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.

Teaser 3

Photos, con commentario limitato.

Sorella Salsiccia (Sister Sausage: I'm not lying):



The Vatican guard at the Pope's summer place in Castelgandolfo (Gandolph's Castle) outside Rome in the area called Castelli Romani. Perhaps Tolkien got the name from this place.



A grotta near Emanuele's place: there were bats. Lots of bats. And mud. And guano. And Jonah on my shoulders most of the time, me hunched over. Ay caramba.



The Solfatara: a demure volcano in Pozzuoli, about 500 meters from where I lived.



Seaside in Pozzuoli. From here you can see the islands of Capri and Ischia--hotspots for tourists.



More later: spanks for pointing out how great Wendy looks, Ash. Spanks a lot.

Teaser 2

Hmm. Last several days: Roma antica, Teramo (where we found one of Jon's old friends) two days ago, Marmore Falls yesterday, Castel Gandolfo and the Via Appia Antica today.

Pics, without commentary (okay, except to say that the green shirt does not fit well. I am not that large in real life, nor do I have man boobs. Sorry mom. Hadda be said. I include the other pic as proof.):




Better proof:







Adam, I'll try to remember to get a couple of shots of the satchel by itself, just for you. But it always closes its eyes when I push the button.

Teaser

We're here! Internet access is spotty, so we don't know how often we'll get to do this. But here is a sampling to tide you over.







Went to church yesterday. Great ward. Some few familiar faces.

My old friend Emanuele has been taking very good care of us. Had a cold supper with them last night on their terrace, and will see much of them over the next few weeks.

Wish we were better organized for the trip: my fault. But we're piecing it together. Restricted by kilometers, etc., on the car rental. And the budget will be better than exhausted by the time we're done. Oy veh!

Anyway, more when we can. Everyone says hello.