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Hello all--I've returned to the US from Italy and am now in Chicago for most of the summer, but possibly somewhat internet-impaired. Since we don't have serious online work demands, we're living with dial-up, which means no access during main business hours. And it remains to be see how much I can get on even on Saturday night. So I'm not much of a participator this summer, it's not for lack of desire! Ironically we're still paying for cable in SC, since it costs more to stop and start that to continue....
Anyway, Italy was truly lovely. I had not been there before, and found it a warm and rich place to be. As always happens, everyone's English was much better than my almost-nonexistent Italian, so I didn't get to pick up much language, but did develop a taste for octopus, limoncello, and hazelnut gelato, not necessarily at the same time, but sort of in that order (of consumption, not preference! Could not choose among them). Unfortunately the situation with the dollar and the Euro was not in my favor, so I was inclined to stay in less than *** places, somewhat to the chagrin of my son, who finally put us up at a very nice place at Lake Como. There we went to a wedding in a 17th century villa (exciting for people who live in a country where almost everything dates from 18th or later) in a small town, Uggate (I think).
Surfeit on churches and art museums is not possible for me, but this trip left me definitely satisfied. Favorites: The ceiling of the baptistry in Florence, a Byzantine-looking gold mosaic of the Last Judgement covering the domed ceiling--and I know everyone will hate this, but the Rape of the Sabine Women (the statue--can't remember the artist right now). I am troubled myself about liking both because the subject matter is so disturbing in both cases, but especially the last. And yet the way they are both done is so overwhelmingly beautiful. I am trying to sort out how that can be.
I was glad that the distaste for American policy seemed impersonal--although a restaurant host seemed to feel the need to check us out on Bush (after seating but before serving!), he was quite friendly when he found that we shared his views (that would be anti). We were in Venice when Bush was in Rome, and in all the cities, windows and doors were draped with rainbow flags reading "Pace." I brought one back to use at our local Women in Black weekly protest, thought it's probably going to be seen as a G/L/B/T Rainbow flag here. That's fine too, though, but I wonder how the locals will interpret Pace.
As always when I come back from Europe, I'm longing for a Smart car. Why do we never see them here, I wonder? I know they wouldn't hold up against an SUV in a wreck, but neither does a bicycle.
Anyway, Italy was truly lovely. I had not been there before, and found it a warm and rich place to be. As always happens, everyone's English was much better than my almost-nonexistent Italian, so I didn't get to pick up much language, but did develop a taste for octopus, limoncello, and hazelnut gelato, not necessarily at the same time, but sort of in that order (of consumption, not preference! Could not choose among them). Unfortunately the situation with the dollar and the Euro was not in my favor, so I was inclined to stay in less than *** places, somewhat to the chagrin of my son, who finally put us up at a very nice place at Lake Como. There we went to a wedding in a 17th century villa (exciting for people who live in a country where almost everything dates from 18th or later) in a small town, Uggate (I think).
Surfeit on churches and art museums is not possible for me, but this trip left me definitely satisfied. Favorites: The ceiling of the baptistry in Florence, a Byzantine-looking gold mosaic of the Last Judgement covering the domed ceiling--and I know everyone will hate this, but the Rape of the Sabine Women (the statue--can't remember the artist right now). I am troubled myself about liking both because the subject matter is so disturbing in both cases, but especially the last. And yet the way they are both done is so overwhelmingly beautiful. I am trying to sort out how that can be.
I was glad that the distaste for American policy seemed impersonal--although a restaurant host seemed to feel the need to check us out on Bush (after seating but before serving!), he was quite friendly when he found that we shared his views (that would be anti). We were in Venice when Bush was in Rome, and in all the cities, windows and doors were draped with rainbow flags reading "Pace." I brought one back to use at our local Women in Black weekly protest, thought it's probably going to be seen as a G/L/B/T Rainbow flag here. That's fine too, though, but I wonder how the locals will interpret Pace.
As always when I come back from Europe, I'm longing for a Smart car. Why do we never see them here, I wonder? I know they wouldn't hold up against an SUV in a wreck, but neither does a bicycle.
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