tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34326028439022831502024-03-05T09:32:03.121-06:00Conquistadora FelizCLICK THE PICSSusanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-91574269096282348372023-05-17T02:01:00.002-06:002023-05-19T13:54:49.957-06:00The Uffizi<p>The Uffizi Museum building used to be the offices of the Medici family, it took 20+ years to build in the mid 1500's.Uffizi means "offices" in Italian. Over time, the top floor became a family gallery for artwork they'd collected. </p><p>In the mid 1700's, the very last person in the Medici family (a wise woman named Anna Maria) bequeathed the family art collection and buildings to the Tuscan State. It was no small gift, one Stradivarius violin in the collection is worth 1.5 million euros. In her infinite wisdom she stipulated that the art never be moved out of the area and that it was to be "for the utility of the public and to attract the curiosity of foreigners."</p><p>She nailed it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVU_tkOY94BzYmMorMi8qvlITss8rzG-o8_AtMESJk3xcXwVUoGIFotyz0fnZfY2cbGa62TTFQPJSp31c28DgqMgR1GCSmm2iS__l9cb9dPSDXrlRzfQouvZnax7hbnEFgB4170KJpfiun6VNGMijQuiOZPgBv85x7EQMW9h87lmIEMnddidb_F6cPQ/s4080/PXL_20230516_101507826.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVU_tkOY94BzYmMorMi8qvlITss8rzG-o8_AtMESJk3xcXwVUoGIFotyz0fnZfY2cbGa62TTFQPJSp31c28DgqMgR1GCSmm2iS__l9cb9dPSDXrlRzfQouvZnax7hbnEFgB4170KJpfiun6VNGMijQuiOZPgBv85x7EQMW9h87lmIEMnddidb_F6cPQ/s320/PXL_20230516_101507826.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the line for ppl who pre purchased tickets so they wouldn't have to wait in line.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzLxTl1GjDZlY50VQw-o23fSxkUq82779mKiHFbO5OLoun6ksxUDWl-5rGTzzp1DlsYtc_yjqNjtp6DE7M5IKketdAyNKbv_RsxOGE7W3CKQocmnMur-vL4wEPJazdxnXD4nBI4BkFQ1mUwrRhOoVZg_n6pvvwQlGV-OHyYvZ0j2MCv59ngv43-doPA/s4080/PXL_20230516_102115804.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzLxTl1GjDZlY50VQw-o23fSxkUq82779mKiHFbO5OLoun6ksxUDWl-5rGTzzp1DlsYtc_yjqNjtp6DE7M5IKketdAyNKbv_RsxOGE7W3CKQocmnMur-vL4wEPJazdxnXD4nBI4BkFQ1mUwrRhOoVZg_n6pvvwQlGV-OHyYvZ0j2MCv59ngv43-doPA/w400-h301/PXL_20230516_102115804.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the bitch is looking down at us peons standing on one foot and then the other in lines that seem to never end.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We'd done a little prep work prior to visiting the museum so we'd know at least a little about what we were going ot see. I was into it, checking out the difference between oils and temperas, looking at the lack of brush strokes, seeing who got perspective and who was still working on it. I looked over at Tata about two hours in and his eyes were glazed over. He admitted to being a bit bored, "it seems like we're just seeing the same things over and over again."</div><div><br /></div><div>Dude! No we're not!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLkNrhrp_g33g7oZ0dZ1hYWkHAPoM47EFEXnwBasEIkOksQaPVO3pyflPwGz-ur25vcsvNlts8X1kWpWqLi5YEu11WQRlVqDOyD5GHnFTG7qkJMhiehjapwx8ThgzfsTaErh0jsszZqyW5YXKwNPGPvHqJiizCX43tJfC9Mixqv3nNMWNzhTeBJPQBg/s4080/PXL_20230516_123545754.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLkNrhrp_g33g7oZ0dZ1hYWkHAPoM47EFEXnwBasEIkOksQaPVO3pyflPwGz-ur25vcsvNlts8X1kWpWqLi5YEu11WQRlVqDOyD5GHnFTG7qkJMhiehjapwx8ThgzfsTaErh0jsszZqyW5YXKwNPGPvHqJiizCX43tJfC9Mixqv3nNMWNzhTeBJPQBg/w400-h301/PXL_20230516_123545754.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You got your peaceful bebe Jesus.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoR6_O_wh_NZ3NZ16j_cFxME9zQtvuZbOzqimWpkYY4Tq75XllqRhs3vf5zwgRN7vJhH7_vGC011qKb-0D8hV50AgDO1LIdNBSoLLOBY-fiq5hhWtA9GkvWh_q5wEEAemK7G2L3DEtyvHBBDIvexU3KuALhSherXwKKADKKaPAHCafPYvw3atCUMxfw/s4080/PXL_20230516_122720897.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoR6_O_wh_NZ3NZ16j_cFxME9zQtvuZbOzqimWpkYY4Tq75XllqRhs3vf5zwgRN7vJhH7_vGC011qKb-0D8hV50AgDO1LIdNBSoLLOBY-fiq5hhWtA9GkvWh_q5wEEAemK7G2L3DEtyvHBBDIvexU3KuALhSherXwKKADKKaPAHCafPYvw3atCUMxfw/w400-h301/PXL_20230516_122720897.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bebe Jesus' first Halloween.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqVuNZxPwMYwfrdMpDEEYZB_WgBUqwV2XaoHWROdB_-U2ZB0Nyb3CtmjtQzBQXgm3hyUWrKvwm82UNzuV4brR1ho7fKNp_vuu0f0bP3Cp7g-7udCVCB5IVfmj1gsPg5NuXjB-qqWUYSZ4o14_nQtvJAz2su-RauBp_R0jBsiea3yVcGyUBdW4UeWvvg/s4080/PXL_20230516_122515218.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqVuNZxPwMYwfrdMpDEEYZB_WgBUqwV2XaoHWROdB_-U2ZB0Nyb3CtmjtQzBQXgm3hyUWrKvwm82UNzuV4brR1ho7fKNp_vuu0f0bP3Cp7g-7udCVCB5IVfmj1gsPg5NuXjB-qqWUYSZ4o14_nQtvJAz2su-RauBp_R0jBsiea3yVcGyUBdW4UeWvvg/w400-h301/PXL_20230516_122515218.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Distracted bebe Jesus.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SDg-EMOTeeT2cAMAUYVGlsztsYJW9n6MdjvsZO7UD95vpfXvE4QcLSAcws2Dc7HmdVSivGROVgDYKn8iA81BleDeTt8HTzzIOXxyHqiu_NuGsjL89GukZTPek8nC6A96h5juhzd8CRsKrxY9qYlSiWiPm1poVuP6vxxx_SflR7F_O_7gPuavni-ioQ/s4080/PXL_20230516_115629569.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SDg-EMOTeeT2cAMAUYVGlsztsYJW9n6MdjvsZO7UD95vpfXvE4QcLSAcws2Dc7HmdVSivGROVgDYKn8iA81BleDeTt8HTzzIOXxyHqiu_NuGsjL89GukZTPek8nC6A96h5juhzd8CRsKrxY9qYlSiWiPm1poVuP6vxxx_SflR7F_O_7gPuavni-ioQ/w301-h400/PXL_20230516_115629569.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bebe Jesus sees his first bird and nearly faints.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRd07PiJQkvxu63elzlgPo0sFSwJlQwWNY3o0FpMo4HlIpDqCQGwY-IXw9vIlFrnmFvp0N1aOKOcn1uy8yDQo-4J_V2e5zskaDBV-uy8kZddUZeApKDDG9hSuvkZk96bHWnTxmCFENM_gUXz5sTcomE6-Z81RePbBdFXPaC0tQu8XM9oZyef_-nAMjxA/s4080/PXL_20230516_114457485.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRd07PiJQkvxu63elzlgPo0sFSwJlQwWNY3o0FpMo4HlIpDqCQGwY-IXw9vIlFrnmFvp0N1aOKOcn1uy8yDQo-4J_V2e5zskaDBV-uy8kZddUZeApKDDG9hSuvkZk96bHWnTxmCFENM_gUXz5sTcomE6-Z81RePbBdFXPaC0tQu8XM9oZyef_-nAMjxA/w301-h400/PXL_20230516_114457485.MP.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't even know what to say about this bebe Jesus.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBwMGHBRAPr35Ai9iyc_ld285GPxaoKB9A8TCJjI-Bmpa8X6jJlU6Sm48t8luGLiS9xnwcSl2xHaxmBgkkhlkZ9NC96A1eVUlUxMarEKdlS4IK7IBnY871BvZ-Vw6gtK-MvlzEpJ9m63B4cV2ejuE068nRYN5vcoXWpxcclBB9JgW6UJ_OObSzmEX5w/s4080/PXL_20230516_114430674.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBwMGHBRAPr35Ai9iyc_ld285GPxaoKB9A8TCJjI-Bmpa8X6jJlU6Sm48t8luGLiS9xnwcSl2xHaxmBgkkhlkZ9NC96A1eVUlUxMarEKdlS4IK7IBnY871BvZ-Vw6gtK-MvlzEpJ9m63B4cV2ejuE068nRYN5vcoXWpxcclBB9JgW6UJ_OObSzmEX5w/w301-h400/PXL_20230516_114430674.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bebe Jesus ate a strobere and wants more.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kWcMVK8i2iVVUaBa2-yFC96otlHBi5_RuVjwcu-6zHK1DgYkmgQ1XUko39IscrQ00xccwC6La5BvdPji7qs-W2rVVl2XMQypfbSrzT9sILFnQ9wvCYq5vPTth9uZJ-4mnMoN4symHPWlJr1KAXODpPao2ntiGcOWYz7HQc9gSxH6glJ_3o_mVkIQAw/s4080/PXL_20230516_114255782.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kWcMVK8i2iVVUaBa2-yFC96otlHBi5_RuVjwcu-6zHK1DgYkmgQ1XUko39IscrQ00xccwC6La5BvdPji7qs-W2rVVl2XMQypfbSrzT9sILFnQ9wvCYq5vPTth9uZJ-4mnMoN4symHPWlJr1KAXODpPao2ntiGcOWYz7HQc9gSxH6glJ_3o_mVkIQAw/w400-h301/PXL_20230516_114255782.MP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Innovative Mary props chubby bebe Jesus up on a wheat pillow.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5g_0DL4jw0PfH32upO3RMghjhd_Qq8_l8qziUlzekdI_yVw1m4aBpZbz7pGJ6plx6nhOufy_XISJIQPkuBtn4qYPcWPVQn2iA8dKq9PXISWou1nmrYPQy3wbAz7zKEOwLyKGEK57nQdam5QQ3T8uksr9E9WtfygdYmqkriJZdK3seOUCbhhIwIuSddQ/s2776/PXL_20230516_114125857.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2776" data-original-width="2090" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5g_0DL4jw0PfH32upO3RMghjhd_Qq8_l8qziUlzekdI_yVw1m4aBpZbz7pGJ6plx6nhOufy_XISJIQPkuBtn4qYPcWPVQn2iA8dKq9PXISWou1nmrYPQy3wbAz7zKEOwLyKGEK57nQdam5QQ3T8uksr9E9WtfygdYmqkriJZdK3seOUCbhhIwIuSddQ/w301-h400/PXL_20230516_114125857.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bebe Jesus destroys his first book.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We made our way down the steps soon after Ev confessed and chose a book about the museum in the gift shop. A used copy is on order from Abe's books and is on its way to our home. <div><br /></div><div>I've always been a big fan of Mary, I'm hoping the book explains why she's always depicted staring off into space completely dissociated from what is happening around her. I love the characters in the paintings that are looking right at me or are at least engaged with each other.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWV_asJA7y3oYCvO9w75D0bnuwX3_33N3a0eJI8ODDOAXkMn23d9F08KjdVA8gdEtILppw5IwfxniSXH5WamHRPa2se6iWMvddxZr-SeDN5q8G2JGYID8j9jH8tni8a9b1WsSnQE7-jVi7sV2E4zFGyMrOC9cj2Z2oK6iUZAAcO-yP8wx1reAoTeg1Qw/s4080/PXL_20230516_111205183.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWV_asJA7y3oYCvO9w75D0bnuwX3_33N3a0eJI8ODDOAXkMn23d9F08KjdVA8gdEtILppw5IwfxniSXH5WamHRPa2se6iWMvddxZr-SeDN5q8G2JGYID8j9jH8tni8a9b1WsSnQE7-jVi7sV2E4zFGyMrOC9cj2Z2oK6iUZAAcO-yP8wx1reAoTeg1Qw/w482-h640/PXL_20230516_111205183.jpg" width="482" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bebe Jesus eats a pomegranate.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcek6jCXkNI9bh9oN4cdtMtGI22eF9uvO0lEa7om4n0xjsN0vkKndNm8is8UG_Q1HePG2MYqHoip32Pu8GME5mkqlPfQCTTT63aQh7jYFMUR5WiKlCszijOtkr4HVBGNAj9HK8oc5ce62CzFSK9WgXmnU1m_KbqcWIx0QrZQeFyS3XSCx3ycSJapUKHw/s4080/PXL_20230516_112146385.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcek6jCXkNI9bh9oN4cdtMtGI22eF9uvO0lEa7om4n0xjsN0vkKndNm8is8UG_Q1HePG2MYqHoip32Pu8GME5mkqlPfQCTTT63aQh7jYFMUR5WiKlCszijOtkr4HVBGNAj9HK8oc5ce62CzFSK9WgXmnU1m_KbqcWIx0QrZQeFyS3XSCx3ycSJapUKHw/w482-h640/PXL_20230516_112146385.jpg" width="482" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bebe Jesus wondering what he did to make his mom pass out.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><div>Before we headed back to the hotel, we ducked into a little teensy restaurant and had another unnaturally orange drink and this delicious snack. Then steak for him, goat cheese pasta for me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixub3sZ-pYlzRXdqlfL2vy-bsN86brnpGiV1RnuCXjV-3dBQBPQZLTTzxamQUqxs_57cFtUZ76LGCH6S-kQ1q2QpIjxdRoZocxEKRLE5A-2wEJ62VxjqZHocNC3QLsCXjCwqFhM75ZxB-Z9gY5zKaKPnXXxCT20tzu8ak5yq1gZjRBq4iGnhdQQc58TA/s2048/PXL_20230516_131519366_exported_1375_1684258064125.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixub3sZ-pYlzRXdqlfL2vy-bsN86brnpGiV1RnuCXjV-3dBQBPQZLTTzxamQUqxs_57cFtUZ76LGCH6S-kQ1q2QpIjxdRoZocxEKRLE5A-2wEJ62VxjqZHocNC3QLsCXjCwqFhM75ZxB-Z9gY5zKaKPnXXxCT20tzu8ak5yq1gZjRBq4iGnhdQQc58TA/w400-h300/PXL_20230516_131519366_exported_1375_1684258064125.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfJFi2Ktbvz7s9vjhFPcjBL4lRuLG7Wz-jKSFGMyJl6qPwwD9IQGqJgI4IgjwQyvxpt_ndAlMd5w_z0Hq5ZfmAwbkKHD_02G90ExW9k1P7HcwyjMFnYVEFYY0V_B_Ay77aUYzej89Oz-2OxcHYNqHJbYF3q9XVNti5QXoLAOPd4EC6lUTVWPeMyKzvw/s4080/PXL_20230516_132102450.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfJFi2Ktbvz7s9vjhFPcjBL4lRuLG7Wz-jKSFGMyJl6qPwwD9IQGqJgI4IgjwQyvxpt_ndAlMd5w_z0Hq5ZfmAwbkKHD_02G90ExW9k1P7HcwyjMFnYVEFYY0V_B_Ay77aUYzej89Oz-2OxcHYNqHJbYF3q9XVNti5QXoLAOPd4EC6lUTVWPeMyKzvw/w400-h301/PXL_20230516_132102450.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Another great day.</div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-75203186387470823852023-05-16T02:10:00.000-06:002023-05-16T02:10:40.817-06:00Goodbye Siena and Hello Again, Florence<p> Sunday, we packed up our stuff and headed back to Florence to return the rent car and spend our last days in the city center. We discovered who has been drumming all this time! There was a little parade out front right before we took off.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXrY97V8Uvl5fTPkpGQSEEDoVxvLrGILbXPbGYXDvPEAzFVGS87wrLa7AdgndiWuta1C7eNJJrI3sc8s_rogwfMX8clX8VKZnaLVrje1gY-yzcapO4tMGOKSx5NMv2byh5whIzwo8ueMjEkXwICbPksVt3hW_7ixA3fNlrNnBmSUNN5WnEaC_3ZbJcQ/s3516/PXL_20230514_075345826.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2647" data-original-width="3516" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXrY97V8Uvl5fTPkpGQSEEDoVxvLrGILbXPbGYXDvPEAzFVGS87wrLa7AdgndiWuta1C7eNJJrI3sc8s_rogwfMX8clX8VKZnaLVrje1gY-yzcapO4tMGOKSx5NMv2byh5whIzwo8ueMjEkXwICbPksVt3hW_7ixA3fNlrNnBmSUNN5WnEaC_3ZbJcQ/s320/PXL_20230514_075345826.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhxLPUBTmYVln0b8bxNCKnyk1FlF-4LT7QN3HTxDYAeRwT518pE_Xz7fgX1EI3dpVtm2gUo8Q0qH7OduUnWDt-3DnCon0W3NRmBkPb2HWMb604ufaxAvTiPKxdotsoPg9AmSOrJ9GzVEwe1qZuXr7zqL0fyRiejU21W7bFVhthcN3PvPpmhCdMhQsJg/s4080/PXL_20230514_075403890.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhxLPUBTmYVln0b8bxNCKnyk1FlF-4LT7QN3HTxDYAeRwT518pE_Xz7fgX1EI3dpVtm2gUo8Q0qH7OduUnWDt-3DnCon0W3NRmBkPb2HWMb604ufaxAvTiPKxdotsoPg9AmSOrJ9GzVEwe1qZuXr7zqL0fyRiejU21W7bFVhthcN3PvPpmhCdMhQsJg/s320/PXL_20230514_075403890.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute Italian men in tights.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Ev has been telling me he never met a Chianti wine that he liked, so today our goal was to change that by taking the scenic route back to Florence through Chianti. I had my eye on a vineyard that looked pretty and had an interesting history. They offered tastings with lunch and a tour. Whether or not we could find it, or if there would be room at the table for us or if we would even arrive at the correct time was all in question because we've discovered we're not that good at sticking to a schedule on vacation.<p></p><p>It was misty and rainy the entire drive but the hills and curves provided Ev with a little opportunity to get his Mario Andretti face on. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2vnRxFgLv_C2juD9Ono1BIOZ2MS6G4FXgFySWhkxdmLIqRFkaMcIa3CE8Tw1nwCV14PgBXMTpidmhsK519fZCD7Xy7lPKIym4UE2hSwTHYpQJgIyTNJCsxFm85LjEZycG5wol2oveVHNitodEGWHpiN8QSqcKttmxvN_BcOmygMI0BaV1r5iRYtnRg/s4080/PXL_20230514_085507149.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2vnRxFgLv_C2juD9Ono1BIOZ2MS6G4FXgFySWhkxdmLIqRFkaMcIa3CE8Tw1nwCV14PgBXMTpidmhsK519fZCD7Xy7lPKIym4UE2hSwTHYpQJgIyTNJCsxFm85LjEZycG5wol2oveVHNitodEGWHpiN8QSqcKttmxvN_BcOmygMI0BaV1r5iRYtnRg/s320/PXL_20230514_085507149.MP.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He liked the drive, see the smirk?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg535hbGFWKGE9BWVj5YZAJR4eAE84jY8ib5qosIc9er8kQmldsJ4mwmIWxKJajhPwz1119AA2uZoCHt1HbdQ7qnqwS2kpvg5thdzdTogBkdHh5hqpe_cpyqiQVwDd8yGeiaf_pX9ApSgozyK_Nkgf4UgwVZOKnPMDL2v5YKHhptTn33rznwt41imdKbA/s2400/Screenshot_20230514-103859.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1076" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg535hbGFWKGE9BWVj5YZAJR4eAE84jY8ib5qosIc9er8kQmldsJ4mwmIWxKJajhPwz1119AA2uZoCHt1HbdQ7qnqwS2kpvg5thdzdTogBkdHh5hqpe_cpyqiQVwDd8yGeiaf_pX9ApSgozyK_Nkgf4UgwVZOKnPMDL2v5YKHhptTn33rznwt41imdKbA/s320/Screenshot_20230514-103859.png" width="143" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I loved the region, I think it's my favorite, The villages aren't walled off like fortresses, you actually drive through them. It's a heavily wooded area, the vines and olive groves are just barely on the wrong side of perfectly groomed. The vistas were incredible from the road.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_HEZttW5fuaL95QOUqooAz311tgDHO_syGbU0DvU5WTgS9IauLWZdCha8n9l5L7kwvGa7FzWmlCruocuF6eUNkMEFMSbpL1v1mvBgd0isc4HpM-s4BTu53QLux455MJE0xQiaoFpAHcc0UpnKqrGUvmCj7h1gq6-tSI5F302fYG6cUkIDWraI48fkw/s4080/PXL_20230514_091023440.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_HEZttW5fuaL95QOUqooAz311tgDHO_syGbU0DvU5WTgS9IauLWZdCha8n9l5L7kwvGa7FzWmlCruocuF6eUNkMEFMSbpL1v1mvBgd0isc4HpM-s4BTu53QLux455MJE0xQiaoFpAHcc0UpnKqrGUvmCj7h1gq6-tSI5F302fYG6cUkIDWraI48fkw/w400-h301/PXL_20230514_091023440.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMiLY25iCOXUl9Ug8oe_yuRy_hgn30ojkQ8bnJ6ckS3sVTCUPuo0T_H-S8MLSxu-BsJe9oMmVJ4DcsvLHJTnHsfx7DiclLPp1SOhAGmTRUMG7RLehDvv9NMeqtNguv6udgtEb4wxdkleVjzTEkyd6Gt5vPsc9TAbIR7SXSiPoMK9VA9rou0GMlMucug/s4080/PXL_20230514_090054790.