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”
Author Archives: chosenfugue
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”
Coast to Coast
Not ready to leave the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius, and wanting to stay south to stay warm, we took a short Flix bus ride from Napoli, just past Angri,( the town, not the mood) to Salerno which is wedged between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Dolomites of Campania mountains, at the edge of the famousContinue reading “Coast to Coast”
Blast From the Past
Like Pisa, Pompeii was a “sure why not” stop It’s close, so okay. And, like Pisa, Pompei was a whim that was a Wow! Unexpected, it was truly moving. We arrived in Pompeii 20 minutes from Central Naples on the aptly named Circumvesuviana commuter rail. Mt. Vesuvius looming out one window and the Bay of NaplesContinue reading “Blast From the Past”
Naples, there’s a darkness in this edgy town
Since we had just left Rome, it was hard not to compare Rome and Naples, two cities whose present is so imbued with their past. Naples (Napoli in Italian) had a gritty underdog feel to it. Southern Italy, poorer and less cosmpolitan, has always been in the shadow of the more prosperous northern part ofContinue reading “Naples, there’s a darkness in this edgy town”
Rome, if you want to
Between travel internet sites, advertisements, every old Italian movie (except spaghetti westerns), how could you not come to Rome with some idea of what you will be seeing. What you see is not surprising, but you are surprised when you see them. Pretty much everything in Rome defies expectations. The massive scale of centuries oldContinue reading “Rome, if you want to”
Leaning In
Six weeks to explore Italy which is about 3/4 of the size of California. It was a given that we go to Rome, Florence, and Venice but where else? Generally, we like to be in a town for about a week and we also like seeing as much of a country as we can ratherContinue reading “Leaning In”
San Frenchisco (?)
Our only plan for this entire trip, besides dog sitting Chocho Choco in Spain, was to see Italy. Other than a day trip to Trieste from Croatia, Patricia had never been. But to get to Italy from Valencia we needed to go through France. We always seem to just see the edge of France: Calais,Continue reading “San Frenchisco (?)”
Love and Travel in the Time of Covid*
We continued to wear our masks, wash our hands, use hand sanitizers, not go to restaurants and avoid people. But, we still got Covid. Well, Patricia did, in Valencia, the healthiest city in the healthiest country in the world,(https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/healthiest-countries-in-the-world) Fortunately, it was very very mild and towards the end of our 3 week stay. We went to Spain toContinue reading “Love and Travel in the Time of Covid*”
Chosen Fugue 