The reason I am so late posting today is because I have not been able to make up my mind on which way to go with this PhotoHunt challenge. Meanwhile, I spent most of today dealing with a different electrical problem, trying to fix my *electric* Gaggia espresso machine. I searched online, got my tools out, and tried a few different suggestions. My machine is now in a bag heading to the dump. I thought of posting a photo of this machine run by electricity but it is just too depresssing. I guess now know what I will be doing with my birthday money this year.
So, it is now early evening and I still can't make up my mind. Since I now need to put all my energy into deciding on a new espresso machine (ideas are welcome), I am not going to dwell on which way to go with this post and instead am going to post all of my ideas.
Views, scenes, and buildings at night lit up by electricity ~ Rome
~ Florence
~ Venice
~ Isola Bella
Music powered by electricity, electric guitars, electric lights & a video of the band powerd by electricity ~ Piazza Anfiteatro, Lucca at night
Abstract photo of electric lights ~ taken in Lerici while sitting outside on my balcony at Hotel Doria and playing with my camera at night.
The lights of Iolani Palace ~ Iolani Palace was the first electrified building in Honolulu and even had electricity before both the White House and Buckingham Palace. Construction of the Iolani Palace was completed in 1882. I would have gone with just this idea but both of these photos are re-posts. I have even posted the second photo twice before and have used it as part of my "glass" PhotoHunt post so I feel like I would be cheating in some way if I had only used this idea.
An electric car ~ I saw the coolest car this summer while in either Florence or Bologna. I am pretty sure it was in Florence but can't remember for sure. I do remember walking by it almost every day. It was tiny and blue. I thought about taking a photo of it many times as I walked by it but just never did. Kicking myself now! So, instead here is another re-post of a photo I posted a year ago of a yellow electric car I saw while staying in Bologna in 2008.
So which way would you have taken this post??
Comments (16)
Love ALL of your selections for this week. Everyone is a great picture.
Posted by Sandra | September 12, 2009 8:43 PM
Posted on September 12, 2009 20:43
That night shot of Firenze is spectacular!
Posted by Peter @ italyMONDO! | September 13, 2009 2:36 AM
Posted on September 13, 2009 02:36
All the photos are wonderful. They make me happy. Thank you.
Posted by Barb Cabot | September 13, 2009 4:42 AM
Posted on September 13, 2009 04:42
Hi Girasoli, wow! Fabulous choices for this week's theme. No wonder you had a hard time chosing... I love all of them, especially Venice at night!
I'm afraid I will not be much help with your expresso machine questions, but I think that would be a wonderful thing to buy yourself with your Birthday money. I hope you had a wonderful Birthday celebration! Have a great day today!
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | September 13, 2009 6:41 AM
Posted on September 13, 2009 06:41
I like the night pictures including the abstract. The ambiance of night shots always are a winner for me. I did got with the electric appliance on my blog but mainly because I had a good old and new appliance idea.
Good luck on the hunt for a new espresso maker. Our maker is starting to have a little bit of problems with the pump but overall we have been happy with ours. It is a Starbucks Barista which I think is manufactured by Saeco. We've had it for several years. They go on sale once or twice a year. I think around Father's Day unfortunately. We got ours in February and I think there was some discount also. We don't use the pods.
If you want to research - I recommend the Coffee Geek Site http://coffeegeek.com/. There are some really serious coffee geeks on that site but they do have lot of reviews. It almost made it too difficult to make a choice but it is good to check when you have narrowed your list.
Also search on espresso maker on Slow Travel. We have had a couple of threads on the makers also.
Posted by Marta | September 13, 2009 6:45 AM
Posted on September 13, 2009 06:45
Great photo selection! Love them all, in particular the nighttime images. Makes me wish to be there right now. I also love the cute little electric car. It looks smaller than the Smart car.
Sorry to hear about you problems with the Gaggia. Before you toss it out you might want to check the Coffee Geek website: http://coffeegeek.com/. I poured through this website when I was looking for an espresso machine (I bought a Rancilio Silvia). They have a very active message board where you can get all kinds of help with your machine. Bryan, Valerie's husband, has a Gaggia and he has blogged about it: http://2italy.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-new-gaggia.html. Maybe he can shed some light on the problem with your Gaggia.
