TravelStream™ news feed for member txnonna on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/txnonna en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:38:07 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/txnonna/2/1217532240/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/txnonna/2/1217532240/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/txnonna/2/1217532240/tpod.html Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:38:07 -0400 Grandmother Gratification in Peoria, Illinois!

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Pekin, Illinois, United States

My daughter thought it would be fun to take the kids out to what they call "the fountain park". It's called Riverside Park, and it's located in Pekin, just across the river from Peoria and only about a 20 minute drive from their house. The park has a playground, a pavilion with tables, and the fountain area where the jets of water shoot up randomly, so the kids can run around and get wet! The park is beautifully landscaped, and you can watch the tugs and barges making their way down the river. The children love it, and I had a great time, too!
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Killeen, Texas, United States

One last cappuccino at the airport, and we board the plane for Paris. Once again, the Air France flight attendants are immaculate, beautiful, and efficient, and they serve us a nice breakfast even though our flight is a short one. This time the skies were clear, and we got to see the Italian and Swiss Alps, the White Cliffs of Dover, and as we were landing, the Eiffel Tower. Once again, we disembarked far, far away from any terminal at CDG airport, rode a shuttle bus for half an hour and finally got dropped off at a terminal. At least it wasn't in the bowels of the airport like the terminal the last time we went through. Dave figures out that we need to go find the American Airlines counter so we can get our boarding passes. That gets accomplished, and now we have to go through Paris security to get to our gate. Everyone gets frisked and wanded, and the security must think the DH and I pose no threat for we're sent on our way.
Ten hours on an airplane with your knees up to your chest doesn't really need any further embellishment. We land at DFW around 3:30 in the afternoon, retrieve our luggage, and get in line for customs. This is not a speedy process, so I'm thankful that my DH, who is paranoid about booking generous layovers, has made it possible for us to catch our final connection. With rubber legs, we get off a plane for the last time, grateful to be back where there's air conditioning and iced drinks!

Now there's a 50 minute drive home, but we make one stop along the way... Dairy Queen! L'Italia e fantastica, but it's good to be back. Nonna and Boppa's Italian Adventure was all we had hoped for, and more. DH is already plotting Part 2...

Because I'm employed by a school district, I still have some free time this summer. Nonna has to plan a trip now to go see her grandbabies!

Ciao!
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Florence, Italy

The last day of our vacation. **sigh** DH and I had decided the night before we would head across the Arno River for our final sightseeing excursion, the Boboli Gardens at Pitti Palace, home of the Medici family. The palace itself houses several museums, showcasing one of Europe's finest art collections, but these museums are closed Mondays (darn!). The gardens are open, though, as well as a porcelain museum. To get to the Palazzo Pitti, Dave and I crossed over the river via the Ponte Vecchio, the most well-known of Florence's bridges. Jewelry shops line the bridge, and I enjoyed looking in the windows. Fortunately for Dave, I prefer silver and white gold (everything was yellow gold), so he was safe from me wheedling him for some overpriced trinket!

We locate the palace and gardens - and the gardens go straight up, forever, it seems. Finally we reach the top, and of course, there's a beautiful view of ancient Florence making the climb worthwhile. In the garden rooms is the porcelain museum, and you can see the beautiful pieces the Medicis ate from and adorned their rooms with. That was a nice break from all the statues and paintings. Going down is much easier, and so DH and I take off to make our way across the river once more.

Now we discover we're in another notable part of town, the Piazza della Signoria. Here we find the Loggia dei Lanzi, an outdoor sculpture gallery, most of which depict violent scenes. A favorite piece of work here appears to be "Perseus", depicted holding the severed head of Medusa. Catty-cornered from the Loggia is the Palazzo Vecchio, the Medicis' city hall. Outside this building is a replica of "David" on the site where the original once stood. The original guy had to be moved for safekeeping when he was damaged in a 1500's riot. One more thing of note on this square is the Fountain of Neptune.

Ok. We've looked at all this stuff on the piazza, now it's time again for rest and refreshment. The square is ringed with ristorantes and cafes, and we succumb to the temptation to patronize one of these tourist eateries, rather than walk a little further to one on a back street. Big mistake. I realize we're not seasoned world travelers, but we did learn you're much better off as a rule, staying away from places that cater to tourists. The waiter was obnoxious, and wouldn't let us order just one pizza to share. So I had to pick out another one, and accidentally pointed to one with (gulp) anchovies. DH was trying to be a sweetie and kept offering to swap pizzas - he doesn't have a problem with little hairy fishes - but I was hot, cross, and in a snit over the horrible waiter, and I refused his offer. My mother calls that "cutting off your nose to spite your face". **smile** Dave kept saying his pizza was tasteless; I just kept cutting around all the fishes on mine, which gave me about 4 edible bites. Do you know anchovies can't be just picked off? They leave that nasty oil behind... well, enough about that.

