tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40368031412828793422024-03-19T04:12:47.048-07:00Italy - from Vision to Reality#1 on my Bucket List - Planning a 2 week trip to Italy, looking for ideas, feedback and support of my vision.Kathryn Voskuilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827584833951647323noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036803141282879342.post-25900652151728299632012-03-18T07:05:00.001-07:002012-03-18T07:05:56.474-07:00Italy - from Vision to Reality: Cloudy Vision<a href="http://italy-fromvisiontoreality.blogspot.com/2012/03/cloudy-vision.html?spref=bl">Italy - from Vision to Reality: Cloudy Vision</a>: Buongiorno! Since we postponed our trip to Italy until next year, my vision became cloudy. I have not been as compelled to listen to and ...Kathryn Voskuilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827584833951647323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036803141282879342.post-447090210979366222012-03-18T07:04:00.001-07:002012-03-18T07:04:18.833-07:00Cloudy Vision<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Buongiorno!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since we postponed our trip to Italy until next year, my vision became cloudy. I have not been as compelled to listen to and practice my Italian language CDs, read other Italian blogs, or watch Italian food networks.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This morning, though, I opened and re-read my blog posts and some others that I have links to on my website. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5k8Aqit_MuhM3Y1nX89xw8uZ506PU62QG4sUmyc15_ukRlmfzM_Tk8HvpfYsUvFc1ssUJk8lCe4osafG9RYsijJeSH84imyEECfFT8DIhcBN9qnBBqiSS5NEAZfT2rZvJv2N_V_5baEk/s1600/gnocchi-011-360x480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5k8Aqit_MuhM3Y1nX89xw8uZ506PU62QG4sUmyc15_ukRlmfzM_Tk8HvpfYsUvFc1ssUJk8lCe4osafG9RYsijJeSH84imyEECfFT8DIhcBN9qnBBqiSS5NEAZfT2rZvJv2N_V_5baEk/s320/gnocchi-011-360x480.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love this one from Rebecca...</span><a href="http://www.brigolante.com/blog/2012/03/italy-roundtable-zen-and-the-art-of-making-gnocchi/" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Gnocchi Guru</a><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and I am inspired.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Does anyone know of a visual learning tool for learning Italian? A book or flash cards? Please post and let me know. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ciao! Kathryn</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>p.s.</i> </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Family update - my mom is doing better today...she has been in the hospital or rehab all but 7 days since the middle of December. I am grateful for the prayers and well wishes on her behalf. </i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Kathryn Voskuilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827584833951647323noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036803141282879342.post-23261920295877886632012-02-12T12:59:00.000-08:002012-02-12T12:59:57.870-08:00Vision the same - time frame changes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-8FyUcPV2BWkM7MHwxFCkJW3KhdWSx7g7bRWMS3qjRSo-oSow4-Rr2x8uvf9BKU_hyphenhyphen77pVcIOdxNxMKyd2KY75PS_7Dj6YxBty_5DzVb-wSX7XwCRMGy2rwA2Latd2Do_-y6vgZoAc0/s1600/Earthwatch+Expedition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-8FyUcPV2BWkM7MHwxFCkJW3KhdWSx7g7bRWMS3qjRSo-oSow4-Rr2x8uvf9BKU_hyphenhyphen77pVcIOdxNxMKyd2KY75PS_7Dj6YxBty_5DzVb-wSX7XwCRMGy2rwA2Latd2Do_-y6vgZoAc0/s320/Earthwatch+Expedition.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks to everyone who is supporting my vision of traveling to Italy. We are going to have another year to explore the vision and the journey to get there. A few nights ago over dinner, Rick and I determined that this May/June was approaching quickly and that we weren't ready for our trip yet. I'm still studying the language, and I want to be in better physical shape for the </span><a href="http://www.earthwatch.org/exped/camilli_images.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Earthwatch</span></a><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> part of the trip as well as the walking and bicycling parts of the trip.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: blue;">Another consideration in moving the trip has been my mother's ill health. My </span><a href="http://italy-fromvisiontoreality.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2012-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2013-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">January</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> post told of my mom's health challenges. She continues to be in the hospital as I post today. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to spend time with her for a few days in January and I appreciate everyone's prayers and healing thoughts on her behalf. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana;">My bucket list trip to Italy will be sometime in 2013 (probably May/June). Between now and then, I will continue to study Italian, exercise and post frequently about all of the magnificent things I am learning and intend to experience once there. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana;">Buonjiourno! </span><br />
<br />Kathryn Voskuilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827584833951647323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036803141282879342.post-4334097037238576002012-01-08T06:37:00.000-08:002012-01-09T03:39:19.158-08:00Real life events - How they inspire my vision<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Real life events since Thanksgiving this year have challenged my belief system and my vision. I believe that things happen as they are supposed to and that thoughts create our reality. That is why this vision blog has been so important to me. I believe if I "put it out there", and take action steps, that this vision, like so many others that have manifested in my life, will become a reality.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was young and in junior high and high school, I had lots of friends. Going to 10 elementary schools and 4 junior highs (luckily 1 senior high), I learned how to make friends quickly. As I matured and my life became full with family and career, I noticed I didn't have a lot of friends. I had many acquaintences, mostly through my jobs, but not a lot of friends. I realized that having a friend took more than just being a friend, that it took both people making the friendship a priority in their lives. Mio marito, Rick, is my best friend, hero and love of my life. There are friends that were in my life for a time but due to geographic or time distance are fondly remembered but are not a part of my life today. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ35FjTzj-tM81MNs4gBK2eQL-fImy6yPoVjGbhNCbk6BysnUY0qvaXKa2LUFM_16Pfp1XsbdEVhF-XCZHFYf9S054aGBmH6a_nYhTGF-vR3-Z-8g41LSkvBatCXwDdbOwozb-rdKMn3Y/s1600/Bill+%2526+Sandi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ35FjTzj-tM81MNs4gBK2eQL-fImy6yPoVjGbhNCbk6BysnUY0qvaXKa2LUFM_16Pfp1XsbdEVhF-XCZHFYf9S054aGBmH6a_nYhTGF-vR3-Z-8g41LSkvBatCXwDdbOwozb-rdKMn3Y/s320/Bill+%2526+Sandi.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bill & Sandi - Christmas 2011</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My friend, Bill has been my best friend since I was 18 years old...I've known him longer than I've known Rick. Uncle Bill to our daughters, he loves unconditionally, is always reliable and trustworthy. One of the main reasons we moved to Florida is to be closer to Bill & his wife Sandi, and we now live about 10 minutes apart. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My sister friend, Marcia, has been my confidante, mentor and shining light. Just being in her space, to feel her energy, is inspiring, healing and joyful. She and her husband Chuck, raised three amazing sons, and she was the first person I called when I had parenting challenges. Marcia's insights, sense of humor and empathy helped me navigate bumpy parental and job-related roads. We don't see each other or talk to each other as much as we would like, but there is an unbreakable bond that comforts me. I know if I ever needed Marcia to be by my side, she would be there without question.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My friend and life mentor, R, has helped guide me through some dark times, counseling and loving me through them. We talk by phone every week, conversations that are often brief, but are touchstones that keep me grounded. Sometimes, I think R knows me better than I know myself, and she gently reminds me of my truth when I need to be reminded.