Posted by Maria I. | September 13, 2009 8:15 AM
Posted on September 13, 2009 08:15
Can't do without m cappuccino maker, I have a Breville Cafe Roma. Sorry your's broke!
Posted by leslie | September 13, 2009 11:18 AM
Posted on September 13, 2009 11:18
Sandra, glad you liked them all :)
Peter, thanks! The beautiful setting helps with getting a good photo.
Barb, so happy to make you happy!
Kathy, ahhh Venice! Another beautiful place. After looking at the prices of the ones I would like, I think it is going to be more birthday and Christmas money. I look at it as a way to keep something I love from Italy in my home ... a good espresso!
Marta, I always have fun playing around with night photos (even though I still really don't know exactly what I am doing with my camera yet).
Maria, I always wish I was there when looking at my photos. Glad you enjoyed my choices. The electric car looks cute but not too safe.
Marta & Maria, Thanks so much for the tips. Coffee geek is just where I have been. They have so many reviews and choices and yes it can definitely get overwhelming. I forgot about checking Slow Travel. Will have to go see what advice I can find there. I have seen Bryan's post (have his blog in my Google Reader list). Definitely an option. My current Gaggia is beyond repairing on my own and it would cost too much to ship it to get it fixed. The screw is stuck and I can't get the screen head off. I finally tried bending it to get it off and it still is stuck!
Right now I am between a Saeco, the and another Gaggia. Maria, are you happy with the Silvia? The last couple of months I have been finally thinking about getting a grinder - which is why this is going to all cost so much. In the past, I have bought a few days worth of coffee at a time, grinding it at the health food store in their professional grinder but don't want to keep that up... so grinder plus coffee machine = more money and more space in my tiny kitchen. Am very tempted to go with the best, the Rancilio Silvia (dream machine but expensive, bigger, and much heavier), but am also considering a Saeco Aroma or another Gaggia.
Posted by girasoli | September 13, 2009 11:19 AM
Posted on September 13, 2009 11:19
Leslie, thanks for the tip. I will have to check yours out. I loved the photo of your espresso machine.
Posted by girasoli | September 13, 2009 11:21 AM
Posted on September 13, 2009 11:21
All of the photos are spectacular - understand why you had a problem deciding. Thanks for posting all. Each is breathtakingly beautiful. Sorry, no ideas about a coffee machine:-)m
Posted by menehune | September 13, 2009 3:09 PM
Posted on September 13, 2009 15:09
Wow, Wow, beautiful collection of "Electric' photos.
I appreciate the Electric history aspect of Iolani Palace.
Sorry, no input on coffee making gadgets :) I am too lazy to make own coffee, I just go to Starbucks when my school kids give me giftcards... LOL
Posted by Eden | September 14, 2009 6:38 PM
Posted on September 14, 2009 18:38
I'm glad you posted them all. Love all the Italy night shots, esp. Venice!
Sorry about your machine. Is it your birthday this week? If so, happy birthday!
Posted by Annie | September 15, 2009 3:01 AM
Posted on September 15, 2009 03:01
I love night photography, and these are all just gorgeous...
Posted by dana | September 16, 2009 9:25 AM
Posted on September 16, 2009 09:25
Wow! You went all out for electric.
Posted by Kim | September 17, 2009 2:41 AM
Posted on September 17, 2009 02:41
I just love these photos. They bring back so many good memories. Thanks for posting them. Sorry to hear about your espresso machine!
Posted by sheri | September 26, 2009 9:07 AM
Posted on September 26, 2009 09:07
Thanks again everyone!
Eden, glad you appreciated the electric Iolani Palace info :)
Annie, yes it was and thanks!!
Kim, decision making has not been my strong point lately... the main reason for so many photos this time.
Posted by girasoli | September 26, 2009 3:42 PM
Posted on September 26, 2009 15:42