Once again, we climb aboard a hot, airless bus to go back to the hotel. We've eaten - sort of - and knowing we've got some Cokes in our room, we ask at the front desk for some ice. "Sorry, the bar is closed". Well, is there ANY way we can get some? "Maybe the bar down the street will let you have some of their ice." **sigh** I made the mistake of converting the outside temperature I had seen on a sign to Fahrenheit... 100.4 degrees. No wonder we were so hot, and I was so cranky! Anyway, forget the ice - we just took cold showers again and drank our Cokes neat. Later, when it was dinner time, DH and I opted to stay in the hotel and eat in the "restaurant". I use quotation marks because this is not a real restaurant - there are no cooks here. What you have is a menu that uses pictures instead of words - we saw these menus everywhere we went, and they're always the same. These are prefab entrees that can be nuked by any employee. See what I have sunk to by not wanting to go back out in that heat?? I figured the pizza earlier had ruined my last day of Italian food anyway. In actuality, the hotel food was tolerable, and we didn't have to get all hot and sweaty again, and the girl waiting on us was very sweet.

Now it's time to start packing up our bags. Tomorrow our flight for Paris, the first leg of our journey home, leaves at 0730!
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Florence, Italy

Sunday is the only day we have to go see Michelangelo's "David", for the Accademia is closed on Mondays. DH made sure we were up early enough to grab some breakfast, catch the #22 bus to the historic center, and be in line for tickets when the museum opened. There was a short line already when we got to the Accademia, but we only had to wait 20 minutes or so. Entering the museum, the walls are lined with other works of Michelangelo, but "David" can't help but capture your eye as soon as you walk in. It seems everyone is just drawn to that majestic work standing on its own in a natural light-filled rotunda. Of course, there's other art to see, so eventually the DH and I tear ourselves away from "David" and peruse the rest of the rooms.

From the Accademia, Dave and I head towards Florence's crowning glory, Il Duomo, one of the world's largest churches. The duomo is constructed of white, pink, and green marble, a sight to see on its own. I quickly discovered there is no way to get a picture of the church because it is so massive, and there's not enough room to back up! Across the way is the baptistery, famed for its three sets of bronze doors. DH and I discuss whether we want to go inside, but to be honest, at this point in our adventure, we are just about burned out on cathedral art, statues, and architecture. The thought of trying to cram any more in over these last 2 days of our trip is not very appealing. By now, the day is getting quite warm, so Dave and I start back to the bus stop. We stopped off at the San Lorenzo outdoor market to pick up some silk scarves to take back home for gifts. My poor DH didn't do too well here - he doesn't like being in tight quarters with lots of people, especially when there are gypsies roaming about, and illegal vendors shoving fake Rolexes under his nose. As soon as I paid for the scarves, we were out of there! By now, it's REALLY warm, and we still have a hot, airless bus ride back to the hotel. After we got off the bus, I suggest walking down to a bar in the next block and picking up a sandwich and cold drink. Dave and I both got a Coke, and bless the bartender's heart, she gave us glasses FULL of ice when we asked! Usually, if you're lucky enough to even GET ice, there's only 2 or 3 cubes in the glass. Back in the room, it's cold showers for both of us, then resting and messing around on the laptop so we can gather up enough energy to venture out once more in search of dinner.

Sure enough, we go back to the same ristorante, and are greeted even more warmly... when the missus brings our water and wine, she turns to me with a big smile and presents me with... an English/Italian dictionary! How sweet is that? - now we can communicate a little more easily. Phrase books are handy, but don't always have the words you're looking for. Another wonderful meal, plus the football (soccer) quarterfinal game between Italy and Spain is on the TV at the bar. The ristorante is pretty busy by now, and our friend has her hands full, but low and behold, here she comes back to our table with a couple of frosty liqueur glasses. "For my friends... some limoncello!" Isn't that great??! I'd never had limoncello before, and it is very lemony, and very tasty when served chilled that way.
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Florence, Tuscany, Italy

