The Italian 6 are done. We all have a glazed look in our eyes, and a little panic sets in when anyone mentions yet another great museum, church, restaurant to see. nooooo not another site nooooo more beautiful things to look at!!! But it was wonderful, our cheer and grace at meals is "gratitudine", we are grateful.
ciao bellas, see you soon
Laurie
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Last day in Florence
This morning Ray and I went to the San Marco cloister, the little rooms with frescoes in that were painted by Frangelico. Then to the oldest botanica gardens in the world, established by Cosmo Medici.After a nap we are on our way to Michealangelo's house.We'll say hi to him for you.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Hot and tired
Hi everybody, from hot, hot Florence. Sorry to tell you that. I think it is 28 today.
I guess I kind of wore out yesterday. I am tired today. This morning, I went to a big market (both food and shopping, lots of leather and silk stuff). I met Brian after getting lost (again) and we went to the Medici Chapels. Again, another amazing place. It's the momument and tomb for many of the Medici family, and much of the work in the sacristy (where they are buried) was Michelangelo's. We were going to go in the church there too, but I am at the 'it's just another church' stage.
Brian went to go the Bargello Sculpture museum, and I went off shopping. We met back at the apartment after lunch. I had mostly a nice walk, not too much shopping, and I sat on the steps at the Piazza de le Signoria (sp?), and stared at the copy of David in the square, and listened to some fine acoustic guitar player, playing in the square. It was lovely.
After a nap, I went out of my own again, and once again, got lost. I was supposed to meet Brian but I was late again, because I turned the wrong way. We went to the Baptistery with the Ghiberti Doors and looked at all the Biblical stories they told.
Tomorrow, I am going to a fine palace that I have been at before (the Pitti Palace). It's full of art too, but it is also pretty much in it's original form, with furniture, etc. It has an attached costume gallery, silver museum, and beautiful gardens, so I will be there so quite a while I think. I am not sure if I will do anything else. I am getting pretty tired, and pretty saturated with art, and history. Brian and Ray are going to go by bus to a little town called Fiesole, they think, outside of Florence, and are thinking of walking back. Today, Mike and Laurie went to Cinque Terre (five towns) to hike them. It's supposed to be amazing. Ray and Judy wanted to go too, but it's going to be a long day. Mike and Laurie left at 7am, and won't be back until about 10pm.
We leave for Ostia (just outside of Rome, near the airport) travelling by the 'fast' train, on Wednesday morning. We'll stay overnight there and leave on Thursday morning. Our flight from Rome to Toronto is longer than coming here, something to do with the jet stream. It's about 10 1-2 hours, and then a couple hours wait before we come home.
Time to get back. All these moms (Laurie, Judy and I) miss our children and grandbabies. Even with all this art, history, and beauty, there is nothing like our families.
I guess I kind of wore out yesterday. I am tired today. This morning, I went to a big market (both food and shopping, lots of leather and silk stuff). I met Brian after getting lost (again) and we went to the Medici Chapels. Again, another amazing place. It's the momument and tomb for many of the Medici family, and much of the work in the sacristy (where they are buried) was Michelangelo's. We were going to go in the church there too, but I am at the 'it's just another church' stage.
Brian went to go the Bargello Sculpture museum, and I went off shopping. We met back at the apartment after lunch. I had mostly a nice walk, not too much shopping, and I sat on the steps at the Piazza de le Signoria (sp?), and stared at the copy of David in the square, and listened to some fine acoustic guitar player, playing in the square. It was lovely.
After a nap, I went out of my own again, and once again, got lost. I was supposed to meet Brian but I was late again, because I turned the wrong way. We went to the Baptistery with the Ghiberti Doors and looked at all the Biblical stories they told.
Tomorrow, I am going to a fine palace that I have been at before (the Pitti Palace). It's full of art too, but it is also pretty much in it's original form, with furniture, etc. It has an attached costume gallery, silver museum, and beautiful gardens, so I will be there so quite a while I think. I am not sure if I will do anything else. I am getting pretty tired, and pretty saturated with art, and history. Brian and Ray are going to go by bus to a little town called Fiesole, they think, outside of Florence, and are thinking of walking back. Today, Mike and Laurie went to Cinque Terre (five towns) to hike them. It's supposed to be amazing. Ray and Judy wanted to go too, but it's going to be a long day. Mike and Laurie left at 7am, and won't be back until about 10pm.
We leave for Ostia (just outside of Rome, near the airport) travelling by the 'fast' train, on Wednesday morning. We'll stay overnight there and leave on Thursday morning. Our flight from Rome to Toronto is longer than coming here, something to do with the jet stream. It's about 10 1-2 hours, and then a couple hours wait before we come home.
Time to get back. All these moms (Laurie, Judy and I) miss our children and grandbabies. Even with all this art, history, and beauty, there is nothing like our families.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
We're only human after all...
