2011-11-07: Images from a recent business trip to the Region of Le Marche, in Italy … a region steeped in history, and rich in beautiful landscape, and good friends, food and wine … via Rome’s Ciampino Airport.
Without realizing it, the flight into Rome came just after a very serious storm had hit the north-west coastal Regions of Liguria & Toscana … even the central Region of Lazio received a lash. Devastatingly destructive flash floods had resulted. Many people were killed. The recent bad flooding in Dublin was just a tea party in comparison !
1. Anti-Sustainable ‘Photovoltaic Fields’
Not small greenhouses ! Instead, let me introduce you to the new concept of the Photovoltaic Field … where good agricultural land has been ‘planted’ with photovoltaic panels, incentivized by grants, tax breaks, or whatever (does it really matter ?!?) … how sustainable is this ? These fields are becoming quite a common sight in the Italian countryside …
!['Photovoltaic Field' in Le Marche, Italy Colour photograph showing a Photovoltaic Field near the road from Amandola to Macerata, in Le Marche ... where good agricultural land has been 'planted' with photovoltaic panels. Photograph by CJ Walsh. 2011-10-29. Click to enlarge.](https://www.cjwalsh.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Photovoltaic-Fields_Le-Marche-Italia_2011-300x225.jpg)
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2. Petrol/Gasoline Prices in Italy Now
This was a good average … depending on location, however, Petrol/Gasoline Prices could vary by as much as ± 3 to 4 cents …
![Italian Petrol Prices in October 2011 Colour photograph showing the prices of different grades of petrol and diesel at a Petrol Station in Rome's Ciampino Airport, in Italy. Photograph by CJ Walsh. 2011-10-26. Click to enlarge.](https://www.cjwalsh.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Petrol-Prices_Rome-Ciampino-Airport_2011-300x225.jpg)
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3. Braille Maps at Building Entrances/Exits
A good example of a Braille Map, which should be located at the Entrances and Exits of All Buildings … essential for the blind – the visually impaired – those with frail sight … and very useful for travellers/visitors, generally, who are unfamiliar with their surroundings and need to rapidly access information about their location and orientation …
![Braille Map at the Arrivals Building Main Entrance/Exit in Rome's Ciampino Airport Colour photograph showing a good example of a Braille Map, having strong colour contrast and with texts in Italian and English, at the Arrivals Building Main Entrance/Exit in Rome's Ciampino Airport. Photograph by CJ Walsh. 2011-10-26. Click to enlarge.](https://www.cjwalsh.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Braille-Map_Rome-Ciampino-Airport_2011-300x225.jpg)
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4. Corrado Levantesi – Montefortino, Le Marche
Finally and most importantly, I want to remember a good friend … Corrado Levantesi, who died one day after his 51st Birthday, on 15 September 2011, following a long illness. May he rest in peace …
![Corrado Levantesi - Monte Fortino, Le Marche Photograph by CJ Walsh. 2011-10-31. Click to enlarge.](https://www.cjwalsh.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Corrado-Levantesi_Monte-Fortino_2011-300x225.jpg)
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SDI Practice Note: Due to administrative changes in the Provincial Boundaries of Le Marche … our Italian Address has been altered to …
Sustainable Design International Ltd., Via Doganelli 2, 63857 Amandola (FM), Italia.
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