“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.”
Victor Hugo
A shimmering sun greets passersby from the clock tower of the Loggia di San Giovanni. The graceful, 16th-century structure commands a prime spot on the Piazza della Libertà, in Udine, Italy.
I was lucky enough to explore the elegant city in Italy’s Friuli region one spring ago, while Shawn attended a class not far from Venice.
Tricia A. Mitchell is a freelance writer and photographer. Born in Europe but raised in the United States, she has lived in Valletta, Malta; Heidelberg, Germany; and Split, Croatia. An avid globetrotter who has visited more than 65 countries, she has a penchant for off-season travel. Tricia has learned that travel’s greatest gift is not sightseeing, rather it is the interactions with people. Some of her most memorable experiences have been sharing a bottle of champagne with distant French cousins in Lorraine, learning how to milk goats in a sleepy Bulgarian village, and ringing in the Vietnamese New Year with a Hanoi family. She welcomes any opportunity to practice French and German, and she loves delving into a place’s history and artisanal food scene.
A former education administrator and training specialist, Tricia has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in international relations. She and her husband, Shawn, married in the ruins of a snowy German castle. They’ve been known to escape winter by basing themselves in coastal Croatia or Southeast Asia.
Her writing has appeared in Fodor’s Travel, Frommer’s, and International Living.
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8 thoughts on “Photo du Jour: Hello, Sunshine! – Udine, Italy”
Hi Sid, it’s needed here in Germany too. Yesterday, however, we did have a beautifully sunny, warmer day. Posting this burst of sunshine must have worked some magic with Mother Nature. :)
Diana, you’re living in Singapore, right? We spent the winter in SE Asia last year, so I can relate to missing the charms of Europe when away. The “grass is always greener,” isn’t it? I would love some snake-skin fruit, fresh mango, and orchid sightings to go along with the snow that’s gracefully dancing from the sky here right now. :)
Travels With Tricia 
Nice shot, like your new blog setup.
Ciao, Mark, and thanks so much for both compliments. I’m having fun tinkering with Photoshop for sure. :)
Love the angle! He isn’t smiling though :-)
I’m sure somewhere out there could work some Photoshop magic with his facial expression, Madhu. :)
I like your picture, but I like the Hugo quote even more – it’s really kind of needed over here.
Hi Sid, it’s needed here in Germany too. Yesterday, however, we did have a beautifully sunny, warmer day. Posting this burst of sunshine must have worked some magic with Mother Nature. :)
Even though I’m living in all-year summer, I really miss southern Europe. I’d take a grey winter day in Italy or Spain any day!
Diana, you’re living in Singapore, right? We spent the winter in SE Asia last year, so I can relate to missing the charms of Europe when away. The “grass is always greener,” isn’t it? I would love some snake-skin fruit, fresh mango, and orchid sightings to go along with the snow that’s gracefully dancing from the sky here right now. :)