2022

From the beautiful Castel Sant'Elmo in Naples, you can have one of the beautiful views of the city. Maybe just on top of The Vesuvio is better :)

360 Degree of the stunning panorama. The Vesuvio, the gulf, the city center, till the islands! What an amazing place to enjoy sunsets!!!

This place is on the top of natural high rock and is basically dominating the city and the gulf.
When I was on the top of this castle the following thoughts caught me.

As I strive to become someone or something in life, I'm not always starting directly from that thing. It can be a profession, a skill, or a position/status. I'm always starting from somewhere else.
For instance, to become a journalist I need before to master words and of course, I need to have creativity in order to write nice and great things. I need moreover to be clear in what I write and explain my thoughts clearly with my words.

Although it's not always possible to do immediately what I would like to do, as for instance be a journalist,
I can throughout the day be aware of the qualities that are paramount to the aim I wanna reach and throughout my day cultivate them and look for those situations where I can enhance those qualities that are important as I will be a journalist.

In order to become a good journalist, I need to use exact words in the correct context, I need to be clear while exposing concepts, and so on...

The rock on which is built the castle represents the reality and the natural situations that life offers me to pursue those qualities, that are so dramatically important for my profession.
It's just a matter of exercise. The castle represents my desired profession or skills/status.

Once I've learned those qualities doesn't matter if I'm writing on a paper or speaking in front of the desk of the Post Office. Because once I've learned to build my caste in front of the giving and available rock, given from my actual reality, next time that I will encounter another plateau or rock where to build a new castle, I will know exactly what it needs to build a strong, solid and suitable castles for the conditions I'm confronted with.

17/01/2022

Last time that I've entered the Colosseum I was maybe 11 years old, with my class of course.
At that time the farthest I was looking was the back of my friends while playing around.

Again after more than 20 years I've visited this monument.
The greatness, the air, the beauty of this building. Everything makes the difference after visiting the Colosseum. I've never been a fan of this place but last time as I was there, my thoughts were submerged in another time.

Really I've felt being in the old Roman Empire and kind of experienced the feeling of being in Rome and what, maybe, it meant being a citizen of Rome, for the Romans at that time.
The marvellous of this ancient giant was astounding and it let me feel the fortune I have to be today a citizen of Rome, the opportunities, the possibilities of learning from its ruins and its treasures.

It was revelatory! Next time, when working with tourists they will ask me "Are you suggesting to visit the Colosseum?" I will only saying :"Do it!"

16/01/2022

Lost shops 🌁📖- I'm sure Rome has lots to offer. But sometimes evading from the crowd and entering old shops where it seems that the time has stopped, gives me the possibility to think yo the city in another way. A real city and not a big Disneyland for tourists (including myself). In this shop for example just behind Piazza Navona I could explore the many lives hence the many objects that people touched and seems almost as that roots me again, remembering me to observe the life eventually not just from my point of view. Many lives passed through the gate, mine is just of the many. For me the most important! But not the only one! Remembering me that I'm just a little piece of the big puzzle of eternity gives me a sort of relief to look from a more so er perspective also the wonderfully beauties of Rome. I'm not the protagonist of those places, just a happy observer of them! :)

15/01/2022

The Details - Details are really an aspect of life so important as the big picture.
Take this picture. It seems that it's just a fountain as many others in Rome. Maybe you would attribute the form to nice amphore, because they are a "Cute form" to make a fountain with. But if you investigate more deeply you will learn that in the neighborhood of Testaccio there is the first dump of the city in the ancient Rome and that eventually this amazing of tons and tons of amphores in the neighborhood create an artificial hill made completely from shards of the amphores.53 Millions to be exact.
The importance of the details is not just about noticing them, but also to deepen into and study the story they may teach.

14/01/2022

The Flying Bird - Being a dreamer, it's not about being a person that is disconnected from reality.
It's more someone that brings his hopes, projects and desires in the realm of the senses hence because he believes in them can eventually realize 'em so fool as they seems.

