October 17
Colorado
Final, Final Entry (Kind of like genuine fake as opposed to fake fake)
I would be remiss if I did not mention we encountered evidence of Martis in Italy (around Rome and Florence) all over Catalan Spain, and, of course, the bunch in Switzerland. So, apparently, Martis have been kicked out of several places over the centuries, but, I want to address the O'Briens and their ilk.
The Irish are ubiquitous. We found an Irish pub INSIDE THE WALLS OF THE MEDIEVAL CITY OF DUBROVNIK! INSIDE! Along the marble walkways, beside the stores of crafts, around the corner from the church. And, we found Irish pubs galore in the small port of Kusadasi, Turkey, and in Naples, and everywhere in Rome (across from Trevi fountain and across from the Vatican! The Vatican!!) In Florence, Irish pubs flourish in view of Michealangelo's David. In Barcelona, on a three block pedestrian pathway connecting La Rambla to the Barrio Gottic, there are FOUR!!
The Irish (and O'Briens) are everywhere. And everywhere they go they take their booze and try to foist it onto the local public at large.
God love em.
That is all.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Marti, Bacardi, and Gaudi Tour 2007
October 17
Colorado
Final Entry
We must get to the bottom of the Saint Marti story. We checked the internet but didn't find anything definitive quickly so we called our faithful guide from Florence, Felipo. He referred us directly to his brother, Father Roberto, who works in the Vatican for the Pope as a historian and political advisor.
We called Father Roberto and he gave us the straight skinny on Saint Marti.
We recorded our phone conversation with him.
"Hello. Father Roberto?"
"Si."
"This is Phil Marti. Your brother referred us to you. We have discovered there is a Saint Marti. Can you tell us about him?"
"Si."
"Will you tell us about him?"
"Are you Catholic?"
"No, but I wear sandals a lot during the summer, and we know Father John Lager personally."
"Papa John? You aknowa Papa John?"
"Yes, we do. He prayed for us at our wedding. He wears sandals, too, sometimes."
"Si, si. Yoo giva monee to deh Capachins?"
"Yes, Father Roberto. Many times."
"Alrightee den. Ahma tella yoo abowt de Santa Marti, eben do yoo notta good Catholic. Eben do yoo a heathen."
I took a deep breath.
"De Santa Marti, he wowsa poh parish priesta ina village by Barcelona, ina Espana. He wowsa bery poh becowz he hadda de five dowdas, and hadda beena marry two time. Twice!! He wowsanta bery smart. Butta he wowsa good man. He work bery hard and try bery hard, worka alla time. Alla time. Pray and work, and hava dowdas. And den, he haza worka widda hizza seesta who lives ina same town, of cowrze, and she keepa good detail ona everyting. Anda so, nows heza haffa two wife, five dowda, ana a seesta. Den, ina his church, heza has tree nuns heza worka wif evry day, de Seesta Jilleo, de Seesta Pameo, ana de Seesta StarzaInaSky. Dey waza needy and demandin kinda wimmens. So, yoo see, dissa poh fello heza surround bya de wimmenh alla hizza life. Poh fello. Wella, ona day de Pup, heza hear abowt dis fello, Papa Marti, and hizza whole story and de Pup, heza say' "Ow, dizza poh man. He musta be a Saint!!" And, den, whaddayooknow, de nex day, de Pup, he die. And de Cardinals, dey heard him say dizza poh fello, he musta be a Saint, ana de alla say, "Dis musta bin de Pup's dying wish, and so, dey maka de poh fello Papa Marti, de Saint Marti, de Patron Saint of many dowdas and many wimmens. And dere yoo hava it."
Indeed.
Go Rockies!!!
Colorado
Final Entry
We must get to the bottom of the Saint Marti story. We checked the internet but didn't find anything definitive quickly so we called our faithful guide from Florence, Felipo. He referred us directly to his brother, Father Roberto, who works in the Vatican for the Pope as a historian and political advisor.
We called Father Roberto and he gave us the straight skinny on Saint Marti.
We recorded our phone conversation with him.
"Hello. Father Roberto?"
"Si."
"This is Phil Marti. Your brother referred us to you. We have discovered there is a Saint Marti. Can you tell us about him?"
"Si."
"Will you tell us about him?"
"Are you Catholic?"
"No, but I wear sandals a lot during the summer, and we know Father John Lager personally."
"Papa John? You aknowa Papa John?"
