Goodby to Rome - September 27, 2012

This morning, packed like little sardines on the local city bus, we arrived again at the Vatican to meet up with our tour bus. The crowds were even more phenomenal than yesterday. To our surprise we discovered the Pope was to speak at ten o'clock. Many people were dressed as for church and Vatican City was abustle in anticipation of this event.




Time being limited today due to our early afternoon train departure from Rome, we decided it best to leave for the Colosseum. On the way we saw the stop for the Trevi Fountain. Curiosity sparked, we made our way to a place of throwing coins and making wishes. The original legend is that if you throw a coin backwards over your left shoulder it will ensure a return to Rome. The coins are collected every night and used to support various charities. Workers collect close to 3000 Euros per day.








Onward ... Now for the Colosseum!
But Alas! ... Distracted by an inviting outdoor restaurant and demanding pangs of hunger followed by an extremely long wait for our tour bus ... We never made it to the Colosseum. It's a good thing we threw those coins in the fountain.




Waiting for the tour bus to take us to the train terminal after realizing we didn't have enough time.




Good bye, Rome ... We learned so much from you.

Location:Rome, Italy

Vatican City Avventura (Adventure)

When we first arrived in Rome we got a double decker tour bus to explore the city. It took us past the Vatican, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain and the beauty and magnificence of this ancient city. Mike and Janet are enjoying the top deck of the bus.


Our first full day in Rome introduced us to the true meaning of crowds. As we passed by the very long line to get into the Bassilica a breeze of many languages from around the world whispered through our ears. It was lovely. Janet and Lisa climbed 320 steps to the top of the dome through narrow twisting passageways. Once on top this is one of the views they met ... the entirety of Rome.



The picture below shows the top of the dome. To think they ventured to the very top of this is amazing.



Another unforgettable sight was the inside if the Sistine Chapel where Michelangelo painted the ceiling using huge scaffolding with his neck totally bent backwards or lying down and paint often falling in his eyes.


When we're in Torre del Lago there are many local shops selling a variety of pasta, fresh fruits and vegetables, delicious breads, and, of course, del vino. We have cooked some of the most incredible meals at home here ... But while in Rome we found many restaurants to satisfy and delight our palates.





Our last day in Rome we plan to visit the Colosseum. We were able to take pictures from the tour bus and look forward to standing among these ruins and imagining another time when gladiators, stone workers, blood thirsty entertainment seekers, and wild beasts of the hunt breathed the same air and followed the same paths.





Arrivederci and Good Night!

Location:Via Butterfly,Torre del Lago Puccini,Italy

Busy Magnificent Citta (Monumental beautiful place)

People, cars, buses, motorcycles ,,,, this place is overwhelming! We rode the tour bus twice around the city. I think we were all afraid to get off the bus and get swallowed by the swarms of crowds. Even worse we couldn't get in touch with the apartment owner where we were staying so we weren't totally sure we had a place to stay for the night. But that aside, OMG, the history! The magnificent buildings and architecture. I can't wait to get out and start fresh today. I promise there are pictures to come.

Location:Rome Italy

Blog without pictures

We are headed out from Pisa to Rome this morning. We are taking the long way along the coast and it will take us about 2 1/2 hours. I won't be able to share pictures until we get back to Torre de Lago, I left my I-pad camera adaptor there.

Yesterday we found the most beautiful bike trail, a canopy of forest. The pine needle paved trail extended to Viareggio, about 10 km, and ended up at a huge yacht harbor. Along the way you can take trails that lead down to sandy beautiful beaches.

Not sure if I mentioned how much we are enjoying the simpler pleasures of life. We haven't gone out to eat much. Instead we have enjoyed the fresh market produce, amazing pasta, cheeses, pesto, olives, marinated eggplant, and bread, OMG, the bread! There are small family owned markets on every street. We are grilling fresh vegetables and fresh fish. In Rome we have reservations at a couple of highly recommended restaurants.