13/01/2022

Sometimes is tricky to understand, but most of the time, if I cannot feel the thrill of living excited what I'm doing there is something to question. Something I need to change in myself to bring a broader view of a matter, a problem or an activity. That's not just what I'm doing but more the how I'm doing it that's paramount.
Seeing things from a different perspective and living them with a different meaning can turn out to be what makes the difference eventually.
The meaning is the colour with which I'm painting my reality and therefore my activities.
Spending time on these activities and getting better and a broader vision of'em is what should be the parameters with which every time I'm spending time on them I should take care of.

11/01/2022

Aqueducts, chimneys and mountains -

Those three things are always there in the reality but depending from the light, from the snow on the mountains or from the proximity with which I'm looking to them, the landscape can dramatically changing and therefore I can become more or less aware of some details.
But it isn't like this also in life?
We tend to be aware of certain things once we've lost them or as we are approaching them from another perspective although those elements as in the photos, will always remain the same.
So let's be hungry enough to glimpse those details also when everything appears flat and simple. To be able to observe is a skill too.

10/01/2022

When the time will be ripe you will find the place that you can already glimpse between the stones of those villages you are visiting. Till then, go ahead and enjoy what life is offering to you now while cultivating in your heart that desire. Soon or later that garden will open its doors to you. But before making a step more to get through the hardest doors you'll ever meet. Those of your heart.

08/01/2022

As one of those places that are there to be recalled every time I need an inspiration of what should be a better life, this place will for sure pop up in my mind!

08/01/2022

Bb

28/12/2021

26/12/2021

Emotion bombs for free in Rome -

Rome can be a dangerous city. If you want to run away from strong emotions I warmly suggest you to stay away from some monuments and churches where you could hardly stay composed while looking at it. Because of the terrific decorations these pieces of art are for me personally one of the main attractions that a tourist should try to understand in Rome while discovering the city. There are several details that if noticed can show a piece of art under a totally different perspective than it an untrained gaze would perceive. So while visiting the city as you enter the churces, look at those fountains in the middle of the most famous squares and observe the interior of those palaces, go for the details and the movements behind those gesture, that are the passe-partout to the comprehension of the message the artist wanted to convey.

Amazing and astonishing marbles, statues and perhaps the most beautiful drapes you will ever see are hosted in the many visitable churches and palaces of Rome. We are talking about statues made from artist of the calibre of Bernini, Borromini. Without speaking of the gorgeous paintings and frescos of Pozzo, Caravaggio just to mention the most famous.

Now. Those artists have something in common. They all belong to a period of the Italian art that particularly in Rome flourished like nowhere else. We are talking about the baroque.
A period of time included formally between Renaissance and Illuminism. The term baroque comes from the French “baroque” indicating a deformed and imperfect pearl. The term indicate a depreciative connotation that send back to the exaggerated, disproportion absurd of the architectural forms.

A spectacular, stunning, majestic, an theatrical way of expressing the genius of the human mind. The features of a style like this are heavy decorations, pomposity and a tendency for creating a dialogue between the observed and the observer. A connection where the person that are witnessing the work are, briefly, themselves a part of that opera.

Few places where witnessing some of the most fabulous masterpieces of this genre are the churches of Sant’Ignazio da Loyola, Sant’Agnese in Agone and S. Maria della Vittoria.

As you go there, forget for a moment the camera, sit down on the bench or stand up relaxed and let beauty flood your soul. Absorb the work and then start to look the details of the opera. Find the gestures that are more significant and from there try to understand the work. That’s how you’ll be taking part of the work of the artist and so doing you make his soul and his message immortal, feeling him by your side. A travel through the time with a surprising meet.

14/12/2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6aq1vSHuZg

BAR ROMOLI

Have you already heard about this caffe?

Well if you haven't, be sure to check it out!
Especially their amazing Maritozzi are worth to try!