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMiLY25iCOXUl9Ug8oe_yuRy_hgn30ojkQ8bnJ6ckS3sVTCUPuo0T_H-S8MLSxu-BsJe9oMmVJ4DcsvLHJTnHsfx7DiclLPp1SOhAGmTRUMG7RLehDvv9NMeqtNguv6udgtEb4wxdkleVjzTEkyd6Gt5vPsc9TAbIR7SXSiPoMK9VA9rou0GMlMucug/w400-h301/PXL_20230514_090054790.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavZZ7wygs7og_6MU62twuf5Paq745DVVRBJsp36mEDyA8erJ_UdVyWDgCEMJeRXFwVvnyYDg6ClHpc56RxAKibuNoL38KWxedX4oHVF-I97PxtGTNdax0rJLJhmIO4L_ibUGYv2c04S1sybuSHWAw50nNS5ltfnbtkEtkspeQ0lcBaxo5lzp-51NKHA/s4080/PXL_20230514_090002783.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavZZ7wygs7og_6MU62twuf5Paq745DVVRBJsp36mEDyA8erJ_UdVyWDgCEMJeRXFwVvnyYDg6ClHpc56RxAKibuNoL38KWxedX4oHVF-I97PxtGTNdax0rJLJhmIO4L_ibUGYv2c04S1sybuSHWAw50nNS5ltfnbtkEtkspeQ0lcBaxo5lzp-51NKHA/w400-h301/PXL_20230514_090002783.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorBasP_elC30Gk3mHfCSbWSQc_dYlAPSEcx6DzBa8RMT_qyw6fO-dTOwXB1gjYN41i7-k94wZZUZ1_bQdc_FtzArLB9UKWAZ2HYVhcQMDtW8HI9Va8k9tRdQ1rgMCZdM0bQFCJDGPxK-mBNHqbcWF7WDN_QXXJ1MjJjb0IgNIkzLIErg8rWF4ZW919w/s4080/PXL_20230514_085010004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorBasP_elC30Gk3mHfCSbWSQc_dYlAPSEcx6DzBa8RMT_qyw6fO-dTOwXB1gjYN41i7-k94wZZUZ1_bQdc_FtzArLB9UKWAZ2HYVhcQMDtW8HI9Va8k9tRdQ1rgMCZdM0bQFCJDGPxK-mBNHqbcWF7WDN_QXXJ1MjJjb0IgNIkzLIErg8rWF4ZW919w/w301-h400/PXL_20230514_085010004.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>We found our way to the vineyard by way of a few "this can't be right" "is this right?" "are you sure?" moments.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4J_xtXQrFFfMT8i40Ygk3A5J1xmC55oLNN-bNuRNK9Oi8hamVaJ2iWpD4FQvZUwFSrBfz35uNH4uxtHmQqFR819iq6velxuA3xvSe7TLBZzjwedrEjHEp9vNEmEdV5zhsaTKwqMAKgKEk5_FhKR48cxMMGAbMYkcVw8KB2RPzxOSaWsSdYCZxsKsJjQ/s4080/PXL_20230514_092951082.PORTRAIT.ORIGINAL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4J_xtXQrFFfMT8i40Ygk3A5J1xmC55oLNN-bNuRNK9Oi8hamVaJ2iWpD4FQvZUwFSrBfz35uNH4uxtHmQqFR819iq6velxuA3xvSe7TLBZzjwedrEjHEp9vNEmEdV5zhsaTKwqMAKgKEk5_FhKR48cxMMGAbMYkcVw8KB2RPzxOSaWsSdYCZxsKsJjQ/s320/PXL_20230514_092951082.PORTRAIT.ORIGINAL.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><p><br /></p>I Immediately located and harassed the <b>I am The Vineyard Cat And You May Not Touch Me.</b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02lfK9sWXocYtr_fAXiQds_DxVw6veoKSd8YKi43XvWCpZhjIYRbqzHRmnMgJuudni_jwqA4a2mspQrCl00_HMtTXCcANWGkYOnd66RjaDbxnmqkYIJaiouVc86wiw5-gwoMpjJfzNzLk72nPvaT8vnRIO67591Uvd0YreuaG_CtuSD7UZp81tEgbiQ/s4080/PXL_20230514_095926087.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02lfK9sWXocYtr_fAXiQds_DxVw6veoKSd8YKi43XvWCpZhjIYRbqzHRmnMgJuudni_jwqA4a2mspQrCl00_HMtTXCcANWGkYOnd66RjaDbxnmqkYIJaiouVc86wiw5-gwoMpjJfzNzLk72nPvaT8vnRIO67591Uvd0YreuaG_CtuSD7UZp81tEgbiQ/s320/PXL_20230514_095926087.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><p><br /></p>I learned some things about Chianti Classico and it's roostered label and the consortium that controls them.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxZlbJ6A97xzct8gUAFYlJMdegkKNDUjuBKnuBHyuMjwyoSrBn4Beofb7sQMQMoScNFOLmM4JZIUyFNVSxWB_OUFGWbZkKhyxF69X5jYi8RxmX5SOt9YNMNTLnf0tlc8F9UypI6zXB4audicqlwQ9syvvBZej4hxiaYUz-7AvtkHJiM37S2ZEMZmjGg/s4080/PXL_20230514_103436858.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxZlbJ6A97xzct8gUAFYlJMdegkKNDUjuBKnuBHyuMjwyoSrBn4Beofb7sQMQMoScNFOLmM4JZIUyFNVSxWB_OUFGWbZkKhyxF69X5jYi8RxmX5SOt9YNMNTLnf0tlc8F9UypI6zXB4audicqlwQ9syvvBZej4hxiaYUz-7AvtkHJiM37S2ZEMZmjGg/w301-h400/PXL_20230514_103436858.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couldn't hear what this clever green glass thing was or what it did, all I heard was that DaVinci invented it and there have been no improvements on the design.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CmC_Z-taBr8gbzkcSrGDR2Ms9xC5zyDlysgHGEhQr85LU-csKviM68iWp_KASSWGX6br_KXJri09wK0PAW6jFPwXVt6yNL3WW-kVy81Nvroh70g47bF2zKB8NSo6jtKXDb__c8gl0H6IHmGlso-ICzS0UyztWJykm8cI_0sM9RzsebESgQ0KO93gww/s3430/PXL_20230514_094455136.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="3430" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CmC_Z-taBr8gbzkcSrGDR2Ms9xC5zyDlysgHGEhQr85LU-csKviM68iWp_KASSWGX6br_KXJri09wK0PAW6jFPwXVt6yNL3WW-kVy81Nvroh70g47bF2zKB8NSo6jtKXDb__c8gl0H6IHmGlso-ICzS0UyztWJykm8cI_0sM9RzsebESgQ0KO93gww/s320/PXL_20230514_094455136.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the rooster on the bottle's neck? That tells you it's a classic Chianti and will taste like cherries and roses. Maybe.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>We had an incredible meal.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6g88_IaSGQaVLmKv27qWbdiEF3wOTAwgKBgci398wreNXUZ6tnI7BtICcTVGyYavVY9WrunuW5vzSyBXQU2T0-BHnetYyl7HFbs_YekvLrciICiNAJ-L-bG_QtH5hdXS3YOwFuC4z4YEIb4FQb5-xSiVgXZDtPqcUe2FVxXJOctlOisLMD0WCTw2xog/s4080/PXL_20230514_094004265.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6g88_IaSGQaVLmKv27qWbdiEF3wOTAwgKBgci398wreNXUZ6tnI7BtICcTVGyYavVY9WrunuW5vzSyBXQU2T0-BHnetYyl7HFbs_YekvLrciICiNAJ-L-bG_QtH5hdXS3YOwFuC4z4YEIb4FQb5-xSiVgXZDtPqcUe2FVxXJOctlOisLMD0WCTw2xog/s320/PXL_20230514_094004265.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p>We shared the table with this darling couple from Quebec.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMRaJYohNnAGJ65g_b_TAH2Mw1YTdcNBA6F5E0_I7CkEHgjnwWHR_RR4aWIuDjPe5XhInPtw3iPeRGKwC1z1qBC3Ha6iloVEXBXXEEcYK6gIKAFyoTczn_ByJoakUTXst7G6CRkxB_z_VNFNht0eXlVFm8GdTbsL9FtctF3H-5VXXAkbhLGelbCNu2g/s3075/PXL_20230514_100434827.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2315" data-original-width="3075" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMRaJYohNnAGJ65g_b_TAH2Mw1YTdcNBA6F5E0_I7CkEHgjnwWHR_RR4aWIuDjPe5XhInPtw3iPeRGKwC1z1qBC3Ha6iloVEXBXXEEcYK6gIKAFyoTczn_ByJoakUTXst7G6CRkxB_z_VNFNht0eXlVFm8GdTbsL9FtctF3H-5VXXAkbhLGelbCNu2g/s320/PXL_20230514_100434827.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p>I watched the guy during the entire tour-he was so much like the men in my family: quietly wandering off to get a better look the air whatevers on top of the casks, chewing his cheek studying the way the casks were held toether, turned his back to the group guide looking at an ancient hinge, he surreptitiously ran his hands over a tap in a cask. When we found ourselves seated with them, I introduced myself and asked, "are you an engineer?" His wife and I shared a chuckle about all his "tells". <p></p><p>We made it to the Florence airport, through a series of back alleys, hanging laundry, low income apartment housing and general Sunday craziness. I still don't have the hang of Italian city layouts to know if Google maps was just messing with me or if that was a good route. Ev is certain I have selected the "take me through crazy town" setting on the app. </p><p>We stopped at a weird 5 way intersection and I looked up to see Mary on the streetcorner (just like Mexico) and we were on the right track for the Amerigo Vespucci Airport.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FFt6Mj8i9m6STfJTaVdP8hwhchLRILNBfV_6OqjEpd8-DyiBlIt6KP3arwoJZdDndEFlozKD6QM9AO_8IsJqqdb-gjXNTramSvjvaDijup966tTjvO21OvfSWRo3ZH8HWH5Ue1rBdFDjgY6H1wICmRLFWWT_W2dIGycyygcuY8neAJNaOF8zAe2t0w/s2820/PXL_20230514_140026383.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2820" data-original-width="2123" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FFt6Mj8i9m6STfJTaVdP8hwhchLRILNBfV_6OqjEpd8-DyiBlIt6KP3arwoJZdDndEFlozKD6QM9AO_8IsJqqdb-gjXNTramSvjvaDijup966tTjvO21OvfSWRo3ZH8HWH5Ue1rBdFDjgY6H1wICmRLFWWT_W2dIGycyygcuY8neAJNaOF8zAe2t0w/w482-h640/PXL_20230514_140026383.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Today in Florence was for the Lego store and Central Market-it was super crowded down here and I was getting twitchy so we came back to the hotel to put our feet up before finding a place to eat. I learned at dinner that Monday is cruise ship day in Florence and today was exceptionally crowded.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlkM62bl7WvVcr5i5EbYJ2AAc1L4xyUdcEoIh-GWToQBUHgxTIXxSrXUyWRLmyTwQL_6oED0TJ-mTQ2FILF7YGjEuGxigFi-K2wBtw20pKQF1NTfEUeFpOpAzFJu-JRo9EUgAu6nflV1PmW83ldaa5ZyuWt1EHW5qLCg7FKCxxJYqODh7uqv8Juug-A/s4080/PXL_20230515_091656468.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlkM62bl7WvVcr5i5EbYJ2AAc1L4xyUdcEoIh-GWToQBUHgxTIXxSrXUyWRLmyTwQL_6oED0TJ-mTQ2FILF7YGjEuGxigFi-K2wBtw20pKQF1NTfEUeFpOpAzFJu-JRo9EUgAu6nflV1PmW83ldaa5ZyuWt1EHW5qLCg7FKCxxJYqODh7uqv8Juug-A/s320/PXL_20230515_091656468.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Central Market was a fabulous treat and I'd love to come back when it's a little less crazy.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4G20oUqO26xo-MGw0PAAB3lnveR6-kC96vwoG0mGS6OH-dft1mijTx26RwOLSOG4woAlkW5WgCnNeAwEB8XGhdIHnnxep0_Cezmc0kkOs5XFCP8JjXdG9n01K9hYEdRNxIdUFSWZ4cgdnT1t4gNgih3UPd6MSbG3XQ2-Mzr_Iwczd8pw77g9T_qcrA/s4080/PXL_20230515_091958865.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4G20oUqO26xo-MGw0PAAB3lnveR6-kC96vwoG0mGS6OH-dft1mijTx26RwOLSOG4woAlkW5WgCnNeAwEB8XGhdIHnnxep0_Cezmc0kkOs5XFCP8JjXdG9n01K9hYEdRNxIdUFSWZ4cgdnT1t4gNgih3UPd6MSbG3XQ2-Mzr_Iwczd8pw77g9T_qcrA/s320/PXL_20230515_091958865.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKmI7pCACC_4-pBhswyQx5D3E-si8LQfnK3p_lKDixuq3LIFByI_fFDJ5-WPd3-7wpVe_Kx3dnxrG3ehTAmaojEEBMdvJ8eeA5vDI9_9o59PhdoQ_e9VMiXsEtovGsceDlc7BBvn7L6YJJd7XC3VcQqyTnhaWG7vPm_iN2sCFoURsAdic6HqnOlToDA/s4080/PXL_20230515_092134330.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKmI7pCACC_4-pBhswyQx5D3E-si8LQfnK3p_lKDixuq3LIFByI_fFDJ5-WPd3-7wpVe_Kx3dnxrG3ehTAmaojEEBMdvJ8eeA5vDI9_9o59PhdoQ_e9VMiXsEtovGsceDlc7BBvn7L6YJJd7XC3VcQqyTnhaWG7vPm_iN2sCFoURsAdic6HqnOlToDA/s320/PXL_20230515_092134330.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqOqyqcPAQIaA-HEASN__CEUxz6KMQ2NKmG49Nij2Ksn725c6laG-PofO27kTFkZ-itUXff5Rddp9fRdc4DHEFUQsF_V75LkQ9g4NwR6nxYkWmsjFci_vJcNpRpyOwOLoXfxXHab2x8itdwtJrTcOjsBRvb5RFHqFX8Kj6DIKpo0WCCwNUdQJruskfg/s4080/PXL_20230515_102725624.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqOqyqcPAQIaA-HEASN__CEUxz6KMQ2NKmG49Nij2Ksn725c6laG-PofO27kTFkZ-itUXff5Rddp9fRdc4DHEFUQsF_V75LkQ9g4NwR6nxYkWmsjFci_vJcNpRpyOwOLoXfxXHab2x8itdwtJrTcOjsBRvb5RFHqFX8Kj6DIKpo0WCCwNUdQJruskfg/s320/PXL_20230515_102725624.MP.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brand new Starship Enterprise.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70X0S70z7oX6e60oXMjdzVWovCWTjMC7uMZGgiWHmlGqo-Ra-JbO2JVxJ4i3WsGpf69Oy8FoqXd8txrf5gxZ6xj86amQimbW5M1cOoqIAtxbxSfHg5x2H-TWu_8mcqwH-Xc5jjc_WrHZBXQzYkIbmyy-51voSN0onCw6V7Rz-s_3rEPwLtXPistlyUw/s4080/PXL_20230515_102751462.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70X0S70z7oX6e60oXMjdzVWovCWTjMC7uMZGgiWHmlGqo-Ra-JbO2JVxJ4i3WsGpf69Oy8FoqXd8txrf5gxZ6xj86amQimbW5M1cOoqIAtxbxSfHg5x2H-TWu_8mcqwH-Xc5jjc_WrHZBXQzYkIbmyy-51voSN0onCw6V7Rz-s_3rEPwLtXPistlyUw/s320/PXL_20230515_102751462.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Mermaid</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-21206091705613738272023-05-13T03:27:00.003-06:002023-05-13T23:43:11.788-06:00Our homestay in Siena<p><a href="https://tinyurl.com/ycy8a69u">https://tinyurl.com/ycy8a69u</a></p><p> For those asking, this is the place I rented for us in Siena. The housekeeper was our greeter and gave me the orientation which consisted of 5 curt words spit out in Italian: key! wifi! bedroom! bathroom! kitchen! What she lacks in social grace, she makes up for by keeping this place spotless. </p><p>There is ample space for us to spread out, the WIFI is great, the bed is hard like we like. Bathrooms and kitchen are relatively new IKEA and typical for Europe I think.</p><p>The antiques are stunning-I've never seen so much beautiful and finely detailed marquetry. Ever. I can't imagine if it was mine that I would let AirBnB people near it. Alessandra's attempt to protect the surfaces is to stack stuff on it so you can't use it. A LOT of stuff.</p><p>The lounging furniture is remarkable in its UNcomfortableness. </p><p>Siena doesn't allow citizens to heat after April so we were a little chilly last night and today. </p><p>Take a look at these inlays:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eYoZXQvOFklYkrYBsY2e1j42_kdzhd4H-zbRGZB9MEvKI6mwLy5A4Mm7xQXqRQpTyna3v8HI0i71n9-xhz7Hw4C_hqXy4LnOZNfNy3c-ps6RzcCL49XWBkrEbaWbNB6vEVIsLVKXum8hMKemgaFy3N_rUZs5-k1r59Cdcjpn4GIWfObg9SjC9Zh6bA/s4080/PXL_20230513_085830010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eYoZXQvOFklYkrYBsY2e1j42_kdzhd4H-zbRGZB9MEvKI6mwLy5A4Mm7xQXqRQpTyna3v8HI0i71n9-xhz7Hw4C_hqXy4LnOZNfNy3c-ps6RzcCL49XWBkrEbaWbNB6vEVIsLVKXum8hMKemgaFy3N_rUZs5-k1r59Cdcjpn4GIWfObg9SjC9Zh6bA/w640-h482/PXL_20230513_085830010.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ew50woIwcm1KSw2fs3MCnSBZVerDp5LJBjnGgvucOaA82qGR_S24XIBEUU88V9fpgeCoNt1R4haY8jqC1K68q-w4hycZySIPPFJifT_kNGRjnSWQZUsFWJtdSL1NB_QXdepBq6yIYJTrtOYZm78B0-17EJUJBrv-RUWh7NJt0g3TFT2MAatfJDsaOA/s4080/PXL_20230513_085805916.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ew50woIwcm1KSw2fs3MCnSBZVerDp5LJBjnGgvucOaA82qGR_S24XIBEUU88V9fpgeCoNt1R4haY8jqC1K68q-w4hycZySIPPFJifT_kNGRjnSWQZUsFWJtdSL1NB_QXdepBq6yIYJTrtOYZm78B0-17EJUJBrv-RUWh7NJt0g3TFT2MAatfJDsaOA/w640-h482/PXL_20230513_085805916.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nFCdowICfAOJx7LVrgx2hcQNHY79UaHoPRzaUUMtLnwI49TZUjBFx5zBgzZCWoDS0NnFLD2ORFklXCIqrGHpuQ9GSu8YUTXlTNUpy1Rlogaj77ifLZCIKJMTAXJm9PwSsrMYqQrJxskE87NS80memo0S_3GxnFzGzSlrgnUR-epSwR_riuf6-wm7oA/s4080/PXL_20230513_085722486.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nFCdowICfAOJx7LVrgx2hcQNHY79UaHoPRzaUUMtLnwI49TZUjBFx5zBgzZCWoDS0NnFLD2ORFklXCIqrGHpuQ9GSu8YUTXlTNUpy1Rlogaj77ifLZCIKJMTAXJm9PwSsrMYqQrJxskE87NS80memo0S_3GxnFzGzSlrgnUR-epSwR_riuf6-wm7oA/w640-h482/PXL_20230513_085722486.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydWT1Lh1gD5nAVsPPgNFkDGxGzOycjXwYLbBiRyBLIQjM-pSoABqkBm5ll_Ps_hgY8xu8FoGTS6UBzTi8lhVfVAGxSC863w-O3F2kCt9neGx6wNoqBxEs8Djb7nW04FNHmotMqvhJl6aBVAvqiAVfbgwhnNah2ZU_x4etofrMm0YqZ3hTFpFSvR8a9A/s4080/PXL_20230513_085704590.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydWT1Lh1gD5nAVsPPgNFkDGxGzOycjXwYLbBiRyBLIQjM-pSoABqkBm5ll_Ps_hgY8xu8FoGTS6UBzTi8lhVfVAGxSC863w-O3F2kCt9neGx6wNoqBxEs8Djb7nW04FNHmotMqvhJl6aBVAvqiAVfbgwhnNah2ZU_x4etofrMm0YqZ3hTFpFSvR8a9A/w640-h482/PXL_20230513_085704590.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>We're right on the edge of Old Town so it's easy to walk up there but when there are events, parking on the street in front of the apartment can be scarce. There are a ton of apartments right around us so you can see ladies hanging out the laundry and hear a dog bark every afternoon. We've heard neighbors hollering greetings to one another from terrace to terrace. </p><p>The ability to have open windows was great for us, they aren't screened and for some reason (other than the occasional gnat) there aren't any bugs. As a matter of fact, I haven't seen or heard any insects, even bees, though the wildflowers are in full bloom right now.</p><p>We walked up to Old Town and had a sandwich, sitting on a milk crate outside a tiny little grocery. Alberto made our sandwich and had a lot of questions about it. I finally used google translate and asked him to pretend I was his mother and make a sandwich she would like (he might have been a little older than me). Evidently, she liked dry-assed bread and salami. No cheese, no mustard, no vegetables. Oh well.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqhLnCYvYzOz8Wo8he6D3FMG_vHCo2yqD-aECmC45YvZ8f3ZJh8jAYlOXqz7p2W8VryNqm1Q3GspJKRRWhfhB4Qv3tx0D-KV_TLPX06uePNgfq74sY31JZ8gKOhUCBvleythd_PIiUsGd9LTykhCxYfF5dCD0xPuP9h9y_Iv0yeW-LPaml07AxXx-0A/s4080/PXL_20230513_120509747.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqhLnCYvYzOz8Wo8he6D3FMG_vHCo2yqD-aECmC45YvZ8f3ZJh8jAYlOXqz7p2W8VryNqm1Q3GspJKRRWhfhB4Qv3tx0D-KV_TLPX06uePNgfq74sY31JZ8gKOhUCBvleythd_PIiUsGd9LTykhCxYfF5dCD0xPuP9h9y_Iv0yeW-LPaml07AxXx-0A/s320/PXL_20230513_120509747.MP.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had my high hopes dashed after one bite.