Author Archives: chosenfugue

Brittany Rocks

St Malo was chosen to start our five weeks in France because Patricia remembered it from a book… oh yeah that kinda dumb book and Netflix movie (All The Light We Cannot See), too late we were on the ferry.  Sleeping on the near-empty Portsmouth, UK-St Malo ferry was fine, it would not be fineContinue reading “Brittany Rocks”

The Fugue-itives, back on the run

why keep writing.  Back to the blog.https://chosenfugue.xyz/2023/03/12/what-have-we-just-done-again/  It’s all a fugue.  A year slips by, and a few more months, maybe almost two years.  Patricia says we need to blog, people were left hanging with us still in Northern Italy in late Feb 2023  https://chosenfugue.xyz/2023/04/27/milano-dog-ciao/ A year and a few months, maybe more than twoContinue reading “The Fugue-itives, back on the run”

Obligatory Food Blog, Rehashed

Now would be the point where we share pictures of pasta on vibrant ceramic plates, or paella bursting with weird looking seafood, with one of us sitting at the cafe, with the city scene behind us, holding a glass of wine or espresso. If you expect that, you have not been paying attention. Instead, itContinue reading “Obligatory Food Blog, Rehashed”

Milano Dog Ciao

Train delays of more than a few minutes are rare in Europe, so we were very confused by our hour plus wait when boarding in Desenzano del Garda for Milan.  This was our introduction to the rolling train transportation worker’s strike in Northern Italy.   We made it to Milan, arriving to a striking, giganticContinue reading “Milano Dog Ciao”

Letting Our Garda Down

  In Venice, limited to narrow, canal-lined paths broken up by sudden bridges, we felt like game pieces trying to navigated a board game like Chutes & Ladders (Canals & Bridges?). We needed open space. Our upcoming Milan dog-sit owners recommended Lake Garda, a local, Northern Italy favorite, although they had never been, which forContinue reading “Letting Our Garda Down”

A couple of Dumbos in Venezia

In 697 AD, the twelve founding families of Venezia (Venice), refugees from wars (sound familiar?)  chose it’s location as a safe harbor.  Eventually, this strategic location led Venice to become a major financial and political powerhouse in the area; a staging site for wars and trade.  Based on our experience, they still are a powerhouseContinue reading “A couple of Dumbos in Venezia”

My Bologna

Wrapping up our six weeks in Italy was kind of like cleaning out the fridge, what looks good? Venice was to follow Florence but we needed a palate cleanser in between these two major cities.  Bologna it was (although traditionally Bologna is not a classic palate cleanser).  Once we started reading about Bologna, it was obvious we shouldContinue reading “My Bologna”

Frenzied Firenze

We popped off the train in Firenze aka Florence at a rather nondescript train station and followed the multitude of American college students down the cobblestone road passing the obligatory Italian shoe, perfume chain stores, jewelry stores and souvenir stands. Then, around the corner, there it was…. THE RENAISSANCE! The massive and spectacular Florence Cathedral, Continue reading “Frenzied Firenze”

Ravenna Pieces

Ravenna wasn’t initially on our map, but should have been considering that for almost 70 years (408-476 AD) it was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire. We have been to Benicia, the capital of California (from 1853-54), so we were obligated to go to Ravenna plus Patricia’s sister recommended it (hat tip toContinue reading “Ravenna Pieces”