So Ray and I were trying to cram a last day trip in to Cinque Terre and another day to Assissi,but realised that we wouldn't see Florence the way we wanted to if we did that. The only solution is to plan a trip back to Italy to see those places. Florence has its own flavor(and smell-yikes!) The people who work here are a little crabbier than in Rome,generally it seems, or maybe Ray and I are bringing the worst out in them.We saw the Pitti Palace art today and the Acadamie with the famous David, which was worth the trip to Italy on its own, and before that we went to mass at the Duomo. A full day, but not over yet. Happy Mothers Day to all you Moms out there.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Firenza
What a change from the country to Florence.Busy,closed-in, and sensory overload. We got here this morning in our Ducat, dropped it off at the rental place and were in the process of putting our baggage in the cab when-BAM-the sky fell! The arm of the blocker-thing on the car park exit hit me on the head! Thankfully I am fine, except for my pride(could I have done anything more goofy?) and off we went. Ray and I stood in line for over an hour and saw the Uffizzi Gallery. Wow! But talk about sesory overload! The Birth of Venus was good to see, along with several hundred other things.We met some nice Australians in the line-up, which was fun. Tomorrow we go to the Galleria del'Accademia, to see David his own self in all his splendor.
We are in Florence!
One of our continuing issues-jokes is over the hours places keep. It's all completely random, and even though they say certain hours, it's hit and miss whether or not they actually keep them. Our internet place in Castelnuovo was closed yesterday, even though they said it was open. So that's why no one got emails yesterday.
Our apartment here in Florence is small, but it is so pretty. We are on the 4th floor of a 13th century building, but our apartment has been fixed up nicely. There are four sleeping spaces, but one is in the kitchen so we won't be using that one. Ray and Judy have the bedroom in one wing of the apartment, and Mike and Laurie let us have the nicest room with a bathroom. Pretty generous. they said it was because we did so much work to find the places, and Brian drove.
Yesterday, we took a trip in the morning to a beautiful town named Pienza, which Pope Pius II tried to make into a memorial for himself. He had a summer place there. The view was spectacular. After we got home, and had a nap, Brian and I took off for about an hour in the car, and then we all went out for supper. Our little town was really small, so the menu wasn't in English and Brian had to translate everything. We had some good laughs over the food, especially when they set a plate of very, very rare meat in front of Laurie. She doesn't eat meat and thought she was getting a pasta dish. We did some trading and everything turned out fine.
After we got a bit settled in our apartment today, we all went off in our separate directions. Brian and I booked tickets for the Accademia for 4pm today (that's where David is), and tomorrow at 11:00am I am going to the Uffizi ALONE. That's the best way to do art, I think.
I have just been wandering around, looking in shops. The shopping is unreal here, but way beyond my budget. The stores are all ones you would see advertised in Vogue. Dolce and Gabbana, etc. Really high end.
Now I have found the internet cafe, I'll be in touch more and I will see you all soon!
Our apartment here in Florence is small, but it is so pretty. We are on the 4th floor of a 13th century building, but our apartment has been fixed up nicely. There are four sleeping spaces, but one is in the kitchen so we won't be using that one. Ray and Judy have the bedroom in one wing of the apartment, and Mike and Laurie let us have the nicest room with a bathroom. Pretty generous. they said it was because we did so much work to find the places, and Brian drove.
Yesterday, we took a trip in the morning to a beautiful town named Pienza, which Pope Pius II tried to make into a memorial for himself. He had a summer place there. The view was spectacular. After we got home, and had a nap, Brian and I took off for about an hour in the car, and then we all went out for supper. Our little town was really small, so the menu wasn't in English and Brian had to translate everything. We had some good laughs over the food, especially when they set a plate of very, very rare meat in front of Laurie. She doesn't eat meat and thought she was getting a pasta dish. We did some trading and everything turned out fine.
After we got a bit settled in our apartment today, we all went off in our separate directions. Brian and I booked tickets for the Accademia for 4pm today (that's where David is), and tomorrow at 11:00am I am going to the Uffizi ALONE. That's the best way to do art, I think.
I have just been wandering around, looking in shops. The shopping is unreal here, but way beyond my budget. The stores are all ones you would see advertised in Vogue. Dolce and Gabbana, etc. Really high end.
Now I have found the internet cafe, I'll be in touch more and I will see you all soon!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Market day
It's market day in the little town next to ours. Ray and I walked here down a beautiful country road in the lovely sunshine,watching the farmers out with their little tractors tending to their grapes and olives. Lots of birds chirping,lots of wild flowers,wild roses,poppies,buttercups,etc. I bought 4 tablecloths at the market, with the tuscan colors and designs. Laurie bought leather boots for herself which we had to oooh and aaah over,over and over again(she's pretty pumped about her boots and after you say 'nice boots' 40 or 50 times, there's really nothing else to say) I,however, love tablecloths. And dishes, which is why I am so excited about the alabaster bowl I bought a few days ago, and these tablecloths. There's lots you could say about my tablecloths. And I expect lots of adjectives. They're so nice!! I am feeling better, cold-wise. It's nice not to have to go in a store and say"Halls!" while clutching at my throat and pretending to cough.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
an adventure
Ciao bellas!