"Yes, we do. He prayed for us at our wedding. He wears sandals, too, sometimes."
"Si, si. Yoo giva monee to deh Capachins?"
"Yes, Father Roberto. Many times."
"Alrightee den. Ahma tella yoo abowt de Santa Marti, eben do yoo notta good Catholic. Eben do yoo a heathen."
I took a deep breath.
"De Santa Marti, he wowsa poh parish priesta ina village by Barcelona, ina Espana. He wowsa bery poh becowz he hadda de five dowdas, and hadda beena marry two time. Twice!! He wowsanta bery smart. Butta he wowsa good man. He work bery hard and try bery hard, worka alla time. Alla time. Pray and work, and hava dowdas. And den, he haza worka widda hizza seesta who lives ina same town, of cowrze, and she keepa good detail ona everyting. Anda so, nows heza haffa two wife, five dowda, ana a seesta. Den, ina his church, heza has tree nuns heza worka wif evry day, de Seesta Jilleo, de Seesta Pameo, ana de Seesta StarzaInaSky. Dey waza needy and demandin kinda wimmens. So, yoo see, dissa poh fello heza surround bya de wimmenh alla hizza life. Poh fello. Wella, ona day de Pup, heza hear abowt dis fello, Papa Marti, and hizza whole story and de Pup, heza say' "Ow, dizza poh man. He musta be a Saint!!" And, den, whaddayooknow, de nex day, de Pup, he die. And de Cardinals, dey heard him say dizza poh fello, he musta be a Saint, ana de alla say, "Dis musta bin de Pup's dying wish, and so, dey maka de poh fello Papa Marti, de Saint Marti, de Patron Saint of many dowdas and many wimmens. And dere yoo hava it."
Indeed.
Go Rockies!!!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Such is life!
Well although we all go through trials and tribulations in life... today (well yesterday) was not suppose to be one of those days. So this is the month of October, it is just amazing how time flies. I have successfully moved into my beautiful new home (for pictures please request), began training to become a bartender at my job and many more minor accomplishments... but as the good comes so does the bad. :( Yesterday as i was leaving my development to go to work i rear-ended a jeep wrangler. Although i truthfully think it was the idiots fault who stoped dead in a continuing turning lane, my opinion is irrevelent. My poor baby (car that is) is pretty messed up (with restraint in using stronger words.) I was not going very fast and both me and the other driver are just fine, minus some neck pain. But in in conclusion i wanted everyone to know that i am fine and me and my dinky rental (i feel like i am driving a toy car) will make it until my car is fixed. Hope everyone is doing well and can't wait to see you all in the very near future.
Alesha
Alesha
Monday, October 8, 2007
Marti, Bacardi, Gaudi Tour 2007
We are where we began in beautiful, vibrant Barcelona, a city that never sleeps; a city of many, many beautiful buildings, a city with the languages of the world in the street, a city remade by Gaudi. We see many Martis here. When we checked in our desk clerk said, "Marti? Senor, yours is a Catalan name?" And, guess what, there are three streets in the city named Marti, and a metro stop at Sant Marti. We are trying to find out who this fellow was, but, after all, wouldn't we expect to be connected to a Saint if we thought about it a little. He is probably the patron saint of men with many daughters. He probably died of apoplexy when he came home one day from a bocci ball tournament that got rained out and discovered his teen aged daughter had taken the second mule into Barcelona to shop on LaRambla. (Hello, Alesha.).
We have visited Gaudi's most famous residential buildings and La Sagrada Familia and the Parc Guell (which I call---to Jane's consternation----Park Gooey). From the metro stop one must climb a hill to reach Park Gooey, if "climb a hill" is used in the same sense one would say climbing Mt. Everest is a nice hike. There are not so many stairs on the stairway to heaven. Park Gooey is a failed real estate development. Gaudi and a partner went onto the hillside above the city with the intent of building Gaudi homes for the wealthy. The homes would be surrounded by abundant open space and each would have a view across the city to the sea. He built elaborate infrastructure, including a charming hillside road supported by tree like columns, and a park with mosaic benches, a waterfall and a signature gecko, and, finally, two spec houses. Neither home sold. The development folded and was sliding into decay when, after Gaudi's death at the hands of the infamous trolley, the city stepped in, bought the entire development and made it into a park.
