ATTN Journalists/aggregators looking to use my content from 30 Years Later:

Please note this blog was last updated in 2012, and therefore has information three to four years old. For instance, I'm a Kent State University alumna, not student.
I can give you updated information and answer any other questions.
I'm easy to reach. Lydia.Coutre@gmail.com OR @LydiaCoutre.

Rita in Florence 30 Years Later

This is one of the coolest pictures I've gotten to do. I think in 30 years I'll send my child (or perhaps niece/nephew) to Florence, then go visit them and start making a tradition out of it.

I'm so glad my mom got to come back here. It gives me hope that I will one day too.
Although I'd like if it could be sooner than in 30 years.

Piazzale Michelangelo

London 30 Years Later (almost)

My mother actually didn't go to London until her second trip to Europe in 1984; so in all actuality this is London 28 years later.
But I still worked hard to acquire 15 of these pictures, so I'm counting them in this project.
My parents were in London with me. I met them there for a couple of days before escorting them back to Italy, where they stayed for a week. Besides the obvious joy of getting to see my parents, it was really cool to take these pictures with them. We got to base our itinerary on the photos. My mom finally got to see what she did to me with her crazy pictures. My dad was impressed by how well I've gotten this process down to an artform.
"Wait. She was two more steps this way I believe.... YES! The third point there lines up with that street post."
It was a lot of fun!

London Aquarium (and now, the London Eye)
This is probably one of my favorite photos of the project thus far.

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square
I'm still convinced my mother was standing in the middle of the street to take this picture. I couldn't get it lined up right on either side of the intersection. I told her she knew I would be there 30 years later, and she must have had a death wish for me.

Trafalgar Square

Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus

Glasshouse Street
This took a while to find. Thankfully I could zoom in to see the street sign. The construction messed this one up a little bit, but I'm still glad I found it!

Parliament
Right down to the blue car.

Parliament

Parliament

Parliament
My mom snuck in this one!

Westminster Abbey

Tower of London

Tower of London

Tower Bridge

Piazza della Signoria 30 Years Later

I took these photos in January, but I decided instead of flooding my blog with 30 Years Later posts right off the bat, I'd save them for a rainy day.

It's been raining in Florence for over a week, and I'm still really behind on this blog. So here's something new!

Hercules and Cacus by Bandinelli

The statue of Perseus by Cellini

Basilica di Santa Croce 30 Years Later

Santa Croce

The Arno 30 Years Later

Ponte Vecchio

Arno e Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze

I like the difference in the foliage in the second one. Obviously there's new life in the foreground, but also note the height of the palm tree on the left side about three buildings in.

Piazza Michelangelo 30 Years Later

Piazza Michelangelo

Interlaken 30 Years Later

Interlaken, Switzerland

Vatican City 30 Years Later

Some of my pictures inside St. Peter's are clearly not lined up with where my mother was. I think there were different places blocked off when I was there. I know for a fact her photo of the alter had to have been taken from atleast 20 yards behind where I stood, but I was standing with my back pressed against a barrier. I did my best.

St. Peter's Basilica

Michelangelo's St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica

Guards at St. Peter's Basilica
This is nowhere near a good recreation, but I saw two guards so I figured I'd give it a shot. 

Roma 30 Years Later

Victor Emmanuel II Monument, Rome

Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti

The Colosseum - 30 Years Later

My mom took 20 pictures in Rome. I got a solid 14 of them.
Here are a few pictures of the Colosseum to tide you over until I edit the rest and write about this weekend.

Colosseum, Rome
Something's different...

Colosseum, Rome

Colosseum, Rome
Above from left to right: Rita, Barb and two friends they traveled with for a couple of days.
Below from left to right: Lydia, Amy and two girls standing where my mom took the picture who kindly helped us recreate the moment. Meet Maria and Jamie.

Colosseum, Rome

View from the Colosseum, Rome

View from the Colosseum, Rome
(Note the size of the tree to the left of the house on the skyline)

After graduating college, my mom and her friend Barb backpacked through Europe in 1982.
I decided to make it my mission to retake these pictures while studying abroad. So over Christmas break, I began transferring her 35mm slides to digital files one by one.
As a bonus, she gave me her journal from the trip. Once I get a chance to read it in its entirety, I will add excerpts (with your permission, mom) and explain what I was doing as well.
Until then, I will post pictures. Enjoy my view, exactly 30 years later.


Note: Although I will do my best, I refuse to stress over the exact angle and right lighting of these pictures. I don't have the time or the patience, and quite frankly, I hope to leave such compulsive behavior behind me.
Please enjoy the closest I can find to my mother's view.

The Rape of the Sabine Women, Firenze

Piazza dei Miracoli, Pisa

Duomo, Pisa

Torre di Pisa

Fountain of Neptune, Firenze

Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze

Duomo, Firenze