one morning as we were driving off in our van, Brain said: "Don Quixote and his faithful companion Sancho Panchez set out on something which if not an adventure, was uncommonly like one." I love that, and that's how it feels every morning as we pile into the van for yet another day in Italy. First thing we like to do (some a little more desperately than others) is find a place for coffee. Then with someone reading a map, someone else watching signs, Brain at the helm off we go. I'm the other driver, which is rather limiting...the other day just the girls came into town for groceries and email and I took a wrong turn down way too narrow streets and of course right into the town square with all the local old fellows watching as i lurched along (its a standard)and 'exclaimed' that sh..this is exactly where i did not want to be!!! but with some laughs and encouragement we made it out ok.
Just got back form Sienna, we leave at 8:00ish and get back 7:00ish, Ray is making supper, mike a fire and Brian drinking many well deserved drinks! Sienna is a city built on many many levels of other cities. one medieval honkin' church built on yet another older medieval church and so on. Great museums, but I said to Mike that I cannot look at one more dying Jesus in Mary's arms or one more fat cherub with little privates!! (no offense anyone).
Italians have a very different sense of store openings... we are never sure when anything is open for fear that it is a holiday, a Monday, a weekend, a Tuesday, the hours between 12:30 and 4:30, between 2 and 5 except on the third Sunday of the month or on days with even amount of letters, or year that end in...you get the idea.
Judy had finished getting groceries that Ray needs for his creation so gotta go.
ciao ciao
Francesca Luisa Maria Donatello (Laurie)
one morning as we were driving off in our van, Brain said: "Don Quixote and his faithful companion Sancho Panchez set out on something which if not an adventure, was uncommonly like one." I love that, and that's how it feels every morning as we pile into the van for yet another day in Italy. First thing we like to do (some a little more desperately than others) is find a place for coffee. Then with someone reading a map, someone else watching signs, Brain at the helm off we go. I'm the other driver, which is rather limiting...the other day just the girls came into town for groceries and email and I took a wrong turn down way too narrow streets and of course right into the town square with all the local old fellows watching as i lurched along (its a standard)and 'exclaimed' that sh..this is exactly where i did not want to be!!! but with some laughs and encouragement we made it out ok.
Just got back form Sienna, we leave at 8:00ish and get back 7:00ish, Ray is making supper, mike a fire and Brian drinking many well deserved drinks! Sienna is a city built on many many levels of other cities. one medieval honkin' church built on yet another older medieval church and so on. Great museums, but I said to Mike that I cannot look at one more dying Jesus in Mary's arms or one more fat cherub with little privates!! (no offense anyone).
Italians have a very different sense of store openings... we are never sure when anything is open for fear that it is a holiday, a Monday, a weekend, a Tuesday, the hours between 12:30 and 4:30, between 2 and 5 except on the third Sunday of the month or on days with even amount of letters, or year that end in...you get the idea.
Judy had finished getting groceries that Ray needs for his creation so gotta go.
ciao ciao
Francesca Luisa Maria Donatello (Laurie)
Sienna
Okay, so here we are in Sienna. The Duomo(which is under repair) and about six other places, had Ray and I exhausted, so we took a nap in the shade on a ledge. That's all I have to say, except the gelato is good here. A more intelligent post to follow, hopefully.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Monday II
I haven't learned much Italian, but I'm getting better at the Roman numerals on everything. Had to think waaay back to grade school for that info. Your comments have been highly entertaining-almost worth going to Italy for. Keep up the good work. Brian is at home now drinking wine after a grueling day of driving the straight-up hairpin roads.Joanne is shopping for supper,Laurie and I are glogging, Ray says he and Brian and Mike are going to drink wine and then try to fix the door of the rental van which seems to have gone off its rails.
In Tuscany
Buon Gioro from Tuscany. Brian got us here safely in our mini bus on Saturday. We can't even stand it, the countryside it so awesome.
The house we are staying in is just beautiful. I am going to take pictures of every room. The first night, we had a fire, and Judy made supper. We just walked around and admired the beauty of the place.Yesterday, we went to a freezing small church in our town for Mass. Then we went into the closeby town, and Brian and I walked back, about 5 km. I bet I took 100 pictures on the way. In the afternoon, we napped and then all of us went for a drive. Our hosts, Annunziata and Mario invited us all for a Tuscan supper last night. It was amazing. We had bread with liver pate when we got there ( and Mario's wine of course), homemade ravioli with tomatoes and meat, chicken scallopini, lamb, artichokes prepared two ways, asparagus, salad, bread, I can't remember if anything else. It was amazing. Oh yeah, 2 desserts. Certainly the best meal we have had. They were wonderful hosts, but they don't speak English and Brian was pretty tired translating the whole night. Mario is interesting, He loves to 'touch' if you get my drift, and asked us all if we 'slept in love' the first night we were there. Brian told him that we don't talk about those things in Canada.