We had started the day in the great central market, about a square block of fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish----the whole shooting match----which fronts on La Rambla not far from our hotel. Speaking of our hotel, we are in the Montecarlo. It is on La Rambla and our room is on La Rambla with a balcony. We stand on it and watch the parade pass below us. We figured we would be able to disembark the ship at our leisure since we didn't have a plane to catch but they threw us off at 6:45AM. We grabbed a cab and were at our hotel at 8:30. Our room, of course, would not be ready until 3. We wandered La Rambla and the Gothic Quarter, had breakfast, bought a Lladro Santa Claus for Jane and came back by the hotel around 10:30 to drop it off to store with our luggage. Voila! Our room was ready.
We have seen some of the world's most unique wonders on this trip. We have been to the Parthenon and walked where the Greeks gathered. We have been to Ephesus and walked where Paul and John walked and preached. We have wandered the ruins of Pompeii, and the Colosseum where Emperors and gladiators played and died. We have been in Vatican City and St. Peter's Basilica. We have wandered the streets of Florence and walked where Leonardo and Michaelangelo and Galileo lived and worked. Each of those great historical treasures is a testament to man's determination and his genius and his dedication. But La Sagrada Familia stands alone in its testament to the imagination and artistic inspiration of one man. Gaudi began it in 1882 and spent the last twelve years of his life devoted to its construction. He knew he would not live to see it completed and the plans he left contemplated others would continue the work. When we were here five years ago with the kids little was being done to forward the construction. It is funded completely by donations and the fees charged to enter it. Today construction is feverish. Four cranes sprout from the site. Scaffolding fills much of the interior and the unfinished east side. Activity is frenetic and there appears to be a great sense of purpose in the pursuit of the project. Perhaps it will be finished in your lifetimes. I would love to see it completed. We have been to St. Pauls in London and now to St. Peters, the two great cathedrals of Catholicism, but, I think, when this is done, it will stand alone in its magnificence.
We are on our afternoon break. Jane is bathing. In a while we will venture out onto La Rambla again, find a nice shady table on the boulevard, sip wine (perhaps Sangria tonight) and watch the human parade for an hour or so and then contemplate the evening.
We are in the home stretch. The long flight looms on Wednesday.
Oh, well. We look forward to seeing everyone. We will have a post trip dinner and show photos and stuff.
We were watching the Rockies yesterday morning when we had to leave the boat, but we stopped on the way to the gangway and saw them score the winning run. So, on to the Dbacks. I will call Wingie Thursday morning and get a bet going with him on the series for the NL pennant. That will get his blood up.
Big love. Mean it. See you soon.
We have visited Gaudi's most famous residential buildings and La Sagrada Familia and the Parc Guell (which I call---to Jane's consternation----Park Gooey). From the metro stop one must climb a hill to reach Park Gooey, if "climb a hill" is used in the same sense one would say climbing Mt. Everest is a nice hike. There are not so many stairs on the stairway to heaven. Park Gooey is a failed real estate development. Gaudi and a partner went onto the hillside above the city with the intent of building Gaudi homes for the wealthy. The homes would be surrounded by abundant open space and each would have a view across the city to the sea. He built elaborate infrastructure, including a charming hillside road supported by tree like columns, and a park with mosaic benches, a waterfall and a signature gecko, and, finally, two spec houses. Neither home sold. The development folded and was sliding into decay when, after Gaudi's death at the hands of the infamous trolley, the city stepped in, bought the entire development and made it into a park.
We had started the day in the great central market, about a square block of fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish----the whole shooting match----which fronts on La Rambla not far from our hotel. Speaking of our hotel, we are in the Montecarlo. It is on La Rambla and our room is on La Rambla with a balcony. We stand on it and watch the parade pass below us. We figured we would be able to disembark the ship at our leisure since we didn't have a plane to catch but they threw us off at 6:45AM. We grabbed a cab and were at our hotel at 8:30. Our room, of course, would not be ready until 3. We wandered La Rambla and the Gothic Quarter, had breakfast, bought a Lladro Santa Claus for Jane and came back by the hotel around 10:30 to drop it off to store with our luggage. Voila! Our room was ready.