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHC4FnLyToYJZLVK19Oel30hcvDCXVXGiM_bdDBgZWm7oZWW0nikGzqF6HsfbwT_Go9gge-eE834xwTucICTKSVU_sXQISKQV2xPWK__ya67Ub779UnhdSqHLeP80n5mvEgUKsHb0MsrQ/s1600/Melanie+%2526+Kacy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHC4FnLyToYJZLVK19Oel30hcvDCXVXGiM_bdDBgZWm7oZWW0nikGzqF6HsfbwT_Go9gge-eE834xwTucICTKSVU_sXQISKQV2xPWK__ya67Ub779UnhdSqHLeP80n5mvEgUKsHb0MsrQ/s320/Melanie+%2526+Kacy.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Melanie & Kacy</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This brings me to my friend, Melanie. I met Melanie through mutual friends. A hairdresser with quite a large clientele in St. Louis, she quickly became mine, and Kacy & Emma's. It is true that hairdressers know everything about us...when we are getting our color done, our eyebrows waxed, out hair cut, styled and blown dry, we spend hours upon hours together over the years. Melanie became much more than our hairdresser as she became a member of our family. She attended every celebration...graduations, anniversary parties, weddings. She was the last stop for Kacy & Emma before their prom dates in High School. An "old hippie", Melanie entered a room with a sparkling smile, fashionably "cute" outfit and just the right shoes and accessories. It meant a lot to her to be a part of our family, and vice versa. She had a lot of clients, but Melanie didn't make a lot of money, so it was really special that she would work to save money so she could come to Florida to see us. She came in June 2010 and we had the most wonderful time together! She loved Grouper and had it everywhere we went. Melanie was going to come see us again this month, January 25. My dear Melanie passed away suddenly due to surgical complications, the week before Thanksgiving, one week after she retired from her long hairdressing career. She was surrounded by friends and much love. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-rsAjzxnnacjrZ6kbz_kLtrzx9vWcpUhCrpEdj8jQ3l4fxCzffcfBJOwAg19mTaBtAAKchUDCeqe6Y8Kda8b0HpYQpZPC7QhLYNWOX3jHeh5ZK2NADrAue-KHGHDZPaP3pmB1I1RaY8/s1600/Melanie+and+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-rsAjzxnnacjrZ6kbz_kLtrzx9vWcpUhCrpEdj8jQ3l4fxCzffcfBJOwAg19mTaBtAAKchUDCeqe6Y8Kda8b0HpYQpZPC7QhLYNWOX3jHeh5ZK2NADrAue-KHGHDZPaP3pmB1I1RaY8/s1600/Melanie+and+me.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Melanie & Me</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rick and I are going to be in St. Louis to celebrate Melanie's life with her large circle of friends and I am so grateful. Melanie supported our vision to go to Italy (she actually went to Italy once, shortly before I met her) and loved to talk about it with me. I feel like I have a vision angel in Melanie and she will be thrilled as Rick and I experience our Italy moments.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsygOoO9ZoXE4pztJR62JJHaxEk9nLyVLaezzOodAcGOOLcjL9iPgPi0fTUBTPK225b0vkhY2JD3DuTTf7xJG3RcTjEj8DdCKz5Ro1V1GM_bx4OjQxuv1R5ZJxYnSa0G9fbqUz_QLF2tA/s1600/Ben+%2526+Christopher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsygOoO9ZoXE4pztJR62JJHaxEk9nLyVLaezzOodAcGOOLcjL9iPgPi0fTUBTPK225b0vkhY2JD3DuTTf7xJG3RcTjEj8DdCKz5Ro1V1GM_bx4OjQxuv1R5ZJxYnSa0G9fbqUz_QLF2tA/s200/Ben+%2526+Christopher.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ben & Christopher</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The week before Christmas, I lost another friend. Christopher, the life partner of my friend Ben (who passed away suddenly in October 2010) died of a brain aneurism. Ben & Christopher lived their lives LARGE. They did everything together and they loved to travel. Their facebook pages are filled with photos from their trips. They inspire me to DO and not just to dream about it. While I grieve for Christopher and Ben, I am comforted because I believe they are together again, as they should be. Theirs is a beautiful love story.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRGcc7LPdKP9zmBQdQdtQYNPgA3o3J0RWd1IBTbtPnU-onvzj2Hw2GxQkB_qwtSjsZ8KmfkK7pRox5cPhDSprmfTB_oYD7St7IixfnKi7lkuWKOQZMcDaSnGB0-eJAniNxbhs15Pcjus/s1600/Mom+%2526+Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRGcc7LPdKP9zmBQdQdtQYNPgA3o3J0RWd1IBTbtPnU-onvzj2Hw2GxQkB_qwtSjsZ8KmfkK7pRox5cPhDSprmfTB_oYD7St7IixfnKi7lkuWKOQZMcDaSnGB0-eJAniNxbhs15Pcjus/s200/Mom+%2526+Me.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My Mom & Me</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I write this, my mom Colleen, who is 75 years young, has been in the hospital for the past week or so. She has been diagnosed with <a href="http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/shingles/shingles-symptoms" target="_blank">shingles</a>, which is extremely painful. She suffers from COPD and has a heart condition as well. Having her down makes it a challenge for me to continue to focus on my vision of going to Italy. And yet, I'm inspired to focus on it even more. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life is not a dress rehearsal. It is ours to live, by the choices we make. I encourage us to make choices that support our visions. So our realities will be inspired, meaningful and memorable. </span>Kathryn Voskuilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827584833951647323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036803141282879342.post-33779029094941613112011-12-11T05:33:00.001-08:002011-12-11T08:55:13.635-08:00Giomo Due a Roma<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Day 2 - Rome</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgudHd-kr1j9-2hUbbX1hPOGk4EOBeuWApzl5V9YC27y_f-J3t5XmRrRIsD3xuN1Fv6A5NeYhD9_lrcRWOoe7WQNdKz5OWv6pupT3zrDu7JJflyG_rkHVW7W4LlwG2e9TLJ5jj64YHyI/s1600/Campo-di-Fiori.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgudHd-kr1j9-2hUbbX1hPOGk4EOBeuWApzl5V9YC27y_f-J3t5XmRrRIsD3xuN1Fv6A5NeYhD9_lrcRWOoe7WQNdKz5OWv6pupT3zrDu7JJflyG_rkHVW7W4LlwG2e9TLJ5jj64YHyI/s320/Campo-di-Fiori.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campo dei Fiori</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We'll begin at Campo dei Fiori, a piazza in the historic center of Rome, one of the </span><a href="http://goitaly.about.com/od/romeattractions/tp/rome-squares.htm"><span style="color: #3366cc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">top squares in Rome</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here is where the Theater of Pompey was built in the 1st century B.C. In fact, the architecture of the some of the square’s buildings follows the curvature of the ancient theater’s foundation. By the Middle Ages, this area of Rome had been largely abandoned and ruins of the ancient theater taken over by nature. When the area was resettled in the late 15th century, it was called the Campo dei Fiori, or “Field of Flowers,” even though it was promptly paved over to make way for lavish residences, such as the nearby Palazzo dell Cancelleria, the first Renaissance palazzo in Rome, and the Palazzo Farnese, which now houses the French Embassy. Bypassing the Campo dei Fiori is the Via del Pellegrino, the “Pilgrim’s Route,” where early Christian tourists could find food and shelter before traveling on to St. Peter’s Basilica.</span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>During the Roman Inquisition, which took place in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, public executions were carried out in Campo dei Fiori. At the center of the piazza is a solemn statue of the philosopher Giordano Bruno, which is a reminder of those dark days. The statue of a cloaked Bruno stands at the spot in the square where he was burnt alive in 1600</em>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Then we're off to the </span><a href="http://goitaly.about.com/od/romeattractions/a/rome-capitoline-museums.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Capitoline Museums</span></a><span style="color: blue;">. We will see 5th Century BC's <em>La Lupa, the defacto symbol of Rome, ...</em>and Romulus & Remus. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Other well-known works from ancient times are Il Spinario, a first century BC marble of a boy removing a thorn from his foot; the original equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius (a copy of this is located in the center of Piazza del Campidoglio); and fragments from a colossal statue of Emperor Constantine.</em></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLenrmEtjrLd9bPog3NwIvFJN5o7czk-zcs6oWnHzbbHDACv39XvGX0D1RXjqOidgY_F2RnX5MMXriP2DnO3nzcbMRVwAU_OHstaoBDGdcusgvuO_aWX6NS3j6y-2umgAnfCCWqtEqFY/s320/la+lupa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Lupa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For dinner, we will explore the </span><a href="http://goeurope.about.com/od/rometestaccio/ss/testaccio-rome.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Testaccio District</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nG5DO4zp-OyeQuzNmqZnGZdrB_TBDP9TIW-yWs2UFFkHpy3dcViK1aQzNlm-hos6jjgf1k4XbGikoJuea03R5j_KZJCK8qL2SKiblF0P5861EsxFSjWTX0FCiTHhXnLeWs35QRmFAWY/s1600/testaccio-rome-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nG5DO4zp-OyeQuzNmqZnGZdrB_TBDP9TIW-yWs2UFFkHpy3dcViK1aQzNlm-hos6jjgf1k4XbGikoJuea03R5j_KZJCK8qL2SKiblF0P5861EsxFSjWTX0FCiTHhXnLeWs35QRmFAWY/s320/testaccio-rome-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Testaccio District</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/od/romeitaly/gr/checchino.htm" target="_blank">Trattoria Checchino dal 1887</a> is highly recommended for traditional Roman food and offers over 600 wines to choose from! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<script>