Dave and I checked out of Casa Emilia this morning, and since the car is ours for about 3 ½ more hours, DH suggests stopping at San Gimignano on the way to Florence. This is a Tuscan hill town famed for its many towers, and very popular with tourists, especially Americans it seemed. Lots of shops there with nice locally made products. We found a church with American and English monks, so they do English-speaking services, and we wandered around inside a bit. From there, we just moseyed around the town, stopping at scenic spots to take photos of the countryside, and finding some gelato to cool off with. Then it's time to head out for the Florence airport to drop off the car. Dave does a great job once again getting us where we need to go. The car is turned in, a taxi gets us to our hotel, and we get settled once more. And much to our delight, wireless internet in our room!
We are in what appears to be a neighborhood populated by mostly younger working-class Italians, and international university students. A walk of 15 minutes or so later, DH and I pick out what looks like a modest ristorante and are greeted by the friendly proprietors. The wife speaks English fairly well, but she and I struggled a little bit deciphering the menu. Finally we all agree on what to order, and the wife continues to check on us occasionally, always with a big smile. The food is wonderful, and Dave and I decide we might as well just eat here tomorrow night, too!
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Killeen, Texas, United States

Today is D-Day, the long-awaited day of departure for Nonna and Boppa on their Italian adventure. The DH has been telling folks he thought that was an auspicious date for us to invade the continent - never mind that we won't actually get there until the 7th! Let's also remember this D-Day for what it actually was... the day those brave men of the Allied forces stormed the beaches of France. God bless the Greatest Generation!
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Siena, Tuscany, Italy

Between the excitement of the opera, and the anticipation of going to Siena, I got maybe an hour and a half of sleep, but I forced myself out of bed and we left on time. DH got us there with no problem, found a parking garage, and by 9:00 we were on the escalators headed up into the inner city, which is still surrounded by a wall. We thought we were used to the steep streets of Tuscan hill towns, but Siena's streets make them seem like a stroll in the park! If you can handle climbing the hills, then it's well worth the effort. Our focus this morning was going to be the Duomo area, with the museum and the main cathedral. We had a few minutes before anything opened, and chatted with a lovely university student who spoke very good English. She asked where we were from, and when we told her "Texas", she said "Yes! Walker, Texas Ranger! I watch it all the time on Italian TV! I love Texas!!"
By now the museum is open, so we start there. Basically, it's full of artworks from around the city that were pulled from the original sites to preserve them from further deterioration or damage from WWII. You can climb a spiral staircase that takes you to an outside observation area for a fantastic view of Siena and the surrounding countryside. This all took about an hour and a half, and after a snack of bruschetta and spinach ricotta pie(we didn't have breakfast), we went to the cathedral (duomo). The turistas are out in full force by this time and the church is crowded and noisy. Well worth it, though, to see the different works of art and the architecture of the church. From there, DH and I head to Il Campo, the main square of Siena. I've seen more American tourists here in Siena than anyplace else, and most of them are clutching a copy of Rick Steve's travel guide, just like I am! Here is the replica of the Fountain of Joy and we spend a few amusing minutes watching the pigeons trying to get a drink from the water spouting out of the wolves' mouths. You see a lot of wolves around - Siena adopted the wolf as its emblem as a way of thumbing its nose at the papacy. Siena legend claims that the city was founded by the son of Remus (of Remus and Romolus fame - remember the twins raised by a she-wolf and later founded Rome?) and thus the popularity of the wolf.
Leaving Il Campo, we spy a gelato shop and aim that way. After all, it's been several days since we've had any! As I walk in, an American woman and her teenage daughter are begging dad for some euros so they can get some, too! Trust me, gelato is hard to pass up, especially when you find a shop like this one that makes their own. Instead of being packed into a nondescript cardboard tub like American ice cream, the gelato is transformed into mountainous swirls of artistic delight and decorated with fruit, nuts and/or chocolate, depending on the flavor. Mama mia, it's good!
Now Dave and I have had a little respite, and continue uphill for some more sightseeing. Next stop is the Baptistery, which was built to support an overhang of the duomo. More fabulous artworks, and we're feeling pretty sated with culture by now. Dave won't complain, but I can tell these hilly cobblestone streets have taken their toll on his knees... it's time to hit the road and go home to Chiusdino.
Tomorrow will be a day of relaxing and preparing for our departure on Saturday for Florence, our last stop before we go home to Texas. Casa Emilia has been a haven of beauty and tranquility which I'll remember always - especially the cuckoo bird that talked to us every morning from the valley below (not from a Bavarian clock)!
Dave and I have been faithfully recording our blogs in Word, awaiting the day once again where we find internet access. Hopefully, Florence will be that place.
Ciao from Tuscany!
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Chiusdino, Tuscany, Italy