What? You don't know what a "Maritozzo" is?
No worry! I've shot a super video to just show you what this food is all about!
After watching the video, be sure you'll not miss this delicious and traditional breakfast-food in Rome!

- SORRY FOR THE FORMAT 1:1, NEXT VIDEOS WILL BE IN 16:9-Just a few days ago on a rainy and cold day in December, I've eventually visited this nice, delicious...

13/12/2021

Just a few days ago on a rainy and cold day in December, I've eventually visited this nice, delicious, and marvelous place. You wanna learn more, what is all about? Do it because is worth the shot.

I went to a really nice cafe called "BAR ROMOLI" - an amazing patisserie, cafe, and bar.

We are in the North of Rome in the so-called "Quartiere Africano" (African neighborhood) because of the many streets that took their name from the city and nations Italy colonized during fascism. It is a sad, but true story.
Indeed that's basically one of the "new" neighborhoods of Rome, built together with the district of Trieste in the first decades of the 20th century, as a neighborhood for the railway workers.

Nowadays the milieu of the neighborhood changed and become partially a neighborhood of the medium-high bourgeoisie.

As you are visiting Rome be sure to visit this place!
I like to go to these places to have my breakfast but as I read, this place is open till 2 o'clock in the night, churning out warm and delicious croissants and nice other sweets.
So, I would say, choose your fav time to go there!

This historic cafe is one of those unforgettable experiences where you would like to enjoy your breakfast in Rome!

Amazing patisserie, traditional sweets, and a great atmosphere you will love to be in. The interiors and the personal are really authentic and that is one of those places you can feel the Romanity (sense of being in Rome) for sure.

Nevertheless, that's not just the atmosphere that counts.
Because the food here is one of those things you should not miss. I warmly suggest you try one of their "Maritozzi" traditional sweets typical from Rome.
Sweet sandwich overfilled with whipped cream, that's an overwhelming shower of sugar if you know what I mean! Sweetness, warmness, and deliciousness stuffed in your hand's palm.

Prices are a bit more than average.
I've spent the following:

Caffe 1 EURO
Maritozzo 3,20 EURO
Sweet 2,20 EURO (also standard croissants are sold at this price)

Standard Breakfast in Rome (1 EURO Caffe - Croissant 1-1,50 EURO)

I would recommend trying the Maritozzo though because are one of the best in the city.

I often eat as breakfast sweet food, but that's not rare to see people consume other stuff as "Tramezzino" a triangle of white bread filled with vegetables, cheese, or cured meat. So here you can find as well them!

When you will be visiting this place write me in the comment and tell me what you think about it!!!
I've found it really nice and for sure I'll try to go back to taste other food.

Have you a favorite place in Rome from which you cannot separate from?

11/12/2021

BE THE BEST DEVIL YOU CAN!

The time has come, you want to do something but you think is wrong, so just before doing it, you stop yourself!

What? What happened to you? Where are your energies, your enthusiasm, your adventurous spirit?

Those qualities are the only things that you have to keep! Who cares about the things you were striving for.
That's not the story that we are interested in!

Those uncontrollable desires and impulses are there to show you what kind of potentials you have. "You are a lot more than you think" is kind of telling you. Trying to show you, you need to explore yourself more and deepen in the understanding of your life.

And that's where the discernment comes. When it is time to take a decision on how to use your energies.
For sure we should use it for the best always avoiding going along the bad road. But I genuinely think that the road should not be cut off our life, but modeled better. Again feeling the same energy we were letting flow when we wanted to run along the old way.

Eventually talking with our devil is not something we want to keep doing because we are busy enough to think about other stuff. But acknowledging those impulses and harnessing them for a more useful outcome is the best we can do to do justice to our friend devil!

08/12/2021

- Two nations with the same soul -

As You know I'm currently living in Italy, precisely in Rome, where you are faced every day with an astonishing beauty that is reflecting the glorious past of the civilization, the kings, the emperors and of the artists that passed in this wonderful and because of its history "Eternal city".

