Monthly Archives: August 2012

Chigi’s Villa Farnesina

Posted on August 31, 2012 by

You may recall that I was downright grumpy in June about the renovation of the Chigi Chapel in Santa Maria del Popolo. I had looked forward to seeing Raphael’s work there and despaired that I might never have the chance … Continue reading →

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Traveling to Todi

Posted on August 30, 2012 by

Even though you might not think so, you’ve heard of Umbria, a small landlocked region just north of Rome and east of Tuscany. You’ve heard of Assisi (the home of St. Francis of Assisi) and Perugia (the home of the chocolate makers), … Continue reading →

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Red Hot Summer in Rome

Posted on August 27, 2012 by

In summer in Rome more than just the temperature sizzles! The temperatures are scorching (high 90s), but if you can stand the heat, Rome offers some special treats. One of our favorite summer customs is the tents along the Tevere. In … Continue reading →

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Ahhh, Venice!

Posted on August 14, 2012 by

Sadly, all good things must end, and our trip ended in the most wonderful place possible: Venice! I LOVE Venice! I have always loved Venice. I find it so unusual (no cars whatsoever, with one exception—see the photos below), so quiet … Continue reading →

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Stopping in Verona

Posted on August 9, 2012 by

On the way from the Cinque Terre to Venice, we stopped in Verona (I loved it—no hills!) for two nights. Verona is charming, beautiful, and clean, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We arrived in the mid-afternoon on Wednesday, after driving … Continue reading →

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Celebrating!

Posted on August 8, 2012 by

On August 10, 2011, Michael and I moved to Rome for two years. One year later, we still love living here. Today as my bus ride took me past the Colosseum, I felt like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, … Continue reading →

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Charming Cinque Terre: Part 2—Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore

Posted on August 7, 2012 by

On Sunday around noon Steve said, “Here’s my suggestion for the day. We’ll catch the 2 p.m. train to Corniglia and walk around there. Then we’ll get back on the train and visit Riomaggiore and walk around there. Then we’ll walk along … Continue reading →

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Charming Cinque Terre: Part 1—Monterosso al Mare and Vernazza

Posted on August 6, 2012 by

In late October 2011, devastating floods ripped through two of the five Cinque Terra villages, sweeping through the bottom level of homes and shops and leaving tons of debris behind. People had little time to scramble to higher ground, and … Continue reading →

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Summer in Tuscany: The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Posted on August 5, 2012 by

All of us except Michael left Tuscany on Saturday, July 7, and headed to the north coast of Italy. Steve rented a huge car (by Italian standards) to hold five travelers and our luggage, so we traveled in style. Steve … Continue reading →

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Summer in Tuscany: Sleepy Volpaia

Posted on August 3, 2012 by

On our last day in Tuscany, while the rest of the family went to the U.S. World War II cemetery near Florence (which we had already visited), Michael and I wound our way through the Chianti countryside to Volpaia, a … Continue reading →

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