to go before real sleep!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Catching some zzz's
to go before real sleep!
In flight
Toronto at last. I am on the plane and we will be landing soon in Toronto. Here we will await our plane to Logan Airport in Boston. The flight was very long...9 hours, but with such diversions as reading a whole book, having snacks, refreshments, two meals, organizing my photos in iphoto, putting photos on all my contacts on my iphone and deleting unnecessary emails, the time went by rather quickly. We expect that it will be much colder when we land. It was in the 50's in Vienna and a bit rainy.
Our last day in Vienna
Well now is the time to think about heading back to dear old Maine. After arriving back in Rome from the Isle of Capri, we spent an afternoon with our hosts who stayed in Rome. We were rather tired especially from the 3 hour hike around the island, so we visited the Pantheon and a couple very old churches and returned to the hotel for a rest before our last dinner together. We had a superb restaurant that was recommended by friends, and it had very good Italian cuisine! I had ravioli stuffed with fish and others had roast pork, zucchini and pasta, pumpkin soup and roast beef. It was a perfect last dinner for a perfect European visit. After the meal, we all jumped on the metro (subway) and headed back to the Trevi Fountain and threw in a coin each indicating that we surely would all be back one day in the future.
Yesterday morning early, we took a flight back to Vienna and it was only one and a half hours long. We flew Austrian Airlines. Back at the Vienna airport we said our last goodbyes to our family. It was bittersweet in that we will not meet again for quite some time.
Off in a taxi to our hotel and after we were settled, we got back on the metro and in a few stops we were back in the heart of Vienna. We shopped for a few more Mozart chocolate candies and had a true Vienna sausage. The have long rolls that they pierce with a metal instrument and add the mustard in the hole and then the long sausage. It really was quite good. We were not really very hungry so it was perfect. We then went for our last cafe in the city and returned to our hotel.
We went to bed at 7:00!! This is because our flight leaves at 10:20 this time and arrives in Toronto, Canada at 3:10. We have a 9 hour flight, so you can see we have 5 hours that will disappear on us. Though it is 3:10 in Canada, our time will be 8:10. We will visit Mary Kenyon, a very old friend for five hours and get on our last plane to Boston. Our body will be saying that it is 1:00 in the morning when we board the flight and 4:00 in the morning when we arrive in Boston. However, back in Boston it will only be 11:00 in the evening. I am sure we will sleep on the plane and on the ride home. Well, I must get ready to take the last taxi to the Vienna airport and then off to North America again!! Did you ever read the poem about going around the world but there being no place like home? I remember a line..."Tis fine to visit Venice, and it's great to visit Rome, but when it comes to living, there's no place like home." So its home again and home again America for me, my heart is turning home again and there it longs to be......" cannot remember the poet, but I shall look it up:) I hear the horn of the taxi....we are off again!
Yesterday morning early, we took a flight back to Vienna and it was only one and a half hours long. We flew Austrian Airlines. Back at the Vienna airport we said our last goodbyes to our family. It was bittersweet in that we will not meet again for quite some time.
Off in a taxi to our hotel and after we were settled, we got back on the metro and in a few stops we were back in the heart of Vienna. We shopped for a few more Mozart chocolate candies and had a true Vienna sausage. The have long rolls that they pierce with a metal instrument and add the mustard in the hole and then the long sausage. It really was quite good. We were not really very hungry so it was perfect. We then went for our last cafe in the city and returned to our hotel.
We went to bed at 7:00!! This is because our flight leaves at 10:20 this time and arrives in Toronto, Canada at 3:10. We have a 9 hour flight, so you can see we have 5 hours that will disappear on us. Though it is 3:10 in Canada, our time will be 8:10. We will visit Mary Kenyon, a very old friend for five hours and get on our last plane to Boston. Our body will be saying that it is 1:00 in the morning when we board the flight and 4:00 in the morning when we arrive in Boston. However, back in Boston it will only be 11:00 in the evening. I am sure we will sleep on the plane and on the ride home. Well, I must get ready to take the last taxi to the Vienna airport and then off to North America again!! Did you ever read the poem about going around the world but there being no place like home? I remember a line..."Tis fine to visit Venice, and it's great to visit Rome, but when it comes to living, there's no place like home." So its home again and home again America for me, my heart is turning home again and there it longs to be......" cannot remember the poet, but I shall look it up:) I hear the horn of the taxi....we are off again!
Leaving Old Vienna
regular lives and jobs. It is raining here at the airport as we bid farewell
to friends and family here.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Rome for Obama
I have spoken to quite a few Europeans who all want to see change in America and to them...that means Obama. I even found a poster Roma for Obama. They think that their president Burlesconi is a bit like George Bush and they have been protesting in the streets here. We saw demonstrations in Naples and in Rome. I guess there are big cuts in education being made here so the people have taken to the streets!
Photos from Rome
more!!
Roma , CIAO!
When in Rome...do as the Romans do and all roads lead to Rome...well that certainly gives one ample leeway on the freeway! We have had quite a Roman Holiday if I do say so myself. We have toured the city and had many laughs with good friends and family. The people here are very expressive and wear their emotions on shirtsleeves, something we have witnessed in a variety of situations.
