Sea-Girt Villages of Photo Tour with Harold Davis

October 28, 2015 – November 11, 2015

Positano, where we will be staying for four nights.

Visit and explore the and take photos like you never have before— This is a photographer’s dream trip! Sea-Girt Villages of Italy Photo Tour with Harold Davis

October 28, 2015 – November 11, 2015

Day 1: October 28, 2015 : Meet at Hotel Balestri at 3 p.m. Page 2

Day 2: October 29, 2015 Monterosso & : Transfer to Page 3 Monterosso with a stop for photography at the Leaning Tower of Pisa along the way. Day 3: October 30, 2015 Cinque Terre: All-day guided tour by foot and train Page 4 of the villages of the “Five Lands” Day 4: October 31, 2015 Free time for photography and exploration. This Page 5 day is for exploring Cinque Terre in depth. Day 5: November 1, 2015 Free time for photography and exploration of Page 6 Cinque Terre. Individual guidance and assignments, as well as group sessions with Harold, will be arranged during the day. Day 6: November 2, 2015 : Transfer to Naples via train with a half-day Page 7 private driving tour of Naples upon arrival. Day 7: November 3, 2015 : Half-day guided tour by private van of the Page 8 ancient city of Pompeii and the newly opened Villa of the Mysteries. Day 8: November 4, 2015 Vesuvius and Herculeneum: A half-day guided Page 9 private tour of Mount Vesuvius and Herculeneum. Day 9: November 5, 2015 : Transfer by ferry to Capri where a guide will Page 10 meet the group for an afternoon tour of Capri and . Day 10: November 6, 2015 Free time for photography and exploration of the Page 11 Island of Capri. Day 11: November 7, 2015 Amalfi & Positano: Transfer via hydrofoil to Amalfi Page 12 where a guide will meet the group to explore Amalfi. Then, transfer via private van to Positano. Day 12: November 8, 2015 Positano: Free time for photography and Page 13 exploration. Individual guidance and assignments, as well as group sessions, will be arranged. Day 13: November 9, 2015 : Full day guided tour of the stunning Page 14 Amalfi coast, including Ravello. Day 14: November 10, 2015 : Guided tour with private van of one of the Page 15 gorgeous seaside Greek ruins in Italy. Day 15: November 11, 2015 Naples: Transfer back to Naples Airport or Page 16 Train Station. About the Trip A quick note for photographic travelers Page 17 Sea-Girt Villages of Italy with Harold Davis Page 

Day 1: October 28, 2015

Hotel: Hotel Balestri Piazza Mentana 7 Uffizi, 50122 Florence, Italy

The group will meet in the hotel lobby at 3:00 p.m.

We will be staying one night at the centrally located Hotel Balestri on the banks of the Arno River, located near the Duomo, Ponte Veccio, and other major attractions.

We are meeting at the Hotel Balestri, Florence (photo via Hotel Balestri).

Planned activity:

Private guided three hour orientation walking tour of Florence including the Duomo, Baptistry, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Veccio, Arno and Oltrarno, with stops and free time to take photographs.

Meal included in the tour: Welcome Dinner.

Dinner possibility: Del Fagioli Corso dei Tintori, 47-r 50122 Firenze Tel: +39 055 244285

Ristorante del Fagioli. “One of the oldest trattorie in Florence. Ristorante del Fagioli is one of those Italian restaurants you’re always hoping to find. Wood paneled dining rooms, smiling cooks in the kitchen, the day’s specials up on a blackboard. They even have old fashioned, straw covered bottles of Chianti.” —E.M. Sea-Girt Villages of Italy with Harold Davis Page 

Day 2: October 29, 2015

Transfer to Monterosso & Cinque Terre

Today we will be moving on to Monterosso and Cinque Terre.

10:00 a.m.: Private van transfer to Monterosso-al-Mare with stop to photograph Leaning Tower of Pisa. Staying in Cinque Terre for four nights. Cinque Terre, the “Five Lands” include the villages of Cornigilia, , Monterosso, , and on a beautiful part of the Ligurian coast.

Hotel: Hotel Margherita Via Roma, 72 19016 (SP) Tel: +39 0187 817699

We will be staying at the Hotel Margherita for four nights.

Meals included in the tour: Breakfast at the Hotel Balestri before departing Florence, and Dinner in Monterosso. “My family and I ate here on our first night in Monterosso, and we found Dinner possibility: it to be fabulous. The mixed seafood salad, with octopus and clams, was fantastic. We ordered one of the “for 2 people “ dishes, the spaghetti Ristorante Al Pozzo with lobster sauce. This isn’t just a sauce made from lobster and poured Via Roma, 26 over the pasta, it’s a large steaming pot of lobster stew, with large chunks Monterosso al mare SP of the lobster (with shell), with garlic and tomatoes and with perfectly Italy cooked spaghetti.” — G.T.