But probably if you've followed me for a while you are aware of my permanence in Turkey for the past couple of years.
I've spent for the first time all alone a month in 2015 and after this holiday I've decided to move for some time there in Turkey. I didn't know why but there was something in Turkey that was intriguing me.

Between the many reasons I think that speaking about the beauty of the country in itself, the two photos here are perfectly explaining what was fascinating me so much of this country.

The first photo was taken in Rome. In the background, the Theater of Marcel and between me and him the 3 columns of the temple of Apollo and the ruins of another temple belonged to Bellona.
In the second picture, we see the city of Bergama in the background with the theater of the ancient city ("The Acropolis") on the left, wonderfully perched in the hill.

Starting from the first picture, because belong to the city where I come from, I want to point out how often when walking in Rome, we are facing a similar view. Ancient Roman ruins alternated by some vegetations that are merging with modern roads and buildings. That's something that belongs to my history and my eyes are used to this kind of landscape.

And now let's go to Turkey. Aren't the same ruins interrupted or submerged from trees and plants and then again from new buildings the scenery we're often observing?

These two nowadays incredibly different countries that have taken different directions in their choices, history, politics, religion and therefore culture, have a lot in common, more than most people think about it. And I'm saying it as ignorant because I'm sure that if we would research deeper through what are the roots and the similarity of these countries we'll find lots more than we think.

Between the many reasons I may count for choosing Turkey as one of my destinations to live one of them has been for sure the terrific richness of its history, the beauty of its nature, and the feeling it was arousing in me about having a second home, somewhere else than Rome.
Most probably is the Mediterranean in itself a really big family that is sharing the same roots.
But Turkey at that time had all the things my conscience needed to push me forward and show me how more rich life was. Richer than I was thinking at that time!

08/12/2021

- Two nations with the same soul -

As You know I'm currently living in Italy, precisely in Rome, where you are faced everyday with an atounishing beauty that is reflecting the glorious past of the civilization, the kings, the emperors and of the artists that passed in this wonderful and because of its history "Eternal city".

But probably if you've followed me for a while you are aware of my permanence in Turkey for the past couple of years.
I've spent for the first time all alone a month in 2015 and after this holiday I've decided to move for some time there in Turkey. I didn't know why but there was something in Turkey that was intriguing me.

Between the many reasons I think that speaking about the beauty of the country in itself, the two photos here are perfectly explaining what was fascinating me so much of this country.

The first photo was took in Rome. On the background the Theater of Marcel and between me and him the 3 columns of the temple of Apollo and the ruins of another temple belonged to Bellona.
In the second picture we see the city of Bergama in the background with the theater of the ancient city ("The Acropolis") on the left, wonderfully perched in the hill.

Starting from the first picture, because belong to the city where I come from, I want to point out how often when walking in Rome, we are facing with a similar view. Ancient Roman ruins alternated by some vegetations that are merging with modern roads and buildings. That's something that belong to my history and my eyes are used to this kind of landscape.

And now let's go to Turkey. Aren't the same ruins interrupted or submerged from trees and plants and then again from new buildings the scenery we're often observing?

These two nowadays incredibly different countries that have took different directions in their choices, history, politics, religion and therefore culture, has lot in common, more than most people think about it. And I'm saying it as an ignorant because I'm sure that if we would researching deeper through what are the roots and the similarity of these countries we'll find lots more than we think.

Between the many reasons I may count for choosing Turkey as one of my destinations to live one of them has been for sure the terrific richness of its history, the beauty of its nature and the feeling it was arousing in me about having a second home, somewhere else than Rome.
Most probably is the Mediterranean in itself a real big family that is sharing the same roots.
But Turkey at that time had all the things my conscience needed to pushing me forward and showing me how more rich life was. Richer than I was thinking at that time!

