I love Italy. My grandparents were born there. I visited Florence and Pompeii in the 70s, but for Rome and Naples, my first visit was only four years ago. I returned from that three-month excursion with hundreds of photos to process and sort for printing and web presentations. I am often frustrated by the slow pace of my work, but good edits take time.

I'm still figuring out how to assemble these presentations. Maybe I should focus on the exuberance and joy of being there exploring those streets, wandering through alleyways and dimly lit passages, frequently navigating crowds of Italians and tourists alike enthralled with this land of my ancestors' past. Some of what I most enjoyed were long walks along the Tiber and passing by ancient ruins that seamlessly merge with the present in ways that bring them to life again.

Street photography has always been a favorite genre of mine, and even empty streets maintain the presence of people present or past.

But enough of my clumsy analysis. I simply enjoy these photos of Rome and Naples and hope you will too.

Click the photo below to open the slideshow.