Today, we are at San Gimingnano, where Brian and I stayed before. I found this internet place and now I am going shopping. We are in bigger centers most days this week. I'll try to stay in touch.
Judy is sick and I feel bad for her. We are all sleeping well, from exhaustion, I think (oh yeah, and for some, the wine). But it's a long time to be away from home and on the go and we are all starting to miss the families, especially those babies.
The house we are staying in is just beautiful. I am going to take pictures of every room. The first night, we had a fire, and Judy made supper. We just walked around and admired the beauty of the place.Yesterday, we went to a freezing small church in our town for Mass. Then we went into the closeby town, and Brian and I walked back, about 5 km. I bet I took 100 pictures on the way. In the afternoon, we napped and then all of us went for a drive. Our hosts, Annunziata and Mario invited us all for a Tuscan supper last night. It was amazing. We had bread with liver pate when we got there ( and Mario's wine of course), homemade ravioli with tomatoes and meat, chicken scallopini, lamb, artichokes prepared two ways, asparagus, salad, bread, I can't remember if anything else. It was amazing. Oh yeah, 2 desserts. Certainly the best meal we have had. They were wonderful hosts, but they don't speak English and Brian was pretty tired translating the whole night. Mario is interesting, He loves to 'touch' if you get my drift, and asked us all if we 'slept in love' the first night we were there. Brian told him that we don't talk about those things in Canada.
Today, we are at San Gimingnano, where Brian and I stayed before. I found this internet place and now I am going shopping. We are in bigger centers most days this week. I'll try to stay in touch.
Judy is sick and I feel bad for her. We are all sleeping well, from exhaustion, I think (oh yeah, and for some, the wine). But it's a long time to be away from home and on the go and we are all starting to miss the families, especially those babies.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Beautiful Tuscany
So wonderful. Everything you think Tuscany would be like times ten.Tonight we are invited to the home of the people who own our 'villa' for a lamb supper. Olive groves and vineyards and the beautiful ochre houses...Ray and I feel as if we are living in a calendar.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Fr Richard
So this morning we walked to the Oblate house to tour it and visit our friend Fr.Richard Wolak, who we met in Saskatoon.He is a lovely man, and the perfect host, and we wandered through the beautiful and peaceful house and grounds with pleasure. It was the first time I had picked an orange off a tree and eaten it. It was the perfect orange flavour,as far as I was concerned, and it smelled sooo good. I picked a lemon too and brought it home with me. I just like to smell it-wonderful. We had lunch with the oblates too, in their dining room. Wow! A feast-pasta and grilled and breaded egg plant and zucchini and tomatoes, and risotto, and pork, and sausages, and a cheese platter and breads, and a salad counter with more veggies, grilled or salad.So good. Wine on the tables, and then we had champagne for someone's birthday. Then a visit in the rec room in big comfy chairs, and wonderful conversations with a few of the men there. So hospitable and kind. We walked home, and I went to bed. Not feeling great,I have a cold. Tomorrow we head to Tuscany. I can hardly believe how lucky we are.
Friday aready
Yesterday was a trip to St.Agnes and the catacombs containing her body. She died when she was twelve, defending her vitue,as they say. Google it,it's a great story. Anyway, her body is entombed under the altar of the church, and we walked through the creepy, narrow tunnel that was ,not a hiding place for Christians, like on the movies, but burial places for the believers.There's another Google project for you.In the afternoon Ray and I went to the church St.John Lateran, the Pope's home church in Rome. Beautiful beyond words.The pipe organ had been played by Handel. The next place we went was St. Peter in Chains, the church with the chains that held Peter. They are on display in a glass box. I lit a candle for you,Peter Hudec, and your family there. Got to go. More later
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Bon journo di Roma!
Everyone has gone in different directions this morning. Joanne went to the Vatican museum, the rest to Catacombs far far away, and I will attempt to glog, and wander around our area. Time is going so fast, tomorrow is a holiday and everything will be closed, so really this is our last day to get into any sites. This afternoon Mike and I will wander through the Botanical gardens, it is shaping up to be another glorious day. sorry to hear about snow there...kinda sucks hey.
Rome has turned out to be a charming sometimes intense and loud, sometimes quiet and quaint. By the end of the day we're finding that our throats are sore I think from the exhaust. ik. so wandering through the gardens will be refreshing!
We've found our restaurant! I think that if the locals and the police go there, it must be good. Both times we were there, these young hunka policemen come in for some food and beer, then off they go back to work, (so civilized).
The people here are gorgeous, olive skin, thick black hair, roman noses. no wonder the Romans loved beauty.
well my bellos i bellas, off to explore. We found the greatest market yesterday, vegetables, fish ( whole honkin' sword fish and such), the best walnuts, artichokes. mama mia!
Starting to look forward to Tuscanny. I said to Mike that if it was time to go home it feels like weìve had our holiday, and now Tuscanny feels like a whole new holiday. We are lucky.