07/12/2021

- The Garden of the Illusion - Rome

There are plenty of amazing places in Rome to visit. And if I have to say the panorama points have a special place in my heart. Maybe is because of my name.
Maybe it's because I like to feel this sense of freedom you perceive when you are on top of mountains or panoramic points.
In any case, places like the one I'm showing You here is maybe some of the most beautiful places to have a panoramic photo in Rome!

This garden is called actually "Parco Savello" but is better known as "Orange Garden" (Giardino degli Aranci) because of the many orange trees (unfortunately bitter oranges) that are filling the park. Former fortress of the Savello Family, the area became in the middle-age the garden of the Benedectine monks that were, and it's still today so, living in the cluster just nearby the garden.

Now. This garden is not a simple chilly, romantic, beautiful garden. No, sir.
There is a lot more to discover. Between the many trees, there is a building that more than the others is bumping on the eyes of the visitor.

I think you've understood what I'm talking about. That's S. Peter aka "Er cupolone" (The big dome). More than a wonderful view of the church we have a beautiful optical illusion that is happening as from the bottom of the long alley in the garden, we walk to the top on the terrasse. As we approach the balcony we perceive the dome becoming always little and little. That's an optical effect that is marvelous to observe. The giant dome we were observing as we were at the bottom of the alley, has now become a little and ordinary building between the many we can observe from the top of this terrace.

Apparently, as you are at the end of the alley and you see just the dome, your eye perceives that as the biggest thing in front of you. But as you start to observe others buildings around the church, your eyes comparing the other buildings around, scale down the dimensions of the dome.

If you will ever come in Rome, don't forget to visit this place. You will love it! Do you have where you live someplace where you can observe the same phenomenon? Write it in the comment please! 🙂

06/12/2021

The little village hidden in Rome

Rome is really one beaytiest city in the worl. Out of discussion the opposite I think. Difficult but wonderful.
Wonderful ruins, amazing renaissance palaces, gorgeous temples still standing and terrific fountains fill your eyes while you stroll through the city.

A city rich in its art. An art that teaches you beauty with its wonderful forms with those perfect proportion you can breathe and read embedded so they are in the lines of its buldings.

But if once you are a little bit tired of giant and pompous streets and, you want to leave behind yourself ruins, palaces and similar you may want to read further this article.
If you are looking for a more "countryside" dimension of the city you might want to know this address I'm giving to you. Curious to know that? Ok then follow me while discovering it.

Just behind the Tiber, not that far from S. Peter, there is a sweet, district I'm sure you'll fall in love with.
A neighbourhood that's worth a visit in Rome for itself, plenty of things to discover, with lots of stories, traditions and with an original atmosphere you can breathe just there.
Have you understood what I'm talking about?
That's Trastevere, a nice, in the morning calms and in the evening bustled with lot of people district on the left part of the river Tiber.

Here there are nor big alleys neither giants buildings making your jaws drop. More the little, with plants decorated streets and the sweetest windows and caffes you could ever seen in Rome, will be the things that will thrill you and let this neighborhood leave a special place in your heart.

Its colors, with almost all the houses painted with this red-brown are always awakening in me a warm sense of welcoming. Most of its streets are narrow and just large enough for a car. Others, most of them, are just made for pedestrians. And that's why strolling through this neighborhood is truly an experience, that brings you back in the time, where here you could see charriot passing by or people working on the streets just in front of their workshop.

The many restaurants that fill the district are a safe address where you can try all the speciality of the traditional roman kitchen. So enjoy the streets and let yourself inspiring while choosing the place where you will have your meal.

Personally I warmly recommend "Proloco Trastevere" a nice restaurants that use local products of the region of Latium and that serves many traditional dishes of the traditional kitchen near some new inventions.Try as starter the mix of "Affettati". You will thank me, I'm sure.

Last tip. May sure to visit this district in the day-light. The colors, the narrow streets, the plants hanging magically between the buildings. Everything will appear to your eyes under... another light!

