Ciao! I'm Laura.
  • Journal
  • About
  • Writing
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Journal
  • Books
  • Podcast
  • About
    • Writing
  • Contact

Ciao Amalfi

Blogosphere, Sunday Shout-out · June 7, 2009

Sunday Shout-out: Anne in Oxfordshire

I just love getting mail. Perhaps spending so much time working on the computer and being separated from so many of my family and friends has intensified this. Or perhaps I am just old-fashioned. Email, social networking and chatting online are wonderful, wonderful ways to keep in touch, but nothing quite compares to the tactile sensation of opening a letter, reading handwriting, and appreciating the time that goes into writing a letter. (I am also a paper freak, but that will have to be another post altogether.) This week I received a wonderful surprise in the mail . . . a lovely letter and two postcards from Anne in Oxfordshire!

Anne’s blog is one of my favorite reads, and not too long ago I saw her lovely post on receiving a postcard from Positano sent to her from fellow Amalfi Coast blogger Bell’Avventura. I just loved this idea of bloggers connected through snail mail, and thought a postcard from Amalfi would be a nice addition to Anne’s Amalfi Coast postcard collection. So off I sent a nice postcard of Amalfi to England. How fun to receive Anne’s postcards from Oxford in return!

Blackwell Bookstore, July 2007

I don’t think Anne knew it when she sent these postcards, but two summers ago I spent a lovely day in Oxford as part of the Victorian Society of America’s summer school program in London. We took a day trip from London to Oxford, and I just fell in love with the city. We toured many of the colleges, churches and important buildings throughout the city, and I swear I felt smarter the moment I stepped off the bus! Anne said the Blackwell bookstore (bottom postcard) is one of her favorite stops in Oxford, where she enjoys a Caffe Milano at the Caffe Nero located inside. I love, love, love a good bookstore, and I just happened to spend all my free time in Oxford doing the same thing! Anne’s postcards reminded me of that lovely day in Oxford, and I enjoyed looking through my pictures and remembering the day two years ago. Here are a few pictures I snapped during that day:

Are these gladiolas?

Keble College designed by Andrew Butterfield
(Look at that structural polychromy!!)

Iron detail

University Church of St. Mary’s, Oxford

Thanks, Anne, for the wonderful postcards of Oxford! I will have to keep your Amalfi Coast postcard collection growing. Next stop . . . Ravello!

Related Posts

Sunday Shout-out: Travel Dreams and Moonbeams

Sunday Shout-out: Chef Chuck’s Cucina

Sunday Shout-out: ItalyItalia.com

Sunday Shout-out: Happy Mother’s Day

Posted In: Blogosphere, Sunday Shout-out

You’ll Also Love

September Banner: Late Summer Sun in Conca dei Marini
Sunday Shout-out: Dual Language Articles Online at Italy Magazine
Helping Hands for Abruzzo

Comments

  1. Ciao Chow Linda says

    June 7, 2009 at 09:14

    That was so lovely – sending and receiving a postcard to a fellow blogger. Send me your address via email mirandasmother@gmail.com, and I'll send you a postcard from Princeton. By the way, those flowers are hollyhocks.

    Reply
  2. Scintilla @ Bell'Avventura says

    June 7, 2009 at 09:15

    They are not gladioli but Hollyhocks. You can't get more English than that. Love the details in your photos.
    I love Anne's blog too and keep up with all her travelling.
    There's something for you on my blog.

    Reply
  3. Wanderlust Woman says

    June 7, 2009 at 13:03

    I totally agree, social graces have gone out the window with so-called "social networking." Writing, with a pen, is so nice to do. You actually give some thought to the words. And receiving even better!

    Reply
  4. Anne in Oxfordshire says

    June 7, 2009 at 14:28

    Hi Laura, I am in shock!! What a wonderful Sunday Shout, Thank you so much, it is such an honour.

    I was more in shock when I read the second Paragraph 🙂 I had absolutely NO idea that you had been to England let alone Oxford..and of all places Blackwell Bookshop!!! And you feel the same way about it, as Caroline and I do.

