So teach us to number our days so that we can present to Thee a heart of wisdom. Psalms 90:12
Everyone knows of it. It is ubiquitous for volcanic eruptions in the world. Everyone has heard of the volcano, Mount Vesuvius, covering Pompeii with 19 feet (6 meters) of flowing ash, burying everyone and everything in AD 79. It was not truly searched until it was archeologically explored in early 1800s. The sheer size of the … Continue reading Pompeii – No Words are Adequate
Do you know this cemetery exists? I found it searching for cemeteries near Rome. Italian Cypress, Roman Umbrella pines and hedges outline the area. There are 7,861 American graves in ten sections covering 77 acres in Anzio/Nettuno south of Rome on the coast. It was founded two days after the Anzio landing on January 24, … Continue reading Sicily/Rome American Cemetery
The ridge between northern and southern Umbrian forests grows the magical black truffles famous in many Italian dishes. On our hike to the ‘ecotourism’ Bartoli Farm, it begins to rain as fog rolls in and covers the mountains with mist. ( Patrico sul Monteluco, agriturismobartoli@yahoo.it) The farm is a working farm and is available for dining tourists and … Continue reading AGRITOURISM – Truffle Farm
“Andiamo, Let’s Go!” Heading toward Spoleto, there is a mountain road that leads to “sacred woods”. Old growth forest rewards you after many harrowing hairpin curves in a tour bus. It is quiet. Moss is growing on trees and the paths have wooden cross fences. It is raining lightly. Our guide was from Spoleto and has memories of … Continue reading Sacred Woods of Spoleto
A protest against cutting ancient trees demonstrated by these stumps deposited in the Assisi main square. Our tour group gathered together for the walk down, down, down through Assisi from the Center Square to St. Francis’ Basilica. An African Franciscan monk was our guide in English. The Basilica is two churches built on top of … Continue reading St. Francis Assisi Basilica
“Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Take your son Shear-jashub and go out to meet King Ahaz. You will find him at the end of the aqueduct that feeds water into the upper pool, near the road leading to the field where cloth is washed. Tell him to stop worrying. Isaiah 7:3 NLT Collepino, Italy is a small … Continue reading Collepino and the Aqueduct
“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.” Psalms 105:4-5 NIV I always hope to have a “Moment to Remember” on every trip and I did. On the farmer’s road toward Montefalco, I was looking out on the Umbria Valley at the vineyards covered with … Continue reading Moments to Remember
“Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’“But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’Judges 9:12-13 (NIV) After the splendid noon meal in Montefalco, sprinkling rain accompanied us to the Fratelli winery for our education about grapes, making wines … Continue reading Wine through the Ages
“And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.”” I Kings 18:41 NIV Our longest hike was to the town of Montefalco, Umbria. Montefalco is visible anywhere in the Umbrian Valley because of its location. The first settlers were named Umbri and Romans, Lombards, local merchants, later ruled it. Then … Continue reading Rain, Rain, Go Away….
“I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges.” Acts 25:16 NIV Traffic jam. Construction. Accident. Nowhere to go – yet a two lane became a three lane with a wrecker squeezing through the bus and trucks. Crazy … Continue reading Perugia -Famous for….
