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!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
The Isle of Capri
Greetings from the blue waters of Capri Island (Province of Campania) off the western coast of Italy. We are having such a fantastic time here. We arrived by ferry yesterday and were transported to our comfortable hotel high up on the cliffs. This island was first inhabited by the Greeks and laterthe Romans and particularly the terrible Emperor Tiberius (AD 27)and his insane grand nephew Caligula. The island is 6km long and 2.7 bkm wide.There are beautiful white washed buildings and there are many villas. There are the remains of 12 Roman villas and Tiberius' main Capri residence. This island has been a haven for artists, writers and even Russian revolutionaries in the past and actually still is a refuge for many creative types. The Grotto Azurra stands for this beautiful blue water in a cave but we could not go see it by boat because the waters are very wild right now. We had a really loud storm last night but we were safe and warm in our rooms. The name Capri most likely comes from the Greek "Kapros" meaning wild boar but we haven't run into any lately.
Today Harry and the newlyweds and I walked for 3 hours on these brick paths winding around the island. The sights were unbelievable and I will post pics as soon as I can. Unfortunately I left my computer with friends in Rome because we were not told we could actually get online here. We have dial up and can only be online for one half hour at a time.
Today Harry and the newlyweds and I walked for 3 hours on these brick paths winding around the island. The sights were unbelievable and I will post pics as soon as I can. Unfortunately I left my computer with friends in Rome because we were not told we could actually get online here. We have dial up and can only be online for one half hour at a time.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Museum photos Vienna, Austria
Here are pictures of the day we visited the museum of modern art and a
history museum.
history museum.
Museum Day
Hi all...
Today we all visited two very interesting museums here in the heart of Vienna. One was called the Museum Moderner Kunst and that had very unusual exhibits and the theme on one floor was "Mind Expansion." Many of them were made in the 1960's and 1970's and apparently Vienna was a center for exploring artistic performance modes at that time. The exhibits really made you look at subjects in a unique way. Later we all trooped over to the Kunsthistorisches Museum and that featured the history of Vienna from the early days of the Romans. The first floor housed many artifacts from as early as 1400 AD and consisted of jewelry, cookware, coins, elaborate bath tubs, sculptures and much, much more that I didnt have time to explore! There were also Flemish Baroque paintings that covered a whole wall each! I also saw the jewels of the royal Hapsburg family and even clothing of the famous women. On the top floor there was the Canadian Maple Leaf Gold coin valued at 2 million Euros!! It was at least 15 inches in diameter. The whole exhibit traced the history of coinage to the earliest people migrating and trading. There was also a room with very old and rare violins.
Today we all visited two very interesting museums here in the heart of Vienna. One was called the Museum Moderner Kunst and that had very unusual exhibits and the theme on one floor was "Mind Expansion." Many of them were made in the 1960's and 1970's and apparently Vienna was a center for exploring artistic performance modes at that time. The exhibits really made you look at subjects in a unique way. Later we all trooped over to the Kunsthistorisches Museum and that featured the history of Vienna from the early days of the Romans. The first floor housed many artifacts from as early as 1400 AD and consisted of jewelry, cookware, coins, elaborate bath tubs, sculptures and much, much more that I didnt have time to explore! There were also Flemish Baroque paintings that covered a whole wall each! I also saw the jewels of the royal Hapsburg family and even clothing of the famous women. On the top floor there was the Canadian Maple Leaf Gold coin valued at 2 million Euros!! It was at least 15 inches in diameter. The whole exhibit traced the history of coinage to the earliest people migrating and trading. There was also a room with very old and rare violins.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Off to the Symphony and a little bit of Jazz
An evening at the Vienna Symphony Orchestra was absolutely fantastic. The music hall was richly ornate with a Greek architectural design with statues and gold all around. We really wanted to hear Mozart so we were very fortunate to be able to hear his music live. After the symphony, we traveled to another part of Vienna where the artistic people live and perform. We heard a trio play one set of modern jazz and one thing that was quite interesting was that the saxophone player could play the clarinet at the same time...go figure! Take a look at the picture!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Cathedral/opera
of Roman walls.
The Tour and wonderful meal
Did you know that the Romans established a city in Vienna Austria? Well they did in 15 BC. I got to see the remnants of their drainage system for their baths and I also saw remains of Roman built walls. Actually, the original city was occupied by the Celtic people but after that the Romans. Later, a family called the Hapsburgs ruled the land in 1400 AD. I learned that it was the most important cultural center in Europe due to its strategic geographic location. People of many cultures passed through Vienna so art, science, music etc all flourished. Vienna was the home of all the important royalty in the empire and they all had palaces right in the center of Vienna. I was able to visit the stately palaces and cathedrals and learn all about the customs of the past. Our tour guide made history an interesting story for us rather than bombard us with facts and figures. She was witty and she not only centered on Vienna but made worldly connections to this area. I knew about all the muscians coming to Vienna but I did not realize the status of the opera house and the smaller concert halls. Burgtheater is one of the most famous of all the German speaking theaters. We have the good fortune to attend a concert tonight and we will hear Mozart and Dvorak. Of course all of the Strauss waltz pieces are played in various places that we visit. The Blue Danube was always a favorite of mine.
Vienna certainly has a rich history and been the capital of the region whether it be the Roman Empire, the Austria Hungarian Empire or Austria itself! Vienna is proud of its tolerance of diverse cultures and I can tell you honestly, everyone I spoke with about American politics is rooting for Obama for president. One very intelligent older man shared with us that America has always been a place that they looked up to , that is until the presidency of George Bush.
I am posting St. Stephens Cathedral (1147)which was once the tallest building in the world and is the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna, and the famous Opra House.
I want to say that our gracious hosts arranged for all of us to have a meal at the Museum Modern Art -Furangewandte Kunst in Wein. We had a harvest meal consisting of beef, potatoes, squash , soup, horseradish with apple and a traditional plum dumpling dessert!!
Vienna certainly has a rich history and been the capital of the region whether it be the Roman Empire, the Austria Hungarian Empire or Austria itself! Vienna is proud of its tolerance of diverse cultures and I can tell you honestly, everyone I spoke with about American politics is rooting for Obama for president. One very intelligent older man shared with us that America has always been a place that they looked up to , that is until the presidency of George Bush.
I am posting St. Stephens Cathedral (1147)which was once the tallest building in the world and is the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna, and the famous Opra House.
I want to say that our gracious hosts arranged for all of us to have a meal at the Museum Modern Art -Furangewandte Kunst in Wein. We had a harvest meal consisting of beef, potatoes, squash , soup, horseradish with apple and a traditional plum dumpling dessert!!
Wedding in Vienna
The wedding was really something! We attended a civil ceremony first that was brief and official and then all took the train to the Sacher Hotel where we had champagne and later Sacher Torte and coffee. R's mother made a very nice speech telling the story of his development over the years. It was very much like my daughter in many ways...curious, inquisitive people. I read a Shakespeare sonnet and I think everyone is having a great time. His parents are very gracious hosts and they are having a wonderful time seeing so many relatives that they have not seen for many years. We had a tasty meal in a traditional Austrian tavern last night. The food consists of many different meats, always cabbage/ saurkraut, potoatoes, and many varied desserts. Today we will all be going on a tour of the museums in Vienna and I will have more information as soon as I get back to the apartment.
Friday, October 24, 2008
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