I’ve just been answering some of your very kind comments about the elephant I met on the Kegale-Avisawella Road, and I began to remember some other unlikely things I’ve come across – other than the hair-raising drivers I’ve met during my travels, like the daredevils who nearly gave me a heart attack on the way into Istanbul, back in the ‘7os – for instance.
Speaking of the ’70s – this was 1976 – in what was then an unremarkable town on the outskirts of Napoli. We’d spent the night in our van, parked on the pavement outside the Carabinieri headquarters in the city – they refusing to talk to us about being robbed, at 3 o’clock in the morning. After making our complaints, and getting little satisfaction other than a piece of paper to take to the American Express office (basically it was our fault being ‘fat cat Americanos‘ – an added insult, he being a skinny French Canadian with an accent, and me a bolshi Australian) we weren’t as enamoured with the boot of Italy as we had been the previous morning.
What we needed was to see the great Vesuvius and walk the streets of Pompeii. A bit lost, as was our want (I suppose we could have bought maps, but where’s the adventure in that?) we were driving through a town, looking for a sign, any sign, to tell us where we were, when this apparition came down the hill toward us, along the road to our right.
To this day I have to remind myself that Torre Annunziata – for that is what the town was called – is near Napoli, not Palermo, for such was the grim romance of the Mafia in my mind, that only a departed Mafiosi Don would be drawn to his final resting place in such a lavishly carved conveyance.
I just gotta saw – WOW!!! Fantastic idea for a story there…..
I remember thinking that also, but in reality it’s more fitting for the writers of fantasy, I suppose. 🙂
which i can be… :-0
You may borrow the image any time you wish Keira!
Thank you! 🙂
Appropriate it in any way you wish!
& that shoulda been ‘say’ – sigh. My post this morning was full of typos as well. Back to artwork pour moi!
Thanks Keira! Artwork now? That sounds more exciting! Have fun and work well (how did the interview go?). 🙂
I’ve always done artwork – some of the problems with my PhD is I illustrated my own novel (thoughtless of me) so now have to write about the philosphy behind illustration….
Interview? Hopefully I’m on the relief teaching list until the end of September when I can get more regular work.
First, congratulations on making the relief teaching register. It must be good to know you’re on the first rung, so to speak, and that there will be a bit of money in the offing.
I’m not surprised you did your own illustrating, nor that you have to ‘defend’ that work as well. Too bad they won’t give you a double degree for the two bodies of work:)
wouldn’t that be cool!!! 😀 But I’m not actually that good 🙂
Piffle!
🙂 Maybe one day I’ll post ’em – after submission of aforementioned PhD of course 🙂
Smiling very broadly:)
The details and intricate carvings do seem that they would be appropriate only for someone of significance. The photos give it a very eerie Goth quality. Thanks for sharing.
M
Yes, very Goth! A few weeks ago Layla Over the Rooftops went to Transylvania and I must admit it was the first time in years I remembered the picture I had of the hearse – though on reflection perhaps it is a little too lavishly decorated for the Count and his ilk?
Wonderful death chariot! What a way to go. 😉
Everyone would know you were on your way …!
Wow – great shots!
Surprising thing to run into, eh?
Your photos would make fantastic prompts for writing challenges! Poe-like images are springing to my mind….
Off you go, then dear JM!
Wow – looks like something Nosfiratu would have chartered!
These images look other-wordly. Life is fleeting indeed. What a swan song…
Just imagine clattering through the city, announcing to everyone you’re on your final trip … 🙂
Brought back memories of our VW van trek in the 70’s – it was an experience I’ve always been grateful for.
Knew you’d relate, Lynne! The time of our lives, eh?
I love the first picture!
You can imagine how startling it was. There we were, stopped at at the intersection, give way to your right, and look what was bearing down on us!
Wow! Sumptuous!
A little rackety on the road, Tilly, but imagine, with all the flowers, how gorgeous it would have looked once they were ready for the final journey … 🙂
Wow! Definitely royalty or the mafioso. This is no ordinary mortal.
No longer mortal … Laughing laughing:)
very cool.
Yeah – way cool. I wonder whether they still have them?
Wonderful fleeting moments-photos! Well done, TWLG!
Ahha!
Like a dream, with a dash of nightmare….
Yeah – that’s about right, Bente:)
wow – that really is something special
I don’t fancy it myself, but it was certainly a startling and pretty fleeting moment:)
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This series is absolutely amazing ! I’ve never seen a horse and carriage quite like this. I enjoyed browsing through your blog, and look forward to sharing more with you.
Hope to see you back soon!
Bella
Glad you enjoyed my old hearse photograph Bella. Will be nice to get to see more of your work.:)
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These are fantastic b&w shots. 😉
Thank you:)
Sadly, another Russel Ray camping trip comes to an end………………..
You’re so kind … but i’m always happy to see you whenever you can pop in, Russel.
What a wonderful set of images! To turn and see, not to mention hear, those horses bearing down that street with that magnificent coach, eye-popping and so great that you caught it. Love that you didn’t have a map, something strangely liberating about that!
Maplessness continues to be my chosen travel mode – liberating and a sure path to exploration!