The first night we arrived we strolled about and climbed the Spanish Steps that were designed by Francesco De Sanctis in the early 18th century. Lots of people were out and about and climbing the steps. The steps lead up to terraces and the top terrace has a distinctive balustrade. There is a church at the very top named Trinita dei Monti built for the French King Louis XII . They say that in May there are beautiful azaleas that can be seen near these steps. We noticed many trendy shops along our the way with all of the latest fashions. We also ate tasty pasta at a local restaurant.
We awoke the following day and had the typical breakfast of cafe and croissant. Off we adventured on a bus tour that took us to many historic sites. The first being the Trevi Fountain. At the center there is a statue of Ocean being pulled in a chariot by two Tritons into a basin that represents the sea. It is an old custom to throw a coin into the basin so that you will one day return to the city. There was a man dressed as a Roman guard by the pool and he seemed friendly and wanted us to take his picture with one of our group. When finished taking the photo, he demanded money. We gave him 2 euros and he became indignant and wanted 10 Euros. We told him no and he claimed it was no problem for us. We had an introduction to hustling at its finest. The umbrella hustlers were making big bucks as the rain was falling steadily. As our good friend Franz says " roses by night, umbrellas by day." The evening before, as we were climbing the Spanish Steps, there were young men milling about with bunches of roses as they tried to charm the tourists into purchasing for more than they were worth.
Onward we proceeded to the Colosseum. Because there was a great statue of Nero known as the Colossus, near this ampi-theater, it became known as the Colosseum. This structure was finished in the year 80 by Emperor Titus. This structure could house 50,000 spectators as they watched various games and some were beyond cruel. They would have slaves, known as gladiators fight wild animals that were captured in the far reaches of the Roman Empire. Christians were also put in the center of the theater and wild lions were brought in to actually eat them. There are 80 entrances all around the perimeter so that the spectators could easily arrive and depart. What we see there today is only a portion of what once existed. Because of earthquakes and the raiding of man for the materials, it is only a shell of the once magnificent structure.
The Circus Maximus was next on the tour and that was referred to as "the Roman Nascar" by one of our group....in other words, here the Roman chariots would race around a long track. The area is still open and lots of people were walking along the track. We proceeded on to see the church of S Maria where the famous Mouth of Truth is displayed. If you ever watched Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday, you will remember when Gregory Peck put his hand in the mouth and pretended that it was cut off. It is a legend that a witness who was suspected of bing less than truthful would be discovered if they placed one hand in the mouth of the mask and it was indeed bitten off. Lots of people were lined up to have their picture taken with their hand in the mouth. The church itself is quite old , 6th century.
The first night we arrived we strolled about and climbed the Spanish Steps that were designed by Francesco De Sanctis in the early 18th century. Lots of people were out and about and climbing the steps. The steps lead up to terraces and the top terrace has a distinctive balustrade. There is a church at the very top named Trinita dei Monti built for the French King Louis XII . They say that in May there are beautiful azaleas that can be seen near these steps. We noticed many trendy shops along our the way with all of the latest fashions. We also ate tasty pasta at a local restaurant.
We awoke the following day and had the typical breakfast of cafe and croissant. Off we adventured on a bus tour that took us to many historic sites. The first being the Trevi Fountain. At the center there is a statue of Ocean being pulled in a chariot by two Tritons into a basin that represents the sea. It is an old custom to throw a coin into the basin so that you will one day return to the city. There was a man dressed as a Roman guard by the pool and he seemed friendly and wanted us to take his picture with one of our group. When finished taking the photo, he demanded money. We gave him 2 euros and he became indignant and wanted 10 Euros. We told him no and he claimed it was no problem for us. We had an introduction to hustling at its finest. The umbrella hustlers were making big bucks as the rain was falling steadily. As our good friend Franz says " roses by night, umbrellas by day." The evening before, as we were climbing the Spanish Steps, there were young men milling about with bunches of roses as they tried to charm the tourists into purchasing for more than they were worth.
Onward we proceeded to the Colosseum. Because there was a great statue of Nero known as the Colossus, near this ampi-theater, it became known as the Colosseum. This structure was finished in the year 80 by Emperor Titus. This structure could house 50,000 spectators as they watched various games and some were beyond cruel. They would have slaves, known as gladiators fight wild animals that were captured in the far reaches of the Roman Empire. Christians were also put in the center of the theater and wild lions were brought in to actually eat them. There are 80 entrances all around the perimeter so that the spectators could easily arrive and depart. What we see there today is only a portion of what once existed. Because of earthquakes and the raiding of man for the materials, it is only a shell of the once magnificent structure.
The Circus Maximus was next on the tour and that was referred to as "the Roman Nascar" by one of our group....in other words, here the Roman chariots would race around a long track. The area is still open and lots of people were walking along the track. We proceeded on to see the church of S Maria where the famous Mouth of Truth is displayed. If you ever watched Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday, you will remember when Gregory Peck put his hand in the mouth and pretended that it was cut off. It is a legend that a witness who was suspected of bing less than truthful would be discovered if they placed one hand in the mouth of the mask and it was indeed bitten off. Lots of people were lined up to have their picture taken with their hand in the mouth. The church itself is quite old , 6th century.
Photos From Capri
traveled by ferry on high seas from Naples!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
