Via Appia Antica...

Last Saturday, we ALL went to the Appian Way. It was pretty cool, but certainly not what I expected! It is an actual road that people drive, work, and live on...right in the middle of town! Not at all what I was expecting. But we certainly had a good time, great weather, and a nice walk.

The Appian Way was the first and greatest Roman road. It was built in 312 B.C. and at one time was 430 miles long (most of it completely straight) from Rome to Brindisi (where ships sailed to Greece and Egypt). The road itself is lined with christian catacombs. In ancient Rome, law stated that no one could be buried inside the walls of the city...Romans preferred to be cremated, which left christians, who chose to be buried because they believed the return of Christ was close at hand, to find places for their dead. Some wealthy christian landowners offered their land and they built series of tunnels and tombs under the ground (up to 5 layers deep) called catacombs.

The whole gang on the road...

Parts of the Circus of Maxentius (a chariot race course)...

The road itself and I think that is wheel ruts in the stones...

In the area leading into the catacombs...

The catacombs...apparently I wasn't supposed to take pictures...Oops!

We had lunch in this LOVELY park under some orange trees, Case was helping out his brother and sister on the teeter-totter...

This was our last outing with Uncle Shannon...she flew home that day (well, at least boarded the plane for Amterdam that day)...we miss you!

Have a wonderful day!

Ciao a tutti!

Galgano Monastery...

Have you noticed that we can't go the same way twice? The way home from Siena was a WONDERFUL trip through the forested area called Montagnolo (medium-sized mountains). One of the side trips was to this old monastery...

It was REALLY pretty, even though it was a ruin. Tobin managed to snatch a lizard for the boys...they were beside themselves and Gwen screamed like a girl (which if you know her, is really different)...

A close up of our friend...

And not to be left out...

So why is this abbey important...as the story is told...Saint Galgano was a 12-century saint who lived like a hermit. He didn't have a cross, so he buried his sword to the hilt in a stone (think King Arthur in reverse). Here is the sword in the stone...

In this chapel is the remains (bones) of a persons hands, apparently he tried to take the sword out of the stone and a wolf killed him...and his hands are on display...I do have a pic but decided to show it only to those who are interested!

I have told you that I am obsessed with going to the local TIs and getting maps and brochures...well apparently I am rubbing off on my kids. They all constantly ask if we can go to a TI and get maps. Case has even figured out what the TI sign looks like (a brown sign with a white lower case italized i) and constantly points out that they are close. Yesterday he said, 'We are in LUCK, there is a TI here.' No matter about priceless art and historical significance, if there is a TI we are all good!

Just to let you know...I am taking a break from the computer this weekend. Tobin and I are going on an early anniversary getaway weekend...to Venice! I can't tell you how excited I am! It has been so long since just Tobin and I have gone anywhere! We haven't had a night away from the kids since before Clayton was born (he just turned 4) and we haven't gone away for a weekend since I was pregnant with Case (that is about 6 1/2 years)! Besides that, we got reservations at the most perfect hotel in Venice! Right in the middle of the action but not on the main drag...close to a vaporetto stop...and decently priced! I am giddy with anticipation! I have all sorts of things planned...gondola ride, St. Marks square and basilica, the islands of Murano (glass) and Burano (lace), and last but not least...being ALONE with Tobin!!!! I am EXCITED!!!!!

I am sure to write again on Monday...have a wonderful weekend!
Ciao a tutti!

Thingy...

On Tuesday, because we were celebrating Gwen's birthday a day early, I had to go to our favorite bakery in Pescia Romana...you can see it here. Well, once we (me, the kids, and Uncle Shannon) got there it was, of course, closed for siesta. Instead of going home, we decided to just drive around a bit...there is always something to explore. We found the TINY town of Pescia Fiorentina...blink and you miss it. And then we saw signs for Cosa...for those of you who don't know italian...cosa means thing...literally! So here we are driving around looking for this THING! We didn't know what it was...it is actually on the map as Cosa...thing! As we were driving, we couldn't help but laugh at our great adventure to find the THING...what is it? You tell us...

As usual Gwen just can't be left behind...

What is the thing? A thing! Some roman ruins of a thing...

We drove and drove...we found it...we still don't know what the thing is...just a thingy.

Ciao a tutti!

Volterra...

Yes! For those of you who have read the Twilight Saga...yes! This is the same Volterra that Meyer wrote about in the second book! On Sunday (I am still writing about last Sunday...it was a REALLY long day and we didn't get home until midnight...we are tired!) after we went to Pisa and Lucca, we went the back way home through Volterra. On the way there we saw this awesome rainbow...

We reached Volterra at about 7pm and enjoyed our first real experience in an Italian resturant (thank you Rick Steves')...we were really adventurous and ordered different KINDS of pizza! It was really good...we even got to have some vino! Again, it has been hard to do resturants because we don't know enough Italian to order anything for us let alone the kids! So this was a real treat...I loved it! Just outside the old city walls is this roman ampitheater...

The town also has 'the only Etruscan archway' in existance...at least that is what they say. Apparently in WWII, the Nazis were retreating through this town and wanted to blow up the arch to stop the allied advance...the people of the town ripped the stones out of the road and blocked the arch and convince the retreating Nazi army not to blow it up...

As we were walking through this old castle turned town at dusk, one can really understand why Meyer chose to use it in her book. Bats flying overhead, people looking at you funny (well, I guess we get that everywhere we go here, but it certainly added to the ambiance of the place)...it is easy to just let your imagination go! Here is the Tuscan view from the town at dusk...