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>On the long walk back to the house I was struck by the differences between Ev and I.</p><p><b>Me:</b> Do you hear that? I think it might be a mockingbird!</p><p><b>Him:</b> Did you notice the lug nut covers on the bus wheels? They had arrows on them so it will be easy to tell if one loosens.</p><p><b>Me:</b> God! the terrified look on that man's face to be broken down right there on the hill!</p><p><b>Him:</b> It was a Fiat, betcha it was the wiring.</p><p><b>Me:</b> Those delicate little wildflowers blooming their hearts out right in the middle of the sidewalk.</p><p><b>Him</b>: I'm pretty sure they don't use propane in these old buildings, I think that's the gas hookup right here.</p><p>and so the world turns...</p><p><br /></p>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-67060640343664349022023-05-12T12:55:00.003-06:002023-05-13T07:44:47.918-06:00The beach.<p> Amma needed to stick her feet in the ocean. It was chilly and cloudy here in Siena when we left so we loaded the car with jackets, rain ponchos and umbrellas. I plotted a path to the ocean one way, and home a different route. I briefly scanned the guidebook about what we might see and thought about seafood possibilities for lunch and scanned the section on Super Tuscan vineyards we might pass along the way. We found the sea! Deserted, relatively warm and not one shell in the sand. Sea level air temps were just right.</p><p>We found our seafood, too, after striking out thrice trying to navigate to places in the guidebooks. We concluded we do better stumbling upon eateries by dumb luck than trying to plan anything.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MHAQE8g6qwoPLu8Rla3wpB1z0vzAPaSUVGXTP8Nqw96XbomxDsWdedi06jfLU04waH-Mdcw8jEThZ0GirLMiRkDPiPOkT1vNo6HEEIH1sXsUp7iOixDDOqi-SrDlhCcY34TmjuPvRMxXdf0hDqsHBM2MPvLRP5rrSA2-Apwj-7ZF8u1-RsGje2JtOQ/s4080/PXL_20230512_123959618.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MHAQE8g6qwoPLu8Rla3wpB1z0vzAPaSUVGXTP8Nqw96XbomxDsWdedi06jfLU04waH-Mdcw8jEThZ0GirLMiRkDPiPOkT1vNo6HEEIH1sXsUp7iOixDDOqi-SrDlhCcY34TmjuPvRMxXdf0hDqsHBM2MPvLRP5rrSA2-Apwj-7ZF8u1-RsGje2JtOQ/w400-h301/PXL_20230512_123959618.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: start;">Something I read said we would find huge yachts anchored in this area but thankfully, we didn't. The Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd32PGCK8SfM651Eqa-ebLcCzdhDnEf0Suo8-DjqXFkZtvn8oJIqhjoy_ZCYF8GcCmHnks-IBrdbHX7F0_3XEQzTwEEAY2MoyYqkDdn-BvlxbMWFQVCDTlLW8Cx7M_SV5hnQwAfo0zuA0QTsWKZKExJEFIs3jLBd19wy-2_Lq8eE82H2cWpHdjTCw3cw/s4080/PXL_20230512_103115002.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd32PGCK8SfM651Eqa-ebLcCzdhDnEf0Suo8-DjqXFkZtvn8oJIqhjoy_ZCYF8GcCmHnks-IBrdbHX7F0_3XEQzTwEEAY2MoyYqkDdn-BvlxbMWFQVCDTlLW8Cx7M_SV5hnQwAfo0zuA0QTsWKZKExJEFIs3jLBd19wy-2_Lq8eE82H2cWpHdjTCw3cw/w400-h301/PXL_20230512_103115002.MP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not bad temps, where is everybody?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VtIMMq7yIv_PmxLMJmDvXFIL2_HIsZs3aeL3acZ9xnoWkDjCh8pJv1ChBvUgtQQ2CNV3Jyp86gCDOAQ2tVDXHcd-cFq8lHdwagtARL6x7ayINxqeOjfwpBPEX8OsHuLBBukwL0DdmYbP9BInXKhucu4Ij_Kd0QPrONiqinHRwsICxuPCet8uMrnHuw/s4080/PXL_20230512_112647909.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VtIMMq7yIv_PmxLMJmDvXFIL2_HIsZs3aeL3acZ9xnoWkDjCh8pJv1ChBvUgtQQ2CNV3Jyp86gCDOAQ2tVDXHcd-cFq8lHdwagtARL6x7ayINxqeOjfwpBPEX8OsHuLBBukwL0DdmYbP9BInXKhucu4Ij_Kd0QPrONiqinHRwsICxuPCet8uMrnHuw/w400-h301/PXL_20230512_112647909.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view at our lunch spot was amazing, but these two friends captured my heart. They never stopped talking, looking at each other and laughing together.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxH7x8uw4xSikyfrLWSkCJqmcCLvIMESujzeRxBwPgZbxQKDzX8DNutgvf4GR3Crv8MLXZViYi9YLiFCYfOBRB4TG6HleLYZ7-TbhhjbKuBQBUoUxj_BYbosmM2-LkN8E4foB3n6TJt8DNtav-TatUcP_ZQ4HXQl1FXtN_kAuyfdtI4QM83yGGcowvUg/s4080/PXL_20230512_122927917.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxH7x8uw4xSikyfrLWSkCJqmcCLvIMESujzeRxBwPgZbxQKDzX8DNutgvf4GR3Crv8MLXZViYi9YLiFCYfOBRB4TG6HleLYZ7-TbhhjbKuBQBUoUxj_BYbosmM2-LkN8E4foB3n6TJt8DNtav-TatUcP_ZQ4HXQl1FXtN_kAuyfdtI4QM83yGGcowvUg/w301-h400/PXL_20230512_122927917.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We got the fried pupu platter for our 2nd course. Beady eyed shrimp looking at me is not my thing, not now, not ever. Fried everything else was delicious as was our first course: risotto with prawns for me, thick and lightly cheesed noodles with steamed clams for him.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Now, about the vineyards we saw today in the southwest part of Tuscany. <div>I have to say they were head and shoulders above what we've seen in other drives around the area. The rows were straighter, the vines were tidier-everything looked manicured and...nicer. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzbbq3GazhXb3Gi6g7E6bhwG-DaGuvS8qkNS4T0fUFvKXRVEcDFcGU95IhxgyIyWq0c-hA6UvdR94LEJwTbUDlPKLEAFW6qZ9GhcAXmbK9uZq-6IabTOY996P6noBV6hrIQ-kt9fCKyZCsZ0OqSiYkq8R-mDvcHXXI3O2VilibHZLp75Ne41u766Uxw/s4080/PXL_20230512_093748300.MOTION-01.COVER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzbbq3GazhXb3Gi6g7E6bhwG-DaGuvS8qkNS4T0fUFvKXRVEcDFcGU95IhxgyIyWq0c-hA6UvdR94LEJwTbUDlPKLEAFW6qZ9GhcAXmbK9uZq-6IabTOY996P6noBV6hrIQ-kt9fCKyZCsZ0OqSiYkq8R-mDvcHXXI3O2VilibHZLp75Ne41u766Uxw/s320/PXL_20230512_093748300.MOTION-01.COVER.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSuNdWPK6f2Jj-MmMOAKzShrn7kdQc2DUg-bdajKVNp16xc2cJN3DdgqiD39Z5FBk5m3UuQtdbfDJHXFttwVSNGXiqVOVrzrfgvKYFmybf1C1afBnmNIER7lMzACGbjQbaMdshWf7RiuGDCnyTOZFicyUxxOxQ1T7o3JVU1UvSx9IGtdlMyErtimq_Q/s4080/PXL_20230512_093302396.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSuNdWPK6f2Jj-MmMOAKzShrn7kdQc2DUg-bdajKVNp16xc2cJN3DdgqiD39Z5FBk5m3UuQtdbfDJHXFttwVSNGXiqVOVrzrfgvKYFmybf1C1afBnmNIER7lMzACGbjQbaMdshWf7RiuGDCnyTOZFicyUxxOxQ1T7o3JVU1UvSx9IGtdlMyErtimq_Q/s320/PXL_20230512_093302396.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I learned these vintners went renegade in the 1970s by using non-standard grapes (think French) and the oldsters of the Italian wine industry went wild. They punished the winemakers by only letting them call their wine "table wine" but the wine makers added "of <insert location>" so consumers could find them again. The wines were so delicious and popular that the oldsters had to recognize the vinters and their product and let them into the club. Now they are known as Super Tuscans and fetch hundreds of euros per bottle.</div><div><br /></div><div>The other thing we saw today were gorgeous olive groves attached to many of the vinyards. There is lots of "agroturismo" in the area which is exactly what it sounds like: farm stays on the working property. This might be the most gorgeous vista we saw today, and we saw plenty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6gitWekdf-yUbiW1VXkveHUbJZH15qchy-llUNbA4jDmOe5A_vVu8OShMvHUEZszrjioZe5uXGD0aIpzvC9pLXHo61TRdikm3Za7iMTxR2roG0HJzpwGQdCS3RLL5-wrlogoxiM2C5vQThbhEvhupXYbrEnWjvKQc2Y1QAmW5P-Ci0uJxsJnLDMz0g/s3802/PXL_20230512_093241965.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2863" data-original-width="3802" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6gitWekdf-yUbiW1VXkveHUbJZH15qchy-llUNbA4jDmOe5A_vVu8OShMvHUEZszrjioZe5uXGD0aIpzvC9pLXHo61TRdikm3Za7iMTxR2roG0HJzpwGQdCS3RLL5-wrlogoxiM2C5vQThbhEvhupXYbrEnWjvKQc2Y1QAmW5P-Ci0uJxsJnLDMz0g/w400-h301/PXL_20230512_093241965.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNN06iccI2O8hrdPc2mRpXs9EqqJ6W_PT7T6DWhH_pNOeKPMz1daCn6s5beS9qu7OWQeMvnmGEtaeWcy9lLTG1Oauom-vsboenxAcgmk1xCMKRu0hqd33fUVTHKiTFX1TwP7xyhR-JQA4I_mCxGsti5fNguJk5Q_cPy34oi1vcM6RnPmtMjQ-DNe5mQ/s3623/PXL_20230512_092239324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2594" data-original-width="3623" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNN06iccI2O8hrdPc2mRpXs9EqqJ6W_PT7T6DWhH_pNOeKPMz1daCn6s5beS9qu7OWQeMvnmGEtaeWcy9lLTG1Oauom-vsboenxAcgmk1xCMKRu0hqd33fUVTHKiTFX1TwP7xyhR-JQA4I_mCxGsti5fNguJk5Q_cPy34oi1vcM6RnPmtMjQ-DNe5mQ/w400-h286/PXL_20230512_092239324.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEY_Oh43zDZmNvI2TQMPqHZ4zRtfBpDV1I8LS0xe2xTicJc7E3b9nsf6lGzblD15EUVsNLWs9p9DrLpY8KuOR6UTD2kOLRj_gsJ_8bg6q78LUNWphncvWUwZnNz4JeYJNG5f-cxstnQnaQUOBfk5IZk69HN82nxnDSN6jtD_QOUghXKk7MYQyJNUHUQ/s4080/PXL_20230512_093637440.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEY_Oh43zDZmNvI2TQMPqHZ4zRtfBpDV1I8LS0xe2xTicJc7E3b9nsf6lGzblD15EUVsNLWs9p9DrLpY8KuOR6UTD2kOLRj_gsJ_8bg6q78LUNWphncvWUwZnNz4JeYJNG5f-cxstnQnaQUOBfk5IZk69HN82nxnDSN6jtD_QOUghXKk7MYQyJNUHUQ/w400-h301/PXL_20230512_093637440.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is renegade wheat growing along the edges of the highway with the poppies, if they don't take it away at the Denver airport I'm bringing some home.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Finally, we had to get gas today. Ev usually can't see the prices because color blindness so for all of our married life I have called out the price of regular unleaded to him when we travel because that is just the kind of mental exercise he likes: figuring what euro/liter and kpl comes out to in dollar/gallon and mpg. He was adamant about going to a pump your own self and when I called out "1.71 and the station says Self" he whipped a U-turn. I took pictures of him biting his cuticle, rubbing his forehead and putting his hands on his hips while he tried to figure out the pump. Funny guy. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3dF2gHMtLl7NH4PKGJYaqFYvdvXY8Kg1TmOVc207Wg3jpfwtjMZTA6pXTiXn0ikFPfM8QXMKJTp-kxNz2QBbKDU5OsS9eACVj2vnmFtosZEh7acBhLcI2hRSn_KaKWaal13i_5RhSutw2weAKQvG9iPWwrzHAqii_5OoFpE0noWstVtg98dRKcQPsA/s3030/PXL_20230512_091636939.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3030" data-original-width="2281" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3dF2gHMtLl7NH4PKGJYaqFYvdvXY8Kg1TmOVc207Wg3jpfwtjMZTA6pXTiXn0ikFPfM8QXMKJTp-kxNz2QBbKDU5OsS9eACVj2vnmFtosZEh7acBhLcI2hRSn_KaKWaal13i_5RhSutw2weAKQvG9iPWwrzHAqii_5OoFpE0noWstVtg98dRKcQPsA/w482-h640/PXL_20230512_091636939.jpg" width="482" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do credit cards have pins in Italy? he asked.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-35748529465802447052023-05-11T11:09:00.003-06:002023-05-11T11:56:42.838-06:00Italian Design<p> A little break from travel photographs to talk about design. Italian design, I would argue, is primo. I've been peepin in plenty of GORGEOUS retail windows at stylish clothing for men and women and children. Italians came up with the Vespa, the moka pot that the whole world now uses to brew espresso, my favorite corkscrew thingie that you push the arms down to pull out the cork, Ferragamo shoes and those giant arc lamps. Enter, the square holed toilet:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUITzVddEwhTSynb_7dhPE7yQqYTuitdpidvgic8bi3WfKxfYwBkaOxyzkJ5nlxWbM_Vtb6KYP8AmlvPlWAPCwu4SnpsLfDPGp6jjF-hxR43ASIjIcWI2ymd0KjEPrB6AjeY1gZ_p3Txv_d8Qivh-WRhrHdm8QkXlH4JSUSI_pQgfJMIxaz6G4KV9Tuw/s4080/PXL_20230511_152343017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUITzVddEwhTSynb_7dhPE7yQqYTuitdpidvgic8bi3WfKxfYwBkaOxyzkJ5nlxWbM_Vtb6KYP8AmlvPlWAPCwu4SnpsLfDPGp6jjF-hxR43ASIjIcWI2ymd0KjEPrB6AjeY1gZ_p3Txv_d8Qivh-WRhrHdm8QkXlH4JSUSI_pQgfJMIxaz6G4KV9Tuw/s320/PXL_20230511_152343017.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WTF, Italy? We've been complaining about you since we arrived.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This is the view from our living room. Church bells and drum practice could actually BE in our living room because we've kept the windows open since we've been here. It's lovely to listen to. There is a small ravine between us and the steep hill into Old Town. Our walk is not that, we go by way of the street, up and around.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9AGWHvSp2cQAZwMmdGWnC1BgSNCGZY0aV-MCQ6oV2d5zYOfS53IzqIl5Q6jd12JCobhlEy6wvmuuSoWIh1g0azluLyzM3sAkFrR97ldALTQAUJmHqrOZfZVtW9BKMtgtiGpyueTqZnFN_jQbYDz3wyOeSRLe-t96Yh_HcF9w95gk303EGa8ScKfiMQ/s4080/PXL_20230511_082601307.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9AGWHvSp2cQAZwMmdGWnC1BgSNCGZY0aV-MCQ6oV2d5zYOfS53IzqIl5Q6jd12JCobhlEy6wvmuuSoWIh1g0azluLyzM3sAkFrR97ldALTQAUJmHqrOZfZVtW9BKMtgtiGpyueTqZnFN_jQbYDz3wyOeSRLe-t96Yh_HcF9w95gk303EGa8ScKfiMQ/w400-h301/PXL_20230511_082601307.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Today we decided to walk up and have a closer look at Old Town. We found a ledge to perch on and entertained ourselves admiring the work done 800 years ago and watching the people mill around. It's astounding to think they are still allowing people (a LOT of people) clamber around inside the church. </p><p>I mentioned to Ev how I particularly liked the black and white detail on this building and came home to read that the two colors were added as a nod to the city founders and their legendary black and white horses. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLQ3McN-ub0ul1mE_3pTztvLIhuSrYhSlDPt6SOB-wCN_au9BUCR5A1M6GYRkZqZJlbf50jNIaGg-j3QMZ6Csnopm7iSEYDo1W7OLg_pahKpTZpuWKo8H19Hg1ZhJoCxg6nrs3Fspv1Qo21HwaWaOOWy417Jzpzf6CjVAHecnqDxcCon3kC-EFblb1A/s4080/PXL_20230511_100625827.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLQ3McN-ub0ul1mE_3pTztvLIhuSrYhSlDPt6SOB-wCN_au9BUCR5A1M6GYRkZqZJlbf50jNIaGg-j3QMZ6Csnopm7iSEYDo1W7OLg_pahKpTZpuWKo8H19Hg1ZhJoCxg6nrs3Fspv1Qo21HwaWaOOWy417Jzpzf6CjVAHecnqDxcCon3kC-EFblb1A/w301-h400/PXL_20230511_100625827.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out this kid's hair sprayed bangs! His jacket front had something to do with Atlanta Braves and it said "be the bravest one" on the back. He was the first to snap open his umbrella when it looked like rain. <b>Must preserve the bangs</b>.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-2fQoBOnanw4MNASxdRG7n0wlgMF8qj0oL7nV_aJL-jflI894W7DqV-ABM719BWQ33vdpRGeHcHqe2JRQ2Kfxv5eppJ7EKD7GACrJzOvB2Tj-9icrUoFxyE9jG9XllHJygtSaRYt7u9gUXf6NuwffjjPEbHxjrZhrsJIJKoGa4JFs6NTEH5Sr0XpbQ/s4080/PXL_20230511_094823266.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-2fQoBOnanw4MNASxdRG7n0wlgMF8qj0oL7nV_aJL-jflI894W7DqV-ABM719BWQ33vdpRGeHcHqe2JRQ2Kfxv5eppJ7EKD7GACrJzOvB2Tj-9icrUoFxyE9jG9XllHJygtSaRYt7u9gUXf6NuwffjjPEbHxjrZhrsJIJKoGa4JFs6NTEH5Sr0XpbQ/w301-h400/PXL_20230511_094823266.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each side of this building was a different design. Those big triangular pieces are actually teensy mosaics. If you click, you can see the astonishing work.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kdUsEnKCq1zJl4a15nemqzZ-n6xeZhOjmmarZ25AfXwClMyGq2rtZVS3SL05gXgw7Ap6GSHnTvl0euVpnpPNtju3sIT3UILt1ifrN5p78K9Vw4NFjAAlw8w85mufiEe-rbmt-sp-Lmu5MVfwMLOhJhf3rybmyym--fTXTX67V8GRsde1kq_B8mMf7A/s4080/PXL_20230511_094732059.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kdUsEnKCq1zJl4a15nemqzZ-n6xeZhOjmmarZ25AfXwClMyGq2rtZVS3SL05gXgw7Ap6GSHnTvl0euVpnpPNtju3sIT3UILt1ifrN5p78K9Vw4NFjAAlw8w85mufiEe-rbmt-sp-Lmu5MVfwMLOhJhf3rybmyym--fTXTX67V8GRsde1kq_B8mMf7A/w301-h400/PXL_20230511_094732059.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can biggie this up, too. Nothing invites a rich spiritual life like old men, gargoyles, greyhounds and lions.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6rqPgHkHf5sPFOUjNP940PnMRtgyx0_a2MUgYzT0m_6KQsXr-cImVahhpNY0ykEpU07SOi4MHZl3QoelriZ7ssGgEJnY5CORa5YcdseQV9C8NRiW-BSB_nNg7QGy583yGA_2BV5-_CYS0NCVIacAdXyRvfZyzUxPGcgxibpPiX7BnFwxFyM0EfYLkg/s4080/PXL_20230511_092210587.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6rqPgHkHf5sPFOUjNP940PnMRtgyx0_a2MUgYzT0m_6KQsXr-cImVahhpNY0ykEpU07SOi4MHZl3QoelriZ7ssGgEJnY5CORa5YcdseQV9C8NRiW-BSB_nNg7QGy583yGA_2BV5-_CYS0NCVIacAdXyRvfZyzUxPGcgxibpPiX7BnFwxFyM0EfYLkg/w301-h400/PXL_20230511_092210587.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of steps and hills today.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0ItkiOCpOyL1tBTvHA4Gs5M5FU4N4035LZJ5obuqieH1DZTd3_7RPji1fxCzg4GBT8-T29FGW_Y9o8DQfckRyNi5KvGm_t2sALUahe9sFxzpAbfpgFMZyoFlouW2WowWiRW3aBtI5-DMcbZl3cu3g6XsHUtz0jbrbL_iKahmpedwtJmJg7clDBffbA/s4080/PXL_20230511_092904337.