|
- - Mike &
Groverlee's - - |
|
Day Six: ...Another Day In Italia Today was so good that I was too tired to write....and I had to finish packing and wash my hair. It started with a ride with Sylvia down the hill to Voghera to Mama Cavagna's wonderful house. This is where Maria and Luigi raised the two boys. Mothers is a little park in front with parking and little stores underneath. Maria lives on the third floor and has a huge veranda and patio where she grows pots of flowers. Milt has Ben hot in Italy this year and she was apologetic that there were few in bloom and some needed to be replaced. Her home is truly a museum in the most lovely way. She has priceless paintings everywhere although when they were once burgled of all her jewelry, they took some of the most valuable paintings to storage. The furniture is beautiful 16th and 17th century pieces.
The door to her apartment is a work of art in craftsmanship and after the breaking, Luigi didn't want to tear it down so they added a metal vault door on the outside. It takes two keys, and the indoor one takes one. She feels VERY safe. I asked her, "But Maria, what if you fall down and can't move, what will you do?" She told me," Well I will just lie there and die.....I am 86 you know!"
One Of The Beautiful Paintings In Maria's Museum-like Home. After a great tour of the house, a remake since our trip there three years ago, the three of us walked around the corner and down a small shopping street to the market. It is there every Tuesday and Friday, and everything is great and cheap! Flowers, fruit, vegetables, salami, cheese, bread, fish and every other edible thing was there and looked delicious. It is a much smaller market than in Chamonix but much cheaper! Michael bought a cool hat (perfecto for an American padrino) and I bought a fanny pack. Then we went back to the cheese man. I could have gone crazy with all that cheese and of course he wanted us to taste every one. We ended up buying some wonderful parmesan from Parma which is quite near and another softer one I can't remember the name of. We will share it with our group with some wine and crackers...just a small aperitif. The cheese man has a way of skimming the big round of cheese into thin, thin, slices or large flakes that nearly curl. He puts it in a plastic container for you. I wanted to get it that way as it would be easier to serve, but when he heard we were not going to eat for a few days he said we needed to buy the chunk....and we did! The two huge pieces cost less than €10! It would have been twice that at home and never so wonderful! We walked back another way to her apartment. She has a little store that sells just cooked meats like a rotisserie chicken etc. There is a high class fish market that also sells small packages of fresh cooked fish and of course the market is twice a week. Her hairdresser lives a half block away and a few nice ladies clothes shops are on the walk as well. She really has all she could need in her block....and there are THREE Catholic Churches!! The main church she attends is the duomo which is baroque and very lovely. The last time we came to Italy we attended mass with her there. I have pictures. We went in a very small church on the walk. The story goes that during a war a family came into the church to pray and prayed all night but when they left the church they were shot and all killed. They are buried under the floor as you enter the little church and the name reflects that story...like The Church of the Dead People! I know it doesn't sound like a place that inspires prayer but it is very cute and the Lions Club of Voghera has adopted that church to take care of it. In October they have a huge dinner that makes a lot of money for that church and other projects. Carlo came to us 38 years ago as part of a Lions Club Student Exchange in the summer. Luigi was in the Lions Club and Maria was the president of the club. Back at the apartment, Maria broke out some wine, crackers and the Parmesan flakes she had bought from the cheese man. It was all delicious. we feasted until Carlo came. She tells me when the kids were growing the neighborhood was very good but it has gone down a lot. She says Nigerian immigrants sit on the benches in the parks and don't work. Soon Carlo came and drove us back to Salice for ....you got it LUNCH, Sylvia had made Caico di Pepe . A wonderful pasta with pecorino cheese....the Italian's answer to Mac and cheese only better! There was a wonderful salad and spinach and meat afterwards with the cake from Eduardo's party for dessert. I left to Maria's house next door to finish packing and I put the bar on the door in the inside so the wind would not bang the door. After I finished my back was hurting so I just stretched out on the bed for a little relief and fell fast asleep. Michael came and since I had the key he called and knocks but I was asleep and heard nothing. He went back for the second key but it did no good as I had barred the door. He called and called and finally started banging hard on the door and that finally woke me up! By then our plan for a ride to Milan was caput but Michael and I only agreed to go there as Edwardo wants to