Strangers in a strange land

This is a post for Thematic Photographic 176, "Strangers among us". Carmi asked us to take "a photo of a stranger, any stranger" and post it to our blogs. 

For most of these choices, I'm the stranger!

In April, for my first morning in Rome, I had booked a guided tour to see the Vatican, St Peter's Basilica, etc. - a good way of avoiding the loooong lines of people queueing to get in, sometimes for hours. This is the group of strangers I was about to spend the day with, pictured as we waited for the guide to sort something out.

When I downloaded this shot taken in the timeless streets of Pompei, I was amused 

to see a man busy talking on his cellphone:

If you've been to Pompei you will remember the large open sheds where there are lots of artefacts stacked roof-high, and a number of glass cases with twisted bodies, human and animal, 'mummified' by the ash:

In Palermo I enjoyed seeing this young monk having his visit to the Cathedral recorded - an elderly lady, his mother I'd guess, was taking the photo:

These two ladies, residents of Parma, were too busy crossing the square outside the Duomo to cast a glance at strange photographers:

"I have always depended on the kindness of strangers."

~ Tennessee Williams