Everyone is fine, Judy has many many bandages on her feet...but undaunted she goes on.
caio di roma
Francesa Luisa Maria (Laurie)
Everyone has gone in different directions this morning. Joanne went to the Vatican museum, the rest to Catacombs far far away, and I will attempt to glog, and wander around our area. Time is going so fast, tomorrow is a holiday and everything will be closed, so really this is our last day to get into any sites. This afternoon Mike and I will wander through the Botanical gardens, it is shaping up to be another glorious day. sorry to hear about snow there...kinda sucks hey.
Rome has turned out to be a charming sometimes intense and loud, sometimes quiet and quaint. By the end of the day we're finding that our throats are sore I think from the exhaust. ik. so wandering through the gardens will be refreshing!
We've found our restaurant! I think that if the locals and the police go there, it must be good. Both times we were there, these young hunka policemen come in for some food and beer, then off they go back to work, (so civilized).
The people here are gorgeous, olive skin, thick black hair, roman noses. no wonder the Romans loved beauty.
well my bellos i bellas, off to explore. We found the greatest market yesterday, vegetables, fish ( whole honkin' sword fish and such), the best walnuts, artichokes. mama mia!
Starting to look forward to Tuscanny. I said to Mike that if it was time to go home it feels like weìve had our holiday, and now Tuscanny feels like a whole new holiday. We are lucky.
Everyone is fine, Judy has many many bandages on her feet...but undaunted she goes on.
caio di roma
Francesa Luisa Maria (Laurie)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
And then.....
So,after lunch Ray and I went on a bus(It's easy to get around here!) and walked through the Jewish ghetto, which was beautiful and tiny,winding alleys. Alas the synagog was closed for an independence day or something, but we saw more ruins, and then went to a couple of churches. One was the one I mentioned where you put your hand in the lion's mouth, and we're still two-handed so that was good. We saw a relic in that church of St. Valentin so I lit a candle and prayed for you Hickey kids and all your love lives. Then there was a beautiful icon mosaic of Mary and child and I lit a candle for you,Erin, and your baby in your tummy. Anybody else need anything? I lit candles for Erin and Heather at another Madonna and child icon,too, but can't remember which church it was. Laurie and Mike and I went to their favorite restaurant here and had a wonderful meal. I had eaten already with Ray, so just had an italian coffee and a tirimisiu. Wow! It was sooo good! I forgot to say we went to the big castle too. Creepy place, with areas,tunnels that date back to Hadrian. Matt you would have loved it, it was so creepy. There was even a dungeon in the basement. Well, off to bed.More tomorrow. Maybe I'll light a candle for good weather,Heather,in Calgary.
Borghese
The huge gardens and the Gallery are too wonderful! We went through room after room of the most beautiful statuary and paintings and decorated walls,ceilings and floors! I was trying to imagine living there, but couldn't do it. Even MY imagination has limits. Ray and I wandered through the grounds after and saw ripe oranges growing on trees, and lemons as well. Irises in bloom, and always the obligatory fountains and columns.These Romans sure love their fountains! There's a zoo there, but we didn't go in. I'm not a zoo person and neither is Ray, so when we saw it was 10 Euro to get in, that decided it for us. We did stop for a lovely capaccino(or is it cappacino?) outside under some glorious trees and listened to the peacocks. We came home for lunch and to change. After a rainy day yesterday, the sun came out and it's in the 20s I think.Sorry Heather, who is in snowy Calgary, for even mentioning again how NICE IT IS HERE!!! So, we'll change, and Ray and I are going to tour a castle, the Jewish Ghetto, and who knows what. There's that church with the lion face outside it that you stick your hand in and if you're a liar it bites it off. So maybe tomorrow we'll be waving with only one hand. It's all part of the tourist experience. Also part of my tourist experience this morning at our local coffee place I was sternly ordered out of mt chair by an older Italian man who was NOT IMPRESSED that I was sitting there! In HIS CHAIR,if you can imagine! Laurie saw him glaring at us, and then I saw him sitting in another chair. Too funny. We musy be disrupting his little routine, poor old thing. Well off we go to more gloriousness than we can bear yet again.Ciao!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tuesday in Rome from JoAnne and Brian
We had quite a day today. It started early this morning with a trip to a market that I was looking forward to seeing. It isn't a tourist market, it's for the locals, and it made Granville Island look like a slum. It was huge! And the fruit, vegetables, meat, chicken, fish were unreal.
It's really close to our house, so Brian and I brought all of our purchases home, and sent Laurie and Mike, and Ray and Judy off to the Vatican Museum. I was a bit low energy so we waited until I felt better and about 10:30, we headed off there. By then, the lineup was too long, so we switched gears and did a 'pilgrimage' today. We hit all the major churches, besides St. Peter's: St. John Lateran (the pope's church in Rome), St. Mary Major, St. Clement (Brian's favorite), St. Peter in Chains (with Michangelo's Moses in it - my favorite), a wonderful walk in a park that Nero had built a huge house in (now gone), St. Martin's, and the Church of the Most Holy Apostles. It's kind of a blur now - I'll have to read up on them again later to sort them out in my mind. We then went to the Gregorian University (where Brian went to school), the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Spanish Steps (all for the second time). We walked for 8 full hours.