A couple of days ago we took the bus to Lucca. We will definitely be going back. The citta is surrounded by a wall and inside the wall are markets, shops, cafes, towers, and about 100 churches. The streets are narrow with flowered terraces and cobble stoned streets. Very unique and quaint. I bought some beautiful curtains for my kitchen window. I have been looking for curtains for that window for 30 years and found perfect ones in Lucca Italy.

We will be back to Torre de Lago in a couple of days with lots of pictures of bike trails, Lucca, and Rome. Until then, Arrivecerci!

Location:On train to Roma

The Leaning Tower

I pinched myself to believe I was really there! The historic and world famous Leaning Tower of Pisa is more magnificent than I imagined and was probably my first memory of learning about Italy. Pictures do not do it justice. But there is so much more than just the tower. The Field of Miracles also includes the Duomo, Baptistry, two amazing museums, and the Camposanto Cemetery. The climb to the top of the tower gives an amazing view of the 'citta' of Pisa.








We stopped also at a little local shop while we were waiting for the bus to go back to Torre de Lago. We all fell in love with the shop keepers (picture included). Their kindness and hospitality was heartwarming. We sat at little stools in their shop and drank amazing red and white wine, sampled bread, cheeses and salami. I am so glad I spent the time to listen to the Pimsler Italian lessons. I have needed it many many times already. We are enjoying watching the Italians. Tonight we are planning to go down to the Piazza at the lake, many townspeople meet there in the evening for socializing and entertainment. I am so glad we picked this small town, even going into the touristy town of Viareggio made me want to get back to our Italy home.

Location:Pisa, Italy

Via Reggio and the beach

Figured out the bus today. Lunch on the beach. And, Finally a picture our group.

A day at the market

Italian people seem to shop exactly as they drive. Word of warning - pay attention! It is a competition. You are one of twenty customers waiting at the bread/meat counter with your number in hand,in tense and ready mode. They call your number, if you don't immediately move forward and know exactly what you need, your turn is gone before it ever started. Vegetable
shopping is as interesting, weigh it yourself and print the price tag. The problem is selecting the right vegetable, what is il formaggio, i foglia, la noce moscata? Anther cultural experience.

Does anyone know who Puccini is? More to come but we visited the opera house at the place of his birth. It was quite impressive, a huge outdoor amphitheater. All of the shows for the season are over. A huge disappointment for me. But we did meet Bigfoot in the area. And we woke to Madam Butterfly this morning, a little opera to start our day.

A total cultural experience!

Five weary travelers arrived by bus from Pisa to Torre de Lago. We were told from there we would have a 400 meter walk, but we had no idea of which direction. No problem, when in doubt ask. But to our amazement no one understood a word we said. I am so grateful for the little italian I learned and the help of a delightful older (about my age) gentleman on a bicycle.

We awoke the next morning to dogs barking (in Italian, by the way) and to a loud Italian lovers quarrel. And looked out to a quaint modern Italian village. Guiseppe, our neighbor and landlord, immediately was a friend and informant. With Guiseppe we learned about the fast and furious Italian travel. Bicycles and cars live harmoniously on preciously narrow two lane roads. We experienced this personally as we biked to both the beautiful Massaciuoccoli lake and the "magnifico" Mediterranean sea. Our home for this month sits in this exquisite location between these two amazing bodies of water. I felt so privileged to soak my feet in the cool waters of the Mediterranean sea. Thank you to the powers that have made this "vaccinia" possible for me and those I love.

Location:Torre de Lago

The Mediterranean

Lake Massacuiccoli

The modern Italian village

Location:Via Alfano

Torre del Lago Puccini

Anticipation is a big part of the fun

Eleven days and counting. So much to do. Much to wrap up at work. Italian words going through my head. I have been studying italian for a couple of years. Now I know how much I don't know and I feel like I am cramming for the final. Pleasant thoughts of Mediterranean breezes, smells of bread, pasta, marinara and the allure of il vino rosso are swirling through my head. And day after day the experience of "dolce far niente",,,,,,bliss.


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