JUST WALKING IN THE RAIN.

   SATURDAY, MAY 14TH., 2016
   JUST WALKING IN THE RAIN.

      Into each life a little rain must
fall and it fell on us during our visit
to Rome today. In fact, for a little
while, it poured on us. Still the
precipitation failed to dampen the
spirits of the folks enjoying our
Travelword tour of Tuscany.
      Rain or not there was
something to see everywhere.
Even another country! The Vatican
is it's own state and a lot of people
were gathered in Saint Peter's Square
checking the place out. They told
me some important guy lives there.
I guess the people were hoping for
an autograph.
     We spotted a few of the famous
Swiss guards near the gates. But
just in case their spears weren't
enough to discourage unwanted
visitors, I noticed some members
of the military near by armed
with more sophisticated weapons.
      Then there was the Flavian
Amphitheater, better know to most
as the Colosseum!
      Built in 80 AD the place shows
it's age just a bit. It hasn't been used
for awhile. Ben Hur was filmed here
in 1959. But since then in mainly
attracts tourists.
     A couple members of our tour
group suggested I could draw a
crowd if I took center stage there.
I think they said something about
me playing with the lion's! I guess
it's some kind of team.
     Hope I get a thumb's up...and
that all your NEWS is good!

RAILROADED!

  FRIDAY, MAY 13TH., 2016
          RAILROADED!

       My wife and I were railroaded
today! But it's all good.
       This "railroad", actually a cable
car tram, carried us up the side of a
mountain and into a tiny Italian town
you might have expected to see back
in the early 40's.
         Montecatini Alta is a community
literally built on top on a mountain. I
half expected to see Michael Corleone
walking with his bodyguards through
the town or along the narrow streets
where backyard gardens are full of
Olive trees.
        Our Travelworld Tuscany tour
hits all of the popular spots like
Florence, Venice, and Rome. But
the quaint quality of this village
seems about as Italian as you can
find anywhere!
        I did, however, manage to find
what I'd consider a taste of America
as well!  A Strawberry sundae! I
love when cultures collide!
        Hope the tram waits for me to
head back...and that all your NEWS
is good!

ROW, ROW,ROW,YOUR BOAT!

    THURSDAY, MAY 12TH., 2016
   ROW, ROW, ROW, YOUR BOAT!

    It's hard to pick a highlight of our
Travelworld tour to the Tuscany area
of Italy. Each day brings new wonders!
     Today our group road one of the most
modern highways we've ever seen with
tunnels a mile or more long carrying us
through mountainsides only to come out
the other side looking a fields of grape
vines an olive trees just off the roadway.
      Our destination was Venice, And
you don't actually get their by bus! Once
you're close you board a water taxi that
carries you past classic buildings to a
dock in the city of canals and small
bridges. We became part of the estimated
50,000 tourists who come each year to
see places like the Piazza San Marco.
      I figured it was a good place to have
pizza so my wife and I stopped at a small
restaurant for lunch. She had some sort of
a healthy fruit and ham concoction. But
I opted for my pizza. It wasn't bad! But
it also wasn't cut! We're all used to getting
a usually round pie cut into 6 or 8 slices.
     I got the pizza and a knife. I didn't
have to speak Italian to realize the
cutting would be up to me! I managed.
     Then our group boarded a number
of classic gondolas for a fantastic ride
on a few of the city's canals. One of
the vessels included an extremely
talented tenor who serenaded us as we
cruised along! It doesn't get much more
romantic than that!
       Hope I get my land legs back for
tomorrow's touring and that all your
NEWS is good!

 
     

STONED!

   WEDNESDAY, MAY 11TH., 2016
               STONED!

        I saw a lot of stones today. I saw
them underfoot as I marched, like the
Roman Legions, throughout the city
of Florence, Italy. It seemed like a
hundred miles. But that's just because
we enjoyed a long walking tour of the
city over marble and cobblestones set
down a whole lot of years ago!
       It's kind of amazing when we
think of historical places in the
United State which may be 200 years
old. Around here 200 years would be
consider new construction!
       Our Travelworld tour included
a look at some other "stones." Several
granite stones carved into figures by
a fellow named Michelangelo a while
back. His art work draws millions of
people to this historic renaissance
town each year. A couple were
started but left unfinished when the
guy was called to Rome to paint a
ceiling I a chapel there. I thought
about working on them while I was
here. But the guards suggested the
only rocks I'd end up breaking would
be at hard labor...and not in any
museum!
        Maybe I'll just start a rock
garden when I get back. Hope it's
not hardtop grow rock...and that
all your NEWS is good!
             

LEAN ON ME!

   TUESDAY, MAY 10TH., 2016
            LEAN ON ME!

      Well after a two hour bus ride to
Newark, an eight hour flight to Europe,
and another bus ride to check out
out first sights, we are in Italy.
        You should see all the Italian
license plates here.
         I can't spend a lot of time with
you on my blog. I've about used it all
up. As I write, I have been awake for
29 and a half hours and I've just ten
minutes to change and get down fr
dinner.
        We have a fantastic group of
people on our Travelworld tour and
a really great guide who knows his
stuff.
         We 're also blessed after flying
in through heavy fog and rain to find
our selves touring on a beautiful
sunshiny day.
          Hope I can keep up with
everybody and that all your NEWS
is good!

CIAO!

     MONDAY, MAY 9TH., 2016
                   CIAO!                    

         Well dear readers, the day
has arrived. Today my wife and
I lead 44 other adventure seekers
and head across the Atlantic on a
trip to Italy. Travelworld has
arranged a wonderful tour and
we're anxious to visit the land
from which part of both of our
families originated.
        My wife was actually there
once before and I did manage to
visit one small town on a trip we
hosted to Switzerland a few years
back.
        I have already been cautioned
not to expect to find either Grotto
or Old Forge Pizza there!
        My special thanks to Karl
who has moved into our home
to watch over things during our
trip. Since he doesn't drive we're
just hoping we left enough food
for the guy! At least he won't
have to tend to the grass. We
recruited my grandson for that!
        Because of the time difference
and unknown Wifi availability my
blog postings may be a bit erratic
so I hope you're bear with me.
       I've prepared myself as much
as possible for the trip by watching
the Godfather epic. Since I'm from
Hazleton "back in the day", much
of it was just a review. I do think
I may have misheard what they said
in one scene because we already ate
the cannoli's!
       Hope our tour is great and that
all your NEWS is good!

        
        

MAKING MEMORIES!

   SUNDAY, MAY 8TH., 2016
      MAKING MEMORIES!

    It's Mother's Day and most
Moms are likely to see a card,
some flowers, and maybe even
a special dinner.
    There's a lot of love that
comes with those gifts. But 
there's always just a little extra
love included when a gift is
home made!
     Yesterday my wife and I
were invited along as my son,
his wife, and two of our grand
children visited Creekside
Gardens in Tunkhannock.
      One of the staff members
there guided our grand daughter
as she planted a small flower
in a biodegradable pot  She
decorated her work then
presented it to her Mommy and
Grannie for Mother's Day!
     Call it "hand made" if you
want. I might suggest that "heart
made" might be more appropriate.
      I know the plant won't last
forever. But the memory will!
       Hope you have a Happy
Mother's Day and that all your
NEWS is good!