I am impressed with my stamina - haven't crashed yet! We had thought about walking home, but it might have been another hour at our pace by that time, so we took the subway. I don't like being that far underground, but I am getting used to it. It is fast and convenient. The traffic here is unreal, so the metro it the way to go.
We just grabbed a pizza for supper, on the street, so I'll need a healthy bedtime snack. Maybe some more cheese and sausage (getting sick of that already).
Tomorrow, we have tickets to the Borghese Gallery, and I think some folks might go to the catacombs. Too far underground for me, so Laurie and I may do some shopping or something like that.
So all is well, and I am more and more in love with this beautiful city.
More tomorrow. Ciao.
Jo and Brian
It's really close to our house, so Brian and I brought all of our purchases home, and sent Laurie and Mike, and Ray and Judy off to the Vatican Museum. I was a bit low energy so we waited until I felt better and about 10:30, we headed off there. By then, the lineup was too long, so we switched gears and did a 'pilgrimage' today. We hit all the major churches, besides St. Peter's: St. John Lateran (the pope's church in Rome), St. Mary Major, St. Clement (Brian's favorite), St. Peter in Chains (with Michangelo's Moses in it - my favorite), a wonderful walk in a park that Nero had built a huge house in (now gone), St. Martin's, and the Church of the Most Holy Apostles. It's kind of a blur now - I'll have to read up on them again later to sort them out in my mind. We then went to the Gregorian University (where Brian went to school), the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Spanish Steps (all for the second time). We walked for 8 full hours.
I am impressed with my stamina - haven't crashed yet! We had thought about walking home, but it might have been another hour at our pace by that time, so we took the subway. I don't like being that far underground, but I am getting used to it. It is fast and convenient. The traffic here is unreal, so the metro it the way to go.
We just grabbed a pizza for supper, on the street, so I'll need a healthy bedtime snack. Maybe some more cheese and sausage (getting sick of that already).
Tomorrow, we have tickets to the Borghese Gallery, and I think some folks might go to the catacombs. Too far underground for me, so Laurie and I may do some shopping or something like that.
So all is well, and I am more and more in love with this beautiful city.
More tomorrow. Ciao.
Jo and Brian
OOPS!
Sorry! I adjusted the comment section so that you'll be able to post even if you don't have an account,I THINK. Hope it works. Today we went to a covered market and wandered through looking at the freshest fruit vegetables, fish(some still alive) and wonderful meats. I think we'll have a great supper tonight! Then at 9 a.m. we stood in a shortish line to see the Vatican Museum. My neck is stiff from looking up. That Michealangelo sure knew what he was doing! Room after room of fabulousness! Then a convoluted walk and Metro trip for Ray and I(this is Judy talking) and we went back to the Pantheon and toured it. So amazing that it's still here! Then we had coffee at Tazzo Doro(sp?) which was incredible. Now we're home for supper.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Monday in Rome
Hello again from this amazing, amazing city. We are having such a wonderful time. Yesterday is kind of a blur. We all went to the Collosseum. Ray, Judy and Mike got up and went to church. Brian and I slept in until 9:30. I have slept 9 hours every night here. After they got back, Laurie and Mike, and Brian and I took the metro there, and Ray and Judy went on the 'special bus'. (they had bought tickets on a get on and off tour). It was just out of this world - the enormity of the building is mindboggling. Brian and I walked home, about 10km, through little streets. We saw the Jewish Ghetto and the Synagogue, a small but incredible art gallery, a few churches, more back streets, just enjoyed the walk so much. The weather has been perfect: somewhat overcast and warm. The other four did the Forum while we walked home. We cooked supper at our apartment; traditional antipasto (meat, cheese, marinated fish, olives), and pasta with a vegetarian tomato sauce and a salad and bread. The food here is spectacular.
After supper, Judy and Mike went out to see Rome at night, and the rest of us crashed.
This morning, we met our friend Father Richard Wolak, at St. Peter's, and he gave us a tour of the Basilica. I am sure he wouldn't consider himself an expert, but we were there for 3 hours with him, and we learned so much. It's nice to have a personal guide. We took him out for lunch after, and had fun. Ray and Judy, Brian and I came home for a snooze, and Laurie and Mike went off to explore. We had talked about going out tonight. We'd like to see the Trevi Fountain at night.
There is so much to do, and already, I feel like we need to make a list of must sees, because our time here will run out before we know it. On Wednesday morning, we have tickets to the Borghese Gallery, and on Friday morning, we are going to the Oblate House for a tour and visit and lunch with the Oblates.
This is wonderful: right now, the highlights for me are once again, St. Peter's, and the coffee! Our apartment is in the heart of a great, Italian (not tourist) area, so it's nice to be immerse in how the people live. The first day, I had a chocolate ice cream that made me want to weep it was so good. (not great for diabetic control, but hey, this IS Rome and and I am walking a lot). I want a lemon gelato before we leave.