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0ItkiOCpOyL1tBTvHA4Gs5M5FU4N4035LZJ5obuqieH1DZTd3_7RPji1fxCzg4GBT8-T29FGW_Y9o8DQfckRyNi5KvGm_t2sALUahe9sFxzpAbfpgFMZyoFlouW2WowWiRW3aBtI5-DMcbZl3cu3g6XsHUtz0jbrbL_iKahmpedwtJmJg7clDBffbA/w640-h482/PXL_20230511_092904337.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>This was from our perch across the patio. Though there were lots of people, tour groups and school field trips, the space didn't feel that crowded. </p><p>About the time we'd decided to mosey along and find a place to eat, the skies clouded over and it began to sprinkle, then rain in earnest. We found the little restaurant that we'd seen coming in and it was packed. A nice waiter pulled a table in from outside and set us up in front of the gelatto freezer and served us lunch right there. It was kind of festive with everyone ducking in to get out of the rain.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecZ11YbNCl1hyZjAuXxU_j8gU4fPz8Eay7sLzYsg96HP2qNw8q9dUfcM0eN2l9zTxg4juXjNxtDHRZmY8bJ8Xz07f2UDPQ2O02PzVqMEFLRnFPZD7LrhYKEkswEvJGYxU5mKh0Q2xyeQ8UOB57QTRsmf_fzMlJRSSILJ8eW__CiWAk6ORdiYkRwEi8g/s4080/PXL_20230511_113019512.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecZ11YbNCl1hyZjAuXxU_j8gU4fPz8Eay7sLzYsg96HP2qNw8q9dUfcM0eN2l9zTxg4juXjNxtDHRZmY8bJ8Xz07f2UDPQ2O02PzVqMEFLRnFPZD7LrhYKEkswEvJGYxU5mKh0Q2xyeQ8UOB57QTRsmf_fzMlJRSSILJ8eW__CiWAk6ORdiYkRwEi8g/s320/PXL_20230511_113019512.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for 12 layer lasagna with the thinnest little noodles.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3IXoNBKMJnkfevBvcIyTDYXSg4gFyYcdAOYKR_eyEfiYIM9WN4mf5jUzkXwe-3We495x73569YDmSXIaKS6S_FRIWr2nTl9bbttl47xA-QTdCukisSP8KY8Ma95BSTJ3t6Pt5VEMQ_edm_me1aXAsonFjqlPLZdVTCm0hpP-2tY7--TVvewd_GibWA/s4080/PXL_20230511_114817122.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3IXoNBKMJnkfevBvcIyTDYXSg4gFyYcdAOYKR_eyEfiYIM9WN4mf5jUzkXwe-3We495x73569YDmSXIaKS6S_FRIWr2nTl9bbttl47xA-QTdCukisSP8KY8Ma95BSTJ3t6Pt5VEMQ_edm_me1aXAsonFjqlPLZdVTCm0hpP-2tY7--TVvewd_GibWA/s320/PXL_20230511_114817122.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double scoop of gelato for dessert, please.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I wasn't fast enough to snap a picture, but Ev's feet were cold. He went right to the square holed toilet, sat down sideways, and soaked his feet in hot water in the bidet. </p><p>Another successful day. </p>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-74079469493736210642023-05-10T14:16:00.001-06:002023-05-10T14:16:09.429-06:00Cold and Rainy Today<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Kmtd7wEKO3yp5t57bsSASD2xBprUPOU3az3gFM3okjmfFtBS3iYx_4RNWP9JFH1ywR8qtQ8BGy9nKKlW-bhSEsmifiYKmIB0KXj2JBq7FdgxW_9qiX6rKjjPS29Q2MR6w1KE9BEnOQgihzEhIedmeE_bIJfE5CfG_NF0pSnceRcW7Nt4tubfUdI4fQ/s4080/PXL_20230510_105317857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Kmtd7wEKO3yp5t57bsSASD2xBprUPOU3az3gFM3okjmfFtBS3iYx_4RNWP9JFH1ywR8qtQ8BGy9nKKlW-bhSEsmifiYKmIB0KXj2JBq7FdgxW_9qiX6rKjjPS29Q2MR6w1KE9BEnOQgihzEhIedmeE_bIJfE5CfG_NF0pSnceRcW7Nt4tubfUdI4fQ/s320/PXL_20230510_105317857.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>This is the narrow street we park on, our apartment is on the right. We dashed out to the car in pouring rain with our bathing suits on under our clothes. Hot Springs were on my mind. We'd slept late (for us) and left home with only coffee hoping to find pizza for lunch. Turns out, the pizza chefs only come in for the afternoon shift. Pizza is a dinner thing here, not a lunch thing. We've discovered we like to eat at Trattorias and Osterias, not in Restaurantes. They have the ambiance we like. We've given up trying to plan for and find the places described in the guide books and just pull off somewhere when we get hungry. We've yet to have a bad meal. And so it went today:<p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSTBgevLP8Qf5UBnM-d-Ra7z6Ya7nD9j6BCWq8JIgPFomgPf4h2mwkdWbyPStb2OmgIGvdnIMSeu9s0qpf3qvF6YA7TvsNgK_Y6kYsrRYqxZ2wFLdCkS_tO-XmdZiPDTeMj_y5RIYOlJte4v2Wv_OOSQj_YcghnBtUhuYiStF1rY-5DQJSaD0FioWSg/s4080/PXL_20230510_114355225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSTBgevLP8Qf5UBnM-d-Ra7z6Ya7nD9j6BCWq8JIgPFomgPf4h2mwkdWbyPStb2OmgIGvdnIMSeu9s0qpf3qvF6YA7TvsNgK_Y6kYsrRYqxZ2wFLdCkS_tO-XmdZiPDTeMj_y5RIYOlJte4v2Wv_OOSQj_YcghnBtUhuYiStF1rY-5DQJSaD0FioWSg/s320/PXL_20230510_114355225.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>Neither of us asked any questions, we could see they were already doing their best by printing the menu for us in English. Tats ordered spaghetti with smoke (the chef did NOT snuff her Marlborough in his pile of noodles) and I went with crescent pasta with burrata and orange. We both chose wisely, it was great.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-Jz5yWaaNIq0fVGdnXoLMNKTPgn3z4s0IDiXbPsH2TKYR9xbxSs_Hca6SnzRyXUeDfLvE-3sEEcJ0E3Bkj4BBD5771cTovB9zN_zUnCK6_NTbxsJrHweqq3KvjrCqcnhVMK5X8RIx3WHGt1X26LKtjXT2PhZB0bSo6x_EhAkWgrVe0qM-hpGzSCg2g/s4080/PXL_20230510_135232609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-Jz5yWaaNIq0fVGdnXoLMNKTPgn3z4s0IDiXbPsH2TKYR9xbxSs_Hca6SnzRyXUeDfLvE-3sEEcJ0E3Bkj4BBD5771cTovB9zN_zUnCK6_NTbxsJrHweqq3KvjrCqcnhVMK5X8RIx3WHGt1X26LKtjXT2PhZB0bSo6x_EhAkWgrVe0qM-hpGzSCg2g/s320/PXL_20230510_135232609.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We made our way to the hot springs, I can't say they were the friendliest lot at the establishment, but the water was warm enough and we lolled about for four hours listening to the oldsters swap lies. Everyone, and I mean <b>every</b> woman wears a two piece bathing suit here. Wrinkles, sags, lumps, bumps, bellies, scars-no one gives a dang. I fell in love with a woman who I'm guessing was in her late 80's-she had the most gorgeous wrinkles when she smiled. She was wearing a tiny tube top and a little black bikini bottoms. Every time she'd get under the big faucet dumping hot water to enjoy a neck massage she'd grab at her top as it was falling down and just grin.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9J0bxCaqCsBHXHArkIpMeGgD3I8wYceo3w-iDKhPttlo_PWEa70IeHQB6Tqv1I45vh0o1f1NWveHH4mUgZ6me-DjVfQBAzrWzXwPNQ_tEW7ump5aICMIwsU_fX7DpiFtyUqpyLi0U9uLDn2pgA-tugjHyhRILzlBixkK2MJFM1rSM33-pE--Pz_cigw/s4080/PXL_20230510_155346898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9J0bxCaqCsBHXHArkIpMeGgD3I8wYceo3w-iDKhPttlo_PWEa70IeHQB6Tqv1I45vh0o1f1NWveHH4mUgZ6me-DjVfQBAzrWzXwPNQ_tEW7ump5aICMIwsU_fX7DpiFtyUqpyLi0U9uLDn2pgA-tugjHyhRILzlBixkK2MJFM1rSM33-pE--Pz_cigw/s320/PXL_20230510_155346898.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>The skies turned black and we heard a big clap of thunder and decided to head back towards Siena and get this guy a big pepperoni pizza for dinner. And that's just what we did.<br /> <p></p>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-48487007458814627882023-05-09T11:27:00.004-06:002023-05-10T03:32:32.127-06:00<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVdiIk1y-t8qVfEQnrW9VP5E-55PytGWOHIt5YLHE0lb2YnhhLfcEy7pSJNeggPpsxGZeF1waaynHplv0LyVveBWI_QMiOphhC0fUEU_3ORIatxtTzbEIOZuwmhCD0f1EcZf3-O9LS3FFtbVOOe-Z4wpMV0uBUT2_AsqkqLQFFKyu5dRExgAMZHBAew/s4080/PXL_20230509_084149367.MOTION-02.ORIGINAL.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVdiIk1y-t8qVfEQnrW9VP5E-55PytGWOHIt5YLHE0lb2YnhhLfcEy7pSJNeggPpsxGZeF1waaynHplv0LyVveBWI_QMiOphhC0fUEU_3ORIatxtTzbEIOZuwmhCD0f1EcZf3-O9LS3FFtbVOOe-Z4wpMV0uBUT2_AsqkqLQFFKyu5dRExgAMZHBAew/w400-h301/PXL_20230509_084149367.MOTION-02.ORIGINAL.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><b>9:00 am </b>Feeling pretty cocky, I have my phone with downloaded maps, the route planned, my guidebook and a good attitude.</p>Me to Ev: We're definitely getting the hang of things, we're getting familiar with the road signs and noticing all the Spanish cognates giving us clues about what the heck is going on. We're doin' great! <p></p><p><b>9:45 am</b> Me to Ev: Google maps says in 800 meters you'll have another opportunity to do the wrong thing.</p><p>That really was how the morning started out, but we were laughing and had nowhere to be so it all worked out. We had some dirt road moments "this can't be right" and some narrow alley moments "could this be right?", but it was ALL right and we pressed on.</p><p>Today's activity was to take a UNESCO World Heritage designated drive south of Siena. Stunning doesn't cover it. Everything was green and freshly washed with the nightly rains we've been having. We recognized wheat and alfalfa, grapes and olive groves. Every town we skirted was perched on a hilltop with a medievel church in prominent view. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66TRmVZjMMoBERQJLqFwCe1lhWpqPJTCIUZEvMD7jgOGpLWgVpuj4qBlQ3iXAQumpfAsB15BsTnJTiM4pTnmPak86byonyD28n40Fs_GLkKc7Hkurx4io4jbYaZ7x_o6IGhn1_SFo1j126M9ugjzuAi1g6DANCbGEV1SGCcHEiJMhzEUUQ6HviJ-JWw/s4080/PXL_20230509_090322948.PORTRAIT.ORIGINAL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66TRmVZjMMoBERQJLqFwCe1lhWpqPJTCIUZEvMD7jgOGpLWgVpuj4qBlQ3iXAQumpfAsB15BsTnJTiM4pTnmPak86byonyD28n40Fs_GLkKc7Hkurx4io4jbYaZ7x_o6IGhn1_SFo1j126M9ugjzuAi1g6DANCbGEV1SGCcHEiJMhzEUUQ6HviJ-JWw/w640-h482/PXL_20230509_090322948.PORTRAIT.ORIGINAL.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1fZ3tObRpalBk4HC-1lN4xOjBBlhmXO2tvyBB3MhRcUh625wbKAhnDVLyLTUxpaxLEzdb6LmkVoK34wyJlWA_kz8RzCacXjsWagzFksQ36EdJkli2Ch_haCI4IHiQW54HMqFLoIVvR7fBczXAGAn74-J8bpCZxgypiY9oXrMWf5pQqJwv7BcmUV7lQ/s4080/PXL_20230509_133623368.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1fZ3tObRpalBk4HC-1lN4xOjBBlhmXO2tvyBB3MhRcUh625wbKAhnDVLyLTUxpaxLEzdb6LmkVoK34wyJlWA_kz8RzCacXjsWagzFksQ36EdJkli2Ch_haCI4IHiQW54HMqFLoIVvR7fBczXAGAn74-J8bpCZxgypiY9oXrMWf5pQqJwv7BcmUV7lQ/w482-h640/PXL_20230509_133623368.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxYFZaxZa0gOYr3sa5EKB41Lm8VrwQyOmsAxF514KHQmbb9mlou813IgPHQupks-W-R1v9UTKQAGBOoak3qicuPCyEoDL7AK6Bx7_UOjf5f2UZgttNg04iVvN3rreUAYp9OQhhW0A9bJlFgoLNfa4JI-mnnMPTuQMJKVxjScr0oT7dKIyU4FF7JDFlQ/s4080/PXL_20230509_110938378.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxYFZaxZa0gOYr3sa5EKB41Lm8VrwQyOmsAxF514KHQmbb9mlou813IgPHQupks-W-R1v9UTKQAGBOoak3qicuPCyEoDL7AK6Bx7_UOjf5f2UZgttNg04iVvN3rreUAYp9OQhhW0A9bJlFgoLNfa4JI-mnnMPTuQMJKVxjScr0oT7dKIyU4FF7JDFlQ/w400-h301/PXL_20230509_110938378.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fields and fields of poppies below those incredible blues and greens.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibynYrMc3dD6TBFjWbNKnPka24ipNGW_PpbK7Xb1i1B-zMWCgidtKHR0_EwgIBGxMJEnQKtR78VVoAWHwnu_5pFDuc_yha1j5WhaoYMDyblrlMoelEzdR3fUqNoR-9yA_dGGZJ4RjKoH5azqVxWL4zE1KgNKU6IJl6V7FjOHM3PAqf21SiR_MQw61MFg/s4080/PXL_20230509_105155031.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibynYrMc3dD6TBFjWbNKnPka24ipNGW_PpbK7Xb1i1B-zMWCgidtKHR0_EwgIBGxMJEnQKtR78VVoAWHwnu_5pFDuc_yha1j5WhaoYMDyblrlMoelEzdR3fUqNoR-9yA_dGGZJ4RjKoH5azqVxWL4zE1KgNKU6IJl6V7FjOHM3PAqf21SiR_MQw61MFg/w400-h301/PXL_20230509_105155031.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tall cypress at every estate is so quintessentially Italian.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I had my eye on one tasting room that sounded interesting. "It's never too early to taste good wine!", quipped our server who enjoyed telling us about her cockatiel AND the wine we were tasting.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEjWjhKyPiwt46BTYNH99Fa1m724xlWKMZpEcSIAzh8Gm3QHI1gpWm7nYBmUFhKDTdj-x_hlrhZd2_FxbqfPDI8fDx2D05pkVI0NdtpYYYzGfdowbvk5flKcF4uQJfEPQRzvzysUg8HvB0SvRcrPmZTmE0Yf5IHgblRMduoZiKX9ISfuANupvGQ_Fqg/s4080/PXL_20230509_093238946.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEjWjhKyPiwt46BTYNH99Fa1m724xlWKMZpEcSIAzh8Gm3QHI1gpWm7nYBmUFhKDTdj-x_hlrhZd2_FxbqfPDI8fDx2D05pkVI0NdtpYYYzGfdowbvk5flKcF4uQJfEPQRzvzysUg8HvB0SvRcrPmZTmE0Yf5IHgblRMduoZiKX9ISfuANupvGQ_Fqg/w640-h482/PXL_20230509_093238946.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did not intend to arrive at 10:30 am<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>And finally for your viewing pleasure, the Italian in his underpants. We stopped at a light to let oncoming traffic clear the bridge and he hopped out and got his sunglasses out of the trunk. What a day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KQjsG1hXiNDrWzFBFxmpk9DMeZnSsldch32CjaKIw65FbBt3OGpZmhM0tVnCQxk9ROn1QZfecIDqBtmKyiMhFddB__c3N6JJlTIKOjwFxldEoqwUer-h14uQeZjWoKZ5Z7hcz6NV6NMo0tIPu61T3JT1tsTmvGjHnKrHW6CfBmhNZc9vKmQ9N-5VKg/s4080/PXL_20230509_111557713.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KQjsG1hXiNDrWzFBFxmpk9DMeZnSsldch32CjaKIw65FbBt3OGpZmhM0tVnCQxk9ROn1QZfecIDqBtmKyiMhFddB__c3N6JJlTIKOjwFxldEoqwUer-h14uQeZjWoKZ5Z7hcz6NV6NMo0tIPu61T3JT1tsTmvGjHnKrHW6CfBmhNZc9vKmQ9N-5VKg/w640-h482/PXL_20230509_111557713.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJv1L6Do6FbXm7Yjbsz5vEKNO5SrH4fiXb5aR3h5g7jIaciN8HTezAAnEqaKQMMjx37r2DD0zW1GfFyKnQawuA85fODo6EgwotZHQ0jxFPkEdDWPf-dRZNyx5e0cqPh30aUQN7k52pMru7Lx-go-fsAIYlZsW11ZEEZjaoGGugQfhyXPE1ZZjaPB7bfQ/s4080/PXL_20230509_111601683.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJv1L6Do6FbXm7Yjbsz5vEKNO5SrH4fiXb5aR3h5g7jIaciN8HTezAAnEqaKQMMjx37r2DD0zW1GfFyKnQawuA85fODo6EgwotZHQ0jxFPkEdDWPf-dRZNyx5e0cqPh30aUQN7k52pMru7Lx-go-fsAIYlZsW11ZEEZjaoGGugQfhyXPE1ZZjaPB7bfQ/w640-h482/PXL_20230509_111601683.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We scooted up so I could have a better look.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-50570005434631251422023-05-08T12:22:00.003-06:002023-05-09T09:51:57.488-06:00<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVWPHp8CFeFdWl1Og6N-ZXEA8x8bVRzmLKmq2fwMVx6hRg5YEs5Rsan1g9uObh5EK10W9J9794xc_0LRYLbqS945QxSXJOWECoP81kn9YcdnBTJXUaVZ5Dk-7cwPt5OyflqsUjDeOTmp5WTGBmLxIXNQ5fh814dFbbicBbgcmJUzK-i5QMm62kXh-GQ/s4080/PXL_20230506_161230286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVWPHp8CFeFdWl1Og6N-ZXEA8x8bVRzmLKmq2fwMVx6hRg5YEs5Rsan1g9uObh5EK10W9J9794xc_0LRYLbqS945QxSXJOWECoP81kn9YcdnBTJXUaVZ5Dk-7cwPt5OyflqsUjDeOTmp5WTGBmLxIXNQ5fh814dFbbicBbgcmJUzK-i5QMm62kXh-GQ/s320/PXL_20230506_161230286.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is going to be our new summer cocktail. We've been swigging them daily.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2W8tngFISU0VtIHyrRRR8BqUEg3P67pvN83-kE-C1nWMzWkyrWYGGGRz5m5R_lLuXVFCNWtdEbK1qLg_GEC5w1k4bCorn9m6jWSNhCHKpiPZC3_91ubcU7R8fKWdTUpBFXmKZxH26UcqkqOjJfCSxooPgOjxOVqyEU9aF1lnLwG4F9c2M5VxVPba4A/s4080/PXL_20230506_161016992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2W8tngFISU0VtIHyrRRR8BqUEg3P67pvN83-kE-C1nWMzWkyrWYGGGRz5m5R_lLuXVFCNWtdEbK1qLg_GEC5w1k4bCorn9m6jWSNhCHKpiPZC3_91ubcU7R8fKWdTUpBFXmKZxH26UcqkqOjJfCSxooPgOjxOVqyEU9aF1lnLwG4F9c2M5VxVPba4A/s320/PXL_20230506_161016992.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>In Mexico when I was little we had a small bottle of gentian violet in our medicine cabinet. Mom put it on our cuts and scrapes and though it burned like the dickens, I loved that little bottle for the long glass dauber attached to the lid, the end of which looked like a little teardrop of glass. On occasion, mom would dilute some of it and make me drink the bitter lurid orange water for the worms I was presumably getting eating dirt (or what have you). <p></p><p>We've seen everyone everywhere in Italy drinking a similar flourescent orange water, though in stemmed glasses, over ice and topped with a delicious slice of citrus. Turns out, you mix it up with a little prosecco and a little fizzy water and you beat the humidity, stimulate your appetite AND de-worm.</p><p>Also-who needs their appetite stimulated here?</p><p><br /></p><p> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWpJvhn66vt_DU1upGKSh-MclRP1Jg66FOD_ZelJsanQHHmti9pFoZNzBCiEZ8iVuyUKug_2MHJh2qi1JCU-0jqZmlgcMHT71SaE5A2OoqukWQAOzcyOJAiB3Z3fYyc10jKOFhlFiFfBw9KPBm7v3Agj16NjbVc2YFBsa-HDuBRTVoV3k9b7JJYUKLQ/s4080/PXL_20230506_162540633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWpJvhn66vt_DU1upGKSh-MclRP1Jg66FOD_ZelJsanQHHmti9pFoZNzBCiEZ8iVuyUKug_2MHJh2qi1JCU-0jqZmlgcMHT71SaE5A2OoqukWQAOzcyOJAiB3Z3fYyc10jKOFhlFiFfBw9KPBm7v3Agj16NjbVc2YFBsa-HDuBRTVoV3k9b7JJYUKLQ/s320/PXL_20230506_162540633.