I visited Pompeii before the conference.  Here battered pillars stand before Vesuvio.
 
 
 

The ruins of Pompeii's amphitheatre.
 
 
 

A conference reception in the orange and lemon grove (growing on the same tree!) at the Sorrento Hilton.
 
 
 

My first experiment with panorama photography, showing Sorrento from the hills above.
 
 
 

Sunset beyond a small Sorrento harbor.
 
 
 

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Olives trees near Massa Lubrense - me with some gnarly specimens; Amanda next to a creatively decorated tree in a little village - home to green lizards!
 
 
 

View from Punta Campanella, the destination of our nice long hike.
 
 
 

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Grande Marina at the Island of Capri, plus a very helpful sign suggesting that you not drive your automobile into the harbor.
 
 
 

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Gazing in four directions from Monte Solaro on Capri.
Lower right shot:  Punta Campanella (top left), rocks we kayaked around (right).
 
 
 

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At the Colosseum in Roma - arches and belowground passages; Amanda and I with the Forum ruins in the background.
 
 
 

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The statues atop St. Peter's Basilica carry impressive implements of destruction, while the inside sports lavish decoration.
 
 
 

Historical scenes projected onto the wall of a church, while students celebrate summer's arrival.
 
 
 

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The huge cathedral in Florence.  Nearby, a reminder of World Cup's all-importance!
 
 
 

The town of Vernazza, part of the Ligurian coast's Cinque Terre (5 villages).
 
 
 

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After a quick swim, we stop for lunch at Riomaggiore before leaving the Cinque Terre.
 
 
 

At the art-deco theatre in Torino, probably the coolest picture ever taken.
 
 
 

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Our amazing hostel in the Alps; and the view from our balcony.
 
 
 

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Amanda with a mountainside cattle ranch in the background; me with the Matterhorn in the distance.
 
 
 

Milan's train station, the only decent architecture to be found nearby.
 
 
 

Bologna by night, looking through an arch toward the piazza.
 
 
 

Scenes from the canals of Venezia, my final port of call.