So, we're happy, having fun, and it just doesn't get much better than this!
Jo
After supper, Judy and Mike went out to see Rome at night, and the rest of us crashed.
This morning, we met our friend Father Richard Wolak, at St. Peter's, and he gave us a tour of the Basilica. I am sure he wouldn't consider himself an expert, but we were there for 3 hours with him, and we learned so much. It's nice to have a personal guide. We took him out for lunch after, and had fun. Ray and Judy, Brian and I came home for a snooze, and Laurie and Mike went off to explore. We had talked about going out tonight. We'd like to see the Trevi Fountain at night.
There is so much to do, and already, I feel like we need to make a list of must sees, because our time here will run out before we know it. On Wednesday morning, we have tickets to the Borghese Gallery, and on Friday morning, we are going to the Oblate House for a tour and visit and lunch with the Oblates.
This is wonderful: right now, the highlights for me are once again, St. Peter's, and the coffee! Our apartment is in the heart of a great, Italian (not tourist) area, so it's nice to be immerse in how the people live. The first day, I had a chocolate ice cream that made me want to weep it was so good. (not great for diabetic control, but hey, this IS Rome and and I am walking a lot). I want a lemon gelato before we leave.
So, we're happy, having fun, and it just doesn't get much better than this!
Jo
Nice save,Hickey kids!
We were just saying this morning that if no one commented on our blog today, we were going to go on strike and not blog anymore until we got some comments! So,Annie and Tom," Good Job!", and everyone else's kids "Please, your Moms need to hear from you!" Yesterday we went to the old city, which was gloriousness everywhere,as we were saying, and then in the evening everyone was tired, so thye went to bed early except Mike and I(Judy) who were antsy to check out the Trevi Fountain at night. I also wanted one last capaccino. We are one block from the Metro, and it's easy to use, and we have week-long passes for public transit, so off we went. We saw the Spanish Steps loaded with huge pots of azaleas, and had a capaccino at a beautiful coffee bar, then to the Trevi Fountain. We realized that if we asked people where the Trevi Fountain was, they couldn't understand us, but if we put on the Italian accent and asked for the fontana de Trevi they got it. Really, it doesn't sound that different. I sort of don't get it. Today we met our friend, Father Richard Wallach(sp?) at St.Peters and he took us on a tour. Very interesting, and we managed to catch a small mass while there. Then we went out for a plate of pasta with him. Sat in a lovely cafe, outside and had wine and wondeful pastas and risotto to die for! Then they all had to wait for me to have a capaccino because I just knew it would be good. Came home after stopping at a gelato place. I had a coffee gelato and Ray had a nutella one. We put a load of laundry in at home and had a nap. Later perhaps we'll redo the Parthenon because it was closed last time we were there. There's certainly lots more to see....
Sunday, April 26, 2009
WOW WOW WOW
The Colosseum today and the Palladin and it was so wonderful. Now Ray and JoAnne are making supper and it smells so good. Ray and I went on our own today and took a lot of silly pictures of ourselves being statues,etc. and laughing like fools. Learned how to use the Metro today and so there's no stopping us now! Weather was perfect, overcast and warm but not hot. A nice break for my poor sunburned face.
Sunday Morning
Its another beautiful day in Rome.This is Judy. Ray was the first one up, and he headed out to the market to get some espresso for the little stovetop espresso machine. Hes working on getting a good cup of coffee, but so far no luck. I wonder why anyone would bother trying when 1 block from where we're staying there are more than a couple of really good coffee bars. For those who haven't been here, the culture in the neighbourhoods is to get up and ready, walk to the coffee bar, order your coffee and have a fabulous pastry, drink it standing up while cavorting with the regulars, and then be on your way. Ray and I went off on our own after our St. Peters tour and had a wonderful day. You can buy a day pass on a double decker tour bus which takes you to all the major sites-the Colloseum, the Vatican, Trevi Fountain,etc.,and you just hop on and off the bus as you wish. We had great fun and did some silly tourist things too. Threw coins backwards into the Trevi Fountain to ensure we would come back some day,had our pictures taken with a fake Roman guard(pretending to cut Ray's throat) and eating wonderful slices of pizza and gelato. I had tiramisu flavored gelato.Mmmmmm... Lovely dinner out last night. Joanne and Ray are cooking supper for us tonight,so they're out at the market shopping. We went ot a local parish for mass, as there was a big mass with cannonizations going on at St.Peters. We figured it would be at least 2 hours long and be really crowded.More news later...
Saturday, April 25, 2009
From Jo and Brian- the first full day in Rome
Our first full day in Rome! Well, I guess I should start with last night. After a safe trip here, and little more than an hour sleep for any of us (on the plane) no one was much interested in sleeping when we got here. Our apartment is great - not very fancy, but very Italian and it is clean. We also have a lovely courtyard - again not fancy but nice to have the outside space. After we got here, we walked over to St. Peter's Square. It was fairly busy, and we didn't go into the church, but sort of oriented ourselves to where we were. Laurie and Mike decided to go on a bus tour of some sites, and we went back to the apartment. After getting some groceries etc at the local store, just a minute's walk away, we sat outside and eat delicious bread, cheese, marinated seafood, olives, roast pork, etc., in our courtyard. It's kind of a blur right now - we were all so very tired. We all hit our beds at 9pm, and I will be none of us saw 9:30 on the clock.
