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David

Lizards, Capri

Lizards, Capri

Capri in the season is routinely uncomfortably densely crowded by overtourism. But only a few minutes walk away from the hotspots, it can get quiet enough for nervous creatures like these lizards to rest unconcerned, sunning themselves on garden walls.

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David

Faraglioni after sunset, before dawn

Faraglioni after sunset

Views of the Faraglioni rocks and the eastern end of Capri island which the day trappers don’t get to see: with darkening sky after sunset, and the increasing light of the pre-dawn.

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David

Swallows gathering mud, Herculaneum

Swallows gathering mud, Herculaneum

Swallows gathering mud for their nests. Herculaneum, with the muddy ground in the area which had been the town’s harbour before Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD.

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David

Bradyseism, Pozzuoli

Bradyseism, Pozzuoli

Roman ruins on the coastline of the Bay of Naples at Pozzuli. At one time they were considered by antiquarians to have originally been a temple: modern archaeology says a market.

Bradyseism, Pozzuoli

An example of bradyeseism, slow motion seismic activity. At some stage oveer the past two millennia, these ruins were underwater for a long time, not because the sea level rose, but because the ground level was lowered.

Subsequently ground level rose again. The structure is now once again on (almost) dry land. But some of the stone shows its submerged history thorough the deep pitting which was caused by marine molluscs.

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David

Faraglioni rocks, Capri

Faraglioni rocks, Capri

The Faraglioni, rocky islands just off the coast of the larger island of Capri. The islands are tiny and the vegetation is sparse, but it’s enough to support a unique species of lizard.

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David

Turtles, Atocha Station, Madrid

Turtles, Atocha Station, Madrid

On the forecourt of Atocha, the mainline station in Madrid, a pool with a population of contented-looking map turtles. I hope they’re still there. Sitting and watching them for a few minutes is a relief from the hustle and bustle inside the station