September 2014 Blog Posts (12)

Packing today but want to post something while I take a break.  Barbara, Ed & Iris. Went to Volterra...heard drums...a procession similar to last one but with lots of priest 's and faithful...this time it was for a saint.  Blew us away...what are the chances.  Took movie not pics.  

Swiss Heartland Untour - May 6 to June 4, 2014

Friday, May 16, 2014

We were both up at 4:50am.  It was still dark outside and quiet, except for that bird outside our window who seemed to begin singing every morning at about 4:50am.  Sometimes it would oversleep and begin singing at 4:55am.  In any event we had to be up early that day anyway.  A trip to the Valley of the Waterfalls required that we catch the 7:28am…

Tuesday

This is the third time I have been to the accademia to see the David statue and I still find my eyes tearing up. Words can't do justice to its perfection. We spent close to an hour studying every inch of it. There is a lot more on exibit at the accademia than in the past. Sure were glad we had reservations. Even with them we had to wait a little over a half hour......high season!…

Monday 22nd

I have been warring with the internet, first in Florence and now here in Murlo.  If I can get the equivilant of one bar I consider myself lucky. Pictures need much more to load. They will be few and far between I fear.

Last Wednesday we picked up the car and headed for Murlo.  Since it had been about 15 years since I drove a stick, I didn't let myself panic when I bucked…

Poor Margaret!   No sooner had our plane left the tarmac in ABQ then the man in front of her pushed his chair full back and kept it there for the whole flight!!!

As soon as we landed in Atlanta we all but ran to our Air France gate and upgraded our shitty economy seats for Preium Economy seats.  The $67 will be our best spent money to date.

Had an early dinner at Jekyll Island Seafood...forgot to take a pic.  Margaret had a Blackened talapia sandwich with asparagus. I had a…

Monday

We planned to go to Fiesole but on the way to catch the bus we found the Mercato. There were butchers , bakers, fish mongers and every fruit you could think of. We were there for almost four hours. Split a Porcetta  (roasted pork) sandwich.  The moans of pleasure were pure heaven. Later we split a plate of calamari and gamberoni. (Fried squid…

I am so sorry guys. I messed up when sending out my posts. I forgot (dementecare) to press the NOW button every time I sent a post, so there they sat waiting forme to do so.  I'm now going back and trying to get them all sent out NOW! 

These are from our orientation/lunch/tour at the Abbey of Monte Oliveto. Lunch consisted of melon and cold cuts(two kinds of salami, procuitto and melon followed by the pasta with fresh tomato sauce. We then had bread and tomato salad and farro salad followed by baked chicken and french fries. Topping it all off was Tiramisu and espresso.  We were stuffed. We had soup for dinner that night. 

The abbey is beautiful and having a…

Didn't have good wifi in Florence and by the time I figured it out I was too doggone tired. So, here goes.

The seats we had to Paris were on top level of the plane, right behind the pilots. Seats were regulation size but, the extra few inches were nice when trying to sleep. Margaret got an hour maybe...me…

Swiss Heartland Untour - May 6 to June 4, 2014

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Eleanor and I both grew up sleeping in unheated attic bedrooms.  So at Chalet Britschgi it was not unusual for us to open our bedroom window each night when we went to bed to let cool air in.  I loved my down-filled pillow.  The…

So, the time for departure has finally arrived.  The trip with Margaret Bolshazy began as pipe dream, then, after lots of conversation and planning we are on our way to Tuscany, Italy.  Since I have been to Tuscany on three previous trips I will be the driver and unofficial Tour Guide.  God help us.  Should be interesting.

Below is a picture of packing with  the help of my furry friend Princess Fiona.  She checked my…

Swiss Heartland Untour - May 6 to June 4, 2014

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

We were both up at 6:10am.  Outside it was overcast and drizzling with a temperature of 52 degrees Fahrenheit.  We had been waiting for a clear day to go up into the…