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">"Yes, I KNOW we're in Italy", he said, "but it's still not as good as yours."</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-15251792987524781872023-05-07T12:36:00.001-06:002023-05-07T12:36:09.747-06:00Quasi Secondo Gol!<p> Hotel Spadai in Florence was like a little soft cotton lined cocoon that received us in our bedraggled state. They pet us and made us comfy and smiled at us and encouraged us and helped us (despite charging us for the night we missed). The night we arrived we were both worn so thin, all we could think of was to raid the complimentary fridge, take a shower and order room service. Here came one of the best sandwiches I've ever eaten. Think smoked pecorino, artichoke hearts, arugula, sun dried tomatoes and some kind of thin sliced magical meat on a ciabatta not from Costco. We devoured it, fell in to bed and slept a full 12 hours.</p><p>Next up, free breakfast. Oh my word! I complimented the demi god in the black suit that seemed to be orchestrating the whole deal and he disappeared and reappeared with a hot fresh crepe filled with Nutella and thanked me for the kind words. Evidently everything in the buffet is house made by a very young staff he is mentoring. The yogurt was house made, the assortment of sweet pastries was over the top, and then of course eggs, bacon, sausage, wheels of cheese, thin sliced magical meats and the best OJ we've had since moving from Mexico. Good grief it was hard to stop.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NprlCggS5LnN4G5xURoX9RuQhvhPNTBgYWs5-E_yZNbEGgCrsBW4ek1anAUvbNOvWzIZD5bdZHqJkVjE9jUy-XI6peskz63qn5XsH4A16Tu1Tnma8GEiI3k0RKfD2CXJXSjHBL8BcOJhLwyOyLly1RjPg-b1jL2AU6VkvL10Q79sSoWT5Ds3wBRFew/s4080/PXL_20230507_060614887.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NprlCggS5LnN4G5xURoX9RuQhvhPNTBgYWs5-E_yZNbEGgCrsBW4ek1anAUvbNOvWzIZD5bdZHqJkVjE9jUy-XI6peskz63qn5XsH4A16Tu1Tnma8GEiI3k0RKfD2CXJXSjHBL8BcOJhLwyOyLly1RjPg-b1jL2AU6VkvL10Q79sSoWT5Ds3wBRFew/s320/PXL_20230507_060614887.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVbrAqVVrqXFvFB76lV-8X-RIGQP44wI0pJTqjv8k1TcQ49KDifhIlZAC_FPoO9sH94NFWjKoxjcMMr2Hy4DemOLt74x3_y7KMQ_RFK9TiIby-RsWapiDmUUKOHQsE9_QpBKMIDSHlLIkUEXLwKhuISQfLhTRLFb2U470afFidIu2fEv5r8CrTFA6CQ/s4080/PXL_20230507_060604738.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVbrAqVVrqXFvFB76lV-8X-RIGQP44wI0pJTqjv8k1TcQ49KDifhIlZAC_FPoO9sH94NFWjKoxjcMMr2Hy4DemOLt74x3_y7KMQ_RFK9TiIby-RsWapiDmUUKOHQsE9_QpBKMIDSHlLIkUEXLwKhuISQfLhTRLFb2U470afFidIu2fEv5r8CrTFA6CQ/s320/PXL_20230507_060604738.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoigGqyJZ51FwS0C1PONIFc2ThJYNLMVaGGzpTgA863Vch-75AXuKbk7JCcCb26TPCiYV9iqhgagR84mgJJfhfGWSNaUK0CoujBj_9u1BoX0kucekqXquW2h1RXOoybLR1CmnKtu2uzwl3qDfXRt_ec5s-OtwToxdNUfkARfyvRpxpExzd4Lex-aTdw/s4080/PXL_20230507_060555285.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoigGqyJZ51FwS0C1PONIFc2ThJYNLMVaGGzpTgA863Vch-75AXuKbk7JCcCb26TPCiYV9iqhgagR84mgJJfhfGWSNaUK0CoujBj_9u1BoX0kucekqXquW2h1RXOoybLR1CmnKtu2uzwl3qDfXRt_ec5s-OtwToxdNUfkARfyvRpxpExzd4Lex-aTdw/s320/PXL_20230507_060555285.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We had to leave today, I made another rookie mistake with a money changer and made an executive decision to let it go. </p><p>At the airport we got our little Italian shitbox that turned out to be better than expected and turned south to Siena. Miracle of miracles, google maps and my intrepid chauffer got us to our BnB flawlessly.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH_liM2gVDxjM7Z8azBpw3heomfIRWsDcDwoNXbuIk5hXe7wPEVpTKyNMM72pG8N_Svxh2xCEhcxpGbAJaKQkGOWiUXP4iFwzxjSwa7UltDEqGKfeiROYgChv-AmDKUHGVfJ_fdVUIeb4jtuCGqe5wI83j5hUwki0d_8bTsWeA300krbhtVihA3JhLA/s4080/PXL_20230507_100021576.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH_liM2gVDxjM7Z8azBpw3heomfIRWsDcDwoNXbuIk5hXe7wPEVpTKyNMM72pG8N_Svxh2xCEhcxpGbAJaKQkGOWiUXP4iFwzxjSwa7UltDEqGKfeiROYgChv-AmDKUHGVfJ_fdVUIeb4jtuCGqe5wI83j5hUwki0d_8bTsWeA300krbhtVihA3JhLA/s320/PXL_20230507_100021576.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've ridden alongside this man for many many miles and only had to start actually pulling my weight as a navigator recently.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I didn't get pics of our homestay before we trashed it, but this is the view:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRI2XigjFWbHM1qAkDeaBd40sTCFoln39ivu4y45GN9g1oUmMOROznMS98DzJjCR8Ho2tFqUF9jD4DOwN6at8MMc342XVmzkb0yPxnf54E1nbjF1i4abBFeKXmMrS5JnMWaYZFAHrjjFcGVtLygRenQQd9Km_RTYq71TeqRoGa1GIF-rAW_9qwjRvAA/s4080/PXL_20230507_174629891.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRI2XigjFWbHM1qAkDeaBd40sTCFoln39ivu4y45GN9g1oUmMOROznMS98DzJjCR8Ho2tFqUF9jD4DOwN6at8MMc342XVmzkb0yPxnf54E1nbjF1i4abBFeKXmMrS5JnMWaYZFAHrjjFcGVtLygRenQQd9Km_RTYq71TeqRoGa1GIF-rAW_9qwjRvAA/w301-h400/PXL_20230507_174629891.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like a cartoon view to the right.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSAzvLG9aJsNldNGLcD0nNpApF7miaGodjfZn99DQ-p9U99br2PRrKX174DL4jSvHqp2-sMCazMe_f-ad0G2UHaxQx6WEhmpy5RmhJ1Z7ePyqrhmKGHLIohZORRnKPqjQCcHNHDZsJs3WzeA-BZ61MTaovy0d7LEZnjar37eUViggwkiiGaHZojfbtA/s4080/PXL_20230507_174614907.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSAzvLG9aJsNldNGLcD0nNpApF7miaGodjfZn99DQ-p9U99br2PRrKX174DL4jSvHqp2-sMCazMe_f-ad0G2UHaxQx6WEhmpy5RmhJ1Z7ePyqrhmKGHLIohZORRnKPqjQCcHNHDZsJs3WzeA-BZ61MTaovy0d7LEZnjar37eUViggwkiiGaHZojfbtA/w301-h400/PXL_20230507_174614907.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Town to the left.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>And here comes the "quasi". In Italy's historic districts there are strictly enforced zones where you must not go on wheels. Weeeellll, nobody told google maps and we traversed what felt like the entirety of Old Town in our little shitbox. Bless Ev, he was dodging mindless gelato eaters, planters full of geraniums, bistro chairs and unruly spaniels on leashes that have probably never seen a car. There is no telling how many euros I'll have to pay in fines. All I wanted was coffee and cream for in the morning at a promising grocery store. We managed to find pizza and will try try again in the morning.</p><p><br /></p>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-44879049630196774842023-05-06T23:50:00.014-06:002023-05-08T11:34:16.852-06:00A Few Things I Learned In One Day in Florence<p> The famous cathedral was a work in progress for hundreds of years, having first been built in a gothic style in the 12th century. Three hundred years later (aboutish) it was torn down and rebuilt in a more modern renaissance style. Pieces of the original cathedral were found and saved by local preservationists. The craftmanship of the little preserved chunks is astounding.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8fNm6C_w3HCMFvZXoLjLlbdaeqrtWrCX5OztConri6DOgMuuQgxuCnwNn7Wei1wJutUGxkxJIDYHzOax-kxOXgqsdzhKQVjYS7VAZIBHohBufXFfuc41JIogIvHpKv7A0WcnTq-zvMrMOIo7KBxNyICTbsYC9NPh49WCcnEwSf0CEGsfkwvX2aeBJQ/s4080/PXL_20230506_092642635.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8fNm6C_w3HCMFvZXoLjLlbdaeqrtWrCX5OztConri6DOgMuuQgxuCnwNn7Wei1wJutUGxkxJIDYHzOax-kxOXgqsdzhKQVjYS7VAZIBHohBufXFfuc41JIogIvHpKv7A0WcnTq-zvMrMOIo7KBxNyICTbsYC9NPh49WCcnEwSf0CEGsfkwvX2aeBJQ/s320/PXL_20230506_092642635.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Pzwecs4Ww4Zd65G3NLpIfOPLyFzsFduoV63Dami96NJJTyb1ygqyCnVr5fzGrIpQr_Nw9ZX6kOMy99EgsruHMlwqgZ8WZ5tvbnvNFF-2nwER7I45hgBj2717wR0icqCrUM_VaOqjnLbA_7QsLpkCP2QCW3C1ooU7wEEjTs4JVqO5q_94_TBp2c8xBQ/s4080/PXL_20230506_094316661.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Pzwecs4Ww4Zd65G3NLpIfOPLyFzsFduoV63Dami96NJJTyb1ygqyCnVr5fzGrIpQr_Nw9ZX6kOMy99EgsruHMlwqgZ8WZ5tvbnvNFF-2nwER7I45hgBj2717wR0icqCrUM_VaOqjnLbA_7QsLpkCP2QCW3C1ooU7wEEjTs4JVqO5q_94_TBp2c8xBQ/s320/PXL_20230506_094316661.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20zyPJOXqIIwNFwNbl1Ah-mYjRoF5ICmNwTtKQ5HBcoRi4EoB0o8CCwk4nP5hv18hrcjYjCpyEdnTj7x_qkYALjP1_iwdU8V3LreoWL0IvMZx1tG7dTVSSr6qzOcYUomghDMXdkoSA2yaMugMwiPOQaglw5auuxd8eMjDcvY8sDyxkGPaPJrNZAwfEQ/s4080/PXL_20230506_094407352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20zyPJOXqIIwNFwNbl1Ah-mYjRoF5ICmNwTtKQ5HBcoRi4EoB0o8CCwk4nP5hv18hrcjYjCpyEdnTj7x_qkYALjP1_iwdU8V3LreoWL0IvMZx1tG7dTVSSr6qzOcYUomghDMXdkoSA2yaMugMwiPOQaglw5auuxd8eMjDcvY8sDyxkGPaPJrNZAwfEQ/s320/PXL_20230506_094407352.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The rebuild is no slouch, either. The technical aspects of a building this large and complex is mind bending even today. Then you have the artistry of all the famous renaissance masters of the day, putting the icing on the cake. Biggie up these images up and see what I mean about the details. It is beyond imagination.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMROuO2ls97JRbf9wh8rnw6u52Ip9_eh8pGjVVLmkbo_Lu02-Oy_v7PWNJaSI2j3RjfRvnINqxgoKX-klXgVX1cL5U2aH4KNCGOKw0UGLYYB2dyPqEsWDCJGmabxzw3PW8Qa54pwmHWFYn5u4uEczVH8-kdQBabk4G9w9bOMsoHeJP6USXUfXjqxUBA/s4080/PXL_20230506_155746153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMROuO2ls97JRbf9wh8rnw6u52Ip9_eh8pGjVVLmkbo_Lu02-Oy_v7PWNJaSI2j3RjfRvnINqxgoKX-klXgVX1cL5U2aH4KNCGOKw0UGLYYB2dyPqEsWDCJGmabxzw3PW8Qa54pwmHWFYn5u4uEczVH8-kdQBabk4G9w9bOMsoHeJP6USXUfXjqxUBA/w640-h482/PXL_20230506_155746153.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThSuVxlcBut7liGhTfTblblZ9AtWxKa-uKxo1HOQbsQUsmsHt8lYhbXt1VGf8x5wJww-jOQkZv6m6FychhHMqNe3uIX0M9xmhftCCDv1zIVPaBJs-2FfZ71UgOfigXk93QSn7kY7KLlBRbVUsWpH-LBSmZwTZwl4qT92qXwPQK8Z6NEulrFbOTs9umA/s4080/PXL_20230506_155547418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThSuVxlcBut7liGhTfTblblZ9AtWxKa-uKxo1HOQbsQUsmsHt8lYhbXt1VGf8x5wJww-jOQkZv6m6FychhHMqNe3uIX0M9xmhftCCDv1zIVPaBJs-2FfZ71UgOfigXk93QSn7kY7KLlBRbVUsWpH-LBSmZwTZwl4qT92qXwPQK8Z6NEulrFbOTs9umA/w482-h640/PXL_20230506_155547418.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9xI_XnyTXnlmDIdN0NUrFekCNrlyz-AThrffac1rhZSDwDlPA2wtsA-knmRiDvG3WDIFHKbi4ijCbW4LzB4fsnxM_QOFcVVju8NVe4SIUU2w8k3MgJqvP7KZuMiPlFUuKoj8uH86alA_hyYPh5NYsJKxcNrYP7LJwRjeaPw1_y6sULmM8X8ArN6Q0w/s4080/PXL_20230506_085610312.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9xI_XnyTXnlmDIdN0NUrFekCNrlyz-AThrffac1rhZSDwDlPA2wtsA-knmRiDvG3WDIFHKbi4ijCbW4LzB4fsnxM_QOFcVVju8NVe4SIUU2w8k3MgJqvP7KZuMiPlFUuKoj8uH86alA_hyYPh5NYsJKxcNrYP7LJwRjeaPw1_y6sULmM8X8ArN6Q0w/w482-h640/PXL_20230506_085610312.jpg" width="482" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I particularly like this little cherub doing a big job.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span><span><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white; color: white;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Leonardo da Vinci, who
was active as a painter, engineer, scientist, sculptor, artist and architect was
highly regarded at the time even though he had quite a few big failures. He
tried to reroute the Arno River before Caterpillar was a company. He failed,
causing widespread flooding and quite a few deaths. He really really wanted to
fly, so he devised a bird outfit and threw himself off a cliff. Someone with a
good sense of humor thought it would be funny to carve an image of him for the
cathedral as part of a panel of 12 desirable personality traits under the
virtue “Temperance”.</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #4d5156;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><div><span face="arial, sans-serif"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLBVrDvjIKg1N46x7WhajwVLKKzFeo8R0E5Pdenk-Y_96IhpyDIV6DPZXwhjErR4rGO361jrY80Y8XEBWBPXgh7V6WQbJOkjG8h0ZMDiWallXEDEHfoC6r70ipJkYgb-eW_11lOUm1bk8WlvqU_GzC89K7s6mG1ao-VFWYR6NDaY-S4ZzIY3aIboByA/s4080/PXL_20230506_150238636.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLBVrDvjIKg1N46x7WhajwVLKKzFeo8R0E5Pdenk-Y_96IhpyDIV6DPZXwhjErR4rGO361jrY80Y8XEBWBPXgh7V6WQbJOkjG8h0ZMDiWallXEDEHfoC6r70ipJkYgb-eW_11lOUm1bk8WlvqU_GzC89K7s6mG1ao-VFWYR6NDaY-S4ZzIY3aIboByA/w301-h400/PXL_20230506_150238636.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leo's big idea: let's divert this river with hand shovels and rocks and make Pisa thirsty!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #4d5156; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4V61h8cdlajTY205RBxkap7RLcBzZnngpK5HKwD-ZPLKGmQxYqIFH_UlyohYxHA1DOFDrjPEBhuG8lxmQbEDZcQTh00hy7lkFEhVEGrVgG3kftslMF0EeXGeMRUsgs2yTxot-QmfbYbkYVmA9WaPuF9lbjpgzoQFSGZalsuUXKH4ohbU1GyplQmoV3w/s4080/PXL_20230506_102458696.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4V61h8cdlajTY205RBxkap7RLcBzZnngpK5HKwD-ZPLKGmQxYqIFH_UlyohYxHA1DOFDrjPEBhuG8lxmQbEDZcQTh00hy7lkFEhVEGrVgG3kftslMF0EeXGeMRUsgs2yTxot-QmfbYbkYVmA9WaPuF9lbjpgzoQFSGZalsuUXKH4ohbU1GyplQmoV3w/w400-h301/PXL_20230506_102458696.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temperance: moderation in thought, action and feeling.Not.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>While others were imagining and creating huge structures and fantastic representational art, Galileo had his heart set on defining light, seeing the teensiest of things, predicting the weather, determining where he was in space, understanding the physics of motion and standardizing how to conduct experiments. In short, he was understood as a heretic and spent the last of his life under house arrest. Poor guy.</p><p>The instruments he designed and used were remarkable but I was struck by their beauty. The etching and fine machining on each little tool was a sight to behold. Everything was behind glass so you will just have to imagine it. Each tool had it's own cherry or rosewood dovetailed box made especially to house it. Made my palms sweaty.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAhZeStUjp9ehPjp3GtE5NKT8dEodu42q_NfsTxvKFeXrT3h0kyTrYXUR_O8RNnuaDh4XHUUmBXWcVkXN_5gVB96D4l6bAXYuVNKWc1BIT58LhOHDmyrG6JmWVUCZpDnAa6CXv1Ywc5YCV_NNFtlR7u3P0GQM_a2_dC0azygya5CE9nj49RsRaDRBeA/s4080/PXL_20230506_143054383.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAhZeStUjp9ehPjp3GtE5NKT8dEodu42q_NfsTxvKFeXrT3h0kyTrYXUR_O8RNnuaDh4XHUUmBXWcVkXN_5gVB96D4l6bAXYuVNKWc1BIT58LhOHDmyrG6JmWVUCZpDnAa6CXv1Ywc5YCV_NNFtlR7u3P0GQM_a2_dC0azygya5CE9nj49RsRaDRBeA/w400-h301/PXL_20230506_143054383.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Journal Envy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogheyNjyP_QWwA7JKi39Xs55FV1HDImdO8XxXKlrsxX18Z5RtyitxT7cBLJGrOWdBK6-TW9kx0OL0DSRiNC1XwhgdKGy2GO07FaGfNjzVSInSJ2pdui9J2L6Nr1-aZJELhq8EoQl62n3Z8tnY7dOKRCH7VP-guh7ciAgwcFiI6J6buAeZ3xqqBTNSbg/s4080/PXL_20230506_152133424.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogheyNjyP_QWwA7JKi39Xs55FV1HDImdO8XxXKlrsxX18Z5RtyitxT7cBLJGrOWdBK6-TW9kx0OL0DSRiNC1XwhgdKGy2GO07FaGfNjzVSInSJ2pdui9J2L6Nr1-aZJELhq8EoQl62n3Z8tnY7dOKRCH7VP-guh7ciAgwcFiI6J6buAeZ3xqqBTNSbg/w482-h640/PXL_20230506_152133424.jpg" width="482" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at this inlaid and keyed lens cover for a newtonian telescope. What Pop would have given to have a keyed lens cap!<br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>More time is needed in this busy little city.<br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p><br /></p><br /><br /><p><br /></p><br /></div><br /></div>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-50399330689353138452023-05-05T12:49:00.001-06:002023-05-05T12:49:17.719-06:00GOL!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXjcuoabi442oYudv4NSW3l1jsiJq7XvjNarhnIsQBhE3QgNQHeg_-PBTbfDorEd0bnGei8eZygMI_We--6AIEUIRkdJx9WC3nNuope82_ON2J-HzmnynF_V5ud00UDfJ6HwHkZyyoXcZON6CBSRz_55xuOn4f1-mz9vG-kKNegoBHRIHD1J24eZ2BA/s4080/PXL_20230505_180918392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXjcuoabi442oYudv4NSW3l1jsiJq7XvjNarhnIsQBhE3QgNQHeg_-PBTbfDorEd0bnGei8eZygMI_We--6AIEUIRkdJx9WC3nNuope82_ON2J-HzmnynF_V5ud00UDfJ6HwHkZyyoXcZON6CBSRz_55xuOn4f1-mz9vG-kKNegoBHRIHD1J24eZ2BA/s320/PXL_20230505_180918392.