We will be staying in Monterosso for four nights while we explore the “Five Lands” of Cinque Terre (photo via Hotel Il Giardino Incantato). Sea-Girt Villages of Italy with Harold Davis Page 

Day 3: October 30, 2015

Today we will explore Cinque Terre with a private guide.

All day private guided tour by foot and train of the “Five Lands” of Cinque Terre which includes the villages of Cornigilia, Manarola, Monterosso, Riomaggiore, and Vernazza.

Hotel: Hotel Margherita Via Roma, 72 19016 Monterosso al Mare (SP) Tel: +39 0187 817699

Number of nights: Night 2 of 4

Meals included in the tour: Breakfast at the hotel and provided Lunch.

Cinque Terre is a great location for exploring and photography (photo: Creative Commons, attribution-share alike, author: chensiyuan, via Wikimedia). Sea-Girt Villages of Italy with Harold Davis Page 

Day 4: October 31, 2015

Continue to explore the Five Lands. Go back to a place you want to look at more closely while you work with Harold on a photographic goal.

Free time and/or guided photography with Harold as we explore Cinque Terre in depth. Harold will also provide guided assignments, as well as technique and image review sessions.

Hotel: Hotel Margherita Via Roma, 72 19016 Monterosso al Mare (SP) Tel: +39 0187 817699

Number of nights: Night 3 of 4

Meal included in the tour: Breakfast at the Hotel Margherita.

The Village of Riommagiore was founded in 1251 (photo via www.Cinqueterre.it). Sea-Girt Villages of Italy with Harold Davis Page 

Day 5: November 1, 2015

Continue working with Harold on your photography while enjoying the All Saints’ Day festivities.

Free time and also photography with Harold. November 1st is All Saints Day, called Festi di Tutti i Santi in Italy. It is both a public and religious holiday in Italy. People visit family and friends, and exchange gifts with one another. We may have the opportunity to photograph All Saints festivities in the context of the small villages of Cinque Terre.

By the way, November 2nd is known in Italy as All Souls Day or Italy’s Day of the Dead, Il Giorno dei Morti. Special soft almond cookies are baked called Ossi dei Morti, Bones of the Dead.

Hotel: Hotel Margherita Via Roma, 72 19016 Monterosso al Mare (SP) Tel: +39 0187 817699

Number of nights: Night 4 of 4

Meals included in the tour: Breakfast at the Hotel Margherita.

Time to say goodbye to our home in Monterosso. After staying at the Hotel Margherita for four nights, we will be moving on to the city of Naples the next day (photo via Hotel Margherita). Sea-Girt Villages of Italy with Harold Davis Page 

Day 6: November 2, 2015

Transfer to Naples

Today we will take the train from Florence to Naples, where we will start to explore Naples, one of the oldest cities in the world.

10:00 a.m. private minivan transfer to Florence where we will have lunch before boarding the Frecciarossa Train to Naples. When we arrive in Naples, a guide and private van will pick us up for an afternoon tour of Naples. There will be plenty of time to photograph along the way. The tour will end at our new hotel, the Hotel Decumani.

Hotel: Palazzo Decumani via del Grande Archivio, 8 80100 Napoli, Italy Tel: +39 081 420 1379

We will be staying at the Palazzo Decumani for three nights.

Meals included in the tour: Breakfast at the Dinner possibility: Hotel Margherita before departure, Lunch La Figlia del Presidente along the way, and Dinner in Naples. Via Grande Archivio, 23 Napoli NA, Italy

After getting acquainted with Naples, we will be setting out the following day on a private guided tour of Pompeii and the Villa of Mysteries (photo: Creative Commons, attribution-share alike, author: Alessandro Zarcone, via Wikimedia). Sea-Girt Villages of Italy with Harold Davis Page 

Day 7: November 3, 2015

Today we explore and photograph Pompeii and the Villa of the Mysteries.

Private half-day guided tour of the ancient city of Pompeii and the newly restored Villa of the Mysteries.

Hotel: Palazzo Decumani via del Grande Archivio, 8 80100 Napoli, Italy Tel: +39 081 420 1379

Number of nights: Night 2 of 3

Meals included in the tour: Breakfast at the Palazzo Decumani and dinner in Naples.

