Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Really?

Has it really been that long since I've posted? My how time flies when you're finishing grad school, going to a choral reunion at your alma mater, and getting your children ready to start school again! Here's another brief update and then I'll post one more entry from my Italy trip. Somehow I wound up not writing much on Thursday night and then I think I came home on Friday. The return trip is a bit blurry because I was awake for over 24 hours. I do know that I sat next to a lovely woman on the flight from London to Chicago. Her name was Margaret and she was a retired public librarian from outside of London. She loved murder mysteries, John Steinbeck, and travelogues. I also remember trying to watch a movie version of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey but it was poorly done so I switched and watched The Kite Runner instead. If you have not read that book, you need to. NEED to. The movie version was well done, but -- of course -- the book is better.

So here we go: Wednesday in Italy.

Wednesday

Today was downtown Florence. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. We walked along the Ponte del Vecchio and then into town to see the Duomo, Santa Croce, and . . . I don't know. Too much beauty and history to remember all the names, but it was stunningly beautiful the whole time. Lots of history. Lots of pictures.

No rain today which is so much better. I was able to find souvenirs for everyone. Our room here at the convent is lovely -- in fact, the whole building and courtyard are.

We had dinner with Tosca and Paolo. They are so wonderful. Paolo even sacrificed watching a soccer game on tv so that he could sit with us throughout most of the meal. He's a wonderful storyteller and though I don't understand everything he says, I can pick out bits and pieces. And his warm spirit just fills the room while he's speaking.

When we left Tosca and Paolo's we had a bit of a conundrum! The doors to the convent close at 11:00 and we weren't sure if public transportation would get us there in time. A quick call to David W and he rescued us by giving us a ride to a bus stop much closer to our destination. He was our hero!

As wonderful as this week has been, I am looking forward to being home. I can't wait to see my children's beautiful faces, sleep in my own bed, and experience a clean public restroom again! But what an amazing week!



7 comments:

Lawrence Underwood said...

Is that Davinci's Moaning Lisa?

Sheila said...

The sky was really beautiful that day, wasn't it?

I'm glad the smiley-face-leftovers photo turned out so well. You'll have to send that to Laura...

AbbieCRAZY said...

I keep thinking that the Kite Runner will be too sad....

lisa b said...

Kite Runner is sad, but I knew when to close my eyes to avoid the worst parts. And it's amazing so you should read it if you haven't.

Gioietta said...

I haven't gotten to read all your own personal travelogues but I already know I am a little jealous....no, actually I am still excited you got to do and enjoy Paris and Italy! I will come back to read more (and wish I was sipping cappuccino too)

Stephanie said...

I think I know which Northanger Abbey you're talking about, and it's really weird. The Kite Runner tops it hands down--and you know how much I love JA!

Mom of these kids said...

Wow, what beautiful architecture! I love LISA....as teh MONA LISA!