go. Now he was still sick with a fever so we saw no reason to go and of course there was not enough time. Carlo still wants to go somewhere so the four of us went to Outlet of Caracalla. This is not like any outlet I have ever seen. They have nay high end places like Gucci, Ralph Lauren and a ton that I didn't recognize. Of course they knew them all and Sylvia priced a beautiful coat for Chamonix for only €900 that she was thought a good buy....at least 40%!off!! Everyone there wore fabulous clothes and I felt like a low life! I watched the Japanese drop thousands of dollars and proudly carry out their wares thinking they had made a killing. I'm told those brands are even more in Japan. Carlo's favorite place is Gutteridge where he bought two suit coats, four shirts and a tie, and surprised Michael and I with a bottle of order full men's cologne and a wonderful scarf. The name on both hiked up the price to embarrassing. Sylvia had caught Eduardo's terrible cold and the two of them were blowing their noses and having fever. She had planned to make her specialty: a kind of risotto but I suggested we just go out for pizza and we would buy. She said how about we bring it home and we did. Mike bought four pizzas and we ate but she didn't eat anything We gathered up and got back to Maria's for me to wash my hair and soon we were asleep. Nuff said, Grove
Day Seven: ...Off to Roma to meet fellow traveling friends Carlo had arranged for a driver to take us to the airport in Milan as they both needed to work. Of course Sylvia was so sick she would go to the office and return as soon as possible. School is still getting out at noon this week as it is the first week and there are teacher meetings? Or workshops? Eduardo may try to go again, but he often has a fever again by noon. The driver met us there on Voghera in his pretty black Mercedes. He was a professional driver and although he went fast, I felt safe. How he got there I will never know as he heard of traffic jams on the freeway I guess because off he went on tiny farm roads. He even went through the middle of a farm and we saw the huge buildings that once housed the workers, where they keep the rolled hay, and the little church they have for those who lived there long ago. We had a great ride to Rome first visiting with a cute twenty-four year guy who is getting married in three months. He has been on holiday here for two weeks and his fiancé was very anxious for him to come home. Living in Kuwait he spoke Arabic and wanted to visit and practice his English with us. Another driver met us at the airport....this time an Audi arranged by Grand Circle. Since we were the only ones arriving at that time, we went in style. It was great to meet all our friends from our traveling group, however when we got here most were gone one asleep after the long plane ride. Sadly Carol's plane had been late and then they were caught in traffic. We were almost finished with our welcome meeting when she and Cindy arrived! Our group of friends chose to go to dinner and how lucky we were when we got to all sit together...17 of us! The food was delicious. The three p's.....Pizze, pasta, and procuito. Back to the hotel in time with one game of Five Crowns and off to bed. A big walking day tomorrow! Ciao, ciao, Grove
Day Eight: ...Check out Rome...tired feet, happy heart! Since I woke up at three unable to sleep and read for an hour trying to plan if a trip to Castile Gandolfo was in the cards or not. We can get a tour for eight tour to take us there and back for a tour of the castle, and lunch. For just two it cost $265 each. For each additional it cost $150. We already have five who want to go if the price is right. With eight it would bring down the cost. We need to find out tonight to book tomorrow! Later ......we just got back from dinner and it was deemed impossible for the trip above. Nobody wants to go and the $200 cost each ( since not enough would go). Instead we will go to the castle and to a night theatre show about Michelangelo. I know Jim will be disappointed but we couldn't go with the price and nobody knew an alternate. So what did we do today? We started off on a walk that went for nearly nine miles. My legs and ankles and feet feel every step. Today we discovered the city on a walking tour. We walked lovely Via Veneta, learned about the popes and the novel families and how they influenced the city of Rome. We learned what is believed to be historical as how Rome was made as well as the legend of Romulus and Remus.
Romulus & Remusm Suckling A She-Wolf We walked to the wonderful Pantheon and marveled again how it can be so old and so complete. Of course it is kept up for its historical importance and that it is a working church. Imagine the Pantheon being your regular church. We visited the Trevi Fountain. It has been being cleaned and was to be opened today, but only part was done. They promised it would be done tomorrow. On we walked to the Spanish Steps for lots of pictures. We walked back through the expensive stores to Piazza Navona for lunch.....yum lasagna!
The Pantheon... Grove's Personal Favorite
But first I need to tell you my experience on the way to Piazza Navona!
