The sweetwater town

As I proposed in my last Rock Village post where we passed through Dolceacqua but didn't stop in, I've compiled a few old pictures of past visits.  While the quality of photos isn't terrific (my old camera wasn't as capable as I could have wished for in the harsh conditions all the shadows provided), putting these together brought back so many memories of the visits we've had.  And taking everybody to this town was a top priority!

Dolceacqua in stone art

In front of the church, someone has designed the town in pebble mosaic.  That seems to be an art style all over the area.  Maybe I can figure out how to get a better angle on a future visit, but you should be able to pick out the bridge and old town and castle.

Alex contemplating the river

Our first grandson, Alex, came to stay with us for a bit exactly half his life ago, meaning he was ten when he enjoyed the Old Bridge.

Alpine Queen at Doria Castle

Someone grabbed a shot of me on the bridge with the castle behind on the same visit, which was ten years ago now.  My, how time flies.  It seems like just yesterday!

On a more recent visit, we have Doc Leo in deep discussion with our son at the entrance to the old town.  Also ten years ago, on two different trips, we have each of our two girls.  As they don't live in the Old World, these visits are real treats.

Father and son

Shall we climb?

Admiring the garden

In the suburbs with open sky

I have been so blessed with all the different experiences I've had, and I've been even more blessed to have shared so many of them with my kids.  (I need to peruse my old photos with my family more often.)  We now have two more family members who are missing from the scene; hopefully we can rectify that in the near future.  It would be so fun to capture Diggle traipsing all over these streets, and maybe his mama will let us recreate the bridge picture we have with Alex!

This is not necessarily the prettiest of the villages we visited, but it might have the most character.  Either my cameras haven't been good enough, or the lighting conditions whenever I was there were horrible, or I'm just not very capable, but I've never been able to capture this town like I would like.  I hope what I am showing you gives an adequate representation.  Just try to imagine what it must be like to live in such a place, as has been done for about 1,000 years.  Imagine all the different clothing styles these walls have seen!

A pretty view to come home to

I've got my laundry done, where's yours?

I don't have any information about any of these homes, they are all just typical dwellings. 

I can't imagine the life can be very easy living here, but it's definitely a picturesque neighborhood! 

Enjoy.

Long narrow streets

The daily climb

Not such a lot of sun

Lots of levels

Seems a bit sinister looking before electric lighting!

Alex with a tricycle truck

As you can see, Alex came across one of the tricycle trucks and found it rather cool. 

But then, this deprived little American kid has also enjoyed Lisbon, Spain, Andorra, Paris, Pisa ...  He had a front row seat in front of the Eiffel Tower for the 2000 celebrations.  Poor guy.

And now, we've finished our little trip across the border.  I hope you've been able to place yourselves there, too, and managed to learn a little about a part of the world you may have never been to nor ever will. 

Unless, of course, you come visit me, as it's all just a hop, skip, and a jump away from our home.

Dolceacqua by night.  Good night and goodbye.