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9XVNi9INAa3yEygBNiH7fZvvMGopoQJaXoymf_XrsO5gY837Ej4HUNzk0q58fFgSbaunSpeH1agBcPt0bxiruJJdMgFJKG3qdMvnDwBzRxK3GSdSpZo9Gtx9ZKzpKr_f7yGtGPEekTCWotOfHQtYLXDGW4v58vR_i2lJ0efovTm83Uw-p_GReJbZeg/s4080/PXL_20230505_180547162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9XVNi9INAa3yEygBNiH7fZvvMGopoQJaXoymf_XrsO5gY837Ej4HUNzk0q58fFgSbaunSpeH1agBcPt0bxiruJJdMgFJKG3qdMvnDwBzRxK3GSdSpZo9Gtx9ZKzpKr_f7yGtGPEekTCWotOfHQtYLXDGW4v58vR_i2lJ0efovTm83Uw-p_GReJbZeg/s320/PXL_20230505_180547162.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /> After 48 hours of rookie mistakes combined with a little United Hell, and 3 bonafide angels in the Frankfurt Airport we've arrived in Firenze. It's 8:45pm, we've just showered and ordered room service and are looking forward to bed.<p></p>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-80847302383129336612023-05-03T16:31:00.002-06:002023-05-03T19:20:36.771-06:00<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span>I had a little bad feeling this morning when I woke up. We were packed, I didn't have any last minute crisis additions to the luggage, things were going well with Kino but still my little bad feeling persisted.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Onward. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Robert picked us up, we arrived at the airport at 11:40, a full two hours before our flight. I looked over at Tata, he looked like he was being led to the guillotine but he mustered a gamely smile thinking about the pizza he was going to eat.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYiYo7teRqBsCYT9ZEWk3RfxJ74b_cknKaOWYuzetLqtIWaA1NiBzwDxayDnW22LtIzWrFwin7oYMM4QSO5o-fisPru0OeRRe55yNLuYYPO6sIS6TftGIfNeikdx-_9Z6iVCQdyPgYkQLLO4zJRVdaS2w5oyAQ6avdc2MSNZtiOR9_mnKnvfHm0x97w/s2961/PXL_20230503_173334422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2229" data-original-width="2961" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYiYo7teRqBsCYT9ZEWk3RfxJ74b_cknKaOWYuzetLqtIWaA1NiBzwDxayDnW22LtIzWrFwin7oYMM4QSO5o-fisPru0OeRRe55yNLuYYPO6sIS6TftGIfNeikdx-_9Z6iVCQdyPgYkQLLO4zJRVdaS2w5oyAQ6avdc2MSNZtiOR9_mnKnvfHm0x97w/s320/PXL_20230503_173334422.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Flight to Denver, on time! We shuffled to our gate.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Half the passengers were loaded, when suddenly the process was halted. We heard, "We're calling maintenance, the door is malfunctioning." quickly followed by "The flight is cancelled"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm so disappointed, aggravated and all the bad things I can't really even speak. We're reticketed for tomorrow but that only gives us 2 nights in Florence and we're forfeiting the tickets I got for David and Galileo.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>To retrieve our luggage, </span><span>one by one, each of the</span><span> 189 of us on the flight had to go to the ticket counter and describe our bag to a lone guy who would dive into the bowels of the airport and drag it up. Someone squawked on the little microphone pinned to our helper's shoulder, "Calm the fuck down!" The crowds roared.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xFSSop9QT120tM2kEhOwxWd6QDueRsMik7EGuePpsA3h5bNoOCWPEZy-fIoqDjFxHDXWZGqQjVBmPBdKU46xnkpGOSh44v8u7MLBNxux47MiEaNgemNEZDp182FK_eQ_qZYkDoP5ZD7x7IWfwTF6pUazvV6vvXKGc5MSd6iIrgRdELnEb6Hpcm-wlA/s3648/PXL_20230503_205527279.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xFSSop9QT120tM2kEhOwxWd6QDueRsMik7EGuePpsA3h5bNoOCWPEZy-fIoqDjFxHDXWZGqQjVBmPBdKU46xnkpGOSh44v8u7MLBNxux47MiEaNgemNEZDp182FK_eQ_qZYkDoP5ZD7x7IWfwTF6pUazvV6vvXKGc5MSd6iIrgRdELnEb6Hpcm-wlA/s320/PXL_20230503_205527279.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rather than go home, I took the stinkin' voucher from United and got us a cab to The Clyde. The sweet young thing at the desk asked me if I had a floor preference and I said, "as high up as possible and facing the mountain if you can." She said, "I can do BOTH of those things!"</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBx1uvFVyAM9-TMpaB34H5_j0KjV3ckf7HlP_MFC96L_KieUEJwSfLgIigthfhVDJLX_-5HeuFF2mh9LG7UwkBd8gxIltFRcEY4aJxC-QoPQ4ueZoEjlxE4mbKJ2DqTsYDbNoO5tz7Wi0knOzoUhCnZwXcFOqklLMErzNBpj-jeAMdULFUNils-yjOg/s4080/PXL_20230503_215100930.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBx1uvFVyAM9-TMpaB34H5_j0KjV3ckf7HlP_MFC96L_KieUEJwSfLgIigthfhVDJLX_-5HeuFF2mh9LG7UwkBd8gxIltFRcEY4aJxC-QoPQ4ueZoEjlxE4mbKJ2DqTsYDbNoO5tz7Wi0knOzoUhCnZwXcFOqklLMErzNBpj-jeAMdULFUNils-yjOg/s320/PXL_20230503_215100930.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I see no mountains, only antennae. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">The End</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Addendum: Had dinner in the hotel bar. "I'll have the Clyde's Fizz, the hotel's signature cocktail", he said. "We're out of egg whites", the bartender retorted. "I'll have a icy cold glass of your Pinot Grigio", she said. "Let me go get it out of the hot and stuffy storage room.", the bartender responded.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Headed to bed now, hoping to recoup my sunny disposition tomorrow.</span></p>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-20299716316728795492018-01-27T15:08:00.000-06:002018-01-27T15:08:05.076-06:00What day is this?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Waiting on the activities director to tell them what's next, campsite view, sunset on the Salton Sea (lasts forever), daily morning walk in the desert.</div>
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"It's important to remember when you're traveling in your motor home that life doesn't stop. You are still shopping, meal planning, cooking and cleaning. It's necessary to schedule occasional days to give yourself permission to just do nothing and enjoy the scenery." Advice from an RV Blogger.<br />
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Um, no problem. We've pretty much gone from hot tub to patio to pool and back again. Meals are whatever we feel like grabbing out of the stash I brought. My most stressful thought has been, "where are we going next?" rivaled only with "what day is this?" </div>
Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-14498249454091632302018-01-21T09:31:00.000-06:002018-01-21T09:31:13.717-06:00My Spirit is Greige<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What we said we were going to do was rent an RV, go to the Tucson Rock show and then head out to California to Fountain of Youth to spend a couple of days with our good friends Debbie and Jesus Prada. What we did was cruise Craig's List and buy a little greige rig called an Itasca Spirit. After two nights, I can say it's a pretty cool little deal.<br />
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<b>The stays:</b><br />
Night 1: NM state campground City of Rocks. $18 bucks a night, tables, water electric and group dump. Beautiful group area available. Dry camp available, too. Dark dark skies.<br />
Night 2, 3: Prince of Tucson Commercial Park $42 a night. Kind of awful: on the freeway, choc-a-block full because of the rock show but has showers, a laundry, pool and hot tub.<br />
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Evidently, we've had a government shut down so national parks are unavailable at the moment making commercial parks crowded.<br />
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<b>The driving:</b> Evdad is obsessed with "squeezing 10mpg out of this bitch" so we're drving 55 mph. Just shoot me now. Wind was howling yesterday on I-10 so he worked really hard keeping our high profile from buffeting too much (beer for you, honey as soon as you back in to our spot successfully). We only had shit go flying once-we were clambering up a mountain that he usually does on his motorcycle and he forgot he was on 6 wheels instead of two. It was the silverware drawer. Ooops.<br />
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<b>Wallmart: </b>I guess if you have an RV, you're doomed to go to Wallmart every day for the rest of your fucking life.<br />
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Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-3226184487549743962017-07-12T18:33:00.001-05:002017-07-23T18:04:47.796-05:00July 2017 Slices of Quince<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Our village, Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos, is named for the quince we grow and sell here. As far as I can tell, it's mainly used to make cajeta-a local sweet. Cajeta has the consistency of canned cranberry sauce only with a little more fiber. You remember, it came out in a slab and your mom cut it into perfect 1/2 in slices. Cajeta's taste is reminiscent of apple sauce. A slice is eaten before bed with a glass of full-fat milk, or with sharp cheese and a shot of tequila. The bravest eat membrillo raw, off the tree, with Tajin and lime. Owl and Pussycat eat it with a runcible spoon.<br />
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We sell the membrillo from our yard or trade it for cajeta that we give away to Lupe and Jose. Today was harvest day, we all agreed we had fewer fruit than last year but they were bigger and less blemished. It's so satisfying to pick a crop you've nurtured and see it sold to become what it's meant to be. I loved working with Jose today-we chatted about cock fights, moving to the USA, his girls and the general state of the world. Ev went with Jose to sell them, where we discovered our former gardener was getting a much better price per kilo than he was passing on to us!<br />
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About two weeks ago, Kino was attacked by a pack of street dogs during our morning walk. Hilde was with us, I don't even remember getting home with them after it happened. Ev got him in the car and we took him to the vet immediately. She had to put him to sleep to evaluate his wounds and stitch him up. Physically he is recovering, emotionally I'm struggling-which means he is struggling. We went on a long migratory walk together as a pack yesterday. Everyone is more at ease when daddy goes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1PYAFu6JSYlrcgZ_Vc9kB-bgRS7oOcbEAByiFavWFeSpXfwifGjnyxnzzDcaGfT35YEVQ-BvOM5NDjrL8qeGEr-jM_KBO5pJocdEPVXpYtLCO2Ppl7VpTO7NQokGWw7OcGd0H0Ia5Cje/s1600/Kino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="594" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1PYAFu6JSYlrcgZ_Vc9kB-bgRS7oOcbEAByiFavWFeSpXfwifGjnyxnzzDcaGfT35YEVQ-BvOM5NDjrL8qeGEr-jM_KBO5pJocdEPVXpYtLCO2Ppl7VpTO7NQokGWw7OcGd0H0Ia5Cje/s640/Kino.jpg" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This beautiful butt is scarred forever.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling confident with Evdad.</td></tr>
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As we made our way home I looked up and every hot cowboy in this town that owns a horse was riding towards us.<br />
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Our Fiestas Patronales, celebrating San Santiago, coincide with the membrillo harvest and start Sunday. The festival ends on July 25, his feast day. It's a big deal. Our village bought a new effigy this year, he arrived and was installed today. We happened to be coming home during the installation, a big crowd was gathered. He's gorgeous, with extra long false eyelashes and silver stirrups. The crowd gasped with pleasure as he was raised on to the platform-there are so many things to cherish about Mexico. (not the M80's that go with the fiestas)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is the spectator with his head on his arms, underwhelmed or overwhelmed?</td></tr>
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The smaller version of Santiago lives in our church. During the Fiestas Patronales, he is taken out and paraded each evening through a different bario or neighborhood. That day, your 'hood is decorated with papel picado and is treated to all day fireworks. It pretty much sucks if you're a dog or if you startle easily. Everyone sits out on their stoop to watch the parade. As the parade passes an elder, the men who are carrying him ease him down off of their head and bring him over so the elder can touch him and whisper a prayer. It is the sweetest thing ever to behold.<br />
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This year, I sat with Catalina and Elario for the parade. The look on Catalina's face as she got to touch San Santiago's hem was reverent, hopeful and all other good things. I felt lucky to get to witness it. The festival is drawing to a close, our village has had enough hoopla to last us a year.<br />
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Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-84299304476067069672017-05-01T12:19:00.001-05:002017-05-01T19:23:38.084-05:00May Day 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">May in Ixtlahuacan, how I love to complain about you. It's throat searingly dry. Everything is brown outside our walls. It's the month we have to hand water. Mexicans are burning shit. And this year, to add insult to injury, the beautiful mountain behind our house has been on fire for a week. Dusty doesn't even begin to describe what's happening on the surfaces inside my house. Last night, the breeze was just right and I kid you not, it was raining ash all around us when Ev was on the mirador with binoculars looking at the fire. The first fly of the season usually appears in late May making some of us act like crazy people with the tennis racket bug zapper. Our foothills are so dry they open cracks 3+ inches wide, Hilde has to pick her way even more slowly on our walks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And yet...May holds much promise. There is evidence we'll have lemons, limes, oranges, avocado and mango later in the year. On our walk this morning I found the eucalyptus tree demolished last fall by the local curandera is growing shiny tender new leaves. The quince are so fat and juicy we know we'll have a crop that will pay for our water and taxes for the year. And sometime in May come the "rainbirds" with their deafening din, promising rain will be here in 6 weeks or less. There is goodness in May, too. Ripe avocados fall from the tree outside our bedroom window, waking us at 2a.m. The pool is a delicious 85 degrees. Hummers are vocal,street hens scuttle low, shepherding too many chicks to count. The plumeria and ginger scent the air like nobody's business.</span><br />
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Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-22087327865470259722017-01-06T13:34:00.001-06:002017-01-07T10:29:55.231-06:00Bobbing along the dusty trail, The Year is Round, and Jesus is still scowling.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We walk in our village almost every day on one of a half-dozen favorite routes. Hilde tore two ligaments in her left rear before Christmas, so these days when she musters the energy to go, we go slow and are choosing paths with fewer cobbles and more flat surfaces.<br />
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We see neighbors who tend cows and greet us warmly. Ibis, pelicans and egrets from Lake Chapala visit our little reservoir. Street dogs follow along for most or part of our walks. Sometimes we stop and eat a taco on the square, sometimes we stop and do our fruit and vegetable shopping. When the hot pink sign advertising ice and charcoal is taped to our corner store we now know it's fiesta time in the village or somebody died in the hood. Either way, we know there will be fireworks and Kino will need his bed moved to the bathroom..<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDQ8u_ksVmdYNa5mRiZk4Iz1eP0_yrbSEa68g4jB03s_eW1CR_pTexnpFjnckJCGdvy3quS5CL6fpyCOoxo_f3xFD_qi6079uXUMEz4t2-TowWKZ38E8FSfEvhEt-JsN6IXmbo-8tu05J/s1600/IMG_20170106_113711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDQ8u_ksVmdYNa5mRiZk4Iz1eP0_yrbSEa68g4jB03s_eW1CR_pTexnpFjnckJCGdvy3quS5CL6fpyCOoxo_f3xFD_qi6079uXUMEz4t2-TowWKZ38E8FSfEvhEt-JsN6IXmbo-8tu05J/s640/IMG_20170106_113711.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alvaro missed Ev while he was in the states for over a month.<br />