We have seen some of the world's most unique wonders on this trip. We have been to the Parthenon and walked where the Greeks gathered. We have been to Ephesus and walked where Paul and John walked and preached. We have wandered the ruins of Pompeii, and the Colosseum where Emperors and gladiators played and died. We have been in Vatican City and St. Peter's Basilica. We have wandered the streets of Florence and walked where Leonardo and Michaelangelo and Galileo lived and worked. Each of those great historical treasures is a testament to man's determination and his genius and his dedication. But La Sagrada Familia stands alone in its testament to the imagination and artistic inspiration of one man. Gaudi began it in 1882 and spent the last twelve years of his life devoted to its construction. He knew he would not live to see it completed and the plans he left contemplated others would continue the work. When we were here five years ago with the kids little was being done to forward the construction. It is funded completely by donations and the fees charged to enter it. Today construction is feverish. Four cranes sprout from the site. Scaffolding fills much of the interior and the unfinished east side. Activity is frenetic and there appears to be a great sense of purpose in the pursuit of the project. Perhaps it will be finished in your lifetimes. I would love to see it completed. We have been to St. Pauls in London and now to St. Peters, the two great cathedrals of Catholicism, but, I think, when this is done, it will stand alone in its magnificence.
We are on our afternoon break. Jane is bathing. In a while we will venture out onto La Rambla again, find a nice shady table on the boulevard, sip wine (perhaps Sangria tonight) and watch the human parade for an hour or so and then contemplate the evening.
We are in the home stretch. The long flight looms on Wednesday.
Oh, well. We look forward to seeing everyone. We will have a post trip dinner and show photos and stuff.
We were watching the Rockies yesterday morning when we had to leave the boat, but we stopped on the way to the gangway and saw them score the winning run. So, on to the Dbacks. I will call Wingie Thursday morning and get a bet going with him on the series for the NL pennant. That will get his blood up.
Big love. Mean it. See you soon.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Marti, Bacardi, and Gaudi Tour 2007
October 5
On the Cote D'zur
at Ville France
with Monaco to the east and Nice and Canne on the west
Today we had our last private concert of the Music at Sea group. Our group is 43 people plus our travel agent (from San Diego) and includes people from Singapore, Hong Kong, our threesome (us, Terry and Jean Sparks, and Ron and Sharon Wedeking from Iowa) and a couple from Colorado Springs and one from Boulder, and a ninety year old lady travelling on her own (she lives outside Washington, D. C.) and we have people from Texas, Mississippi, Canada, and several other places. Most of them have been on previous Music at Sea tours. Our entertainer is Brooks Aehron, a British concert pianist. He has played three private concerts for us and he is terrific. This last concert was held at a Chateau which sits on about 2,500 acres in the hills west and north of our port of call. It is hilly, wooded land, and the chateau is a winery (one million bottles a year), grows olives in commercial quantities and produces its own olive oil, and operates a small business meeting oriented hotel and conference center. The heart of the property is the ancient chateau (jane may have included a photo or two). Brooks played for us in its grand room on a $200,000 Steinway. The adventure of the day, though, was getting there. Our driver took a wrong turn about half way there and a one and a half hour drive became almost three hours, much of it on twisting, turning, one to one and one half lane country roads, often with severe drop offs and hairpin turns. Jane had plopped us down directly behind the driver and there we were, watching every near death experience.
Tonight is the last big formal night on ship, with all the lobster you can eat and a boat load of festivities.
Go Rockies!! Our cabin boy, Seldon, from Trinidad, is a huge American sports fan; knows what is happening in college and pro football, and follows base ball, too. The Rockies game against Philly was on last night, in the middle of the night. We fell asleep when we were ahead 10-4 in the seventh inning. What a run they have had. I may have to quit calling Clint Hurdle the worst manager in the big leagues.
Yesterday we were in Florence, a wonderful city. At its peak it may have been the most vibrant city on the planet, and the greatest gathering of genius in one place at one time in history. Under the rule of the Medici, this city was home to Michaelangelo, Galileo, Botticelli, the magnificent Leonardo Da Vinci, and many other intellectual and artistic lights. It had to have been a stunning place to be, and, in many ways, it still is. Though it teems with tourists it is far cleaner than Rome or Naples and its antiquities are far better preserved in most cases. Best, we toured the city on Segways, with only four in our group plus a guide and an assistant.