var prefs=new _IG_Prefs,spt=document.createElement("script");spt.src="http://www.google.com/translate_a/l?client=ig&hl="+prefs.getMsg("default_hl")+"&cb=updateLanguage&alpha=true";document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(spt);var source_languages=[],target_languages=[],SOURCE_SELECT=_gel("_source-val"),TARGET_SELECT=_gel("_target-val"),SOURCE_SELECT_TXT=_gel("_source-txt"),TARGET_SELECT_TXT=_gel("_target-txt"),langmsg={},gSelectedMenuId="",gSelectedListId="";
function bringQueryFromOneBox(b,e){var d=e.getString("default_text");if(d){var f=_gel("dictQuery"+b);f.value=d;f.style.color="#000"}}
function swap(b,e,d,f){var h=b.innerHTML,k=e.innerHTML;if(h!="auto"&&h!=d.innerHTML){b.innerHTML=d.innerHTML.substring(0,2)=="zh"?"zh-CN":d.innerHTML;e.innerHTML=f.innerHTML;if(h=="zh-CN"){if(d.innerHTML="zh-CN",f.innerHTML=prefs.getMsg("zh_CN"),prefs.getMsg("default_hl")=="zh-TW")d.innerHTML="zh-TW",f.innerHTML=prefs.getMsg("zh_TW")}else d.innerHTML=h,f.innerHTML=k;prefs.set("sl",b.innerHTML);prefs.set("tl",d.innerHTML)}}
window.updateLanguage=function(b){var e=[],d=[],f=[],h=[],k=_gel("_source1-options"),m=_gel("_target1-options"),n=prefs.getString("sl"),p=prefs.getString("tl"),l=0,j;for(j in b.sl){source_languages.push([j,b.sl[j]]);langmsg[j]=b.sl[j];e.push(langmsg[j]);f.push(j);if(k&&(k.appendChild(addMenuOption("_source1",j,source_languages[l][1],source_languages[l][0])),source_languages[l][0]==n))_gel("_source1-txt").innerHTML=source_languages[l][1],_gel("_source1-val").innerHTML=source_languages[l][0];++l}l=
0;for(j in b.tl){target_languages.push([j,b.tl[j]]);langmsg[j]=b.tl[j];d.push(langmsg[j]);h.push(j);if(m&&(m.appendChild(addMenuOption("_target1",j,target_languages[l][1],target_languages[l][0])),target_languages[l][0]==p))_gel("_target1-txt").innerHTML=target_languages[l][1],_gel("_target1-val").innerHTML=target_languages[l][0];++l}langmsg[l]="auto";_gel("_source-options")&&(setSelect("_source","sl",e,f),setSelect("_target","tl",d,h));if(n!="")SOURCE_SELECT.innerHTML=prefs.getString("sl"),SOURCE_SELECT_TXT.innerHTML=
b.sl[SOURCE_SELECT.innerHTML];if(p!="")TARGET_SELECT.innerHTML=prefs.getString("tl"),TARGET_SELECT_TXT.innerHTML=b.tl[TARGET_SELECT.innerHTML]};function addMenuOption(b,e,d,f){var h=document.createElement("tr"),k=document.createElement("td");k.className="menulist";k.innerHTML=d;k.id=b+"-item"+e+"^"+f;k.onclick=function(d){d=d||window.event;d=d.target?d.target.id:d.srcElement.id;setDropdownValue(d,b+"-txt",b+"-val")};h.appendChild(k);return h}
function setSelect(b,e,d,f){for(var e=_gel(b+"-options"),h=0,k=d.length;h<k;h++)e.appendChild(addMenuOption(b,h,d[h],f[h]))}function createTranslateURL(b,e,d){var f=[],h=document.charset||document.characterSet;f.push("http://www.google.com/translate_a/t?","ie="+h+"&oe=UTF8&client=ig&text=",_esc(b),"&sl="+e+"&tl="+d,"&hl="+prefs.getMsg("default_hl"));return f.join("")}
function createWebUrl(b,e,d){var f=[],h=document.charset||document.characterSet;f.push("http://translate.google.com/translate?ie="+h+"&oe=UTF&u=",_esc(b)+"&sl=",e+"&tl="+d,"&hl="+prefs.getMsg("default_hl"));return f.join("")}
function toggle(b,e,d){var f=_gel(b),h=_gel(e),k=0,m=_gel("dict_content"),n=true;if(h.style.display=="none"){if(gSelectedMenuId!="")_gel(gSelectedMenuId).className="kd-button",_gel(gSelectedListId).style.display="none",n=false;gSelectedMenuId=b;gSelectedListId=e;h.style.display="block";f.className="kd-button kd-button-selected";m&&(k=m.offsetHeight<d?m.offsetHeight:d);n&&(b=document.body.offsetHeight+d-k+10,gadgets.window.adjustHeight(b))}else gSelectedListId=gSelectedMenuId="",h.style.display="none",
f.className="kd-button",m?gadgets.window.adjustHeight(getGadgetHeight()+10):gadgets.window.adjustHeight()}function setDropdownValue(b,e,d){var f=b.slice(b.indexOf("^")+1);_gel(e).innerHTML=_gel(b).innerHTML;_gel(e).title=_gel(b).innerHTML;_gel(d).innerHTML=f}
document.onclick=function(b){var b=b||window.event,e=gSelectedMenuId!=""?_gel(gSelectedMenuId):null,b=b.target?b.target.id:b.srcElement.id,d="";if(b)d=_gel(b).className;if((!b||d.indexOf("kd-button")==-1&&d.indexOf("dropdown")==-1&&d!="menulist")&&e&&e.className!="kd-button")e.className="kd-button",_gel(gSelectedListId).style.display="none",gSelectedListId=gSelectedMenuId="",gadgets.window.adjustHeight(getGadgetHeight()+10)};
function getGadgetHeight(){return document.body.offsetHeight<=gadgets.window.getHeight()?document.body.offsetHeight:gadgets.window.getHeight()}
(function(){function b(a){if(a.value==a.defaultValue)a.value="";a.className=a.className.replace("TS","")}function e(a,c){prefs.set(a,c.value)}function d(){swap(SOURCE_SELECT,SOURCE_SELECT_TXT,TARGET_SELECT,TARGET_SELECT_TXT)}function f(){if(prefs.getMsg("default_source")=="en"&&prefs.getMsg("default_hl")=="zh-TW")_gel("_inputText").innerHTML='<textarea id="dictQuery" type="text" style="width: 99%;" class="input1TS" name="word" rows="3" onFocus="_startInput(this)" onkeydown="_detectEnter(event)">'+_hesc(prefs.getMsg("input_hint"))+
"</textarea>"}function h(){var a=_args().parent,c=a.match(/google\.([a-z\.]+)/i);c?r=c[1]:a.indexOf(".cn/")&&(r="cn");f();window._toggleDisplay=x;window._change=e;window._swap=d;window._startInput=b;window._detectEnter=k;window._showAvailable=y;document._dictionary.onsubmit=s;bringQueryFromOneBox("",prefs);gadgets.window.adjustHeight(getGadgetHeight())}function k(a){var c;if(window.event)c=a.keyCode;else if(a.which)c=a.which;c==13&&s()}function m(a){var c=/^(https?:\/\/)?([\w-]+\.)+[\w-]+$/;return c.test(a)?
true:false}function n(a,c,g){c=c+_esc("|")+g;g=[];g.push("http://www.google.com/dictionary/feeds?","client=ig&restrict=pr,al&langpair=",c+"&q="+_esc(a),"&hl="+prefs.getMsg("default_hl"));return g.join("")}function p(){var a=document._dictionary.word.value,c=_gel("_source-val").innerHTML,g=_gel("_target-val").innerHTML,o=prefs.getLang(),c=c+_esc("|")+g,a=_esc("|")+_esc(a);return["http://translate.google.com/?hl="+o+"#",c,a].join("")}function l(a){if(window.ActiveXObject){var c=new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLDOM");
c.async="false";c.loadXML(a)}else c=new DOMParser,c=c.parseFromString(a,"text/xml");return c}function j(a,c){var g=c.firstChild.nodeValue,g=g.replace(z," <font color=gray>$1</font> ");a.text+=g}function A(a,c){for(var g=c.childNodes,o={},b=0;b<g.length;b++){var d=g.item(b);if(d.nodeName=="text"&&d.firstChild!=null)o.text=g.item(b).firstChild.nodeValue,o.translate=[];else if(g.item(b).nodeName=="Translated"){for(var d=d.childNodes,e=0;e<d.length;e++){var f=d.item(e);f.nodeName=="text"&&f.firstChild!=
null&&o.translate.push(f.firstChild.nodeValue)}a.examples.push(o)}}if(a.examples.length>0)i.hasRichContent=true}function B(a,c){var g={1:prefs.getMsg("phonetic_us"),2:prefs.getMsg("phonetic_uk"),3:prefs.getMsg("phonetic_zhuyin"),4:prefs.getMsg("phonetic_pinyin")},b={};b.type=SOURCE_SELECT.innerHTML=="zh-CN"?prefs.getMsg("default_hl")=="zh-CN"?g["4"]:g["3"]:g[c.getAttribute("type")];b.text="";for(g=0;g<c.childNodes.length;g++)if(c.childNodes.item(g).nodeName=="text"){b.text=c.childNodes.item(g).firstChild.nodeValue;
break}a.ipa.push(b)}function C(a){var c={examples:[],ipa:[],pos:"",text:""},g=a.getAttribute("part_of_speech");c.pos=g!=null&typeof[t[g]]!="undefined"?t[g]:"";a=a.childNodes;for(g=0;g<a.length;g++){var b=a.item(g),d=i.nodeHandlers[b.nodeName];typeof d!="undefined"&&d(c,b)}a=i.termsGroup[c.pos];typeof a!="undefined"?a.push(c):i.termsGroup[c.pos]=[c];i.termsCount++}function D(){var a="",c;for(c in i.termsGroup)if(!(i.termsGroup[c].length==1&&i.termsGroup[c][0].ipa.length!=0)){var g=1;i.hasRichContent&&