Asked after him every. single. time. I saw him.</td></tr>
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If Ev isn't with me, I dawdle more, sitting for long stretches on a rock under the eucalyptus trees. I hope the dogs will run and play but they don't. They lay at my feet.<br />
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After a couple of years here I'm beginning to recognize patterns. I know in winter the sun will be low enough to blind me in the kitchen in the late afternoons. I know when we break out long pants OR long sleeves, my neighbors will be bundled up in layers of fleece. I know when the streams will run, and when the dogs will be needing a hose down when we get home. I know now when bougainvillea will be at its prime, when the dry corn stalks will rustle so loud it sounds like water. We're coming in now to the dusty part of the year. MBS (Mexicans Burning Shit as Evboy says) fills the air with smoke and makes for stupendous sunsets. Bricks are being made. Bedding is being washed because we can count on it being dry in a day. I have to dig out my chapstick.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwq5lfZrXNFYJM1nTT4Q_kmQEgEp7mmfIuakx_Cy5jDz9jZT2PNm7k0njvihXmt3iMPEhktXi0YmuCuq9Kv0VFpIhot9mhJUrg8QS9sfuOONMb9WTrZPILmib_tx0PAVm_q5JCz58ZuaM9/s1600/IMG_20170101_102944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwq5lfZrXNFYJM1nTT4Q_kmQEgEp7mmfIuakx_Cy5jDz9jZT2PNm7k0njvihXmt3iMPEhktXi0YmuCuq9Kv0VFpIhot9mhJUrg8QS9sfuOONMb9WTrZPILmib_tx0PAVm_q5JCz58ZuaM9/s640/IMG_20170101_102944.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigU_rr6Z0qD0AdSp4R6_M3x7TH6_pNEboLC1hrlWLY2qNmH3pncsLCrlsfCPtJg7wE_SDzq8KI_Cd7AEYxuNU8DxmhE16_TH3zLNls8BQ9SrdgHors_p9UoBVjOdzVUdIScnVbTM4u2hS6/s1600/IMG_20170101_103637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigU_rr6Z0qD0AdSp4R6_M3x7TH6_pNEboLC1hrlWLY2qNmH3pncsLCrlsfCPtJg7wE_SDzq8KI_Cd7AEYxuNU8DxmhE16_TH3zLNls8BQ9SrdgHors_p9UoBVjOdzVUdIScnVbTM4u2hS6/s640/IMG_20170101_103637.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The black one wants to<br />
kick Kino's ass.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7CHAT2WCnN3itLyddkFfymlByk2N1hxe6z3tKCcA3GNRC0ju5YkNYIdfLTtIgco6Ut209Afs2tz8YrsO5M6nWyApW_n82-CY2Jg_-7NaPJI7dWcFd1FoHNNH6Cvq7rzbFd_qxkgV1QcX_/s1600/IMG_20170101_103749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7CHAT2WCnN3itLyddkFfymlByk2N1hxe6z3tKCcA3GNRC0ju5YkNYIdfLTtIgco6Ut209Afs2tz8YrsO5M6nWyApW_n82-CY2Jg_-7NaPJI7dWcFd1FoHNNH6Cvq7rzbFd_qxkgV1QcX_/s640/IMG_20170101_103749.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kino, Lame Boy and Hilde.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOkR2jAIG2mYswwSrNwJVqlkvvJd__n1OsDNzUn-g1bYaQB6kxMn5yRgWfdwTF-nxbRJ5w2A8WPeOSQzN7ChrCdJEaI2cAxvtdy3MLknQYosK1s3VQ1ITDaVgXNfJONNlQY9gTFhaQUh_/s1600/IMG_20170101_104140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOkR2jAIG2mYswwSrNwJVqlkvvJd__n1OsDNzUn-g1bYaQB6kxMn5yRgWfdwTF-nxbRJ5w2A8WPeOSQzN7ChrCdJEaI2cAxvtdy3MLknQYosK1s3VQ1ITDaVgXNfJONNlQY9gTFhaQUh_/s640/IMG_20170101_104140.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New additions to the family.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCRMRkuNmMk_9H_-7KMaHcAt__NjHpMcUmVciICHMvg-L_HjAebGMeeZVyG-NPmhU14AfzqJq51BuelIO1jqKdQtQYDlhu4v16ZKLw8OI0KOTLZ9oEN1I3R8AEY0sXaAoCqDVtBpTVht9/s1600/IMG_20170101_104449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCRMRkuNmMk_9H_-7KMaHcAt__NjHpMcUmVciICHMvg-L_HjAebGMeeZVyG-NPmhU14AfzqJq51BuelIO1jqKdQtQYDlhu4v16ZKLw8OI0KOTLZ9oEN1I3R8AEY0sXaAoCqDVtBpTVht9/s640/IMG_20170101_104449.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kino and Lame Boy giving 'em hell<br />
because they can. And they're behind the fence.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOuLzTLgVQvkI4QvWsd15nee3W7w7V8sBHEMCJ0aGRcLoGDXjlFdLoEkYLM_mQpYkxgxKkUxpo-XLvuIxotPva21WmHzGFQE4hyrvV5YIJ7R8uPH4bM1iBm-Aio6cDZlnsAShuspY5NlQ/s1600/IMG_20170101_104906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOuLzTLgVQvkI4QvWsd15nee3W7w7V8sBHEMCJ0aGRcLoGDXjlFdLoEkYLM_mQpYkxgxKkUxpo-XLvuIxotPva21WmHzGFQE4hyrvV5YIJ7R8uPH4bM1iBm-Aio6cDZlnsAShuspY5NlQ/s640/IMG_20170101_104906.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was excited to discover the woman who owns this store<br />
also works at the bakery. So NOW, I know<br />
where to get the good bread if the bakery is closed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxRJaYYYgZT-NsS9CTJuu1688aghUcv86frZY8pkWymIOG_JQEJtwHad0C3MJkDRPXNYAHE4ockuZWVtMESD6Fae7Aa_d6g8iDAt4Z86dPvm0IJLHeBXnRDUQigJDR4-vvukP1wFxXCQb/s1600/IMG_20170103_114324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxRJaYYYgZT-NsS9CTJuu1688aghUcv86frZY8pkWymIOG_JQEJtwHad0C3MJkDRPXNYAHE4ockuZWVtMESD6Fae7Aa_d6g8iDAt4Z86dPvm0IJLHeBXnRDUQigJDR4-vvukP1wFxXCQb/s640/IMG_20170103_114324.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not a coconut, not a date, not an<br />
acacia-but it is prolific.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnuBcL2ru6RAZB7mZHXaV79FBSre-IyFkeCp8EpMqgBXIHiXgKyCMvih4Nk-BzyMHfvmuxyjeh4WbXnJtXtiRrFipY7sFl7qzzL3yRVU2AMRnOksdoEY29Q7F8rmquRjFQuzZA1AG8LAS/s1600/IMG_20170103_123438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnuBcL2ru6RAZB7mZHXaV79FBSre-IyFkeCp8EpMqgBXIHiXgKyCMvih4Nk-BzyMHfvmuxyjeh4WbXnJtXtiRrFipY7sFl7qzzL3yRVU2AMRnOksdoEY29Q7F8rmquRjFQuzZA1AG8LAS/s640/IMG_20170103_123438.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bricks drying.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaPixKglOHjqEh3mPIEIOvngX4L3KdIKrQLIy5koCyLEvDDs1SXegnhO6JvhRhVmsI9OIJUVyZzWsCrYhNVSYKWkRCMBwv8ZDBhW9v-tTKO9fIurF5RcqLAT-ED6wm9IoCXbAEWUT7Elp/s1600/IMG_20170106_120759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaPixKglOHjqEh3mPIEIOvngX4L3KdIKrQLIy5koCyLEvDDs1SXegnhO6JvhRhVmsI9OIJUVyZzWsCrYhNVSYKWkRCMBwv8ZDBhW9v-tTKO9fIurF5RcqLAT-ED6wm9IoCXbAEWUT7Elp/s640/IMG_20170106_120759.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home again, home again, jiggety jog.</td></tr>
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Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-22888654968788000762016-10-09T14:58:00.001-05:002016-10-09T14:58:26.660-05:00Taxco by way of Jungapeo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzA_ur_O_oTYCNn0IEoXEblF-7ATx4nuRR_BuID1xKxIp7cjWv2KjkB5-KtZc3aPxsuic_8t8pb6GyA8Mv7jxNdjDwKStXvr2P0HQE4EFEp8M_22E64J_KzHp56T0QSXGR9m9_V1LWseq/s1600/IMG_20161004_140408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzA_ur_O_oTYCNn0IEoXEblF-7ATx4nuRR_BuID1xKxIp7cjWv2KjkB5-KtZc3aPxsuic_8t8pb6GyA8Mv7jxNdjDwKStXvr2P0HQE4EFEp8M_22E64J_KzHp56T0QSXGR9m9_V1LWseq/s640/IMG_20161004_140408.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tepid springs at Agua Blanca</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNuKUkhdXHpAJEufCmpifcYN9qGo7R-3BccYehLBkmU4ZPA-XcpE3ch7mCsSa3QbyS9Au4YOzGL7gDunocxT_uuaLdeaQpzCILQPcA5DJ37wA9vk_u9RVyNOuDAqS_GVwMjSmR66IU6ZT/s1600/IMG_20161005_113417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNuKUkhdXHpAJEufCmpifcYN9qGo7R-3BccYehLBkmU4ZPA-XcpE3ch7mCsSa3QbyS9Au4YOzGL7gDunocxT_uuaLdeaQpzCILQPcA5DJ37wA9vk_u9RVyNOuDAqS_GVwMjSmR66IU6ZT/s640/IMG_20161005_113417.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valle del Bravo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tJrCS9A8WWEvVUkDG5lvIT6uU1Ue8HZd5SjTDaC7MObQsgGaji3eYNk5OGdLbjPr8-2wU_gSw1WeyCoBgLif6gUBLSAgGLQrg6mfenPtmFT6dY3vok1DUHil2kn1v_1LCQYN0UGiBz-n/s1600/IMG_20161005_124659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tJrCS9A8WWEvVUkDG5lvIT6uU1Ue8HZd5SjTDaC7MObQsgGaji3eYNk5OGdLbjPr8-2wU_gSw1WeyCoBgLif6gUBLSAgGLQrg6mfenPtmFT6dY3vok1DUHil2kn1v_1LCQYN0UGiBz-n/s640/IMG_20161005_124659.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, Elyse. We did.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Los Arcos Hotel. One steep block from the plaza. Delightful.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrcFHiq7ymb8b8S7YUmIyCmb_zSOdbjp5WleqMQDdtpLHxkMBo7raVo8zJnLHKxvtN797ZIR3YGruVqTM8RczdIOPfsMvrsmxhW8tID5sXQ3cAfUl2pwpj5vLyDSot-WcGv3X5QXOTt2s/s1600/DSC02773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrcFHiq7ymb8b8S7YUmIyCmb_zSOdbjp5WleqMQDdtpLHxkMBo7raVo8zJnLHKxvtN797ZIR3YGruVqTM8RczdIOPfsMvrsmxhW8tID5sXQ3cAfUl2pwpj5vLyDSot-WcGv3X5QXOTt2s/s640/DSC02773.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were hundreds of these little faces, each one unique.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pipe organ brought to Taxco from Germany, via Veracruz. On the backs of burros.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unverified. Only known painting of a pregnant Mary.</td></tr>
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I saw a magazine picture years ago (Years! Ago!) of a dining room table. On the table was a basket of pine cones, and in that basket was a three dimensional antique sterling silver sacred heart. You know the ones I'm talking about-the ones with flames coming out of the cleavage. I never forgot the image.<br />
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Taxco is about 6.5 hours from our home if you take the toll roads. It's a colonial town noted for its history of silver mining. In my always optimistic mind, I was going to waltz into Taxco with my mental image of a puffy flaming heart and magically make my dream come true. To quote Evboy, "disappointment burger."<br />
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In true Sewellian fashion we took the back roads. Why take the toll roads when I can be barfy on the mountainous curva peligrosas? (see images above and see why) It was a quick two hours on the highway to the cut off for Los Azufres, an area in Michoacan where cracks in the earth's crust spew delicious hot steam. Balnearios are frequently signposted. Then a two hour drive on narrow mountain roads until we found Agua Blanca, our thermal pool resort home for two nights in the podunk town of Jungapeo. The resort was lovely, the employees did everything they could to make our stay wonderful. We were the only ones there and they made us whatever we wanted to eat. The water? Tepid. Thermal does not equal hot. Thermal means something entirely different in Mexico and I'm still not clear on what that is. We climbed a pyramid, clambered down to the Tuxpan river from the hotel grounds and generally relaxed. Vacation from our life of perpetual vacation, if you will.<br />
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Wednesday morning we left for Taxco. Why backtrack, he said. It'll be a beautiful drive, he said. You packed snacks we can eat, he said. It WAS an interesting drive, I did enjoy looking at life in the small towns, and the wildflowers were unbelievable. We saw fields and fields of marigolds and red cockscomb almost ready to harvest for the Dia de los Muertos festival coming at the end of this month. On the back roads, you get to see stuff and smell smells you would never see on the toll roads. I loved it. All 8 hours of it. Thank God for the barf watch.<br />
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Taxco. Google has a bunch of "blue dot problems" in Taxco. Right off the bat, I navigated Evdad into an alley so narrow, and so steep and twisted even a donkey would have problems turning around. In all the years he's been my chauffer, I've never heard Ev say the words "I don't think I can get us out of this" But he did. We wisely parked the car in the parking garage and didn't get it out again until it was time to leave. We had a tour of Santa Prisca, a tour of a historic colonial home, some people shopped for silver, and some watched the people. Taxco, I hope to see you again. What a remarkably well preserved unique environment you are.<br />
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Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-40471241491894258602016-10-08T21:03:00.001-05:002016-10-08T21:03:30.756-05:00It's late September and I'm really glad I'm not in school.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The rhythms of the year are finally becoming familiar. I know that August brings cooler temperatures, membrillo harvest, the bluest skies, night rains and more avocado and mango than we can possible eat. Walks are finally pleasant again and not at dusk or dawn. By September, the corn is tall, humidity is high, lightening is prevalent in the late evenings and the flies are finally waning. When the pomegranate split, they're ready to pick and it's time for Chiles Enogada and independence day festivities.<br />
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Gram was here, we made chutney with the mango, played in the women's bodega and did a lot of sorting of essential beads and buttons. She started a quilt for Harvey made of blue jean pockets. The whir of the sewing machine and her muttering to herself about corners not meeting perfectly were background sounds as I prepped for my English classes.<br />
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Elyse brought Harvey down. It was like we were in suspended animation for a week so we could cluster around and watch him learn and laugh and grow. We swam almost every day and our routines were all around his naps. A well rested Harvey yields harmony in the home.<br />
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These were good months. I'm grateful for the years my schedule revolved around school, but uber grateful to be retired and living life at a slower pace.</div>
Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-64379691940169270322016-06-10T15:41:00.002-05:002016-06-10T15:41:39.444-05:00Mexico, some Unvarnished Truths<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's not all pineapples and butterflies down here, folks. Though sometimes it is! Roofs leak. I'll never NOT be the tall American freak. Hummingbirds are recalcitrant. It's hard to get a good haircut if you're a stylish girl dog. Mangoes get worms. Overzealous housekeepers mistake curious curandera custom liniment as used up martini olives. Street dogs can't seem to stop eating the firewood. Kitties would rather sleep in a real tree than the hundred dollar one you bought at Costco. Turmeric hauled from Canada by a clever friend doesn't always thrive. Mexicans don't usually treat their dogs the way I would like. But still...</div>
Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-37918711754522538562016-05-29T17:37:00.001-05:002016-05-30T09:21:39.469-05:00I've Always Had a Thing for Pineapples.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When we went to Honduras to dive with Joy and Robert, Ev stopped for us in a pineapple field where each lovely fruit was wrapped in its own little special condom to keep it blemish free as it grew. It was the first time I'd ever contemplated how they grew. We ate the sweetest pineapples that trip, the ones that have too high of a sugar content to be exported. My first alcoholic drink (thanks, dad!) was a "Barker Special" made with frozen pineapple juice and lime. I love pineapple. It makes my kombucha fizzy and even though it's not a thistle, it looks like one. "Thistle" has always been my favorite geometric shape.<br />
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Our neighboring state, the great state of Michoacan, is the home of many talented artisans. I saw ceramic pineapples there for the first time when we went for Dia de los Muertos in October. I saw them again at a big art fair given in Chapala in November. I wanted. Unlike my mom, I'm no good at pressure shopping. The venues were crowded and I knew I was going to need time and space to select the perfect complement of pineapples to march down the center of my table.<br />
