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Welcome to News From Italy, my blog about our Italian Adventure. Although this blog has now ceased publication I will be continuing to blog and I am sincerely hoping that my many followers here will move with me to Travel Tales blog to follow my next adventures wherever they may take me. The links to my other blogs are:-


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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Fisherman's Beach - Spiaggia del Pescatore - Marta



This is how the Fisherman's Beach has looked since we first visited Marta in 2004 so it was somewhat of a shock when we came home in January after our Christmas/New Year Travels to discover that there had been a dramatic change.


It seems that the trees had been declared unsafe and had to be removed. Sadly nothing lives for ever and we have to accept that Mother Nature is constantly causing our landscapes to be changed, sometimes in very dramatic ways such as earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunami and so on.  


A relatively little change like beautiful old trees becoming unsafe seems so dramatic to us but is really not so in the scheme of things is it?   We will soon get used to the new look and it will become part of the scenery we are used to, but in the meantime it just looks so strange.






The fishing in Marta is still carried out in a very traditional manner and I think some of you might be interested in this video ' Angelino, Il Pescatore ' which a contact of mine originally posted on YouTube in 2009.(loaded by  on Nov 18, 2009) It has English subtitles and is a fascinating insight into the life of a typical fisherman in Marta, with 5,570 viewings to date, it has attracted some interest.



Does change in your locality upset you, despite knowing it is for the best in the long run?  It must be in our nature I suppose change can be unsettling. I admit I was upset to see what looks at the moment like devastation, but since then I have remembered that we have to think of future generations not just ourselves.

The Fishermen and their wives are certainly going to miss sitting in the shade under the trees, passing the time of day whilst mending their nets.

46 comments:

  1. How sad that the trees had to be cut down. I'm sure you will get used to it, but as with any change, it takes time to adjust.

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  2. That's a very dramatic change – I remember those trees from earlier posts of yours. Very sad but your attitude is admirable. I think I would never get used to it. We are so protective of our trees. But the beach is still beautiful – the colored boats and the daily activity capture the attention. Looks like you are thawing out there – spring will be here soon!

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  3. Where, oh where will the fishermen hang their nets to dry? I will dig out some wonderful pictures of the nets drying amongst the former trees at that very spot.........so sad :-(

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  4. Hi Linda,

    It is definitely a fact that you notice change more and it has a more dramatic impact on you, the older you get. It is surprising how staid in our ways we get, without ever meaning to, or realising that we are doing so.

    We had a great lane of trees behind our property when we moved here some 20 years ago, however, we have recently had to have the majority of them removed and the remaining ones lopped significantly. You have no idea how bare it all looks now and just how much I miss them.

    It is the same when you return to a favourite holiday destination after an absence of some time. The changes that have been wrought in most places are unbelievable and to my mind, not for the better, if they have become more commercialised. It is hard to accept that life has to go forward, not back and that progress is all a part of this circle of life, that we all spend most of time chasing our tails around in!!

    I am sure that you wil get used to the new view very soon, it is just such a shame that there is a bit more greenery gone by the wayside.

    Yvonne

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  5. The place looks naked... I always question myself in this situations: why we can't live with the nature, not against it?!

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  6. This is such a pity ...to see the bare spaces .... I guess it was an inevitable occurrence but I would find it very upsetting. Are they going to re-plant with other trees?

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  7. It makes me sad that the trees had to be removed!

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  8. I think I'd have a little bit harder time being so accepting. Even tho I agree with everything you say about change. Enjoyed the video.

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  9. I think it is terrible that the trees had to be cut down, also the water is so blue it looks so nice........

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  10. It's always sad to lose trees, but perhaps it is for a very good reason. I'll be the people in the houses nearby are enjoying an expanded view of the harbour.

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  11. If the trees were unsafe they had to come down, but are they going to be replaced? I don't mind some changes but trees are important to our environment and I would miss them.
    Changes along our main road in the village, they are putting speed humps down to make the drivers go slower!! Will it work I wonder??

    Your weather looks better. It is warmer here this morning I turned off the central heating, don't know how long for though!!

    Enjoy the rest of the week in your beautiful Italy, we will get there one day, probably not this year though.

    Love Jackie.x

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  12. It seems so very sad, I would have thought that they could have cut them back rather than down but...... Are they going to plant any new ones? It really looks a drastic change at the moment but as you say, I guess you could get used to the view but the people who sat underneath them in the shade will never get used to it. Would love to watch the video!! Diane

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  13. It's still beautiful, but it's hard to think about losing those great, old trees. Sad!

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  14. It is so sad that the trees are gone! It definitely changes the look of the place.

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  15. How sad about the trees, LindyLouMac. Love the icicle header, btw!

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  16. Oh, my heart hurts a little knowing they tore up your beautiful trees. Yes, it IS hard for me too. We've had so many storms this summer and several of our trees blew down. I miss them. :-) xo

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  17. I do get a bit put out when things are taken down or built up in my old hometown. I think it's human nature. Even if it's for the better we tend to react. At least you got 'before' pictures to capture the beauty. Hugs.

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  18. Yes, precious pictures. I love the small fishermen fish is very good.

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  19. This is really sad Linda.
    A couple of years ago, all of the white birch trees were removed from the university where I teach. They looked fine to me, but we were told they had some kind of disease/parasite. Loved those trees, and i still miss them.

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  20. What a fantastic place for holidays and weekend relaxition. Great photos !
    Kind regards, Synnöve

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  21. That's really sad ! I have never been there. For the moment I really enjoy the warm weather in the South of France, the trees are still "naked" except the palm trees !

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  22. I would be sad to see the trees go for sure! Thanks for sharing your part of the world with us, it is fascinating!

