This is me at the ruins in Velia (Elea), Italy, looking for signs of my ancestors' brickwork (imperfections, or crooked walls). Actually, Velia has nice ruins of structures made of a flat brick. The castle in the background is of some 18th century tower made overlooking the sea. Velia is in Campania, southern Italy, where the ankle meets the front of the foot, about 90 minutes south of Naples.

The picture was taken in May of 2005, a trip I made with my father and oldest sister.