Dinner possibility:

Tandem Via Giovanni Paladino, 51 80138 Napoli Italy Tel: +39 081 1900 2468

You will be able to see this fresco for yourself when we visit Pompeii and the newly restored Villa of Mysteries (photo: Creative Commons, attribution-share alike, author: Matthias Kabel, via Wikimedia). Sea-Girt Villages of Italy with Harold Davis Page 

Day 8: November 4, 2015

Today’s exciting tour will take us to Mount Vesuvius and Herculeneum.

A private, guided morning tour of Mount Vesuvius and Herculeneum with private van. The afternoon will be free with time to explore Naples and work on your photographic goals.

Hotel: Palazzo Decumani via del Grande Archivio, 8 80100 Napoli, Italy Tel: +39 081 420 1379

Number of nights: Night 3 of 3

Meal included in the tour: Breakfast at the Palazzo Decumani.

A fresco from the Casa di Nettuno ed Anfitrite at Herculeneum. Sea-Girt Villages of Italy with Harold Davis Page 10

Day 9: November 5, 2015

Transfer to Capri

Today we take the ferry to the Island of Capri where we will enjoy a guided afternoon tour to become acquainted with the surroundings.

Transfer by ferry to Capri (guide will meet ferry at Capri). The transfer includes hotel pick up. Private guided afternoon tour of Capri/Anacapri.

Hotel: Hotel Casa Mariantonia Via Giuseppe Orlandi, 180 80071 Anacapri NA, Italy Tel: +39 081 837 2923

We will be staying at the Hotel Casa Mariantonia for two nights.

Meals included in the tour: Breakfast at the Dinner possibility: Palazzo Decumani before departure and Aumm Aumm Ristorante Dinner in Anacapri. Via Caprile, 18 80071 Anacapri NA, Italy

The Punta Carena lighthouse on Capri (photo via capri.net). Sea-Girt Villages of Italy with Harold Davis Page 11

Day 10: November 6, 2015

Today we explore Capri in depth—plenty of time for photography!

Free time to photograph and explore Capri. This day is for exploring Capri in depth. Harold will provide guided assignments as well as technique and image review sessions.

Hotel: Hotel Casa Mariantonia Via Giuseppe Orlandi, 180 80071 Anacapri NA, Italy Tel: +39 081 837 2923

Number of nights: Night 2 of 2

Meal included in the tour: Breakfast at the hotel.

Certosa di San Giacomo is a Carthusian monastery on the island of Capri founded in 1363 by Giacomo Arcucci. In 1974 part of the monastery opened as the museum (photo: Creative Commons, attribution-share alike, author: Norberto Chavez-Tapia, via Wikimedia). Sea-Girt Villages of Italy with Harold Davis Page 12

Day 11: November 7, 2015

Transfer to Amalfi & Positano

Today we travel by hydrofoil to Amalfi where we will meet a private guide for a tour of the city. From there, a private van will take us to our next desintation: Positano.

Transfer by hydrofoil to Amalfi. A private guide will meet the group at Amalfi. Explore Amalfi on foot with the guide; and then, transfer via private van with driver to Positano, a porter for luggage will be there to help us down the stairs!

Hotel: Hotel Villa la Tartana Via Vicolo Vito Savino 4/6/8 Positano SA, Italy Tel: +39 089 812193

We will be staying at the Hotel Villa la Tartana for four nights.

Meals included in the tour: Breakfast before departing the hotel in Anacapri and Dinner in Positano.

Dinner possibility: Le Tre Sorelle Via del Brigantino, 27-31 84017 Positano SA, Italy

Amalfi Cathedral was built in the 9th-century in the Piazza del Duomo. It is dedicated to the Apostle Saint Andrew. The front facade was rebuilt in 1891 after the original one collapsed (photo: Creative Commons, attribution-share alike, author: Berthold Werner, via Wikimedia). Sea-Girt Villages of Italy with Harold Davis Page 13

Day 12: November 8, 2015

Today you will have free time to explore Positano and work with Harold on your photographic quest.

Free time to photograph and explore Positano. This day is for exploring Positano in depth. Harold will provide guided assignments as well as technique and image review sessions.

Hotel: Hotel Villa la Tartana Via Vicolo Vito Savino 4/6/8 Positano SA, Italy Tel: +39 089 812193

Number of nights: Night 2 of 4

Meal included in the tour: Breakfast at the hotel.

