Pisa: Il Torre Pendiente

Of course, one of the main reasons to come to Italy is to go to the leaning tower of Pisa. But why do we come here? and why does it lean? Questions for the ages, my friends.

After Rome, we went to the seaside just outside Pisa and had some serious rest. By this time Jasper and Rory were better but I was hacking. Marina de Pisa is a very quiet spot and a good place to rest and enjoy the sun and blue sea. The air was a little cool for swimming but the water was warm (per report from my family).

When we arrived in Pisa, Rory's first comment was 'I thought it was really going to be leaning, I mean it's barely even leaning at all.'
She soon changed her tune when we climbed the tiny leaning staircase to the platform. She was in full panic mode when we stepped out onto the leaning platform.
I was very impressed with the architecture. The buildings are quite beautiful and decorated with small statues and carvings.
Pisa was a major naval power, involved in many crusades and wars with the Saracens, until it's defeat by Genoa and the silting of its harbor in the late 12th century.

Rome 3: Trevi Fountain

I'm blogging from the home of Giorgio and Patrizia and their three lovely children here in the Trentino region in the foothills of the Dolomite mountains, but more on that in a later post....
For now, back to Rome.
We spent 4 nights in Rome and managed to see a lot, but inevitably you can only just scratch the surface of this amazing city. During our stay Rory had stomach pains, Jasper had a nagging cold and we were all pretty much worn out, but we still managed to see and learn a lot.
The Pantheon is the only building to survive intact from ancient Rome. It was originally a temple to all gods, but was converted to a church in the middle ages, sparing it from destruction. It's an impressive building and the model on which most of our state capitol buildings are made.



Rory and Jasper's favorite thing in Rome was the Trevi Fountain, which marks the terminus of one of Rome's important aqueducts. According to popular belief, if you throw a coin into the Trevi fountain you are assured to return to Rome. Over 3,000 Euros a day are thrown into the fountain which are collected and used to subsidize food for the poor.








During our stay in Rome, we heard about a park at the origin of the Appia Antica, one of the oldest and most important Roman roads. You may remember that we started in Italy at Brindisi which was the terminus of that same road. So we felt compelled to go check it out. Unfortunately, we had a very poor map. Although we'd expected a very short walk and then a nice dinner overlooking the park, we ended up on a very long hike at dusk (and on into darkness) through a huge wooded area. At times I was sure we were heading farther into nowhere but then we'd be passed by a jogger or a couple walking.
We finally did end up on the Appia Antica, completely exhausted, only to find that we were miles from any place to eat. All was well though, we caught a bus and found a nice ristorante.








The pictures are: Inside the Pantheon, R and J at Trevi Fountain, outside the Pantheon, Rory, Jasper, and Theresa just beginning our Appian way adventure, and finally, R and J reliving the adventure later of a good glass of vino rosso.

Venezia--out of order post

I apologize because this post is coming out of order! We bought a new flash card for the camera and when I got here to blog (at 6 euro\hour!) I find I have only the new card in the camera. So I'll update you about where we are right now and finish up on Rome next time.

After Rome we spent a couple of days on the coast outside of Pisa, very nice blue sea and sun. Then we went to Siena and spent 3 days there. ON our way to Venice we stopped in Florence and saw Michaelangelo's David and a very famous art museum.

Now we are in Venice, some say the most beautiful city in the world. I'm not sure about the most beautiful but it's certainly the most expensive! The whole place is sinking and you see the doors and stairs of the groundfloor underwater all around the canals.

The first picture is of T, Rory and Jasper riding a boat like a gondola, but this one just goes across the canal.

David statue in front of the Ufize arte museum.

Shopping in Piazza San Marco.

Luxury accomodations at youth hostel in Padua.

Hope you're all doing well.

Ciao,

R

Rome 2: The Colosseum

After going throught the Vatican Museums, we were glad to have a day of outside fun. A chance to talk to the pigeons.

The Colloseum was built in 70 AD by the Emperor Vespasian, as a giant public relations effort and propoganda machine. The 'games' and events at the site, which were free to the public, were often gruesome beyond description. For example, during the inaugural games 9,000 wild animals were killed. Later gladitorial contests were held, and of course, the ever popular feeding of christians to lions.

The top picture shows the 'hypogeum' or system of underground tunnels where animals and gladiators waited to appear.

It's also reported that they could flood the floor to allow ships to sail and conduct recreations of naval battles!

After the Colosseum we went to the Palatine, or area of the palaces of Augustus and later emperors, all now in ruins. The hill on which these once oppulent residences reside overlooks the ancient Roman Forum, the center of Roman public life, also now a jumble of ruins. The picture of Jasper below shows him overlooking the Forum just above the Temple of the Vestal Virgins. Here a flame was kept alive in honor of the goddess Vesta.

This last picture is of a modern sculpture in the ancient Roman Forum with a 13th century church tower behind. Are you confused yet?

Rome 1: The Vatican

Hi. It's seems like a long time since I've sat down to catch up on the this blog. We're now in Siena, a very pretty town, and I'm happy to say, we finally made our first contact with actual Italians outside of the tourist and transportation industry! More on that later. First, I have to catch up on our experiences in 'The Eternal City.'

Rome is at once beautiful, mysterious, confusing, and completely overwhelming. There is such a huge number of buildings, monuments, arches, museums, etc., all of which are 'must see attractions', that they almost begin to seem commonplace after a few days.

We started the visit with the Vatican Museums which contain an unparalleled collection of art, statues, artifacts, and bric a brac, collected by every Pope since Poping began. And these guys were no slouches when it came to collecting stuff, nor did they shy away from decorating their surroundings with incredible oppulence (all to better show their immense piety).

These buildings are covered from head to toe with mosaics, frescoes, paintings and statues. There is a hall of enourmous tapestries, and a hall with maps of the world frescoed around it. There are Greek, Etruscan, Egyptian and of course Roman antiquities. There is a hall of carriages including Popemobiles through the ages. After gawking through for 2 or three hours, you finally reach the Sistene Chapel (sorry no photos allowed). Sadly, by then I was so tired I really could not muster any more awe.

From there we stumbled over to Saint Peter's Basillica, and our faces were virtually frozen in expressions of 'WOW.'