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Two weeks ago, I looked up the premier pineapple artisan in Mexico. I had seen him featured in a coffee table book at my hair salon. Lo and behold, Helario's town, San Jose de Gracias is right near a little alpine town we like to go to when it's hotter than blue blazes here. We drove to the town. Not a pineapple in sight. "No Senora, we don't work the pinas here, we work the vacas, the leche, the crema y queso. Well, poop.<br />
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Last week, I called the maestro himself. "Helario," said I. "I couldn't find you among the cows." Oh. What do you know. It's a San Jose de Gracias two hours away in a different direction. Ev and I set out again, this time armed with excellent directions. Helario said, "when you get to my village drive until you see the blue door, if you don't see the blue door then ask for me so anyone can lead you to my house." Evdad was dubious, but it all worked out. The blue porton was the first thing we saw when we drove in to town.<br />
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This man digs the clay with his wife and son. They beat it into submission, then fire it twice in the adobe pit. (yes, the one with the motorcycle helmet on it). See the woodpile? He hacks that up too. Amazing industrious man. This year, my Albuquerque friends, he will be in Santa Fe at the Folk Art Museum summer show. If you go, say hola de parte de Susan!<br />
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Helario lives in the pink home with his children and grandchildren. The little guy with the fresh haircut was showing me his kinder papers, reading the labels on the pictures he colored all the while telling me he couldn't read because he was too little.<br />
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An added bonus, the local townspeople also use the clay to make bricks. Ev and I thought Harvey should know how bricks are made and fired so we stopped to ask if we could take pictures. See how they stack the bricks so they can build a fire under them? See how they put a layer of adobe on the brick pile to keep the heat in? People are smart.<br />
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The beautiful church was in the city of Zamora. We could see it from the highway, its so huge. It was started in 1898, the construction was interrupted in 1914 during the Revolution. The subsequent Cristero war (intended to eliminate the power of the Catholic church) didn't help matters either. This beautiful thing was finally finished by a tenacious bishop in 1989. More about that <a href="http://www.santuarioguadalupano.org.mx/Historia.html">here</a>.<br />
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Then we saw a printing press and a tortilla press and our field trip came to a sweet conclusion with a lunch of Carne en su Jugo and about 2 dozen tortillas.</div>
Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-71706219877926585412016-05-24T14:30:00.003-05:002016-05-24T18:16:35.988-05:00April, warm and tolerable. May, hot and dusty. Thank God for ceiling fans and swimmin' holes.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fried Oyster Salad at Gossips</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picnic with Bob and Mary, Colima did her thing and burped for us.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Todo incluido in Puerto Vallarta. Fun time.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evdad can hardly contain himself that he let me walk around the Malecon with a chocolate Hitler mustache.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the little altars in my 'hood are festooned this week.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First come the yellow trees, then the purple, then the fire red.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Margaret and I took stools in to be covered in Huipiles, saw this guy selling his wares to the store owner.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picnic before walking to the falls in Mazamitla.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the kind of thing Evdad does for me. We drove past this rock. A few minutes later I said, "you know I'm gonna have to have that rock, right?" Doesn't say a word, stops car, gets out,walks back, gets the rock and puts it in the trunk. True love.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterfall at Mazamitla. Harvey wants to go there and find a tadpole. Tata will help him.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roberto? It's not as good as it looks. Half those black specks are flies, not seeds.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mancha has found a spot in the shade down low where she can be safe from Kino.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jose and his daughter Fatima-she's giving him his last instructions for the pinata (which she killed by the way).</td></tr>
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Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-5379151552457947962016-05-02T13:34:00.000-05:002016-05-02T21:04:11.609-05:00A day in the Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Before my feet hit the ground, I look to see if Elyse has an updated picture of Harvey. Ev peeps over my shoulder. Sometimes we cry before we even get out of bed. On a perfect day, we wake up to something delightful like this:<br />
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Coffee first, or in this case, the last piece of birthday cake scarfed while the coffee brews:</div>
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Kitties and doggies eat breakfast al fresco.</div>
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Sometimes it takes two men to do my bidding in the garden.Today they re-potted a mystery plant that had broken it's previous home with its mighty roots.<br />
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It's walk time before it gets too hot. This boy can barely contain himself. He's working really hard at not breaking my nose while I tie my shoes.<br />
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Our walks take about an hour and are full of interesting things to pee on, I mean look at. Click on the pic and you can see our Capillita behind the tree.<br />
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Drive through Coke service if you're on a horse.<br />
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Wish you could smell this:<br />
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Hildedoodle is getting up there in age and brings up the rear, but she still wants to go, so we accommodate her. Either that, or she brings up the rear so she can eat bad things off the street while I'm unaware. She's a sly one, that Hilde.<br />
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A gate was open, I asked to come in. The owner lives in Guadalajara, the house in Ixtla is her weekend house. She is a curandera so she grows plants to make tinctures and salves. I went home and got Jose so he could see what our next project will be. He pretended to be thrilled.<br />
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Kale smoothie for us for breakfast.<br />
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It's going to be hot and dry today, so we took the opportunity to drag the rug out to steam clean it. Humidity is close to 0, it'll be dry by tonight.<br />
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A trip in to town for the organic market and because I was very very good, a gelato to tide me over while we go to Costco.<br />
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Let me just say that MAYBE this day was not one of our best eating plans, lol. I'll make up for it when I cook all the stuff from the organic market tomorrow.<br />
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May is a hot and dusty month down here. Also, it's MBS month. Mexicans Burning Shit everywhere you turn. Air quality is poor.</div>
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But sunsets are stunning.<br />
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It's down to my bodega for a little play time, When the moon rises over the house I know it's time for bed.</div>
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Dannnng. Looks like Ev got hungry and fixed a little snack with our Costco buy. Oh, well.<br />
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There's always tomorrow.<br />
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Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-81112458251367844752016-03-19T18:15:00.000-06:002016-05-02T11:57:18.186-05:00Easter Decorations Are Up (or "Oh Shit! That's a Ranger Pick Up like mine!)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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One thing I love about our corner of Mexico is the lack of commercialization. I think I mentioned at Christmas I saw one Santa Claus. One. At Easter we'll have several passion plays, but no bunnies, no Peeps, nobody crying because of the paucity of eggs in their basket. Without fail, though, every Pemex in my municipality will have a wrecked car in it's lot to warn against drunk driving during Semana Santa and Semana Pascua. </div>
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We took a field trip to Bosque Primavera, north and west of Guadalajara. In said bosque, runs the Rio Caliente. Let's keep in mind, folks, that I haven't steeped in hot water for over a year. As I approached the river, Ev bent down to feel it and said, "man, that IS hot". Before the words were past his lips I had shimmied out of my clothing and was laying in it. One one hand, we Americans can thank President Roosevelt for founding the national parks system, for organized and maintained parks, for shiny brochures and informative internet sites. On the other hand, we expats can thank our lucky stars that places like this exist where you will not see another soul and can enjoy your soak and picnic in private. You just have to be able to find the darn place.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These long needled pine trees are what local baskets are woven out of.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyzmQ-nA5iCZrpbNEVT2GuXyXTRx26qybQRP05k5Ig5mfTYmwmvHmUFNr6rWDx79rHw3_j6PXpnjd_i_RHlLbcU0njjQdAqgPea5__hUacs7DnPgfD9iWsWb3KwYa2fQzpDlz7uAb56-U/s1600/IMG_20160312_193705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyzmQ-nA5iCZrpbNEVT2GuXyXTRx26qybQRP05k5Ig5mfTYmwmvHmUFNr6rWDx79rHw3_j6PXpnjd_i_RHlLbcU0njjQdAqgPea5__hUacs7DnPgfD9iWsWb3KwYa2fQzpDlz7uAb56-U/s400/IMG_20160312_193705.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Berry season is back-I'm stocking up for upcoming visitors.</td></tr>
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Last week we drove south with the intention of climbing Nevada Colima (shown below) so we could peer over her shoulder at her brother Volcan Colima. We were hoping to catch him burping. Once again, nothing is marked in the tour book, there is no signage on the roads and Google Maps doesn't match the reality of the roadside. Whatever. Ev was in a good mood and promised to tolerate being lost graciously AND I had meatloaf sandwiches in the cooler.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">This was as close as we could get to the peak and we never glimpsed the Volcan but the sunshine was warm and the air was crisp and clean. Once again, we were all alone. It was a beautiful day.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Update: Evdad rode his motorcycle around the area yesterday. Nevada Colima is on the right and you can see Volcan Colima burping on the left. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't she a doll? She squats all day in front of the grocery store and embroiders those squares.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHCbjg3Gdhf7s5kWCrdkb-ve9UB0e_RUlYHTuL_45LReLjwsfyeHDBk6t8it34KUFoC4oWMRAuykt5FEPH50O_fwYJJmYpUxnabIdV6bmY0kD6gp9ojtTDvBXASrUSgSiEgu_EN-IRCaP/s1600/IMG_20160317_151137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHCbjg3Gdhf7s5kWCrdkb-ve9UB0e_RUlYHTuL_45LReLjwsfyeHDBk6t8it34KUFoC4oWMRAuykt5FEPH50O_fwYJJmYpUxnabIdV6bmY0kD6gp9ojtTDvBXASrUSgSiEgu_EN-IRCaP/s400/IMG_20160317_151137.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vino Blanco, a resident donkey at one of the restaurants we favor for their salad bar.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to have a word about this with our Presidente. This is our special ed school near our home. Been painted like this since we arrived over a year ago.</td></tr>
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Aaron, an English student in the class I share with Margaret Larson, put together a picnic for our class on the shore of Lake Chapala as a goodbye before our two week break for Semana Santa y Semana Pascua. I was fussing in class today: Who's bringing plates, why didn't you email me and tell me what to bring, will there be enough chorizo because Ev can eat a kilo of that by himself, what do I need to stop and get? Margaret lightly put her hand on my shoulder and whispered in my ear, "Isn't this fun? It's the Mexican way to leave all the details to the end and it always works out. Americans always want to pin down every last detail." Thank you Margarita for that gentle reminder to shut the fuck up. We had a great time and it was all perfect except I don't have one picture of Aaron. </div>
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Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432602843902283150.post-74431915576939277842016-03-06T14:33:00.000-06:002016-03-06T14:33:19.345-06:00So many good things.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The evening of January 12, I was on my way home from the hospital after having Lasik. My phone was blowing up, but I couldn't see well enough to read what was happening. When I got home, Evdad said, "The baby is coming early."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IFMA_dfrzLWRoKnATZqK685JlTL52A-jdpRykk8ozpPxKzj_-QEyikp2cLO77w2mBfGKSE6KZ7Ha2YMbbGAYU4PW-3GZPWqkACegsa_tqf9ITXhz9I4tSSc7QgLCgdBBHt3VkQAkFWYI/s1600/IMG_20160113_170805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IFMA_dfrzLWRoKnATZqK685JlTL52A-jdpRykk8ozpPxKzj_-QEyikp2cLO77w2mBfGKSE6KZ7Ha2YMbbGAYU4PW-3GZPWqkACegsa_tqf9ITXhz9I4tSSc7QgLCgdBBHt3VkQAkFWYI/s400/IMG_20160113_170805.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I ran into the bedroom, packed a shitcase and was on a plane less than ten hours later. Little Everest Harvey surprised <br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">us in the best possible way.</span><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4i1sd2T970OmTRjI634zHvj-RO90zyfBfs7YiauihNRh5iAaap5NzJSgYZOiE8Zb9WI5nyme_UitGte3b6d9Zdl7oq6nJu_TPbiqJyqzPGGMzhVYFW8BC9RL95jv1DDqPpbaEIdLLyAR/s320/IMG_20160224_132634.jpg" /><br />
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He went from teensy to big boy pretty darn quickly. He's a great eater and easily comforted. Watching the love fest going on in his family has been my greatest delight.<br />
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Watching Tata with him has been pretty fun, too.<br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvUKvyShZrv9Nu2BkcroZU9pm-ZTrEb_3eF9OBi0hC_sYzWTiP5LioshcMUv07nA3uXmTunGjN815F7V1Sye49kvbJ6TbovI9Mv_EazUQ8W2itccPR56CyC04QzqesfXQlQz7GkfXlqRQ/s320/IMG_20160226_160458.jpg" /><br />
Sharing the joy with friends magnifies it in a way impossible to understand.<br />
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We're home now. Spring happened while we were gone. English class continued without me. The house down the street is causing a little dome envy in Casa Sewell.<br />
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We had dinner and a show last night and spent a lot of time talking about possibilities.<br />
Thanks, friends, for being patient during the long intervals.<br />
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Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06586116165328779252noreply@blogger.com4