But, let me allow Felipo to tell you:
Ah, mi bella Firenza, she isa de must beeuutiful city ina alla da whirl. Ana we gotta de greatest genius of alla time froma our city. Sheza so wunnerful Ah ama weep whena Ah talks about her. Butta, alla is not what she appearsa to be. Thisa Segway. Sheza says it runna itself, but, NO---you musta provide de locomotion youzelf, ana alluv it. Yuh hasa to lean fronta, lean abacka, lean afronta, lean abacka or sheza no go anywhere!! Sheza juice standa there. So, offa we go, leana front, leana back, turna left, and we see the wunnerful city. Sheza all natural, and sheza da real ting, butta wait!!! Dere iza de doors to paradise (which Michaelangelo named) ona de backa ova de baptistry, and dey tell de holy stories ova Adam ana Eve ana Cain ana Abel ana Noah ana alla dose pipples ana dey are cover in gold. But wait!!! Dese ara notta de real doors!!! De are ina museum. Desa are de genuine faka doors!!! Ahma ashamed to atella yuh, but she iza de truth. De real doors are ina museum. Ah hanga mah head. So, we segway over to see de great Dahveed statue by Michaleangelo. She iza in fronta de great municipal hall. Ana dere he is. He iza magnificent. Butta wait!!! She iza notta de real ting. She izza de genuine faka Dahveed!!! As the French say, "Mon Dui." Canna she be true? Izza Dahveed notta real? No, Ah ama ashame to say, he iza faka. De real Dahveed is inna museum. Butta even so, mi Firenza, she is magnifico. Ah hopa you comma again soon.
Buona Notte me bella donna. Te amo.
On the Cote D'zur
at Ville France
with Monaco to the east and Nice and Canne on the west
Today we had our last private concert of the Music at Sea group. Our group is 43 people plus our travel agent (from San Diego) and includes people from Singapore, Hong Kong, our threesome (us, Terry and Jean Sparks, and Ron and Sharon Wedeking from Iowa) and a couple from Colorado Springs and one from Boulder, and a ninety year old lady travelling on her own (she lives outside Washington, D. C.) and we have people from Texas, Mississippi, Canada, and several other places. Most of them have been on previous Music at Sea tours. Our entertainer is Brooks Aehron, a British concert pianist. He has played three private concerts for us and he is terrific. This last concert was held at a Chateau which sits on about 2,500 acres in the hills west and north of our port of call. It is hilly, wooded land, and the chateau is a winery (one million bottles a year), grows olives in commercial quantities and produces its own olive oil, and operates a small business meeting oriented hotel and conference center. The heart of the property is the ancient chateau (jane may have included a photo or two). Brooks played for us in its grand room on a $200,000 Steinway. The adventure of the day, though, was getting there. Our driver took a wrong turn about half way there and a one and a half hour drive became almost three hours, much of it on twisting, turning, one to one and one half lane country roads, often with severe drop offs and hairpin turns. Jane had plopped us down directly behind the driver and there we were, watching every near death experience.
Tonight is the last big formal night on ship, with all the lobster you can eat and a boat load of festivities.
Go Rockies!! Our cabin boy, Seldon, from Trinidad, is a huge American sports fan; knows what is happening in college and pro football, and follows base ball, too. The Rockies game against Philly was on last night, in the middle of the night. We fell asleep when we were ahead 10-4 in the seventh inning. What a run they have had. I may have to quit calling Clint Hurdle the worst manager in the big leagues.
Yesterday we were in Florence, a wonderful city. At its peak it may have been the most vibrant city on the planet, and the greatest gathering of genius in one place at one time in history. Under the rule of the Medici, this city was home to Michaelangelo, Galileo, Botticelli, the magnificent Leonardo Da Vinci, and many other intellectual and artistic lights. It had to have been a stunning place to be, and, in many ways, it still is. Though it teems with tourists it is far cleaner than Rome or Naples and its antiquities are far better preserved in most cases. Best, we toured the city on Segways, with only four in our group plus a guide and an assistant.
But, let me allow Felipo to tell you:
Ah, mi bella Firenza, she isa de must beeuutiful city ina alla da whirl. Ana we gotta de greatest genius of alla time froma our city. Sheza so wunnerful Ah ama weep whena Ah talks about her. Butta, alla is not what she appearsa to be. Thisa Segway. Sheza says it runna itself, but, NO---you musta provide de locomotion youzelf, ana alluv it. Yuh hasa to lean fronta, lean abacka, lean afronta, lean abacka or sheza no go anywhere!! Sheza juice standa there. So, offa we go, leana front, leana back, turna left, and we see the wunnerful city. Sheza all natural, and sheza da real ting, butta wait!!! Dere iza de doors to paradise (which Michaelangelo named) ona de backa ova de baptistry, and dey tell de holy stories ova Adam ana Eve ana Cain ana Abel ana Noah ana alla dose pipples ana dey are cover in gold. But wait!!! Dese ara notta de real doors!!! De are ina museum. Desa are de genuine faka doors!!! Ahma ashamed to atella yuh, but she iza de truth. De real doors are ina museum. Ah hanga mah head. So, we segway over to see de great Dahveed statue by Michaleangelo. She iza in fronta de great municipal hall. Ana dere he is. He iza magnificent. Butta wait!!! She iza notta de real ting. She izza de genuine faka Dahveed!!! As the French say, "Mon Dui." Canna she be true? Izza Dahveed notta real? No, Ah ama ashame to say, he iza faka. De real Dahveed is inna museum. Butta even so, mi Firenza, she is magnifico. Ah hopa you comma again soon.