    I have a selection of cards that I have stashed away since doing this postcard swap, and the truth is, that I bought it ages ago, and really didn't know which person to send it to…it kept getting put BACK in the box!!! Take Care Anne

    Reply
  5. Laura says

    June 8, 2009 at 10:39

    Ciao Linda! Ooh, that would be great! I didn't make it to Princeton, but I would love to some day. We can do an address swap! Be in touch soon. Funny, I was sitting on the beach yesterday in Amalfi and it suddenly occurred to me… Oh, I bet those flowers are hollyhocks. Thanks for letting me know!

    Ciao Scintilla! Thanks so much for the award on your blog! You are very kind. Glad you enjoyed the photos, and thanks for letting me know about the flowers. I knew they didn't look quite like gladioli, but couldn't remember the name.

    Ciao Lisa! Handwritten letters are the best! 🙂

    Ciao Anne! So happy you enjoyed the Sunday Shout-out. It is always such a pleasure to share the blogs that I enjoy reading so much. I thought you would be surprised to see the photos and read about me being in Oxford. I was surprised to find I had a picture of Blackwell bookshop when I went back last week to look through my photos. I just loved it there and wished I had more time. So funny that you decided to send that one to me! Life is just full of fun little surprises like that. 🙂 Thanks for the great postcards!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

Out & About: Showing Off

Trending Now

  • ciao-amalfi-winter-things-to-do Visiting the Amalfi Coast in the Winter – 5 Things You Need to Know
  • Amalfi Coast Webcams New Live Streaming Webcams of Amalfi!
  • Amalfi Coast Travel Positano Beach Spiagga Grande A Guide to the Beaches of Positano
  • Amalfi Coast Beaches Colourful Sun Umbrellas at the Marina Grande Beach in Amalfi - Horizontal A Guide to the Beaches of Amalfi

Ciao!

My name is Laura and the Amalfi Coast is my passion and my home. I’m a writer and photographer who is endlessly inspired by the incredible beauty of the Amalfi Coast. Welcome to Ciao Amalfi!

Ciao Amalfi

  • Journal
  • Moon Amalfi Coast
  • Newsletter
  • Contact

Amalfi Coast

  • Amalfi
  • Positano
  • Ravello
  • Amalfi Coast

Explore

  • Travel
  • History & Culture
  • Food & Drink
  • Shopping

Laura Thayer

  • About
  • Writing
  • Book Reviews
  • Work with Me

Latest on Instagram

The 66th Regata delle Antiche Repubbliche Marinare The 66th Regata delle Antiche Repubbliche Marinare is here! This weekend is full of exciting events as the Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics returns to Amalfi after 6 years. This event sees teams from Amalfi, Pisa, Genoa, and Venice compete in a boat race in historic galleons as well as a historic parade. Stay tuned for photos and videos from the parade today and the boat race tomorrow. Forza Amalfi! 💙

#amalfi #amalficoast #ciaoamalfi #visitamalfi #italyhistory #italytravel
Last month I did a mini staycation in Positano and Last month I did a mini staycation in Positano and I loved it! Even though it’s just down the coast from Amalfi, I enjoyed the quiet of the early morning and breakfast with those famous Positano views. And a relaxed dinner without a long (and twisty!) drive home. This view from above Arienzo beach is one of my favorites of Positano.

#positano #amalficoast #positanoitaly #amalficoastitaly #costieraamalfitana #italytravel #positanoview #arienzo #amalficoastview #ciaoamalfi
That this place is just down the coastline is stil That this place is just down the coastline is still a marvel to me. Yesterday morning the colors in Positano were brilliant. 💙