(a+='<div class="explanation hide">
<div class="meta">
<a href="javascript: void(0)" class="toggle" onclick="_toggleDisplay(this)" title='+_hesc(prefs.getMsg("show_hide_examples"))+"> </a>");c!=""&&(a+='<span class="word_type">'+c+":</span>");i.hasRichContent&&(a+="</div>
");a+='<div style="height:auto">
<ol class="meanings">';for(var b=i.termsGroup[c],d=0;d<b.length;d++){var e=b[d];a+='
<li><span class="number">'+g+'.</span><span class="definition">'+e.text+"</span>";if(i.hasRichContent)for(var f=
0;f<e.examples.length;f++){var h=e.examples[f].text+" "+e.examples[f].translate.join(" ");a+=' <span class="example">'+h+"</span>"}else a+="<br>";a+="</li>
";g++}a+="</ol>
</div>
";i.hasRichContent&&(a+="</div>
")}return a}function E(a){i.hasRichContent=false;i.termsCount=0;i.termsGroup={};i.available=[];var a=a.getElementsByTagName("primary"),c=SOURCE_SELECT.innerHTML,g=TARGET_SELECT.innerHTML,c=[c,g];if(!(c.length<2||typeof q[c[0]]=="undefined"||typeof q[c[1]]=="undefined")){c=q[c[1]];
for(g=0;g<a.length;g++)for(var b=a[g].childNodes,d=0;d<b.length;d++){var e=b.item(d);e.nodeName=="term"&&(e.getAttribute("language")==c||e.getElementsByTagName("PronunciationGroup").length!=0)&&i.addTerm(e)}}}function F(){for(var a in i.termsGroup){var c=i.termsGroup[a],b;for(b in c){var d=c[b];if(d.ipa&&d.ipa.length>0){a=[];a.push('<div id="phonetic_symbol">
');for(c=0;c<d.ipa.length;c++)a.push(d.ipa[c].type,": [",d.ipa[c].text,"]"),c!=d.ipa.length-1&&a.push(" ");a.push("</div>
");return a.join("")}}}return""}
function y(a){var c={German:"de",French:"fr",Italian:"it",Korean:"ko",Spanish:"es"},b=SOURCE_SELECT.innerHTML;if(c[a]!=null)document._dictionary._target.value=c[a],document._dictionary.onsubmit()}function x(a){a=a.parentNode.parentNode;a.className=a.className!="explanation hide"?"explanation hide":"explanation show";_IG_AdjustIFrameHeight();return true}function u(a,c){var b=l(a),d=false;if(b.getElementsByTagName("term").length>0&&(i.parse(b),i.termsCount>0))_gel("dict_content").innerHTML=i.showIPA()+
i.getContent()+'<div class="more_link">
<a href="'+p()+'" target="_blank">'+_hesc(prefs.getMsg("more_text"))+"</a></div>
",_gel("dict_content").scrollTop=0,i.available!=""&&(_gel("dict_content").innerHTML+=i.available),d=true;document._dictionary.word.focus();return d}function v(a){_IG_FetchContent(a,function(c){var a,b;try{b=eval("("+c+")")}catch(d){}if(b)if(typeof b=="object")if(b.length==1)a=_hesc(prefs.getMsg("no_definition"));else{if(b.length>=2)if(langmsg[b[1]]){if(a="<i style=color:grey>"+_hesc(langmsg[b[1]])+
" - "+_hesc(langmsg[TARGET_SELECT.innerHTML])+"</i><br>"+_hesc(b[0]),b[2]){c=[];c.push("<br><br>");c.push("<ol>");b=b[2];for(var e in b){c.push("
<li>");var f=b[e],h;for(h in f)h==0?c.push("<b>",f[h],"</b>"):c.push("<ol>
<li>",h,". ",f[h],"</li>
</ol>
");c.push("</li>
")}c.push("</ol>
");a+=c.join("")}}else a=_hesc(b[0])}else a=_hesc(b);a==document._dictionary.word.value&&(a=_hesc(prefs.getMsg("no_definition")));_gel("dict_content").innerHTML=a;_IG_AdjustIFrameHeight()})}function s(){prefs.set("sl",
SOURCE_SELECT.innerHTML);prefs.set("tl",TARGET_SELECT.innerHTML);var a=document._dictionary.word.value,c=SOURCE_SELECT.innerHTML,b=TARGET_SELECT.innerHTML;if(!a||a==prefs.getMsg("input_hint"))return _gel("dict_content").innerHTML=prefs.getMsg("ENTER_MSG_LBL"),document._dictionary.word.value=prefs.getMsg("input_hint"),document._dictionary.word.className="input1TS",gadgets.window.adjustHeight(getGadgetHeight()),false;if(m(a))return c=SOURCE_SELECT.innerHTML,b=TARGET_SELECT.innerHTML,a=createWebUrl(a,
c,b),window.open(a,"GoogleTranslateGadgetPopup"),false;if(a.length>300)return _gel("dict_content").innerHTML="<font color=red>"+_hesc(prefs.getMsg("input_too_long"))+"</font> <a href="+_hesc(prefs.getMsg("title_url"))+' target="_blank">'+_hesc(prefs.getMsg("google_translation"))+"</a>",_IG_AdjustIFrameHeight(),false;if(w[c]&&b=="en"&&G.test(a)||c=="en"&&w[b]&&H.test(a))swap(SOURCE_SELECT,SOURCE_SELECT_TXT,TARGET_SELECT,TARGET_SELECT_TXT),c=SOURCE_SELECT.innerHTML,b=TARGET_SELECT.innerHTML;var c=
[c,b],d=createTranslateURL(a,c[0],c[1]),e,f;if(c[0]=="zh"){var b="zh-CN",h="zh-TW";prefs.getMsg("default_hl")=="zh-TW"&&(b="zh-TW",h="zh-CN");e=n(a,b,c[1]);f=n(a,h,c[1])}else e=n(a,c[0],c[1]),f="";var i=false;_IG_FetchContent(e,function(a){i=u(a,e);!i&&f!=""?_IG_FetchContent(f,function(a){u(a,f)||v(d);_IG_AdjustIFrameHeight()}):i||v(d);_IG_AdjustIFrameHeight()});a.value="";return false}var r="com",q={en:"0",fr:"4",de:"5",it:"7",ko:"9",es:"14","zh-TW":"69","zh-CN":"16",zh:"16",ru:"13"},t={1:prefs.getMsg("noun"),
2:prefs.getMsg("verb"),3:prefs.getMsg("adj"),4:prefs.getMsg("adv"),5:prefs.getMsg("prep"),6:prefs.getMsg("abbr"),7:prefs.getMsg("conj"),8:prefs.getMsg("pron"),9:prefs.getMsg("intr"),10:prefs.getMsg("phrase"),11:prefs.getMsg("prefix"),12:prefs.getMsg("suffix"),13:prefs.getMsg("article"),14:prefs.getMsg("combining")},z=/\{([^\}]+)\}/g,H=RegExp("^[\\s\\u0020-\\u0040\\u005B-\\u0060\\u007B-\\u007E\\u1100-\\u11FF\\u3040-\\u30FF\\u3130-\\u318F\\u31F0-\\u31FF\\u3400-\\u4DBF\\u4E00-\\u9FFF\\uAC00-\\uD7A3\\uF900-\\uFAFF\\uFF65-\\uFFDC]+$"),
G=RegExp("^[\\s\\u0020-\\u007E]+$"),w={ko:1,ja:1,"zh-TW":1,"zh-CN":1,zh:1},i={hasRichContent:false,termsCount:0,termsGroup:{},available:[],nodeHandlers:{text:j,Example:A,PronunciationGroup:B},addTerm:C,getContent:D,parse:E,showIPA:F};_IG_RegisterOnloadHandler(h)})();
</script>
<script>
gadgets.util.runOnLoadHandlers();
</script>
<script>
window.google.csi.tickDl();
</script>
<a href="http://translate.google.com/?hl=en#auto|it|How%20special%20will%20it%20be%20to%20check%20this%20place%20out%3F%3F" target="_blank">Come speciale sarà di verificare questo posto?</a></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjzkPu99RQtL-19a4eM_sw3wD-vZwEtEIIenTP-MgsFuK1Dj46LCDMt_PXirviO3vtWbVSEAeNgDjwOQEv85MwumC6i0sx4PHYwCpKNhegnRGSHrgKMjVbUeF3w923BrRGmrrVSDzk4M/s1600/Trattoria+Checchino+Dal+1887.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjzkPu99RQtL-19a4eM_sw3wD-vZwEtEIIenTP-MgsFuK1Dj46LCDMt_PXirviO3vtWbVSEAeNgDjwOQEv85MwumC6i0sx4PHYwCpKNhegnRGSHrgKMjVbUeF3w923BrRGmrrVSDzk4M/s320/Trattoria+Checchino+Dal+1887.png" width="320" /></a></div>Kathryn Voskuilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827584833951647323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036803141282879342.post-6997608229726332882011-11-12T08:10:00.001-08:002011-11-13T09:16:26.926-08:00Roam Roma!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhNSJlE1rGm5YkCYx-zJyWeDy3lGl0D6xn8wA-OZzz8LuMsMIl-poIZ0EKFLMHy0j1j8VVHwalgZpBdO3sAv88KzIPHsDcFornvjBNcGVDRe6MTE3c6nUwjlvqA4Q3vjXeb4mIlYcsyA/s1600/speak+itallian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhNSJlE1rGm5YkCYx-zJyWeDy3lGl0D6xn8wA-OZzz8LuMsMIl-poIZ0EKFLMHy0j1j8VVHwalgZpBdO3sAv88KzIPHsDcFornvjBNcGVDRe6MTE3c6nUwjlvqA4Q3vjXeb4mIlYcsyA/s200/speak+itallian.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">A<span class="definition">ssolutamente! My favorite Italian word I've learned so far...It is so musical and I have to bring my fingers together on my right hand as if a puppet to say it completely. Assolutamente! Certainly!</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7LWAohPk3ph_drvqKBy2jib5nYB6zI3Dvc07WepHLfLUE5qFsdl-yi-SWHgmEYOdDU4KI9uLHOJtLsuyGQ88wP46itDrIfAcXOmZektO5cwJHEeiDOoG7xRTKGX3XEOXIGV8qEbV5_M/s1600/roman+forum+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7LWAohPk3ph_drvqKBy2jib5nYB6zI3Dvc07WepHLfLUE5qFsdl-yi-SWHgmEYOdDU4KI9uLHOJtLsuyGQ88wP46itDrIfAcXOmZektO5cwJHEeiDOoG7xRTKGX3XEOXIGV8qEbV5_M/s640/roman+forum+map.jpg" width="536" /></a></div>
<span class="definition"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assolutamente! Rome will be an important part of our Italian trip itinerary. I think three days. <span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will spend the first day seeing the <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/od/romeattractions/a/rome-forum.htm" target="_blank">Roman Forum</a>.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will see Palatine Hill and the Roman Colisseum.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0LJ0wkJdFnXxu0TSF8abnUstIPL5xIy5dSXVjakfa59PNnQsOOH9N5i3B9FFWGrDSlE3l1ccMWJmguvo9lUPj6ch7Ozkmz21f_zop2lV_KVhHYpt0I12_A9JYXZQpPWjLagLJF1bxbM/s1600/rome-colosseum-floor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0LJ0wkJdFnXxu0TSF8abnUstIPL5xIy5dSXVjakfa59PNnQsOOH9N5i3B9FFWGrDSlE3l1ccMWJmguvo9lUPj6ch7Ozkmz21f_zop2lV_KVhHYpt0I12_A9JYXZQpPWjLagLJF1bxbM/s320/rome-colosseum-floor.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
