Pipers

Finlay MacDonaald

Fred Morrison

Sicily

Sicily is a green, beautiful and very large island covered in vineyards. Pink and orange houses were dotted amid the lush green olive groves and a translucent sea evaporated into the turquoise glow of the Mediterranean sky in warm whispers.

We stayed in the hills just behind the old town of Cefulo, in an artistic villa with a wide sheltered veranda with panoramic views of the very blue sea. The house is full of many coloured quirky nic nacs – dangling colour beads and shells, fancy large plastic bowl.

I hoped I’d find peace here, or new treasures perhaps. Travel and holidays for me are a chance for free creative thought and writing.  

The last evening the waves took up, leaving a brilliant turquoise wash and soft luminous light as we walked the long shorelines.  I read too (recommend Beautiful Ruins)

Trip to Rome

Our first night in Rome was at the front of the impressive converted old farm dwelling which was tastefully decorated on two levels and the best hotel room I have ever stayed in. I wish we'd stayed there rather than stay the next 2 nights in Rome itself, as the hotel there was basic and cost the same price! We walked over the impressive centuries old steps of the Coliseum and past the Roman forum, where there are so many very old stories.

We visited the Papal Vatican museum, the holy city and the vastly decorated walls of St Peters. We viewed the craftsmanship of the paintings by Raphael and Michelangelo’s Sistine chapel that stared down over us on man’s heavenly aspirations. It felt both strange and familiar to walk on those revered and well worn marble and mosaic floors. We entered the dimmed and hushed Sistine chapel adorned with Michelangelo’s majestic glories to God and as the crowds follow behind us, they seem to mirror the soaring images painted on the walls in an all too real way, and that is the memory I take away with me – the shared hopes of people for a better way.

Later we loitered at the packed fairy lit Trevi fountain and after ate at the Peroni restaurant where there was that fun spirit and energy we encountered once before in Paris.

(all roads lead to Rome, when in Rome) 

Cellist David Munn

Photoshoot for the very talented Scottish cellist David Munn - http://davidmunnmusic.com/performance

We did these images at Kelvingrove, Glasgow University and Ashton Lane.  It was a super day of shooting and listening to quality music!