Today, Brian and I went out early and scouted out a great place for our morning cappucino. I tell you it is the best in the world. Then we all went over to the magnificent St. Peter's. It is absolutely over-whelming. Brian and I left L&M and R&J to climb to the top, and we went our separate ways. Brian and Jo figured we walked about 10 or more km., to Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Campo dei Fiori, Piazza Venezia, Gregorian University, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps. We would have gone further but 1) some of the churches we wanted to see were closed for siesta, and 2) It's Independance Day (or something like that) here, and every single Roman and tourist were out and about. It was crazy. Our feet were getting tired, so we took the metro back. It's about 3pm, and we're ready for a nap. We're going out for supper tonight and tomorrow, who knows.
Today, Brian and I went out early and scouted out a great place for our morning cappucino. I tell you it is the best in the world. Then we all went over to the magnificent St. Peter's. It is absolutely over-whelming. Brian and I left L&M and R&J to climb to the top, and we went our separate ways. Brian and Jo figured we walked about 10 or more km., to Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Campo dei Fiori, Piazza Venezia, Gregorian University, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps. We would have gone further but 1) some of the churches we wanted to see were closed for siesta, and 2) It's Independance Day (or something like that) here, and every single Roman and tourist were out and about. It was crazy. Our feet were getting tired, so we took the metro back. It's about 3pm, and we're ready for a nap. We're going out for supper tonight and tomorrow, who knows.
Friday, April 24, 2009
How do you say "I only want half of that piece of cheese" in Italian
What a wonderful experience to be here! The weather is perfecto and the leaves are greenisho.The apartment we're staying in looks like something out of a movie. The real thing,though, with a gorgeous courtyard that isn't perfect and tidy, but feels more like living in Itlay than a hotel would. Close to the Vatican, we walked over there today, but will do a proper tour tomorrow. Home for happy hour now.It IS Friday after all... Love,Bellas! Judy
Thursday, April 23, 2009
"WOOHOO" as Alexandra would say...
We're converging on the Saskatoon airport this morning. I have that 'excited and nervous' pre-travel feeling. "As long as I have my Visa card, passport, and some really comfortable shoes, I'll be fine" I keep telling myself. Why, then, is my suitcase so heavy? We're going for three weeks, that's why. I've never been gone away from my home and family for that long. Good bye grandbabies and family and friends!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
well my bags are packed and I'm ready (almost) to go...
ciao bellas! (I have to learn how to say something else in Italiano!) I don't have alot to say, mostly I want to see if I got this glogging figured out! Laurie
Friday, March 13, 2009
Six weeks and counting
The plans are continuing to unfold. This week, we confirmed our van rental for when we're in Tuscany, and made arrangements for a hotel on our last night. We're going to stay in Ostia Antica, right outside of Rome, on the seashore. It's near the airport and very pretty; we should be staying in a dump so we'll actually want to leave. I guess we will be ready to be home by then.
We are encouraging the group to make their personal top ten list of things to do in Rome so we can make a plan. So far, we know that we're going to the Borghese Gallery one day. My (JoAnne) personal top ten includes St. Peters and the Vatican at least once, but everything else is negotiable because I want to do everything!
We are encouraging the group to make their personal top ten list of things to do in Rome so we can make a plan. So far, we know that we're going to the Borghese Gallery one day. My (JoAnne) personal top ten includes St. Peters and the Vatican at least once, but everything else is negotiable because I want to do everything!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The Countdown is on
This is the vacation blog for Judy and Ray Hickey, Michel Thibault and Laurie Bourgeois, and JoAnne Chrones and Brian Zimmer. We planned to go to Italy last September, but postponed our trip in view of Ray's surgery and recovery. He had encouraged us to go without him, but we didn't want to leave the "fun factor" (Ray!) at home.
We are leaving on April 23 and are returning on May 14. We'll spend a week in Rome - we've rented an apartment close to the Vatican for the week. If you want to look at it, here's the link:
On May 2, we will travel to a farm close to Siena for a week in the countryside of Tuscany. The farm is owned by friends of our friends from Saskatoon, Angelo and Vivian Cuppola. The owners names are Mario and Annuziata, and they have their own vineyard, and olive oil producing facility. We plan to spend our days relaxing, sightseeing in small Tuscan towns, and generally just enjoying Italian life. Here's the link for Mario and Annunziata's
The last portion of our trip, about five days, will be spent in Florence. We've rented an apartment there as well. Here's where we are staying in Florence:
So, we'll keep you up to date as our plans unfold, and do our best to keep this current for our families and friends while we are away.
Posted by: JoAnne Chrones
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