When you are coming here tag me in your photo! I'm curious to see which has been your favourite corner of this enchanted place! Those I've shared are just some of mine!

04/12/2021

- Making someone happy -

While working as a tour leader there is always lots to talk about and to tell people to surprise them and amaze them. Lots of stories, information, curiosity about the culture, the history and the customs of Rome or any other place I know about.

In a city like Rome, and that's really a chance to be able to work here, there are thousands of moments you are able to literally make the jaws of tourists drop.

Working with different people that come from a different background it's really a value, because it gives you the possibility to look the place I'm living everyday from a different point of view.

And that's already a dramatic value in itself.

But something that I've realized and that's really thrilled me since the first day is to be able to see people happy at the end of the tour.

That's something that's really charging me a lot and motivate enormously for going forward and improving in this work.

Seeing people leaving you with a big smile on their faces and having seen them enjoy themselves during the tour is the best satisfaction and the best thank I can have from this work.

As appear to be, giving a sense to life and making people happy with your effort is not what is the best and most important to do?

Are you making someone happy while giving to yourself as well?

03/12/2021

THE MATRIOSKA EATING THE LASAGNA -

Have you ever walked through Rome?

Well if you had it, then you noticed the many ruins, big one and narrow streets, the old medieval towers, and the many noble palaces.

That's not an easy job to compartmentalize Rome in a separate neighborhood. Everything's mixed. Sometimes those elements are more harmoniously separated, others times more strongly.
The layers follow each other either vertically or horizontally, in an ongoing dance between the ancient and the modern.

While moving through the streets the beauty of visiting a city like Rome is to marvel while trying to separate and spot the different buildings recognizing their different ages.

A magic historical LASAGNA that is showing up at every corner of our tours making us question at every step "Which century are my eyes looking to?".

We've talked about the LASAGNA, but where is the Matrioska?
Well, you can see it while you're walking in Rome, as you observe carefully the buildings in front of You. Some of them are not only built on top of others but they are containing as well parts of other buildings, sometimes taken from the same very spot or other time from totally different areas of Rome. And that's the MATRIOSKA concept. A city that is absorbing the ancient city itself, incorporating at every step its own previous splendor creating the absorption of the different architectonical styles and the upgrading of the ancient forms in new architectonical solutions.

The more you deepen in the details the more layers and eras you'll discover. Another lens you can look to Rome through.

08/10/2021

STREET ART SERIES - 🎨🖌️
Today is time for some street art.

We went to a place, in the neighborhood of Centocelle (south Rome) that is dedicated to culture.

This building host an anarchist library🏴 where you can find not only thousands of books but also events, starting from poetry slam till concert and literary evening. 🎑
A place where, in the suburbs of Rome, culture can flourish aiming to give a new life to this areas. 🌷

The suburbs of a city are for me the most interesting places to discover as you can see the daily life mixing with initiative that keep neighborhoods alive and active opening their spaces to the people. 🌁

Keep doing good work!!!

10/09/2021

Do you like old traditional Turkish music?
Do you love to hear great musicians rearranging old traditional music?

Well, then you got here some great stuff for your ears!

Enjoy it!

Ustanın büyüleyici performansı

07/09/2021

İstanbul - view of the Golden Horn from Beyoğlu. 🌇

Trying to catch the Golden Horn in my hand without any results.

Sometimes I'm trying to get things beyond my means. I'm talking about going for things that are not important really important for me.

Success is something strictly personal and to share or to write about things that doesn't fit my personality would be just useless and meaningless.

The biggest achievement is to express oneself at the best and that's yesterday I've understand it.

The content I put on IG or wherever else is just an extension of who I'm in life.

I think that reaching OUR personal aims is the most important things ever. That can be similar to the other person but everyone goes along his own path.

Maybe it will not make that sense but getting this clear has been paramount important for me.

How do you adjust your life as you become aware of new insights in your life? Do you change immediately everything or you adjust your life step by step smoothly? Write it down! ⬇️⬇️⬇️