</span><span class="definition"><em>The <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO1NQy4oyJs" target="_blank">Colosseum</a>, sometimes spelled "Coliseum", was built between 70 and 82 AD in the heart of Rome. It was called the Amphitheatrum Flavium or Flavian Amphitheater because it was built by the the Flavian emperors, Vespasian and Titus. Some say is was able to hold 87,000 spectators, but more likely it was around 50,000, still monumental for the time. </em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoA9-lbOgEZWzAN8zRB8UqcS_x1lSf0xTliREu6MRlG6o2o98DraKAvh3Lz7GVoHGQkmaLmGeoQgB6pBF6L_ZdzTVGPuy3Zrk9YZqg06SiinEXboU8Fmm8t-DUhaFGAqkGonfBmpd7T-Q/s1600/Stadium_Palatine_hill_rome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoA9-lbOgEZWzAN8zRB8UqcS_x1lSf0xTliREu6MRlG6o2o98DraKAvh3Lz7GVoHGQkmaLmGeoQgB6pBF6L_ZdzTVGPuy3Zrk9YZqg06SiinEXboU8Fmm8t-DUhaFGAqkGonfBmpd7T-Q/s320/Stadium_Palatine_hill_rome.jpg" width="296" /></a><span class="definition"><em><strong>Palatine Hill</strong> is one of the seven hills in </em><a href="http://www.gothereguide.com/rome-city/" title="Rome Travel Guide"><em>Rome</em></a><em> and probably the most famous. This is where the rich and famous ancient Romans used to live. Emperor Augustus was born on Palatine Hill and lived there all his life. Cicero- the great orator lived there as well as Marcus Antonius (Marc Antony). Later emperors Tiberius, Caligula and Domitian built palaces there. Most of the ruins that we see today are from the Domitian’s palace.</em> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Accommodation choices are unlimited...one that looks very nice is the <a href="http://www.daphne-rome.com/" target="_blank">Daphne Hotel.</a> It's a B&B close to a train station. I've also read recommendations about the convenience of tour buses; you buy a 2 or 3 day pass and you can hop on and off at different sites. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg43FDx7Za5e1u2-Ud6PUfd8_AzzFV9CVI-A0i6W9ydcByrk0RvtiGM8HfhWzZqcrxqRzVx0yBGQP49J7ZoVaVrdMjGIIC2PT5OYnjy6XdXT0c7qh3S_LByT-gJZduVixBl1dwGN2Esug/s1600/rome-hop-on-hop-off-double-decker-bus-tour-in-rome-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg43FDx7Za5e1u2-Ud6PUfd8_AzzFV9CVI-A0i6W9ydcByrk0RvtiGM8HfhWzZqcrxqRzVx0yBGQP49J7ZoVaVrdMjGIIC2PT5OYnjy6XdXT0c7qh3S_LByT-gJZduVixBl1dwGN2Esug/s1600/rome-hop-on-hop-off-double-decker-bus-tour-in-rome-2.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana;">Will add day 2 and 3 on upcoming blogs. As always, your feedback and comments are greatly appeciated! Assolutamente! </span>Kathryn Voskuilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827584833951647323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036803141282879342.post-30059272261902808682011-10-23T09:11:00.000-07:002011-10-23T16:35:30.863-07:00Treasures to discover!<div>
<br />
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<br />
<div>
<div>
Buonjiourno!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I am loving my Italian lessons via the Pimsleur audio CDs. It is especially fun to practice with Fabiola at our neighborhood <a href="http://www.mariosmadeirabeach.com/Home_Page.html">Ristorante de Mario</a>! I've learned several phrases...but not a lot of nouns. I'm sure those will come.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqCYNgwEObN2Z9fq2WNT9IZ4utQvKJErS3XxKvCr6tH_h2N8-CyDI5nal_7KxE3dt3OsyqZiq9J1B6oqeL7rV9hOQ1Bb8e_DZAPQyBQ8uUkq1P-532jVV1Nu_3DxUJJSSsiCGgOsn8Fo/s1600/Anacapri.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666713725080973538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqCYNgwEObN2Z9fq2WNT9IZ4utQvKJErS3XxKvCr6tH_h2N8-CyDI5nal_7KxE3dt3OsyqZiq9J1B6oqeL7rV9hOQ1Bb8e_DZAPQyBQ8uUkq1P-532jVV1Nu_3DxUJJSSsiCGgOsn8Fo/s200/Anacapri.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 203px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 269px;" /></a><br />
<br />
Since my last post, I chatted with Elliott Wiser of VP, <a href="http://baynews9.com/">New</a><a href="http://baynews9.com/">s & Sports Programming </a>at Bright House Networks and charming host of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/vinovinotv">Vino Vino TV</a>. Elliott has been to Italy numerous times and generously offered recommendations...including the name and number of his travel agent! He also strongly recommended <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anacapri">Anacapri.</a> Just look at that view!<br />
<br />
Another part of my acclimation to all things Italy is learning about true Italian food. I am absolutely loving the <a href="http://www.italianfoodnet.com/">Italian Food Net</a>. It serves as a language tutor as well as educates me about cooking Italian. I am surprised at how pure and simple the recipes are. They are fresh and incredibly delicious! <br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7U8GZ_NP9wmtA_uvkmhP7sRpVRz8LDka7ZOinTvt_YsCDWxamL9yQSVpH2ADXzTsulNU8l1Sb0oriQ_C9yXhm3JeMoqj3XNl-FlO6a5XE19l6h948Oh9QK8LNXg0NDrfiYbVzA2qkjos/s1600/Joseph+Calleja.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666717699965955618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7U8GZ_NP9wmtA_uvkmhP7sRpVRz8LDka7ZOinTvt_YsCDWxamL9yQSVpH2ADXzTsulNU8l1Sb0oriQ_C9yXhm3JeMoqj3XNl-FlO6a5XE19l6h948Oh9QK8LNXg0NDrfiYbVzA2qkjos/s200/Joseph+Calleja.png" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 157px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></a>Another aspect of preparing for the trip that is calling me is the "musica". I already love the beautiful Italian tenors...here's one that was featured on NPR this past week, <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/10/16/141353649/first-listen-joseph-calleja-the-maltese-tenor?ps=mh_fl">Joseph Calleja</a>, The Maltese Tenor. I don't need to understand a word he sings to absolutely be mesmerized! So my plan now is to listen to the music on my drive to work, and practice my Italian on the drive home. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
This is so much fun...and I thank you for sharing the journey with me. Arrivederci!</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>Kathryn Voskuilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827584833951647323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036803141282879342.post-32718173348522455342011-10-09T13:44:00.000-07:002011-10-09T15:21:16.344-07:00Eat, Cheer and Dream<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vHMGsVMarHGQEBEpFIHiRMIOtv2uYLwYkj1xpOcV_-obGOQIVHkk7T1y2iRa3gZFZxsLMKeyWPoEygY56J2bVCh9PFTVSKjJ-_VZr-TCrtOskai2PCh3Z5S03i5ih5-CosPirvyuG6o/s1600/The+Hill.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vHMGsVMarHGQEBEpFIHiRMIOtv2uYLwYkj1xpOcV_-obGOQIVHkk7T1y2iRa3gZFZxsLMKeyWPoEygY56J2bVCh9PFTVSKjJ-_VZr-TCrtOskai2PCh3Z5S03i5ih5-CosPirvyuG6o/s200/The+Hill.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661614433859311426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Lawrence Peter "<a href="http://www.yogiberra.com/about.html">Yogi</a>" Berra was born on May 12, 1925 in St. Louis, Mo. and grew up on Elizabeth Street in a neighborhood called "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hill,_St._Louis">The Hill</a>". So did <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Garagiola,_Sr.">Joe Garagiola Sr</a>.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QxbBVBgDJsjoKZyNsWkeA2ULuxmTKjPXoLtWY81bkkL6IjlYCHGzu6rbnB9LE2vvcR16Sjr1oExgeypn8IW4nFUpRzuioSICVcwGoLPrz01fUSHNuK2WfwyHjiLOOvsQZ5zLJ0dl9Yk/s1600/Joe+Garagiola.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 156px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QxbBVBgDJsjoKZyNsWkeA2ULuxmTKjPXoLtWY81bkkL6IjlYCHGzu6rbnB9LE2vvcR16Sjr1oExgeypn8IW4nFUpRzuioSICVcwGoLPrz01fUSHNuK2WfwyHjiLOOvsQZ5zLJ0dl9Yk/s200/Joe+Garagiola.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661614269086615586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Anyone who has lived in St. Louis and has become a Cardinal baseball fan, know the Hill as the home of these two Hall of Famers. (St. Louis broadcast icon, Jack Buck also called the Hill, home.)<br /><br />The Hill is well-known for their authentic Italian restaurants. Often, when we return to St. Louis to visit our family, we make a reservation at <a href="http://charliegittos.com/">Charlie Gitto's</a>...one of our favorite restaurants on the Hill. Romantic dinners for two and Many special occasions have been celebrated here. I anticipate many wonderful meals when we are experiencing Italy. I love Italian food. There is a small delightful restaurant right here in Madeira Beach, <a href="http://www.mariosmadeirabeach.com/">Mario's. </a>Recently taken over by Fabiola Beltrano, we have been going almost weekly the past few months. Fabiola is delightful and graciously let's me practice my Italian conversation skills.