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  23. What a great pity all those trees were cut down! I wonder if they got in the way of the view of the sea of some influential person who lived in those beachside houses? One wonders...
    Are there plans to replant?
    Lovely photos!

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  24. Change can be traumatic and the aftermath not very appealing to look at from an outside perspective. I agree with you about the necessity for shade, but possible others do not if it spoils the 'view'.

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  25. What a shame the trees had to go. You painted such a nice picture of the people sitting beneath them.

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  26. Hi There! Is it Lindy? or LindyLou? Anyway, so nice for you to visit me again. It's been a while since I popped in on you in Italy. I'm always sad for this kind of progress. A bridge went through one of our most beautiful parts of town and took down lovely fields and two hundred year old trees with it. We needed the bridge. We needed the trees. What can you do?

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  27. Hi Lindy Lou,
    good to hear from you! Sad that the trees were declared unsafe. I guess they know what they are talking about. It is still beautiful! Thanks for sharing the photos.

    ♥charlotte

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  28. That is a very dramatic change! I love trees, that would be a definite difference in scenery that would take some time to get used to. The water looks beautiful!

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  29. I wonder if it was really necessary to remove the trees... :(

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  30. Such an amazing difference that the beauty of the trees can make. But, just different, and still beautiful in its own way. Reminds me of our cabin which is surrounded by the forest service land. After we had lived there, all of the old growth trees were harvested. Was such a shock when we came, but , then we were able to see how we were sitting on a mountain ridge, which we could not appreciate before. Such beauty of the sea though along the lake coast. Enjoyed the movie of the fisherman. Very interesting. Perhaps the ladies fixing the nets need some large and very colorful umbrellas. Might soften the view a tiny bit. Have a wonderful day!

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  31. Yes, I agree, it must be a part of our nature,
    which longs to believe we have control of those sorts of things.
    We love the illusion of it, anyway:)
    Oh you live in the midst of such glory.....truly beautiful in every way.
    thanks for the wonderful share,
    Jen

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  32. Hi, I introduce myself, I'm Francesca and I live in a small town south of Rome; I'm 44 old and work in the kitchen center to Frosinone, but I love/love the CountrySide and I only work there. I like your Blog. Have a nice week end! Francesca
    Sorry my English language

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  33. Hello, I live in a small village right, we are 700 residents and is called Falvaterra, it is just about 20 kms from Frosinone. You know Ciociaria? The countries most beautiful are Alatri, Veroli and the city of the Popes called Anagni. I am also close to the Abbey of Casamari.
    I have been on Lake Bracciano and also to Marta, a few years ago, beautiful areas, you're lucky to be there. ciao

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  34. It is sad that they have no shade, no beauty of the trees. But it is a lovely place. I know my husband would love to fish there xo

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  35. Dear Linda, I am so glad to be able to read my favorite blogs this weekend, and yours is one of them.
    I loved the picture on your headboard! So unusual for your town to have all that ice and snow.
    I agree about the trees, the little place looks naked without them, but the city can always put new ones there again, right?
    And yes, I guess after all that's no so bad, considering all the catastrophes that happen in other parts of the world.
    I am glad Spring is starting to show around here, too. My tulips are starting to grow and there are hardly any snow days anymore.
    Wish you a happy weekend!

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  36. I hate it when trees are blanket destroyed like this. I'm sure they can't have all been unsafe and some could have been just cut back. I bet you find they want more parking.

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  37. Hello Lindy, what a great post! I enjoyed the video too. I was born in Malta, and my mum used to talk about the fishermen mending their nets, just like in biblical times. It is very sad about the trees, but you are right to be philosophical about it, it is just a tiny blip in the whole scheme of things. Will they be planting some new trees? I recently read a quote by the gardener Monty Don, saying that it takes about 30 years for a garden to reach maturity, after that you are just maintaining it, that is not a long time at all is it?

    Thankyou for your visit and kind words, yes, I feel the same way about Picnik, I love it and will miss it. I will let you know if I find anything similar. Love Linda x

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  38. Oh how sad for all the residents of this fishing village.. When landscapes change it is so sad to me. In New Hampshire on the side of a mountain was the silhouette of "The Old Man in the Mountain". It was formed by mother nature herself. Generations hand admired this wonder for years. Sadly a few years ago the rocks fell from the side of the mountain and The Old Man is gone forever. Google The Old Man In the Mountain New Hampshire.

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  39. I never like to see trees cut down! They cut the palm trees down that were around the swimming pool that we have nearby and it sure looked odd for the longest time. I must love change though...because I live in constant change! lol ♥

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  40. Sorry for the trees, but if it were dangerous had to leave ...
    The scenery is breathtaking and your photos amazing!!!!
    Tanti baci
    Ciao

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  41. It is a shame about the trees, but it still seems like a pretty, interesting place.

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  42. Going back to my childhood home was a big disappointment so many changes and nothing the way I remembered. Seems such a shame about the trees, ciao lisa

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  43. In Lucca we have had the same problem with trees on a section of the walls. Like your fisherman we will certainly miss their shade in the summer. I just hope the trees will be replaced for future generations.

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  44. It does look devestating to see the barren areas. Maybe when they replace the trees they can find some that are not so invasive.
    Have a great weekend. Ginger

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  45. It looks so sad and bare without the trees. How terrible that they needed to be cut down. I like changes in my personal life, but around me I like things to stay as they are if that makes any kind of sense. It keeps me grounded I suppose!

    I go home to London on average every 5-6 weeks, for a few days, and sometimes I get upset if things are not exactly as I left them!!!! Like, if a certain shop, or caff has gone, only to have its place taken over by a chain shop, or chain coffee bar.

    When I am in Amalfi, I enjoy walking around il porto and watching fishing nets being mended. It is such a social event from what I can see, and I can imagine how the fisherman and their families will miss the trees, and their shade, terribly.

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