| Monday, June 16, 2008 |
| Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer in Positano, Italy |
Another great experience we had while in Italy, was driving up the Amalfi Coast. There are so many beautiful little cities all along the coast and one that we stopped at was Positano. Melissa was in Italy for 3 months last year and while she was there, she visited Positano and did a review on the spa at Le Sirenuse.
We dropped by Le Sirenuse and gave them a copy of the article she wrote for them in YWD. They were so friendly and gave me a tour of the hotel and spa. They were also so kind as to have us there for dinner as their guests. The views from the hotel are amazing, the city, the coast... everything. We actually met two couples from the states that were staying there that were on their honeymoon.
      Labels: Italy, Positano, Santa Barbara Destination Wedding Photographer, Santa Barbara Photography, Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer |
posted by Ricky @ 4:58 PM   |
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| Sunday, June 15, 2008 |
| Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer in Rome, Italy |
After an incredible week in Capri, Melissa and I spent a few days in Rome before we flew home. I couldn't wait to see Rome and I had no idea what to expect. Being in Italy alone was culture shock enough but walking around the streets of Rome was absolutely amazing. As you walk around the streets of Rome, you know you're in a city but then all of a sudden, you're standing in front of St. Peters Basilica or the Colosseum! To think that there was a civilization that lived around and built these structures almost 2000 years ago blows my mind! My concept of "The Big Picture" has suddenly been magnified 100 fold.
The first piece of history we came upon was St Peter's Basilica. San Pietro in Vincoli (Saint Peter in Chains) is best known as the home for Michelangelo's statue of Moses. It was surreal to be walking inside of this Basilica that was built in the years 432-440. Where are we now... 2008?
 
Again, as we are walking down the cobblestone streets, we turn the corner and there stands the Colosseum. This was incredible to see. The size, the age, everything about it. I walked up to it and just stood there staring at it with my hand on one of the walls... people must've thought I was nuts!
 
We walked for miles but it didn't matter because of where we were. We were starving and since we've been eating like kings for the past week during the wedding, we wanted something quick and bad for you so we found a McDonald's! How wrong was it to be eating at a McDonald's where the view out of the front door was The Pantheon! Yes, I know that's just wrong :)
  
After the Pantheon, we found ourselves at the Piazza Navona. There were people painting, sculpting, singing, dancing and acting all over the place. One of my favorites was this guy that looked like a business man on the move. He was pretty funny and the crowd around him was huge. He just stood there nice and still, but looked like a guy walking in the wind! He would raise his eyebrows with every tip he got.
  
The Vatican City was pretty amazing to see. You could see it way off in the distance but nothing compared to standing in front of it.
 
One of the last sites we saw was The Trevi Fountain. There were so many people here that I had to wait for the crowds to move just so I could stand in front of the fountain. Again, simply amazing. I read that the fountain collects around 3,000 EUR a day just from people wishing into it! That's awesome! I think we did really well for seeing Rome in a day, but there's so much more to see and I can't wait to come back!
 Labels: Capri Italy, Italy, Rome, Santa Barbara Destination Wedding Photographer, Santa Barbara Event Photography, Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer |
| posted by Ricky @ 1:14 PM |
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| Wednesday, June 04, 2008 |
| Stefanie and Gil: Villa Verde Ristorante, Capri Italy |
Capri is such a beautiful place and so are the people. The weather is perfect, almost as perfect as it is in Santa Barbara! haha. You can walk everywhere you want to go, unless you want to get to the other side of the island and visit Anacapri. I'm sure you could walk, but the thin winding roads and mountainous terrain make it hard so you either take a bus or taxi. We spent alot of time up in Capri Town where most of the restaurants, shops and bars were. it's pretty surreal to walk through the cobblestone streets with shops that make Rodeo Drive look like a strip mall.
On the last night, we all went to the super fun restaurant, Villa Verde. As you walk through the entrance, the walls are collaged with images of friends, families and celebrities! Our whole crew took up most of an outdoor patio and it was probably the most fun I've had at dinner in a long time! Stefanie and Gil knew the owner so we were all treated in the same manner as we were used to all week.. like family. Everyone was laughing, drinking and singing that's amore with Dean Martin. We were the biggest group there and the loudest but everyone in the restaurant loved it and sang along with us.
Stefanie and Gil opened up gifts and of all the wonderful things she received, one very special gift from her sister brought tears to Stefanie's eyes. It was pretty amazing and a complete honor to be included in this incredible life celebration between Stefanie and Gil for their wedding with their closest family and friends.
3D glasses that showed hearts when you look into the light were handed out right before a congratulations cake was brought out. The cake lit up like the 4th of July and everyone had sparklers... incredible. Thank you Stefanie and Gil for treating me like one of the family. My fondest memories of my first trip to Italy include both of you, your families and friends!
Here are some favorites from that night. The first picture is of Ori Kafre, the owner of the JK Capri.
             Labels: Capri Italy, JK Capri, Santa Barbara Destination Wedding Photographer, Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer |
| posted by Ricky @ 5:37 PM |
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| Wednesday, May 28, 2008 |
| Stefani and Gil's wedding week in Capri, Italy |
I'm having an incredible time over here in Capri Italy! We checked into the JK Capri on Monday and it's been non stop ever since. People started to arrive all day Monday and Stefanie and Gil were so excited to see everyone come through the door. The JK Capri is a 5 star Luxury Boutique Hotel here on Capri and there are only 22 rooms. The whole hotel was reserved for a week just for guests! I can't even guess how many bottles of Prosseco Wine have been opened so far.... all I do know is that there were glasses handed to us the moment we arrived and they still haven't stopped coming!
Another amazing detail about this wedding is that they secured the whole kitchen staff to cater to the guests. The head chef, Rennato is the most charming little Italian man that never stops running around. He smiles constantly and is always checking on the guests to make sure everything is ok. Needless to say, the food has been amazing.
When we walked in the door, we were greeted... "buona serra, welcome home" and that's exactly what it feels like to be in this hotel with all the guests. Everyone is amazing and they all, especially Stefanie and Gil have treated Melissa and I like we're part of the family. One thing pretty amazing about everyone here is that they come from all over the world. There are guests here from the U.S.A, Vienna, Germany, Persia, Russia, Israel, Canada and London! And I'll say it one more time, they all treat each other like they're family, so cool! I just wish I knew how to speak Italian, German and Hebrew!
Here are some pictures from Monday.
            