<br /><br />If there is a home series when we are in town, we don our Cardinal gear and head for <a href="http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/stl/ballpark/index.jsp">Busch Stadium</a> with over 35,000 other fans. Managed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_La_Russa">Tony LaRussa</a> (and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Torre">Joe Torre</a> before that), we have enjoyed watching many Italian Cardinal players... Gary Gaetti, Nick Punto (on the 2011 team!), Tom Nieto, Mike Laga, John Frascatore, Ray Giannelli, Mike Gallego, Joe Girardi, and </span><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Tom Pagnozzi. </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><br />My beloved Cardinals are in the National League playoffs battling the Milwaukee Brewers as I write my blog today. So I thought it would be appropriate to tie the Cardinals, the Hill and Italy together... Until next time.. Arrivederci!<br /><br /><br /></span>Kathryn Voskuilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827584833951647323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036803141282879342.post-82924944649452425282011-10-02T11:03:00.000-07:002011-10-02T17:33:25.114-07:00<div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNO0sftrO0l5jniipgddOyj6a-D5iIoma9PVdeuu7clolgKgaDklqNvW4QLX5C9f6V7VEogLmDyyklXTQKFB5_FDSWQlo-G7nI_dS1oDCd05cmSBG2sLVSiTrU4s9P8BN8c2MdHGuKyjc/s1600/colesseum.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658973203585983090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNO0sftrO0l5jniipgddOyj6a-D5iIoma9PVdeuu7clolgKgaDklqNvW4QLX5C9f6V7VEogLmDyyklXTQKFB5_FDSWQlo-G7nI_dS1oDCd05cmSBG2sLVSiTrU4s9P8BN8c2MdHGuKyjc/s200/colesseum.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">To Tour or To Be? That is the question.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">Is there a middle ground? Rick asks me "are we going to be tourists or are we going to just be in Italy?" And I said "Yes!"...But I probably need to be realistic.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">Having never been to Europe, I know I will be fascinated by the historical sites and stories...yet I am as easily fascinated by the history of a small </span><a href="http://wanderingitaly.com/blog/article/677/cinta-senese-pigs-in-chianti"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"><strong>family farm </strong></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">as I am about the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"><strong>Colosseum</strong></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">Rick and I have discovered an organic Italian red wine called Fabula...that we love love love! Checking out its origin, we found </span><a href="http://www.montebelli.com/"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"><strong>Montebelli</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">...</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1h9r15HQYcUqF1pX5NzMMMPoUGAvmiVL0j2pIlyaS-PuDJUvVUerUOpSAllNApt0rVDMa_LsIgpwCZ4Z858XOqMX3otNQwv8gxc4VnMrx8BXkvnNEHsDG8U1UKHJxMNE28vLLd7rfK0/s1600/Montebelli+estate.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 184px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658972147520392562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1h9r15HQYcUqF1pX5NzMMMPoUGAvmiVL0j2pIlyaS-PuDJUvVUerUOpSAllNApt0rVDMa_LsIgpwCZ4Z858XOqMX3otNQwv8gxc4VnMrx8BXkvnNEHsDG8U1UKHJxMNE28vLLd7rfK0/s320/Montebelli+estate.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">and were thrilled to find there is history, lovely accommodations and only 20 minutes from the sea! Searching <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwl_WCHh_MJLu1ugu77Rkvi2pp1Uwp59X1VmeKq8NcdvZrWFzrKbjgytrCKyFbrGOxK_9rJuo0kD08VeGcmN9FcD37Td2stYri9EbZRlrBRL2TudSZbDynOtbye0LP-Erv3xybl10DpM/s1600/Fabula.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658974803011721474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwl_WCHh_MJLu1ugu77Rkvi2pp1Uwp59X1VmeKq8NcdvZrWFzrKbjgytrCKyFbrGOxK_9rJuo0kD08VeGcmN9FcD37Td2stYri9EbZRlrBRL2TudSZbDynOtbye0LP-Erv3xybl10DpM/s200/Fabula.jpg" /></a>accommodation availabilities for next summer...online...there are no vacancies....wow! I think I will need to call them to confirm that they are indeed sold out.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">A friend of mine suggests that we work with a travel agent who is familiar with Italy...you know, that is probably a really good idea...does anyone have a recommendation?<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">I love James Martin's </span><a href="http://wanderingitaly.com/blog/"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"><strong>Wandering Italy</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"> blog...he recently posted a link to an </span><a href="http://www.italianfoodnet.com/eng/video/lasagna-with-mushrooms-peas-and-pancetta"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"><strong>Italian Food Network</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">...and I am so inspired...we are having this wonderful dish for dinner tonight...if it turns out well, I'll post pictures!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">An update on the "Learning the Language" post...CDs have yet to arrive!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">Ciao for now!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;">P.S. Here are pictures of our Lasagna dinner...it was really good, rich and a bit too salty. When I make it again...I'll cut the Pancetta in half. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttF-Ad18Kxy5TPxVzAp6JraphDJvshaEM5N2r2W-26Py7RJX0Cj8uieWENHdtACdhXGjqANB48K4eXYHvm2_5-6wd-66Znk6-CtpF2ByvWVJqbvnUvE8wdcTcqBBkFWs-0DV0J1noaFc/s1600/pancetta+lasagna+a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659056996886721506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttF-Ad18Kxy5TPxVzAp6JraphDJvshaEM5N2r2W-26Py7RJX0Cj8uieWENHdtACdhXGjqANB48K4eXYHvm2_5-6wd-66Znk6-CtpF2ByvWVJqbvnUvE8wdcTcqBBkFWs-0DV0J1noaFc/s200/pancetta+lasagna+a.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xf1emAomv2Ku5TRXA29ZqPIjFyvq5BJbR-BhlhMtbwu1O67xGlh4boD4EujflVVo1Djy0pWayd73WbQO-Mvw4-k9R_aDednt3CXBP3dpivWWdJbol91MZsflUDlHfJxfl2HvTZVgmiU/s1600/pancetta+lasagna1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659057108627881186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xf1emAomv2Ku5TRXA29ZqPIjFyvq5BJbR-BhlhMtbwu1O67xGlh4boD4EujflVVo1Djy0pWayd73WbQO-Mvw4-k9R_aDednt3CXBP3dpivWWdJbol91MZsflUDlHfJxfl2HvTZVgmiU/s200/pancetta+lasagna1.jpg" /></a></span></div></div>Kathryn Voskuilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827584833951647323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036803141282879342.post-49720404469315140612011-09-25T09:48:00.000-07:002011-09-25T10:29:48.312-07:00Parlare la lingua<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzusRVGUiLEGFZUnlVVQGAzI70gSrUiHvk9lm8eyM6P3FI6CZVbIg9e8gR5WFd2krOfJlcToJGd8cVHmSGJjF8Fxex2hzZ6bt75_esSw0hyphenhyphenv582fRODr0p3NMD9njr8slJ25sVKsPnu8/s1600/talking+hand.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 147px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzusRVGUiLEGFZUnlVVQGAzI70gSrUiHvk9lm8eyM6P3FI6CZVbIg9e8gR5WFd2krOfJlcToJGd8cVHmSGJjF8Fxex2hzZ6bt75_esSw0hyphenhyphenv582fRODr0p3NMD9njr8slJ25sVKsPnu8/s320/talking+hand.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656349152138274674" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">Speaking the language.<br /></span><br /></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;">Wikipedia explains...<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Not surprisingly, <b><a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Italian_phrasebook" title="Italian phrasebook">Italian</a></b> is the language spoken natively by most Italians.