I had bought a fanny pack with 5 zippers. Two ladies approached us; the younger one bumped the elder one in to me. The lady was supposedly holding a baby with a blanket over it begging for food for her baby. As I tried to push her away I felt her hand underneath the baby and blanket fidgeting with my fanny pack. I started whopping her hand away from me and she took off. At that time I noticed that one of the zippers had been totally opened. At first I was panicked thinking I had lost my phone! As it happened, I had moved my phone to another zipper before the assault and the one she opened was only my garbage pocket. I first thought I'd had a two euro coin there but today I found that I had moved it to my Japanese coin purse. So...I didn't lose a blessed thing! Boy am I ready now. If I see that woman I will be pulling away that blanket as I believe there was no baby! By the time we got back to the hotel on the wildest taxi ride in the word, there was only time for a card game and a walk with the whole group to dinner! Bruschetta, fried zucchini, cooked veal, potatoes, and tiramisu. We got home in time for one more card game before bedtime. That did it! Joan tells me we walked over six miles and my legs and feet believe it. That is it! Grove
Day Nine:. ...Old Roma Today we explored Rome of Caesar......the Colosseum , the Forum and all the Roman ruins unearthed since our last visit here.
Colossseum
After the tour most folks in the group wanted to go back with the bus. Michael was still wanting to see more so the two of us walked around the area checking out the newly uncovered ruins. We stopped at an outdoor cafe for lunch.
The Building Known As "The Wedding Cake" We checked out the "wedding cake" and went behind it to climb the stairs and see the museums and church ( Basilica Santa Maria in Aracoeli).
In The Basilica We Found This Alter With An Amazing Mosaic Tile Backdrop
My Favorite Guy In Front Of A Favorite Landmark A taxi ride home let us stop near the hotel for a gelato and get to the grocery store for some things we needed, we could get back to the hotel to relax, put our feet up, watch the Confirmation hearings, and write some in the journal. For dinner the group was Carol and Cindy from Lemoore, Ann from Chicago, Vic and Leona from Chico and Michael and I. My lasagna and Michael's pasta with clams at the place we went to two nights ago and everyone's meals were so delicious. Many others had late lunch so just had ice cream. Now it is the time to get some sleep! Grove
Day Ten: ...More Ruins With Fishers Today most of the group went to the Vatican but Fishers and us did not. I started my day early as I had to go down and talk to all who are going to the show at five. I went back to the room to shower and get ready of our day that doesn't start until nine. Our first stop was a very bizarre church on Via Veneto that is often referred as The Bone Church. A certain order of monks washed and cleaned the bones of 3700 dead monks (50 wagon loads) then decorated the walls with those bones. I have never seen so much skulls, pelvises, and femurs in my life. They make arches of bones around a few skeletons then decorate the entire room, ceiling and walls with bone patterns. I can just imagine it catching on.....you know, grab your glue gun this one is going on Pintrest! While I waited for the others I hurried back Down the street for Patty's Hard Rock Cafe charm for her bracelet. There was a church at the bone place besides the crypt and I went in it to. Not a bone in sight! We decided to show Vic and Leona what we had found that day so much was a repeat. We had lunch right next to The colosseum. It was good but they put us down and then the sun came from behind the colosseum and cooked us We saw an incredible show....to impossible to imagine. We couldn't take photos so I'm at a loss to describe. It was beautiful with wonderful music by Sting, incredible light show with many special effects. Telling the motivation Michelangelo had as he painted the Sistine Chapel. There were Popes, lovely dancing, and aerial stuff. At the end all that was created completed the chapel and the entire auditorium looked as though we were in the chapel from ceiling to floor.....even had the smell of incense! Getting a taxi ride home was difficult however. There were twenty of us and no taxis for many many blocks! We were so tired we just went up in the terrace of the hotel where the Fishers and we ate delicious hamburgers and fries. Messy but good! Michael and Vic walked 16,500 steps, 5 1/2 miles and 21 stories and each of those were steps. Leona and I were so glad we came back to the hotel with only 3 miles and less steps! I was worried how we would get everyone of the 20 to the show on time with talk of taxi driver strike but we made it. It took many steps and a long wait to get all home though. I know this journal entry is weirdly arranged. Some I copied to my letter to Kathy so I didn't have to write it all again. So tired! Jewish quarter tomorrow. Love , Grove
Day Eleven: ...Jewish Quarter
Today while we were there they had a huge celebration. Everyone was all dressed up and having dinner together at every restaurant in the area. Each carried a huge bouquet of greens. There were three kinds. First the tall palm that signified the Jews who boast they are Jews to everyone but do not practice, the next was Myrtle which signifies from the odor that they practice the Jewish faith in their homes but do not show publicly that they are Jews and a third which nobody could identify that they proudly show they are from the religion and faithfully practice.....at least something to that effect. I think it must be very hard to be a Jew in many places in the world. I can see why two of these three don't flaunt their religions.
This Jewish Man Is Explaining The Greens Tjhey Are Carrying.
|