Phew! Last weekend is done now! On to other fun stuff! I think we have explored more in the past month and a half than we have in Case's entire life! Good thing our rental car has unlimited miles!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

Ciao a tutti!

Vulci...

I feel a little behind on our adventures right now...I was pretty busy this weekend getting things ready for Clayton's birthday...hopefully I will catch up this week! On Friday afternoon, we (the kids and I, Grandma, Shilo, and Shannon) went to Vulci. Vulci is an archeological park very close to Montalto and it is the most intact ruins of an Etruscan town in Italy. It's crowning glory (which were closed when we were visiting) is the frescos in the Francois Tomb...they have the most preserved frescos with the colors intact...next visit! It also has an Etruscan museum in a castle which we saved for another occasion. As it was, we went on a 4 km hike with the kids through the Lazio countryside. Warm when the sun was out, but pleasant with the breeze. Here is a picture of one of the sites...this is an aristocrat's residence...

Here is a picture of the tilework that was under the roof...tiles were about 1/4 inch square...

This was probably the coolest part of the park...this is an underground corridor, lit by sky lights from the ground above us...it is called a criptoportico...

Here is Gwen with her map...taking after her mom...I never leave home without a half a dozen maps these days...you never know when you need one, or what fun stuff you might miss out on if you don't bring them!

Ah, Gwen...had been acting VERY two in Vulci...it was a good thing there weren't alot of people. She has a very independent streak and stubbornly refuses to do anything with help...wonder where she gets that! The silver lining...she is the only one of my kids who threw a major temper tantrum in an Etruscan ruin! Eventually, she came around a bit and at least wanted to be with the family. Here she is peeking over one of the ruin walls looking at a lizard sunning himself...

And what would an Etruscan ruin be without a picture of an Etruscan road...

And the prize for hiking down the hill...a pretty waterfall!

We enjoyed our walk, Etruscan ruins, and beautiful Lazio countryside. Now, if I can get my 2 year-old to behave and enjoy ruins...life would be perfect! (I am dreaming...life is perfect just as it is)

Ciao a tutti

Ostia Antica...

Sunday, we needed to go back to the airport to trade in our rental car. Apparently, the Alfa Romeo sports car that we were driving was the wrong one! Who knew! It was a great little car, and seriously fun to drive. Our new car is a black Peugeot...it is hard to believe, but I think that this 4-door car is actually smaller than our original sports car! At least now we have 3 seat belts in the back and the extra doors are handy (except that Gwen's newest passion is opening the door when we are zooming down the Autostrada...I have since learned how to lock the door, but poor Grandma's heart may never be the same again), and the trunk space is the same or a smidge bigger. It is hard to get used to another manual, I keep gunning the engine! Watch out pedestrians!

So after the exciting trip to the airport...off we were to Ostia Antica. I REALLY liked this trip. I am sure in some way this is heretical, but these ruins were way better than the Roman Forum. Sure, the Forum is the more politically and historically important sight, but as far as ruins go...it was much better. They are in much better shape, actual signs around (even in english) so that one actually knew what we were looking at...it is not in the center of a large city and even has shade...overall, a very enjoyable experience!

A little on Ostia Antica...Ostia means mouth...so the city was at the mouth of the Tiber River controlling all the trade and water traffic into Rome...so it was the place to be. Rivers being what they are, the mouth of the river moved and the town found itself land-locked. After a plague, the town was abandoned and eventually covered by sediment up to the second floors of buildings. You can think of Ostia Antica as a sister site to Pompeii...where Pompeii was a weathly comunity and covered by volcanic ash...Ostia Antica is a working class town and it is much easier to imagine daily life. This site is also better preserved than Pompeii and much less touristy.

I am constantly blown away at the sophisication of the people that lived so long ago...the ornate decorations in stone and tile are truly amazing! Heck, the Romans invented indoor plumbing! One never really thinks much about it until you are faced with the sheer size and monumental task that is, especially without modern equipment to get the job done...you really get a feel for the amount of slave labor that was used to accomplish such tasks!

Here is a pic of part of the necropolus..

Here we are looking at one of the multitude of baths that were present...the tile work is seriously impressive...the tiles are about 1/2 inch square...

This is the ampitheater...

And yes, we ALL were there (I am trying to sneak in pics with me in them...kind of hard sometimes when I am the one that takes the pictures)...

We had a bit of a grumpy Gwen, but big brother Case was all about helping out...

And here are some cool column pics of the kids...

Well, I guess she wasn't grumpy the whole time...

The ruins here are very extensive...they seemed to just keep going and going...

And what is a visit to a Roman ruin without a picture of a Roman road...

We really enjoyed our visit here, and very much recomend it to anyone traveling to Italy. It might not be the most must see, but I definitely think you get a bang for your buck!

This week has been more low key than last...I am trying to get ready for Clayton's birthday and doing regular household things...trying to get that laundry dry whenever the sun decides to peek through the clouds. I think that I am beginning to make my first Italian friend. I admit it is very difficult for me to chat with anyone. With the three kids it is hard, add the different language and it almost seems impossible, and then add in a TON of rain and I just don't get many chances to try! But I am starting to have REAL chats with the bread store lady! Today, I just went with Gwen (the store is literally 2 houses away) and there was no one in the store...she communicated that she wanted to learn English and I wanted to learn Italian! I was certainly encouraged...we spent a few moments trying to figure out several words...FUN!!! I am thinking of inviting her to my house some afternoon for coffee or something (the bread store closes every afternoon...though I don't know if she has other commitments...at least it is worth a try)...so here is to being brave!

I hope that you are having a wonderful afternoon!

Ciao a tutti!