<br /></span><p style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Every region in Italy has a distinct native Romance language in addition to Italian that may or may not be the native language of the locals depending on the area: in areas like Rome or Milan the spoken language is nowadays mostly Italian with slight local influence, whereas in southern rural areas the local language is more common; though people will usually b</span><span style="font-size:100%;">e bilingual. Even though Italians call the native languages "dialects" they are in practice seperate languages, much like Chinese languages; they have their own way of writing and don't always belong to the same language family as Italian. </span></p><p style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;">A <span style="font-weight: bold;">good phrasebook</span> will be very useful if you're going anywhere remote, while in most big cities you will find many people understanding English, Spanish or French. But even in those areas<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Italians will be happy to hear you trying to speak Italian</span> or the local language, and will try to understand you even if you are making many mistakes. If you want your errors to be corrected to help you better learn the language, don't forget to ask before starting a conversation. Italians will rarely correct you otherwise as they consider it very impolite to do so especially since it's a second language for many of them. They also appreciate your efforts to speak their language, even if you do it badly, and won't make too much fuss about your mistakes. </span></p><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">Well, I've just purchased the first 4 CD's of the <a href="https://www.pimsleurapproach.com/search225/learn-a-language.asp?sid=001exactItalCBTgrey_ggl&Network=Search&kw=learn%20italian&ad=9314402105&SiteTarget=&s_kwcid=learn%20italian%7C9314402105&gclid=COLSgpLwuKsCFRoS2godK2Ffcw">Pimsleur Approach</a></span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">to learning Italian. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTjQJ6esPQLuYd8nwNC8cJ4RsJCa5fmIE8CJdthFUoRJIa05YS5BaJCRJ9j-zfEdwMVZVsvg-Wg1AawrtyUfLZ0q0ngpQVE1gqcYG1fzofP-wP5gC5TZjDXwSDuDWmIjIMJ3zNm72Bgc/s1600/green+prius.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTjQJ6esPQLuYd8nwNC8cJ4RsJCa5fmIE8CJdthFUoRJIa05YS5BaJCRJ9j-zfEdwMVZVsvg-Wg1AawrtyUfLZ0q0ngpQVE1gqcYG1fzofP-wP5gC5TZjDXwSDuDWmIjIMJ3zNm72Bgc/s320/green+prius.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656349953381846642" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"><br /><br />With a 30 minute commute each way to and from work, I intend to use the drive to learn Italian. It should help that I'm an auditory learner!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;"></span> </div></div>Kathryn Voskuilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827584833951647323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036803141282879342.post-86044782417462449352011-09-18T07:44:00.000-07:002011-09-18T14:42:29.967-07:00Celebrating<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4s6T0gM4OkYQiXm0zA8ifNZ1Psd5WYUdk9Jmc6_4UjfHVoXXbARx0G-WnawSHU5mCv0TljjM4KN13d3jzddMV1GXOGJ_54kA1bz_7xJ_eAFvbX5wA31-3OPOXX1plqs1cbwyE8UIB4A/s1600/jewelbox3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 175px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653767405474211090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4s6T0gM4OkYQiXm0zA8ifNZ1Psd5WYUdk9Jmc6_4UjfHVoXXbARx0G-WnawSHU5mCv0TljjM4KN13d3jzddMV1GXOGJ_54kA1bz_7xJ_eAFvbX5wA31-3OPOXX1plqs1cbwyE8UIB4A/s200/jewelbox3.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#3333ff;"><span style="color:#000099;">I am the luckiest.</span> </span><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#3333ff;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDIVJbetNR4&feature=youtu.be">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDIVJbetNR4&feature=youtu.be</a></span></p><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">My best friend, Rick and I are celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary today. We were married 9/18/76 at the Jewel Box in St. Louis. We had moved to St. Louis 5 months before </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWUBYLBBorr5kfub1Cc2ND5n-9ngR2YkGBzq8bfKquY3T-ruH6_nDsmemH_HKd02osZrN-5tPkIZFET2n-vGnLOBm0Md6SbNMjDIlAuQfYV7vVVrP1v_1fN60B6KGka_NFX3HzJK_04o/s1600/FP+Balloon+Race.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 165px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653717613529593522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWUBYLBBorr5kfub1Cc2ND5n-9ngR2YkGBzq8bfKquY3T-ruH6_nDsmemH_HKd02osZrN-5tPkIZFET2n-vGnLOBm0Md6SbNMjDIlAuQfYV7vVVrP1v_1fN60B6KGka_NFX3HzJK_04o/s320/FP+Balloon+Race.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">the wedding and all of our friends and family traveled to attend. It was the 4th annual Great St. Louis Balloon Race and Rick told everyone he arranged to have it for our wedding! They just had the 39th Race yesterday! Like our incredible relationship, it just gets better every year.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">We do not remember all of the 35 anniversary celebrations...we wish we had kept a journal or scrapbook. But we do remember some of them. And every one of them, we talk about how "someday" we are going to go to Italy. In honor of our 35th wedding anniversary today, we are planning our dream trip for next year.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">We celebrated #10 in Puerto Vallarta. I won the trip from a radio station.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9plP76Ij_YCxbF3U4Y0FZfn2GB7B3IzzHbKk3rguxpHKdI357_bT8t7ufVUOS1kE3e9Z3uvkiZD7xOmwDTFxN14XGgEOfJd_TthHjs_on9gNuBy_-WO4FigrH3K7iaHvChqUP2CVe7o/s1600/Mexican+Parents.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653767009074406322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9plP76Ij_YCxbF3U4Y0FZfn2GB7B3IzzHbKk3rguxpHKdI357_bT8t7ufVUOS1kE3e9Z3uvkiZD7xOmwDTFxN14XGgEOfJd_TthHjs_on9gNuBy_-WO4FigrH3K7iaHvChqUP2CVe7o/s200/Mexican+Parents.jpg" /></a> Felt pretty nauseous the entire trip...didn't know we were pregnant with our precious Emma.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8NxeZFr-xRTaka3mK2rU89Uw1XM2Dnez1N-eP2fls33XlKBfyJYWx5dmTSEgWpIP_TujjK0D-nQ4aoPEfYTfeJVpyW4s2FFuoQKn7WizHZJQQeqXjsQkR1zyyj4N9-r36S4VMcBf12k/s1600/kace+rick+emma+at+jewel+box.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 239px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 177px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653764436047544946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8NxeZFr-xRTaka3mK2rU89Uw1XM2Dnez1N-eP2fls33XlKBfyJYWx5dmTSEgWpIP_TujjK0D-nQ4aoPEfYTfeJVpyW4s2FFuoQKn7WizHZJQQeqXjsQkR1zyyj4N9-r36S4VMcBf12k/s200/kace+rick+emma+at+jewel+box.jpg" /></a>We didn't go back to the Jewel Box until our 13th anniversary.<br /><br />I love these pictures<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCpnhGMJG1hpQyd8nOEKmmVjgO9pGmlcvWBD72Kb7_uN1tj8AOYSbW2Npb-Gyf_Rz_or1S0htdzuCByjNCxlrYt0K_9jOqB380ZEzqr62VJt9EW__2sXjtbesDYiG13fjL9ovx2l_HSI/s1600/rick+and+girls+jewel+box+pond.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653768085460534370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCpnhGMJG1hpQyd8nOEKmmVjgO9pGmlcvWBD72Kb7_uN1tj8AOYSbW2Npb-Gyf_Rz_or1S0htdzuCByjNCxlrYt0K_9jOqB380ZEzqr62VJt9EW__2sXjtbesDYiG13fjL9ovx2l_HSI/s200/rick+and+girls+jewel+box+pond.jpg" /></a> as they capture our family in<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qCzytFXhynyj_Dug2j1Uc3K4IL41s4P9-4M6zaMRPnAp2f8oxzKVkwMcUrXf3dc4RI008dvphiL0xnV0N_mhUKU4t7OX16Av8LaQhhfQyj4D7ZzbNcmcSpP49Mk4lD-vObiSZKNSqNs/s1600/PTDC0113%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 132px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653765517067392882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qCzytFXhynyj_Dug2j1Uc3K4IL41s4P9-4M6zaMRPnAp2f8oxzKVkwMcUrXf3dc4RI008dvphiL0xnV0N_mhUKU4t7OX16Av8LaQhhfQyj4D7ZzbNcmcSpP49Mk4lD-vObiSZKNSqNs/s200/PTDC0113%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a> that moment in time.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">Balloons remained a theme on occasion...on our 20th anniversary, Rick sent me 20 roses, three </span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">days in a row. The first day they were yellow, for his friend of 20 years. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2_rwsTe3bfuOg4vqv7AfD8MVGeg-7zHyvxc3Ls9NSUja7JxXjWf_o45nQTi67aFog40urVBqDpKNko2y9TpMrZJI3J5TgXNHCRWJZLzWHZg29Sz-qeycjD5V-XfoLBUJyl1cnoXNmaU/s1600/PTDC0103.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 163px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 207px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653723136966599042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2_rwsTe3bfuOg4vqv7AfD8MVGeg-7zHyvxc3Ls9NSUja7JxXjWf_o45nQTi67aFog40urVBqDpKNko2y9TpMrZJI3J5TgXNHCRWJZLzWHZg29Sz-qeycjD5V-XfoLBUJyl1cnoXNmaU/s320/PTDC0103.jpg" /></span></a>The second, pink, for his wife of 20 years. And the 3rd day, red, for his love of 20 years. I had a custom stool made for him to use in his classroom...and delivered it with 20 balloons.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">Our 30th anniversary, Kacy and Emma surprised us with family and friends at their apartment building's recreation center. The biggest surprise was that my mom and dad came down from Nebraska to celebrate with us...very special.