Buona Notte me bella donna. Te amo.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
I can'ta breath....
Okay, okay (deep breath)....STOP IT, STOP IT (deep breath)! Just to entertain myself, and hoping I could channel my Dad I had to read Felipo out loud.
I couldn't do it without busting a lung or breaking a rib from laughing so hard. The dog thinks I have lost my mind. Good thing Joe wasn't here.
Beautiful pictures.
I don't see any extra puffiness on you Dad. Had to be something you ate. You better check Jane's bag for small viles, or maybe she bought a new piece of jewelry that has a hidden compartment? Tell her I'm watching her. Google has that new "zoom in" feature that allows you to get so close you can look in the windows. (tink, tink, tink...me tapping on your cabin window on the ship).
Love you lots....Miss you more.
Kharen
I couldn't do it without busting a lung or breaking a rib from laughing so hard. The dog thinks I have lost my mind. Good thing Joe wasn't here.
Beautiful pictures.
I don't see any extra puffiness on you Dad. Had to be something you ate. You better check Jane's bag for small viles, or maybe she bought a new piece of jewelry that has a hidden compartment? Tell her I'm watching her. Google has that new "zoom in" feature that allows you to get so close you can look in the windows. (tink, tink, tink...me tapping on your cabin window on the ship).
Love you lots....Miss you more.
Kharen
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Marti, Bacardi, Gaudi Tour 2007
October 2
Rome
Buongeorno. Ah ama yoh guide, Felipo. Welcome to Bella Roma, mah beeutiful home. Today we will see many wunnerful things.
This are de Spanish steps. Felipo, you may ask, why are this de Spanish steps? Becowz, dey are not de German steps. De are not de French steps. Dey are de Spanish steps, and, she is so becowz de Spanish they musta ava steps. Dey do not ava de escalatohs. So, yoh see, dat is why dese are de Spanish steps.
Dis is de famoos Trevi fountain. Dat great big fellow on de top with the wunnerful beard and no clothes on, de pipples tink he is Neptune, God of the Sea. But, no! He is not Neptune! He isa Nathan de Nudist. You see, he asa no clothes, eh? Why is dat, you may ask Felipo? Becowz, mi ami, dis fountain she is build by Tony Trevi. Now, Tony, he isa fairy boy. He isa jingle bells fella. He isa fruit of da looma. You follo me, eh? Sure, yoh do. So Tony he like very much the big muscle and fine body of Nathan de Nudist and he putta him on toppa his fountain. And, dere you ava it. Is not Neptune like everybody tink. You stick witta Felipo, I tella you alla Rome's secrets.
Disa de Pantheon. She is a bella bella. Raphael, he isa buried here. Ahma great in love witta Pantheon. Now dis here, dis is a fina plaza. You will notice she is long, long anda narrow. She is build on toppa de old chariot race track. De chariot races, dey were lika yoh NASCAR. Dey de NASCAR of de ancients and de chariot drivers dey famoos lika Dala Earn Heart yoh lova, so much. ahma right? Of cowrz ahma right. Ahm Felipo!
Here we are. Dis is de Vatican City, home ofa de Pup. De Pup he liva here and he rule here. We are ina de great plaza St. Peter Square, but asa yoh can see, she is not so square. Sheza kinda round, you know? And you see de porticos, so tall on de great columns and yoh see alla da wunnerful statues ona top? Pipples de tink dese ara de Saints, but, Felipo, you say, dey are. But no, Felipo say, dey ara notta de Saints. Dis is de Wall of Fame of de Cardinals. You see? Dere isa Dizzy Dean. Dere isa Pepper Martin. Dere isa Stan de Man Musial. Dere isa Red Schoendienst. Dere isa Bob Gibson. Dey alla dere. Even Joe Garagiola, who, of cowrz, was a Italian fellow, eh?
