Teaser 13: Ravenna and Pompei

Some mosaics in old byzantine churches in Ravenna, and yes, a baptismal font. We visited another baptistry not far from here and the plaque actually refers to baptism by immersion as a common early Christian practice: a fact the artwork in later churches revises.





In Pompei: bigger and better than remembered.




Can you believe that's Riley?

We had our only negative experience that night: parked at a shopping mall in Caserta and stupidly left a few valuables in the van. Came back and they were gone, but the van was relocked and the alarm reset. Ah, Naples.

Teaser 12: Aaaaah, Venice!

It doesn't stink that bad, actually. A few shots. And yes, I'm in the one because Wendy generally takes the pics. Jonah's in a Casanova mask.

Teaser 11: Firenze

Some of the detail on the massive duomo of Firenze (Florence, and not the lady from the Brady Bunch, either). This thing is gigantesque and, in the style of the northern churches, has a separate bell tower and baptistry.



Christopher with one of the live statues.



Santa Croce (Holy Cross) at night.



Ringo. This thing was almost two inches long and roughly an inch high. Scared the behoobies out of Wendy and Jenn. And that ain't pretty.



Another cold day on the piazza.

Teaser 10: Leaning Tower Edition

Alright, the first two still in Rome:

We love it when stores are up front. Check out the punctuation.



The obelisk in Villa Borghese.



A surprise find in Pisa: the house where GG was born.



Not the best shot, but at least you get the lean. Video to come.



From the top down. It's really not as high as you expect.

Teaser 9: Mixed Bag

E wanted to make us feel at home. This was shot at the Celestini's/Vardeu's self-service laundry/ironeria after celebrating Alba's birthday at a restaurant named Da Meo Patacca which was oh forget it.



In Bocchignano, a neato medieval town not far from our place.



Palatino.



We went with E and kids to a medieval celebration in a little place called Greccio, and these boys from Narni, combining flag dancing, drumming, and trumpetry, performed some very complicated moves. This was not one of them.



Riley, at long last, where martyrs and murderers met for mayhem.

Teaser 8

Late Michelangelo . . .




Sculpted by the bereaved husband: his last work.



In the Cimitero dei Monumenti, divided into religions, wth special sections for war fallen, wounded veterans, etc. Lots of alcoves for urns, some tombs, crypts, vaults, etc. Huge, and impressive.



Motley Crue happened to be in town.

Teaser 7: Dead Poets Edition

Here Keats, here Shelley rest beneath cool pines;
Here remembered, transcend both Time and times.












Taken at the Antico Cimitero per Stranieri non Cattolici, 15 July, 2008.

Teaser 6 or whatever

Oooooooooh!



Spot the epochs by architectural style/materials . . .



And here, at the Teatro di Marcello, similarly . . .



Just up the road.



It's not bad enough being buck naked . . .

Teaser 5

The Bishop's residence in Rieti, from back in the day when ecclesiastical and political powers were one and the same. This is the arch way under the portico.



Along the Tevere, shot from the east bank looking back across at Sacro Cuore del Suffraggio (Sacred Heart of Suffrage) and the Supreme Court.



Even dead, these Italians still crane to check out the hotties. Kidding. He's looking back at the Supreme Court. Probably checking for a hitman.



Pizza night in a little paesino called "Montopoli." Presenti: the Guidara Family (Emanuele, Silvia, Carolina and Michele), the Celestini Family (Giulio, Laura, Ricardo, Claudio, Paolo, Gabriele, Angelo), the Perticarolis (Lorenzo and Lorenza, parents of Silvia) and their grandson William "Willo" Lorenzo, the Vardeu Family (Dario, brother of Laura, wife and three daughters), and of course the Pennys. Sweet little restaurant called Taverna ai Corsari at the top of one of the many hilltop paesi that are all around us here.



Riley's crush: Carolina, daughter of Emanuele and Silvia.

Teaser 4

Just for you, Adam . . . . (And yes, the leg was amputated. Horrific accident involving tweezers and a can of pepsi. More later.)



Rosone (brother of the Rosetta) on an early M.A. cathedral in Rieti.



Here we are, off centre in the exact centre of Italy.



New wheels, in anticipation of the Smith's arrival. We may open our own guided tour company, so hop aboard, ec. There's room, ormai, for everyone.



The Abbazia (Abbey) di Farfa,1 km as the crow flies from where we live (and roughly 5 f you take the winders). Legend has it that a third century politico came to see the the Abbey of Farfa, not the Pope, when he first came to Rome. In other words, this is where the power was concentrated, once upon a time.