Faces in the Places

Roman sisters of the cloth on their way to "work".

A bit of early morning "nunsense"... and a slight wimple adjustment.

Our trip took a bit of a James Bond/Mission Impossible twist when Meghan (fresh off the plane from Xi'an!) had her pocket picked on a crowded city bus in Roma!  A plainsclothes carabineri requested that we immediately exit the bus!  The questioning took place in this bakery.  Two young girls were apprehended, taken away in one carabineri car, while Meghan was sequestered in another!!  A true sting!!!  They'd been following the girls!  We trailed behind in a taxi to headquarters fearful that that would be the last we saw of our brief traveling companion!  Exhilarating!  To quote the reaction of Kayleen's awesome Uncle Fester lookalike kid, Tristen:  Just think of yourself as a vital part of the justice system that's helping to bring a crime ring down. And tell the story like that in the future. No, seriously, imagine the reactions you get about "That one time I helped catch two crooks in a crime ring while I was vacationing in Rome."

  

Who doesn't love a Roman delivery boy who doesn't even take time to remove his chef's hat?  Now, THAT'S fresh!!

A blockhead by any other name.  Actually, I almost missed her, camouflaged among the Roman ruins near the Colosseum as she was.

 

Smiles this broad...priceless.

Italian Boy Scouts manning a bake sale table in the village of Tivoli.  Their kerchieves gave them away, lest you suspected their motives.

 Italian beauties in training

I met this Korean girl in Tivoli Gardens--traveling the world solo!!

I love this picture--not because it is so Italian (which it is), but because it looks like Paco is about 8 months pregnant with a box of Triscuits!

Smiling for all the world like she DOESN'T have a record on file with Roman law officials!!!

This recent American college grad was touring Europe prior to his first job.  Part of his tour included visiting the parish priest of his childhood who is currently in residence in Assisi.  They were high above Assisi (as were we) strolling around this medieval fortress. We four UNANYMOUSLY voted Assisi as our #1 MUST return destination. 

Ah, Fabrezio--had I met you 35 years ago, my sons would not be Taggart and Thomas.  They would have BOTH been named Fabrezio!!!!  I LOVE your name, and I love your closet-sized gourmet sandwich shop complete with the Rick Steve's endorsement plaque at the entryway.  I adored your generous cheese samples.  And your sandwich...oh, your sandwich.  If you ever tire of Assisi, if you hear the clarion call of distant unknown places...I'm sure Idaho will grant you immediate citizenry...complete with whatever amenities accompany such a status.

A Francescan monk and his friend at the Church of St. Frances of Assisi

And from the front!  I'll bet you a bowl of ceci beans that they're brothers.

Milano

Happiness impossible to contain in front of the Duomo Cathedral in Milano. (And yet Another jaw-dropping readhead!)

Africa meets Firenze!

This beautiful baby DOVE for a banana I offered her.

My brief encounter with this gorgeous Muslim woman in Firenze revealed that she made this dress herself.

Anytown, U.S.A.?

Soaking up some late afternoon winter sun in Lucca.

Some morning when you're dragging your bones out of bed to face a mundane day of whatever, stop and think about this gentleman who every day places plumes in carousel horses and  cranks up his business at 10 A.M. in Firenze.  At 2 Euros a whack, it's not a bad gig.

A most congenial scarf merchant in Firenze.  In another life, I picture her as a film star?  model?  MaryKay?

Oh, oh, oh.  My new definition of TORTURE is having to bid farewell to these gentleman and their ravioli paradise just blocks from the Doors of Heaven, Michaelangelo's David, and the Duomo in Firenze.  Not only were they unfiltered eye candy, their ravioli came steaming and cream laden and illegally delicious.  I'm going to return for a summer and volunteer as their dishwasher.  When I waddle home 200 pounds heavier, I will have known nirvana...

After several weeks of classic Renaissance sculpture, we rounded a corner in Siena and found this whimsical exception.  Closer examination revealed it as the creation of a Chinese sculptor!  These tourists are Korean, but for a brief moment we were whirled back to our current life!

A Firenzian shopkeeper and his wife--notice the family pictures hanging all around.  This indoor market was abuzz with singing and whistling as they prepared for the day.  The produce, meat, and cheese were so vivid.  Those pictures will receive a complete posting.

A delightful pair of honeymooners from China sharing pure Firenzian air with us!  I hear the Canadians are bagging air for import to China...sheesh...talk about a license to print money.

In Paris you twirl on a central tile in front of Notre Dame; in Milano you pivot on the ahem....testicles of a bull; in Firenze you rub the snout of this bronze bore.  All in the name of ensuring you a return trip.  Whatever it takes...

A random passing Venezian shot.  I love to imagine the conversations and the type of life that surrounds them every day.  The gondolier has beefy shoulder muscles, no?  

Paco was initially stumped by the location of our digs on the Grand Canal in Venezia.  He went off into this quiet corner and focused on the map.

