All caught up!
And as they say, (this is a rule) if you have a little time to kill, gelato will do the job nicely!!!
I feel like that's a great rule. I might steal that one.
Hi.
It doesn’t take effort, at all, to come across those glorious gelato shops that seem to be as ubiquitous as $ixbucks and Dollar Stores around here.
That's a big upgrade, IMO. The U.S. could learn something here.
That's because my trip notes for that day look like this:
Hey, that looks like my notes from every day! This is why I keep adding exploding helicopters.
There were others that I’m sure led unsavory, probably what would now be unpopular lifestyles, such as Nero and Ceasar, whose busts were inside, and yet there they stand. Perhaps, they may bring someone to contemplate, “Never again”, or “I’m grateful for what we have now.”, or “How can I lead differently?”. There was no ridiculous, infantile tearing down of history in Italy such as we saw here a short couple of years ago, when small groups of out-of-control anarchists thought it was their job to erase history as if it was their own to rule over. I would present that there are better ways to ponder, reflect, debate, and disagree than to destroy what we have, even if we don’t or can’t appreciate. <steps off soapbox>
I'm conflicted on this one (and don't want to start an argument). I think the question becomes whether building a statue for someone is tantamount to approval. Generally that's how a statue is seen in the public square--a memorial to someone we would hope to emulate or remember. Can it be more nuanced than that? Sure. But it reminds me of a quote a filmmaker once said, that it was impossible to make an anti-war movie. His argument was that the movies typically glorify whatever is on-screen, and it was very difficult or impossible to craft a film that didn't glorify its content to some degree. I'm not sure I totally agree with that (Saving Private Ryan seemed to do the trick) but I can understand the point of view. There were definitely many Confederate soldiers who fought bravely and had nuanced reasons for choosing the side they did. But they also fought to uphold slavery. Is that worthy of a statue?
Of course, then you bring in another counter-argument: is ANYONE worthy of a statue? Dig deep enough and I guarantee you will find unsavory aspects in anyone's life.
All that to say, I don't know what the right answer is.
This is a great article about those ceilings specifically and honestly, those alone are worth a visit to this museum!!! (With way better photos!)
I'm amazed at how so many European buildings are just covered, every square inch, in art. It blows me away.
First, I give you a pair of perfect busts:
Woman: Is this some kind of a bust?
Police detective: Yes, ma'am, it's very impressive.
This funky piece was actually “hidden”. I noticed some folks standing at a window with their necks craned around. I took a peek and encountered this:
Um...okay.
This is one that the girls gushed on and on about. They were surprised at how graphic and detailed this work was! (Going out on a limb here, but I'm gonna guess this was an arterial wound...)
Dude ticked off the wrong women.
One that's super well known and perhaps recognizable to some of you??
Not to this uncultured swine.
Sadly, my folks got absolutely, hopelessly lost and even had a local person call me so I could explain where we were. He said he'd be able to point the way to them and make sure they found us. That, unfortunately did NOT happen, and about 20 minutes later (we're up to an hour now) they called me themselves and told us where THEY were and could we just come get them. Mom just couldn't walk anymore. Finally, FINALLY reunited, a super nice local offered to call a taxi for us and within 5 minutes we were picked up by an incredibly sweet lady driver and were home within 10 minutes or so.
Wow, that was quite the ordeal!
Everyone absolutely adored this meal despite being extremely exhausted from a very long day of travel, excessive sight-seeing, getting lost with tons of extra walking, and (for us) a very late dinner.
I'm glad the day ended well, though!
In celebration of passing the ridiculously difficult (for me) math exam that was assigned to me from compliance at my new PACU contract at UK in Lexington, I am going to relax a little bit and write some.
Congratulations!
If you guessed David, you are right!!!
I knew David was in Florence, but that was as close as I got.
Another incredible work, no?! Look at those folds in her robe!!!
Yes. Truly amazing work!
Ever been to a children’s museum?
Of course! I grumble about the way they charge adults full price and then don' t let us play on the exhibits.
There were dozens of replicas with explanations of da Vinci’s contraptions and machines and a surprising number of them were devoted to ingenious, but rather sinister, instruments of war. Chopper-uppers, trench diggers, you name it. There were flying machines, submarines, and studies of the human anatomy that da Vinci was obsessed with. The place was full of interactive displays, like blocks to teach kids (and probably some adults) about arches and force in architecture, optical illusion displays, and even movies that helped explain the history behind the inventor, painter, scientist.
Now that place looks really cool!
It was at that moment that the truffle oil stink bomb hit my face. The odor was so overpowering it clung to my clothes like gum in a toddler’s hair and it permeated everything and hung in the air like the last unfiltered thing you didn’t mean to say in front of all your co-workers. Ah well, I wrapped them back up and we were ready to go.
Oof. Yeah, that's a no from me.
“Madam.” Shaking her head and giving me a look of half stink eye and half disappointment. Crap! I was so busted.
She is good.
We told him they were on their way and yes, we’d eat there for sure, but we couldn’t help but be very aware he was completely serious about holding it for ONLY 10 minutes. Exactly 13 minutes later, Mom and the girls showed up panting, and my poor mom with her cane definitely limping.
Holy cow. Glad you got the 3-minute grace period.
The waiter, the same one who was no nonsense about holding the table, was also no-nonsense about taking our order. So much so, that he basically told us what we were going to get.
Wow. Bedside manner could use some work.
On the other hand, that looks really impressive! Might be Drooling Homer-worthy.
That was a HUGE relief! For this contract, I had to do a ton of compliance things- drug screening, background check, physical exam, and 14 hours of computer modules and 3 VERY difficult exams, one Advanced Math Calculations and not one, but two Advanced Dysrhythmias exams. I failed every one once, studied for days, re-took them, and passed with 90%+. If you don't use knowledge it doesn't get remembered all that well. Anyhow, I'm all set to start June 20th.
Geez. I bet you're glad to have that behind you.
I do promise, the best is actually about to start!!! We visited some truly OUT OF THE WAY places in Italy that far fewer tourists get to. I think you'll be pleased with our touring! So, don't abandon me yet!!!
I'm still here!
I had decided to try Maria and Enzo’s as it was still fairly new, and the theming was right up my alley. How cool that they went with a 1930’s abandoned air terminal replete with Art Nouveau murals and décor. Love it! The food was sort of meh-ish but something extraordinary happened during that meal.
That sounds like my impression of Maria & Enzo's as well. Food was just ok. Loved the theme.
“Oh! You MUST come to my village Bari, and another beautiful place is Polignano a Mare!! It is so beautiful there and you will love it!!”
Nice, I'm glad you were able to keep that promise!
Interestingly, the “storage place” was across the alley with a neighbor who would watch over it until then. Basically, it was her kitchen.
I have a saying in life- “But First Coffee”.
I agree.
(Which explains the title of this chaper- ‘Xoanon’ refers to a simple wood carving especially Greek in origin. This art was decidedly NOT that.)
But I did learn something here.
It was exactly the opposite. He was, in fact, a bit emotional as he began to personally thank us for coming to the Puglia Region of Italy. He told us that not very many tourists come to this area, and he was very thankful to see people traveling there to see their unique lifestyle and see how beautiful it is there. I wondered how much more he appreciated it being that it was only a year after Covid wiped out their entire economy for 2 long years.
Wow, what a special moment Makes the journey worthwhile by itself.
She even provided a little Puglian snack!
Any place that gives free snacks is all right by me!
Money will be a bit tight until then, I'm betting.
And my first payday won't even be until the 30th. UGH. 
