Varenna is a little town on the shore of Lake Como in northern Italy, and is a destination of tourists from all over the world. There you'll find Villa Cipressi which was originally the villa of the Serpoti family. Now operated as a hotel, it has gardens and grounds that are peaceful to stroll through, and a delight for a photographer. This shot was very difficult to get. It was an overcast day, and low-light situations like this one require long exposures and a tripod. Problem was, there was an ivy-covered block wall that made the walkway too narrow to set up a tripod. I always carry a small 6 inch tripod that is really meant for much smaller lighter cameras. I use it when I have no other choice, and that was where I found myself. So I mounted the camera to it and held it firmly against the wall. This is a very busy shot, with the gate, the stairway, water, purple flowers and lots of greenery. I usually try to avoid photographs with this much going on, but - I just like it.