The Hotel Villa la Tartana is the dark pink building that you see near the dome at the lower part of the photograph. Our rooms have a lovely view of the sea and are a few staircases down to the central plaza and beach (photo via Hotel Villa la Tartana). Sea-Girt Villages of Italy with Harold Davis Page 14

Day 13: November 9, 2015

Today we will explore the Amalfi coast with a private guide and van.

Full day tour with van and guide for exploring Amalfi coast including Ravello. Stop at mozzarella farm in Sorrento with great view and lunch.

Hotel: Hotel Villa la Tartana Via Vicolo Vito Savino 4/6/8 Positano SA, Italy Tel: +39 089 812193

Number of nights: Night 3 of 4

Meals included in the tout: Breakfast at the hotel and Lunch at the mozzarella farm in Sorrento.

A view of the Sorrento Grand Marina(photo: Creative Commons, attribution-share alike, author: Cutiekatie, via Wikimedia). Sea-Girt Villages of Italy with Harold Davis Page 15

Day 14: November 10, 2015

For this last day of the tour we will take a private van and guide to visit the ancient Greek ruin of Paestum.

4-hour, half day tour with private van and guide of Paestum. At the foot of the Amalfi Penninsula, facing the , Paestum is probably the most-well sited, finest-preserved, and photogenic Greek ruin on the Italian mainland.

Hotel: Hotel Villa la Tartana Via Vicolo Vito Savino 4/6/8 Positano SA, Italy Tel: +39 089 812193

Number of nights: Night 4 of 4

Meals included in the tour: Breakfast at Farewell Dinner possibility: the hotel and a Farewell Dinner. Ristorante da Vincenzo Viale Pasitea, 172 84017 Positano SA, Italy The oldest Greek ruins on the Italian mainland are at Paestum (photo: Creative Commons, attribution-share alike, author: Oliver Bonjoch, via Wikimedia). Sea-Girt Villages of Italy with Harold Davis Page 16

Day 15: November 11, 2015

Transfer to Naples Airport and/or Train Station

Today we will travel via private van back to Naples for our various departures for home or alternate desitnations in Europe.

Transfer by private van to Naples Airport and/or Naples Train Station.

Hotel: Hotel Villa la Tartana Via Vicolo Vito Savino 4/6/8 Positano SA, Italy Tel: +39 089 812193

Van departure at 8:30 a.m. from the Hotel Villa la Tartana for Naples.

Meal included in the tour: Breakfast at hotel before departure for Naples (time permitting).

Castel dell’Ovo, or the Egg Castle, is a seaside castle located on the former island of Megaride, now a peninsula, on the in Italy. The Castel dell’Ovo is the oldest standing fortification in Naples (photo: Creative Commons, attribution-share alike, author: currybet, via Wikimedia). Sea-Girt Villages of Italy with Harold Davis Page 17

About the Trip

When and Where to Meet We will meet in the lobby of the Hotel Balestri, Florence, at 3 PM on Wednesday, October 28, 2015. From there, we will proceed with a guided walking tour of Florence and a Welcome Dinner. (See page 2 of the Itinerary for details.)

What to Expect in Weather This is an autumn photo trip heading from north to south, starting in Florence, Italy, and finishing in Naples. The weather at this time of year is variable, with possible periods of sun, clouds, and rain. As Ansel Adams put it, If you don’t go out in the rain, you can’t photograph a clearing storm. Please plan to be comfortable in a variety of weather conditions, including rain, with temperatures ranging from mid-40° F. to mid-70° F.

General Items to Bring with You While we will be staying in every location—except Florence—for more than one night, it is still wise to pack as lightly as possible. We recommend layered clothing as well as good rain gear. By all means, bring good walking shoes and socks that will pad your feet to keep them from blisters. Please do make sure your shoes are broken in before the trip.

Please keep in mind that European plugs are shaped differently than American plugs, so you will need to bring a converter.

Photographic Items to Bring with You Please bring a camera, tripod, wide-angle and telephoto lenses, and a remote release. You will want a head lamp for evening and night photography. Bring plenty of memory cards, your charger, and extra batteries for anything that takes batteries. If you are not completely comfortable with the operation of your camera, please also bring your camera manual.

Harold travels with his laptop, and processes his images on-the-fly when he can. You are welcome to bring your own computer if you would like to process your images with input from Harold, but bringing a laptop is not required. If you do bring a computer, please be sure to include a card reader. You might also want to include a network cable for hotels where wired internet access is more reliable than wi-fi.

Contacting Harold If you have any questions at all, please contact Harold by email at harold@photoblog2. com or Phyllis at [email protected]. Harold’s mobile phone when he is on the road is +1.510.295.3982.