Category: Italy

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venezia (venice)

this is my second time here and if it weren’t so crowded with tourists it would be cast me back in history. But it’s a very beautiful place to visit. Everything is Art.

This was the end of the celebration we missed
A group of Indian tourists chartering a gondola
This is the entrance to the ghetto which is where the Jews were allowed to conduct business freely. The word “ghetto” refers to the garbage dump which was moved to allow the Jews to live here. Now it’s mostly deserted with just a hotel and one shop open Since the young people don’t want to manage a shop. It was somewhat bustling in 2010 but now now only two places were open. The people who live here want to revive it so they will have a festival in a month or so. I wish them luck.
The kosher restaurant next to the hotel
This was the first time I was in San Marco Square when it wasn’t flooded
Black noodles I think we’re colored with squid ink along with the squid rings
A simple breakfast provided by the hotel but sufficient for the morning
A Limoncello spritz
This is Egyptian
They even decorate the inside
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Rome Vatican

I guess I don’t need to explain what this monument is. But I will give a hint, “entertainment”.
The arch of Constantine
The arch of Titus
I hope the game pieces don’t come alive
The former government buildings
Castel saint’Angelo
It’s amazingly small, I guess for small thoughts
Trajan’s market
The motorcycle rental shops love to rent Vespas, the stereotypical style is still in fashion
St. Peter’s Basilica
Inside the Vatican museum
The Sistine Chapel, accessed through the museum
you can see the Hebrew with the Latin. My understanding is that Hebrew was used only in the religious arena and the intelligence spoke Greek since this was formally a Greek influenced area of the Mediterranean. The local people probably spoke Aramaic
I don’t know the significance of the pinecone
Vatican City area
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Verona – AIDA at the Arena

these opera productions in the arena in Verona seem to be very popular. There must’ve been 8000 people there.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aida

You can see this giant mesh behind the stage is really a hand with fingers which move. It was a very interesting set and very lavishly Done

here is the link to the famous triumphal March.

https://youtu.be/l3w4I-KElxQ?si=R-gLhPIsZfiPNzGq

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verona – Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore

just go visit this place. It’s so beautiful and has such an amazing history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_San_Zeno,_Verona

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_San_Zeno,_Verona

The original bronze doors
St Zeno is here.

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verona – around town

if you have ever heard of Shakespeare and his play called “Romeo and Juliet” then you have heard of the city of Verona in northern Italy not far from Venezia.

This is supposedly the home and the balcony of Juliet. I say “supposedly” because this house is not where she lived. At least this house, if you believe she ever existed, was not owned by the family at the time. And it is questionable the Shakespeare ever saw this house . I have been told by Verona residence, good friends of mine, that the house owned by the family was actually downtown and is now a shop.
You’re supposed to touch the boob. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s an Italian thing.
This is just a neighborhood bar and coffee shop where some Verona friends and a friend from Lake Garda gathered for a spritz and a glass of wine.
https://www.visitverona.it/en/poi/statue-of-camillo-benso-count-of-cavour

MUSEO CIVICO DI STORIA NATURALE below

It look of waking up early in the morning
This is a huge mosquito

MUSEO DI CASTELVECCHIO below

This is the tower which you can climb for the view
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verona – a gentleman visits

Verona is very crowded with tourist but there are also some uncrowded places you can go which I was fortunate enough to enjoy with my friends from Verona and Guarda.

The arena is used often for opera and other events. It’s one of the older buildings in the city, more than 1500 years old.
At 6:30 in the morning when we arrived
We did not go up to the tower when the bells were ringing. It’s such a beautiful view from up here
I didn’t check this history out but it looks like a place where some bad people were hanging around
This is one of the palaces which is now a very interesting museum
Just imagine the people who painted the ceilings, lying on their back and getting perspective
I took this photo because this supposed kid looks like he’s 40 years old
It’s important to know the history of this guy. He not only influenced the Christian concepts of suffering, redemption and hell but he also standardized the Italian language.
This is Dante in Stone
From google map description: “The Arche Scaligere, located in Verona, are a monumental funerary complex in Gothic style of the Scaliger family intended to contain the arches (tombs) of the most illustrious representatives of the family.
The tombs are enclosed by a wrought iron enclosure in which the pattern of the staircase, a symbol of the house, is used, while the sarcophagi are located on the ground or on raised floors.
The arches are:
the ark of Cangrande I Della Scala
the ark of Mastin II
the sarcophagus of Albert I
the hanging ark of Giovanni della Scala
this is such a beautiful shop front for sausage, salami, olive oil and other necessities of Italian life.
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verona – romeo and Juliet

so I think you understand the story of Romeo and Juliet. But now you are going to hear the rest of the story. This famous building, I have not conclusively determined, may or may not have been the building Shakespeare went to in describing his play. What I hear from local people is that Julia was a real person but lived in a different house in another part of town which is now a shop. But this is a nice tourist attraction where everyone is supposed to go to the bronze statue of Juliet and touch her boob. So you can go visit a house that Shakespeare may or may not have visited to try to experience a story that may or may not have happened. But the building ownership records are clear. Go to Verona and dig more for the rest of the story.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_and_Juliet

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Lake Garda with friends

I ordered the an unorderable, chocolate ice cream with lemon ice cream. Everyone cringed and laughed. I originally thought it was a crazy combination but it was actually a very nice derivation of my favorite orange sherbet and chocolate together.
There are a lot of campers at this lake. Some pay a whole year rent for the camping spot just so they can come here during the season. They might pay €5,000 for the whole year.
Nice snacks with friends and pirlo, a local drink of white wine and Campari
Having a light white wine with a little snack before the pre-dinner, snacks
Kids theater
It was very windy and not a good day to be on the lake.
A local wine
Aldo Fabrizi
Alberto Sordi
Totò
Alberto Sordi
Local olive oil
Part of our lunch
Homemade spaghetti with a nice sauce
This was a church related gathering Place
Pirlo. Very refreshing.
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Brescia-near Lake Garda

This is a nice small town. Where are you can stay if lake Garda is too expensive for your taste. It’s a short train ride from the lake and also not too far from Verona.

What time did you say it is?
This is an amazing clock based on the 24 hour dial but most of it I could not figure out.
This is the Duomo, the main cathedral, built in the middle ages and keeping its style. It is not the largest cathedral in the city, but it is one of the most interesting Duomo I’ve ever seen.
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Egypt in Torino

The Egyptian Museum in Torino is very interesting. I recommend visiting if you are in town.

If you were important you could take all kinds of animals with you to the next world. Problem was they had to be killed to accompany you.

A famous counsel. He had a very elaborate coffin
Inscriptions inside had a purpose. Need to study more.
the left end of the bed had the headrest, similar to those used by the upper crust of old Japanese society.
a far cry from the last room of the museum