Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Posted with Blogsy
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Rome, Italy
Spent the last six days in Rome. Tried to arrange a personal audience with the Pope, but he was on vacation. St. Peter's Basilica was truly awesome, and the Sistine Chapel was amazing! The ceiling painted by Michelangelo may well be the greatest single artistic endeavor by any human being. Stunning!
We are on our way home tomorrow. After nearly four months, we are ready!
We are on our way home tomorrow. After nearly four months, we are ready!
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Sorrento, Italy
We toured Pompeii on August 24, the 1933rd anniversary of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and then went to Naples to the archeological museum to view the frescoes and mosaics of Pompeii. Yesterday we visited Positano, touring the Amalfi Coast by bus and boat - very scenic! Sorrento is supposed to be a more laid-back resort city, but we found it very busy and touristy. We are off to Rome this morning on the final leg of our trip.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Assisi, Italy
We have been walking in the footsteps of St. Francis and St. Clare. Assisi is a beautiful hilltop town in Umbria.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Siena, Italy
Florence has more art, but Siena has better atmosphere. Il Campo - the best town square in Europe:
The Palio - horse races- are held in the town square twice a year. Horses and their jockies make three laps and the whole thing is over in a minute. Imagine thousands of people in this town square watching. It is a big deal:
The medieval core of the city is very well preserved:
The cathedral is spectacular::
The Palio - horse races- are held in the town square twice a year. Horses and their jockies make three laps and the whole thing is over in a minute. Imagine thousands of people in this town square watching. It is a big deal:
The medieval core of the city is very well preserved:
The cathedral is spectacular::
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Siena, Italy
Before arriving in Siena, we had to stop in Pisa to see the Leaning Tower:
The cathedral is pretty spectacular as well:
The cathedral is pretty spectacular as well:
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Florence, Italy
We have been soaking up the art and history of Florence:
Moving on to Siena, Assisi, Sorrento and Rome.
Moving on to Siena, Assisi, Sorrento and Rome.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Venice, Italy
We have been enjoying Venice the last two days. The city is one of the great wonders of the world - a lot of fun to just wander around:
St. Mark's Square was the center of civic and religious life for what was a very powerful republic during medieval times.
St. Mark's Basilica is full of gorgeous Byzantine-style mosaics dating from renaissance times:
St. Mark's Square was the center of civic and religious life for what was a very powerful republic during medieval times.
St. Mark's Basilica is full of gorgeous Byzantine-style mosaics dating from renaissance times:
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Nice, France
We are currently on the French Riviera with the rest of France. Beautiful beaches (though rocks rather than sand) and lots of sun. Elton John, Sean Connery and Paul Allen own homes here. Nice is nice but we wouldn't want to live here.
The Marc Chagall National Museum was amazing! He has a series of works here on the Bible. Chagall had wonderful spiritual sensitivity. The visit of the three angels to Abraham:
The creation of man:
The Marc Chagall National Museum was amazing! He has a series of works here on the Bible. Chagall had wonderful spiritual sensitivity. The visit of the three angels to Abraham:
The creation of man:
Friday, August 10, 2012
Carcassone, France
We have spent the last two nights within the walls of the medieval city of Carcassonne. You can easily imagine you are in the 12th century if you ignore the hordes of tourists and all the souvenir shops. This is one of Europe's top tourist attractions. Three million a year come here - I think a million were here the last two days! The streets are filled with little boys carrying toy swords. We will be well defended in case of enemy attack!
The walls and towers are beautifully lit up at night:
The walls and towers are beautifully lit up at night:
Carcassone, France
We have enjoyed visiting many of the main sites in Provence. The Pont de Gard is a very well preserved Roman aqueduct with many places to enjoy a picnic:
The Roman theatre in Orange is the largest in Europe:
Les Baux, a castle well-situated on a hill just outside of Arles, was the home of a powerful lord:
The Roman theatre in Orange is the largest in Europe:
Les Baux, a castle well-situated on a hill just outside of Arles, was the home of a powerful lord:
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Arles, France
We are currently in Southern France (Provence) in the city of Arles. Arles is known especially for two things: it's Roman ruins, and Vincent van Gogh. The Roman amphitheater is well preserved:
Bullfights are staged here, though the bull is no longer killed.
One of my favorite van Gogh paintings is "The Cafe terrace at Night." (I have it framed on a wall at home). I was excited to find the actual scene he painted in the main square:
Van Gogh lived in Arles for about a year (1888) and painted many of his most classic works. Then mental illness set in.
The cafe scene in Arles is quite lively:
Bullfights are staged here, though the bull is no longer killed.
One of my favorite van Gogh paintings is "The Cafe terrace at Night." (I have it framed on a wall at home). I was excited to find the actual scene he painted in the main square:
The cafe scene in Arles is quite lively:
Monday, August 6, 2012
Arles, France
Sunday we worshipped with 5,000 mostly young people (under thirty) in the small village of Taize, France. Young people come from all over the world to this place to experience spiritual renewal. They spend as much as a week here, and many of them camp In tents nearby. . .The Taize community is served by monastic brothers from the Catholic, Anglican and Reformed traditions. It was so encouraging to worship with so many youth who are serious about living out their faith! It was truly a Pentecostal event in that we worshiped in about 6 languages. Taize music is very contemplative and worshipful - we have used several of their songs in worship at MPC.
Right next to Taize are the remains of the greatest monastic settlement in the Middle Ages: The abbey of Cluny. Here once stood the largest church in Europe, second only to St. Peter's in Rome. Sadly, it was almost completely destroyed during the French Revolution. All that remains is a large tower and a few ruins here and there. The church occupied the center gap in this picture, stretching beyond the small building in the middle:
Right next to Taize are the remains of the greatest monastic settlement in the Middle Ages: The abbey of Cluny. Here once stood the largest church in Europe, second only to St. Peter's in Rome. Sadly, it was almost completely destroyed during the French Revolution. All that remains is a large tower and a few ruins here and there. The church occupied the center gap in this picture, stretching beyond the small building in the middle:
Friday, August 3, 2012
Paris, France
Greetings from Paris!
The Luxembourg Gardens:
Paris has fabulous parks with flowers everywhere:
The Luxembourg Gardens:
Paris has fabulous parks with flowers everywhere:
Monday, July 30, 2012
Paris, France
"In Paris they simply stared when I spoke French; I never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language." Mark Twain
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Sancerre, France
Au revoir, Sancerre! À Paris!
We said goodbye to our excellent French teacher, Marianne. She was very patient with us!
We said goodbye to our excellent French teacher, Marianne. She was very patient with us!
Friday, July 27, 2012
Sancerre, France
Some scenes around the village of Sancerre. Our school:
St. Satur, the village below us:
16th century detail on the school roof:
I still have a hard time thinking this not a movie set!
St. Satur, the village below us:
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