I also wanted to show everyone the amazing view from my balcony in the next 2 pictures. This is where I'm sitting right now as I post this blog! I could really get used to this!
  Labels: Capri Italy, Santa Barbara Destination Wedding Photographer, Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer |
| posted by Ricky @ 5:36 PM |
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| Sunday, May 25, 2008 |
| Made it to Capri Italy! |
So Melissa and I left for Capri Italy on the 24th with a 5 hour flight to Philadelphia and then an almost 9 hour flight to Rome airport. We arrived in Rome and picked up this awesome little rental car, a Fiat Punto! We drove this little guy from Roma to Napoli and it kept dinging everytime I hit 130km/hr! The little thing would barely go any faster than that! I kept getting passed by all of these sweet cars and motorcycles! For those of you that know me, you know that didn't make me happy! hahaha I have also now decided that I must have one of those smart cars! Check out the picture, they're awesome!
We got to Napoli and dropped off the Punto at the airport and then found a cab that brought us to the Ferry. This wasn't just any ferry, it was a hydrofoil boat that brought us to Capri in 40 minutes. Way cool!
Check out the beautiful view of Capri! This is a beautiful island, every bit of it. We're staying on the other side of Capri, in Anacapri, which is on top of a mountain at the Capri Palace. There was a fesitval today up here in Anacapri and they had the roads closed to traffic. Everyone was out and about walking all over. There was this old couple sitting on a bench that I took a picture of. They were so cute, just sitting there laughing with eachother, saying hello to everyone they knew. They have probably lived on Capri their whole lives and probably know everyone on the island. Like I said, they were so cute and so happy sitting there talking away. She barely had any teeth and everytime she laughed she looked like a boxer!
Here are some pics!
   Labels: Santa Barbara Destination Wedding Photographer, Santa Barbara Photography, Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer |
| posted by Ricky @ 6:31 PM |
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| Thursday, July 12, 2007 |
| Maui No Ka Oi! - Delta flight with Jewel Van Valin! |
Well, I'm off on a wedding shoot to Maui, going to visit some dear friends and to see my family. I took off from SB down to LA and then to Maui. My trip to LA was a short puddle jumper, which was a piece of cake. My flight from LA to Maui was another story, a great one! About two hours into the flight I decided to get up and walk around. Anyway, I made friends with two Delta employees and we wound up laughing all the way to Maui!
The flight attendants, Jewel Van Valin and Dave were so awesome! We sat and talked about everything from relationships to travel to their 30 years of marriage! Dave fixed me the most incredible bloody mary that never seemed to drop below half full! He kept that rather large cup full for the last 3 hours of my flight.
Jewel was so amazing. She walked the plane and had all the kids and any adults that wanted to play draw something with crayons that she brings on every flight. Once they were done, she would tape them up on the ceiling and the walls of the plane. Everyone loved them and there were some pretty amazing drawings! We had the plane laughing and playing games and at one point, we had a mother and daughter racing (fast walking) the aisles to see who could complete the most laps in 3 minutes. People were taking pictures of all the artwork that was hanging all over the plane and by the end of the flight I think I took pictures of everyone as if it were a wedding reception.
The flight seemed to last 30 minutes and before you knew it we were on the ground. I've never flown with a flight crew that was so friendly, helpful and fun. That's Jewel, Dave and me in the last picture posing with my work of art!
Here are some favs!
         Labels: Maui Hawaii, Santa Barbara Destination Wedding Photographer, Santa Barbara Photography, Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer |
| posted by Ricky @ 4:01 AM |
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