Along chanced this magnificent American woman ("I came to Italy for three weeks 40 years ago, and couldn't find a good reason to ever leave!") angel,

and as the bugles of the  cavalry swelled over the horizon, led us to our destination!!  We hope her husband's procedure in the hospital ("Oh they're marvelous!!") went well.  Isn't she wonderful???

In my next life, I'm coming back as a gondolier...

Meghan exerting all her Chinese guangxi towards these Africans on a Venezian bridge

I captured these exuberant friends singing robustly on an early Sunday morning in awakening Roma.  I have video if I can ever figure out how to load it.  It will be worth the wait.

Yes, I paid to pose with these cheesy Roman soldiers in a magnificent park high above Roma.  As you can see, I was deriving great glee from plunging that dagger coldly into his heart.  Apparently, so was he.

This little gal is "Let it Go!"-ing in a Roman park as she feeds pigeons.

And the last little face.  We shared our sandwich bread and watched her feed pigeons as well for more time than most kids would have been interested.  

Roman Holiday--"My Life is in Ruins!"

Italy has completely ruined me.  I will forever spend the rest of my life pining to be there.  We spent most of January exploring, basking, and gawking amid the ruins, art, vistas, ambience, and majesty of one of the oldest civilizations.  It was glorious.  Paco super-sized our trip in his characteristic maximizer style.  We purchased a one country Eurail pass, stayed in modest digs, ate out of grocery stores, and came in just under an all-inclusive $2,000 a person (minus modest souvenirs) which is phenomenol.  Lest you think it was skimpy in any way--I will hasten to assure you that it was nearly perfect.  Who knew that January held such intrigue??  If you're willing to put on a hat, coat, and scarf you can skip the lines, cash in on the bargains, avoid the heat, and see and taste it ALL minus the exuberant crowds of summer!

We began at the Colosseum.

A couple of our more astute BYU China Teachers recognized Italy's potential and joined us!  This is an old BYU roommate of mine, Kayleen.  She was a most congenial traveling companion, and if you gave her some time to drool at jewelry she was perfectly content.  Had we given her free reins to set the pace, we would have been running daily marathons!!  That is her thing!  Is that red hair behind her or am I seeing things?????

I'll let most of my pictures speak for themselves.

"The Lady or the Tiger?"

Roman ruins are vast and mysterious.  We wandered through the Forum.  I personally had to resist the primal urge to don a toga and orate.

Ye olde massive ornate monument originally erected to Victor Emmanuel, first king of Italy in 1861.  Now it houses a tomb to the unknown soldier as well. 

That horse left of the flag is so immense that a "banquet" was held in its belly!  (probably a small group, but I bet the food was smashing.)

Santa Maria Magiore Church.  This is actually touted as part of the original manger of Jesus Christ.  You can see the wood in the middle of the edifice.

Looking up!

Jerry and Meghan interrupt their revery for a photo.  Meghan has a bit of a "checkered past" which caught up with her in Rome in the way of a trip in a carabineri car to their headquarters.  Wait for that! The cathedrals of Italy are the world's grandest.  The art and sculpture were truly breath-taking over and over and over and over...

Sleep Issues

I'm sleep challenged lately.  Too many time zone shifts in too short of time.  I've tried to compensate for lack of sleep by taking luxurious naps in the afternoon, but that isn't the answer.  Here I am up again since midnight, and it's time for the sun to come up--after 5.  I'm foggy but not tired.  Fortunately, amazon prime keeps me company--the story of a charismatic gal who fabricates the story of her survival in the Twin Towers on 9/11.  She had EVERYONE snookered and even became a survivor spokesperson who led tours and posed with mayors and governors.  Probably a sociopath.  Then I picked up my knitting and finished some more gnome parts while I watched the very touching and inspiring story of Sam, a victim of progenia--pre-mature aging syndrome.  Sam was born to a wonderful pair of physicians.  His mother founded a research organization for the disease--what a gal.  She conducted a drug trial and was doggedly persistent in getting it published.  And I'm snacking on peanuts, cashews, and jellybellies out of a small measuring cup.  The apartment is silent of course--too quiet for sleeping obviously.  mmm.....ho de humhumhum.  No one thinks of the downside of traveling across the planet when they plan trips.  I certainly didn't.  I usually adapt in a day or two.  We didn't miss a beat going to and coming home from Italy.  I struggled for about six days in MD, but then the infant baby there changed that dynamic. This is getting old this time.  I also seem to have lost my insomnia-induced quippiness.  I'm not quippy at all.  Rather boring.  What good is a late night blogging if you can't even be entertaining?  None at all.  The little blue OTC pills seem to have no effect.  I try counting all manner of objects.  The memory game I sometimes use has been ineffective as well.  I am worrying about a few things, and therein lies the rub.  You can't sleep the sleep of the restful if you are not restful.  Almost 6.