#Positano #AmalfiCoast #ciaoamalfi #amalficoastitaly #positanoitaly #amalficoastbeaches #positanobeach #positanoview #positanoamalficoast #expatlife #italyexpat #italyexpatlife #italytravel #italyiloveyou
You know that feeling when you’re walking around You know that feeling when you’re walking around with something weighing on your mind? I didn’t even realize that’s what I’ve been doing until I had a follow up exam yesterday and got the all clear. At the same office in Amalfi where this whole journey with breast cancer began last June. I took a different sort of walk afterwards and that cloud over Amalfi made me laugh a bit. All clear! Float away little cloud of worry that has been following me around. Vattene! 🌬
After Flavio Gioia, the next natural stop for the After Flavio Gioia, the next natural stop for the #AmalfiCoastCompass series is the Arsenale, where the galleys and ships were built and repaired during the Republic of Amalfi. Just a few steps from Piazza Flavio Gioia, the Arsenale is the only medieval shipyard in Italy to have survived intact. Dating back to the 11th century, its two long aisles with stone cross vaults and pointed arches creates an evocative space.

Today the beautifully restored Arsenale is the setting for art exhibitions and cultural events. Yesterday was the opening for Kerameikos (April 8 - May 10, 2022), an exhibition of contemporary Vietri ceramic arts curated by professor and art critic Massimo Bignardi and organized by @agarte_fucinadellearti. The show brings together 160 works by four master ceramicists from the Amalfi Coast: Salvatore Autuori, Vincenzo Caruso, Giuseppe Di Muro, and Ferdinando Vassallo.

Take a look through the photos to see a glimpse of the exhibit. Second photo: I loved the bright colors and geometric shapes of Salvatore Autuori's work. Third photo: beautiful historical elements in pieces by Giuseppe Di Muro. Fourth photo: look closely at the textures from nature in Ferdinando Vassallo's ceramic series. Fifth photo: the mix of colors in this vase by Enzo Caruso was stunning in person.

The exhibit is free to visit and is open from 10am-1pm/ 4pm-4pm Wednesday to Sunday. For more information check out www.arsenalediamalfi.it.
It’s already back to rainy in Amalfi, but yester It’s already back to rainy in Amalfi, but yesterday was something splendid when the sun came out. Colors quite like this don’t come along with the storms. I’ll take it all!
One of the first things I noticed about the Amalfi One of the first things I noticed about the Amalfi Coast was that I had a lot of questions. It was unlike any place I had ever been. Just over 15 years later, I still have plenty of questions and am constantly seeing new things. This place really has taught me to slow down and look closer.

With that spirit, I’m starting a new series called #AmalfiCoastCompass where I’ll show you places you might have missed, things you might have wondered about, and ideas for your next trip to the Amalfi Coast.

There’s no better place to start the Compass Series than with this statue in Amalfi. Have you noticed it before in the middle of Piazza Flavio Gioia? It’s a statue of Flavio Gioia, a figure from the 13th century credited with inventing the compass for sailing. He stands holding a bussola, or compass, gazing intently downward at the instrument in his left hand while his right points forward. 

While the existence of this particular mariner is questionable, what is sure is that Amalfi was Italy’s first maritime republic and its sailors not only crisscrossed the Mediterranean and traveled as far east as Constantinople but also created maritime codes that were used for centuries. So while the exact creator or individuals behind the perfection of the compass for navigational use will likely never be known, the statue represents Amalfi’s contribution to travel as we know it today. 

This statue was created by Alfonso Balzico, an Italian sculptor born in 1825 in Cava de' Tirreni - not far from Vietri sul Mare on the Amalfi Coast. He studied in Naples and created many important statues around Italy. His statue of Flavio Gioia was created in 1892 and won a gold medal at the 1900 World Exposition in Paris. (Flavio Gioia was still getting around the world!) It was on display in Rome after Balzico's death in 1901 until the city of Amalfi acquired the statue and it was placed in Piazza Flavio Gioia in 1926. It’s been moved a couple of times (at least) but now it’s located in the center of the traffic circle surrounded by a fountain and little landscaped garden. And one last little curiosity: the statue of Flavio Gioia is oriented facing north.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Disclosure

Copyright © 2022 Ciao Amalfi · Theme by 17th Avenue