And now yoh musta be tired. Yoh are alla old. You get ona train and go back to yoh boat and tomorrow Felipo taka yoh to de Coliseum.
Bonna notte.
Rome
Buongeorno. Ah ama yoh guide, Felipo. Welcome to Bella Roma, mah beeutiful home. Today we will see many wunnerful things.
This are de Spanish steps. Felipo, you may ask, why are this de Spanish steps? Becowz, dey are not de German steps. De are not de French steps. Dey are de Spanish steps, and, she is so becowz de Spanish they musta ava steps. Dey do not ava de escalatohs. So, yoh see, dat is why dese are de Spanish steps.
Dis is de famoos Trevi fountain. Dat great big fellow on de top with the wunnerful beard and no clothes on, de pipples tink he is Neptune, God of the Sea. But, no! He is not Neptune! He isa Nathan de Nudist. You see, he asa no clothes, eh? Why is dat, you may ask Felipo? Becowz, mi ami, dis fountain she is build by Tony Trevi. Now, Tony, he isa fairy boy. He isa jingle bells fella. He isa fruit of da looma. You follo me, eh? Sure, yoh do. So Tony he like very much the big muscle and fine body of Nathan de Nudist and he putta him on toppa his fountain. And, dere you ava it. Is not Neptune like everybody tink. You stick witta Felipo, I tella you alla Rome's secrets.
Disa de Pantheon. She is a bella bella. Raphael, he isa buried here. Ahma great in love witta Pantheon. Now dis here, dis is a fina plaza. You will notice she is long, long anda narrow. She is build on toppa de old chariot race track. De chariot races, dey were lika yoh NASCAR. Dey de NASCAR of de ancients and de chariot drivers dey famoos lika Dala Earn Heart yoh lova, so much. ahma right? Of cowrz ahma right. Ahm Felipo!
Here we are. Dis is de Vatican City, home ofa de Pup. De Pup he liva here and he rule here. We are ina de great plaza St. Peter Square, but asa yoh can see, she is not so square. Sheza kinda round, you know? And you see de porticos, so tall on de great columns and yoh see alla da wunnerful statues ona top? Pipples de tink dese ara de Saints, but, Felipo, you say, dey are. But no, Felipo say, dey ara notta de Saints. Dis is de Wall of Fame of de Cardinals. You see? Dere isa Dizzy Dean. Dere isa Pepper Martin. Dere isa Stan de Man Musial. Dere isa Red Schoendienst. Dere isa Bob Gibson. Dey alla dere. Even Joe Garagiola, who, of cowrz, was a Italian fellow, eh?
And now yoh musta be tired. Yoh are alla old. You get ona train and go back to yoh boat and tomorrow Felipo taka yoh to de Coliseum.
Bonna notte.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Marti, Bacardi, Gaudi Tour 2007
October 1
Napoli, Italy
We have toured Pompeii. At the time of the eruption of Vesuvius it was a city of about 13,000. The eruption, in 79AD spewed a blanket of poisonous gas over the city (and 8 others) and then buried the town in about 20 feet of ash. 100 acres of the city have been dug up. If Ephesus was impressive, this site is about five times so. Naples is a port, bustling, overflowing with people, cars, and motorcycles and scooters. Walking here is an exercise in daring and terror. Italian drivers do not so much drive as aim.
Something odd has happened to me. I am puffed up like a stomped on toad frog. I think it is something in the Mediterranean air. Jane thinks it has something to do with my daily consumption of about 6,000 calories. I suppose it is just possible---just slightly possible---she may be right.
The archeological site at Pompeii continues to be excavated. We enjoyed the great good fortune of being among the first to see new diggings. We were allowed to see the tomb and mausuleam of the great Pompeiian pro consul Antonius Sopranius. He had been elected four straight times before dying a sudden and violent death. He is credited with being the first leader to implement the enforcement of his rule by utilization of hittus mannus. His most famous hittus mannus, of course, was Pussius Bonspiere. Sadly, Pussius came to a sad end. He tried to corner the Egyptian cotton market on his own, failed, and found himself heavily in debt. He sold himself as a spy to Roman interests who wanted to depose the great Antonius Sopranius. Antonius discovered Pussius' treachery and disappeared him. Pussius sleeps with the fishius.
Onward to Rome tomorrow.
Bona Sera, mi amore.
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