After spending the day roaming the neighborhood on foot, and making sure we get a nap (the opera doesn't start until 9!), it's finally time to head over to San Galgano Abbey. Thankfully, the rain had moved on and it was a gorgeous day. We went early so we could dine at the ristorante there, and sat outside and watched a beautiful play of setting sun and shadows move around the abbey. The language of the opera was sometimes German, sometimes Italian, which was a bit confusing, but all in all as wonderful an experience as Dave and I hoped it would be. It was 1 am before we got home - way past our bedtime - but I took advantage of the time difference to call the Pinkertons. I've been having grandbaby withdrawals, with two Saturdays having gone by and not talking to them. On my last cell phone, I used "The Magic Flute" as Jennifer's ringtone, so you can see why they're on my mind. One of the more difficult adjustments for me has been the feeling of isolation from family - you can't just pick up the phone and call (too expensive), or send an e-mail (no accessible internet) anytime you feel like it.
Towards the end of the opera, it began to feel damp, and as we came out of the abbey you could see the fog starting to settle in the low spots. Once back home, it was another one of those magical moments... the moon is full, and we could look out over the valley and see moonlight reflecting on all the drifts of fog. Dave got some pretty good shots, but the pictures just don't do it justice. What a night! And now it's off to bed for a few scant hours of shut-eye, for we're taking a day trip to Siena and DH wants an early start.
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Chiusdino, Tuscany, Italy

Today my sweetie and I decide we're just going to get in the car and drive around some, with no real destination in mind other than San Galgano Abbey again. The reason we're going back there today is that I found a brochure in one of the shops yesterday giving the schedule for the 2008 Opera Festival at the abbey, and so we're going to see if we can get some tickets. We're in luck! Tickets for 2 tomorrow night, 4th row Orchestra, to see a performance of "Die Zauberflöte". The prospect of sitting under the stars amidst the ruins of an 800+ year-old abbey and listening to Mozart makes us feel this is an opportunity not to be missed.
From here begins our rambling drive through the countryside, including one non-paved "road" through the Italian version of a National Forest that goes on long enough to make us concerned as to when we're going to find the next restroom to relieve our bladders. Not 5 minutes later, we've come to a major thoroughfare, and our fears are dispelled. Dave and I saw incredibly beautiful country, and marveled at how all those ancient towns got built perched up on the hills like they are. Vineyards and olive groves are everywhere, with the occasional livestock and other crops. Tuscany's just like we heard it is - very similar geographically to our Texas hill country.
When we got home, the day was still sunny and warm, so I decided to rinse out a few clothes (no automatic washer and dryer here, thank goodness!). Like washing your car, hanging clothes out on the line must be a recipe for rain. They hadn't been out but 30 minutes or so, when the skies opened up and Dave, bless his heart, braved the deluge to bring the laundry back inside. Thus the 2nd bedroom got turned into a makeshift drying area, so we don't have to endure damp clothes draped all over the place. Wish we didn't have to go out in the rain, but it's late enough to find a "real" meal now, so off we go.
Fortunately, we find a ristorante not too far, and Dave can get off these crazy, wet roads. The first thing we notice is the projection TV with the pre-game patter for the Italy-France soccer match blown up on the wall - looks like we're in for a noisy evening! We're not about to go back out in the rain in search for a more serene ambiance, plus it smells too good - this'll do. DH and I both forgot our phrase books, so our waiter took off first thing to find someone with a smattering of English, and somehow our meal got ordered with very little idea of what we were going to wind up with. You'd think by now I would remember what most of the menu items are, but no... Of course it was all delicious; we got caught up in the game with everyone else, and had a great time. Another memorable experience in Nonna and Boppa's Italian Adventure!
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Chiusdino, Tuscany, Italy

Like the song says, can't trust that day. My infirmities from the night before are still keeping us close to home today. By mid-afternoon, I'm feeling better and confident that we can leave the house for a while, so I suggest to my DH that we head up to Chiusdino for some sight-seeing and by the time we do that, the shops should be open again. After parking in town, we trudged up some pretty steep streets and found the church that commemorates Galgano's vision of St. Michael. Inside is a reliquary with a sword in rock motif and it contains Galgano's skull, which is visible if you wish to take a peek. For some reason, the folks back in those days would take parts from the bodies of those they venerated and store them elsewhere - the rest of Galgano is buried in his church by the abbey that we visited yesterday.
Back downhill, the shops are open once more. My stomach has been telling me it really needs a bowl of soup, and the DH lovingly agrees with me that I can come up with something edible at home. We pick up what I think I'll need, and descend to home. The kitchen here has a 4-burner gas stove, a convection oven, and more than enough utensils to work with - before you know it, I'm happily chopping, stirring, and simmering. The end result is a pot of pasta e fagioli soup, bread to sop it up, and pears with cheese for dessert. Not too shabby, if I may say so! And to top that off?? We bought tea today, and I made some iced tea (there's one tiny ice cube tray in the refrigerator), the first we've had since leaving Texas. Nectar from the gods!!
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