December cold and dark!

The axis of the earth shifts, the sun rays are further from the north, the cold sets in, fog, some rain and then darkness....winter is almost here, and December has arrived!







And then the seagulls arrive for the feasting on leftovers @ the campuses in Madera!







But always there to protect me....WEINETT!

butterflies

Shopping in Italy!

Well there is SO much to buy and then pack and then lug through airports, it's so hard to know where to start! Well, from many trips, I have learned that SMALL and CHEAP is best! So if you have ever gotten anything from me that was purchased in Italy, YOURS was the expensive gift ;)

Here is the usual location tourists buy their gifts, and I do as well. Enjoy the vendors and their wares!

From local neighborhoods and the needs of everyday goods,

to Tourists Traps!

to permanent stands:

To the more common cart and cover.

To fine leather goods!

to hand painted original art!

And the 5 Euro is about 8 USD.

Florence, The Day Trip

We took one day trip to Florence. We wanted to go to Assisi, but there were train issues and delays, so we didn't. Next time!

So off to Florence, where in 1979 I had the best meal I have ever had. Every year that I have been to Florence I go back to this place to eat, and have NEVER been disappointed. Well, okay, a few times, but not due to the food, but that they were not open. In 2001, we all ate here, but alas, 32 years after my first visit, they were closed and would not be open until after our train left. If you get to Florence, this place is a MUST!

Gold is one of two things you buy in Florence (the other being leather products). On the Ponte Vecchio there are some amazing gold shops, and amongst them was the BEAUTIFUL weiner dog bracelet. No we did not buy it, but we did find some nice gold earings at another location that I know.

The City Center (Piazza de Republica) is a great time to sit and watch the tourist run by and the locals sit and relax. Not the cheapest spot to sit and enjoy a coffee or a beer or wine, but so much to see!

If you arrive by train, you arrive at the rear of this famous church known as Santa Maria Novona. This is the church where Leonardo did his dissections. Well not in the church, but the Hospital that is attached to it and is still in operation today.

Of course there is food..always food, I mean I started this entry with a Trattoria! And fresh is the key to Italian cooking. The ingredients need to be as fresh as possible, and are brought in from the farms everyday.

Not only fresh, but delivered to the homes or business. And cars are not allowed on all streets, so bikes are important, as well as the right biker to handle the rough roads and take on the cars and scooters on the streets where they are merge and fight for the first spot! This was the best biker I ever saw!

And we are not limited in our choices for food or bikes!

And speaking of roads and traffic, dehydrated tourists are the biggest pain for the locals. This emergency center was right by the Duomo (Cathedral) of Florence. And they took a tourist about every 15-20 minutes who could not handle heat and not drinking water....ALWAYS stay hydrated!

However art is what Florence is known for. And art there is in so many places, even on the streets! These are art students who draw these pastel paintings on the street for whatever coins people toss in the basket. The works are AMAZING! Art is alive, not in the United States and our schools, but some societies still prize the vocation/skill of the artists....

Well of COURSE there's MORE!

More of these past few days of the vacation to Rome!

This is the Bronze Door, the official entrance to the Vatican. Most dignitaries enter from the inside of the city, this is where you and I would "try" to gain access to the Vatican!

Redesigning my parking area!

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER, Rome is built upon seven HILLS!

more of the same here =]

And there are a lot of Fountains!

More from Rome

I find this fun and very romantic in the silly way. Young adults (teenagers to early 20's) become couples and promise their love to each other all over the world. In Italy, there is a custom/tradition that when young people want to share that love, they buy a lock, attach it to a bridge and then both toss the key into the river as a sign that their love cannot be broken. A nice symbol and tradition and harmless to society. Notice either names or initials and also remember that most of the world writes their dates as day/month/year.

This is a nice and different view of the Colosseum. I like how it rises up from below street level.

This is a great shot of a waining moon in the morning sky. The angel is one of many decorating the bridge to Castel San Angelo (Castle of the Angel).

and walking at night is an essential in Rome, as dinner isn't served in many places until after 7:30 or 8PM. In fact we saw many people coming in to order dinner at 10PM. This was taken on the way back from dinner.

Rome 2011

We just got back to Madera today...but it was a fun 10 days in Rome. More pics coming, but these are the first I have chosen to share. Hope you like them as well!

Fresh fruit at an outdoor cafe seat overlooking the Colosseum....tasty and great views!

And St. Peter's...I love taking pictures there!