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">People ask us what our secret is...Rick says "Love the Momma", I say he is "Simply Irresistable."<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">We have survived hard times and enjoyed the view from many a hill we have climbed. I am safest when I am with him. He is my hero, my best friend, and the love of my life. I look forward to our dream trip to Italy!</span></p>Kathryn Voskuilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827584833951647323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036803141282879342.post-86157186195517850172011-09-13T17:57:00.000-07:002011-09-13T18:07:06.426-07:00Fun ways we're saving money for our trip<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfOJAWZajwvYhoT3arDUaS7JJY3ta2l9GEL11WHJbluiLf1aYKSQje_d5SO_-it6u2XtPdotVlXPzQxcCVvCOK3I6S3a-GFcvHPjots7pknKjTm6y8Cn1bxTtKHU0fQjibbxDefjt2wA/s1600/cropped+receipt.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652015420684847986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfOJAWZajwvYhoT3arDUaS7JJY3ta2l9GEL11WHJbluiLf1aYKSQje_d5SO_-it6u2XtPdotVlXPzQxcCVvCOK3I6S3a-GFcvHPjots7pknKjTm6y8Cn1bxTtKHU0fQjibbxDefjt2wA/s320/cropped+receipt.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">Cutting and using coupons (only on products we always buy...otherwise overspending becomes an issue.) At the bottom of the receipt, our grocery stores show us how much we "saved"...we come home and put that much cash in our "trip" jar! Also, I've started to take my lunch when I do not have a lunch meeting. My record keeping shows me that my lunches run between 7 and 13 dollars...so if I take my lunch...$10 to the "trip" jar! </span><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;">Simple steps that will add up to our dream vacation.</span></div>Kathryn Voskuilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827584833951647323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036803141282879342.post-4936765492328094822011-09-11T15:29:00.000-07:002011-09-11T15:29:44.428-07:00How do we get there from here?<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-family: verdana;">Raumtweet (an author and teacher in Italy) found me via my sister Holly, also an author and avid tweeter...I'm trying to learn the whole tweet thing...I'm more of a Facebooker.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-family: verdana;">Raumtweet tweets me "In 2 weeks, I'd say, from North to South: Venezia (2 days), Firenze (2 days) Assisi (1 day) Roma (5 days), Naples (2 days), Sicily (3 days)". What would you recommend if we had <strong>3 weeks</strong>?</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-family: verdana;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-family: Verdana;">Hmmmm. Thanks Raum...I love how you broke it down for us by days...and I will be drilling down into each of your suggestions in blog updates and welcome any and all suggestions/insights. </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-family: Verdana;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-family: Verdana;">Quickly checking the <strong>airfare</strong> compare sites on the web...it looks like flying into Venice with a starting point of Tampa, FL will be between $1800 - $2400 (US) per person. Flying to Rome would be approximately $1500-$2200 per person. Any hints on finding the best airfares will be greatly appreciated.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Venezia - Venice</strong>...sounds like a wonderful place for <strong>Voskuils</strong> to start their Italian adventure.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuY-Ubh9zBpOwc5FfSOPjBmaQ4Y5xBI1GKSr1z3HybgaQ75H2U3OCOsTK8FNBTxblCxR2LEgemy6swLPJXXD1VoImLhAOeGODgt8spnJPk8FcTvn1jBXweLZ0MuDMG4ln12m1Micjor4/s1600/Venice+Map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuY-Ubh9zBpOwc5FfSOPjBmaQ4Y5xBI1GKSr1z3HybgaQ75H2U3OCOsTK8FNBTxblCxR2LEgemy6swLPJXXD1VoImLhAOeGODgt8spnJPk8FcTvn1jBXweLZ0MuDMG4ln12m1Micjor4/s320/Venice+Map.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Venezia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-family: Verdana;">Is it possible to have the "<strong>historical</strong>" experience with the "<strong>real life</strong>" experience? </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/GMZwLCwh2lg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: blue;">For example, the Grand Canal, <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Public transport is provided by water buses (</span></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_language" title="Italian language"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Italian</span></a><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">: <span xml:lang="it"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaporetto" title="Vaporetto">vaporetti</a></i></span>) and private </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_taxi" title="Water taxi"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">water taxis</span></a><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, and many tourists explore the canal by </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondola" title="Gondola"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">gondola</span></a><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Travelling by "Vaporetti" (learned a new Italian word!) would feel more "local" perhaps?</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: blue;">While I love history and architecture, the idea of spending hours of precious time in Italy standing in queues in large groups of tourists is not for me. When my dad and I visited the Capital building in Washington DC, we were fortunate to have a friend of a friend who was a Capital Guard give us our tour. Can we have that kind of familial touch in Italy?</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana;">If you have been to Venice, I would love to see your pictures, videos, stories and suggestions for the best way to spend 2-3 days there. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana;">What art the top 3 sites that are "Musts!"</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana;">What about a top cultural experience...opera? art museum (Peggy Guggenheim? <a href="http://www.guggenheim.org/venice">http://www.guggenheim.org/venice</a>)</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana;">Hotel or Bed & Breakfast? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana;">Best places to eat? What to eat?</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana;">Thank you for reading and sharing and dreaming with me.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<strong></strong></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Kathryn Voskuilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827584833951647323noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036803141282879342.post-22196520021090363402011-09-05T06:00:00.000-07:002011-09-07T06:16:56.525-07:00Discovering Italy's Ancient Roman Coast<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rUWQScqKL2ycmPqC8sAGwJVL-IW3sQSG33tUY4tpaf1zb-GkJPmbqtSZiiiLOT2UG06e7CpaWcJFFu6m2_MUvc83RDwSMQP1hXlpjute6G8govahxDM-kpg1jYW68K0iqYaDRizNQxQ/s1600/Earthwatch+Expedition+map.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo45DAq_76uFA8BOJSOM6NE_QjGc5f-ZrrCdIDkBjCZnYIRYYEglbatx2ATPpx3u-29Alr4RWXKw8bbDF4eSQpFAE8fy_k6yvQcBxP81Yy72LoMyygWOhqxNTx_HxYqXXx3rnKUcxeV78/s1600/Earthwatch+Expedition+map.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuRrEzbMPCKAheHmx_Yyd_HFjgi03wjcc3u1U8kYkSTPHGXccsVZu3yzbZf61Q2GOEyWeb-GZGle_OT5pWms9yl3W5B9MGDOwDv8NKVoTeKdYS0iamBmB2LlguPGmfrbicH5kDkEI7Fo/s1600/Earthwatch+Expedition.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 122px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649390140287977794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuRrEzbMPCKAheHmx_Yyd_HFjgi03wjcc3u1U8kYkSTPHGXccsVZu3yzbZf61Q2GOEyWeb-GZGle_OT5pWms9yl3W5B9MGDOwDv8NKVoTeKdYS0iamBmB2LlguPGmfrbicH5kDkEI7Fo/s320/Earthwatch+Expedition.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">Rick participated in an Earthwatch Expedition a couple of years ago... </span><a href="http://earthwatch2voskuil.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#3366ff;">http://earthwatch2voskuil.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"> A week long reef research study in San Salvador. It was an extraordinary experience supporting his passions - oceanography, environmental sustainability and teaching.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">So as we are contemplating our trip to Italy, we thought we would check out Earthwatch to see what they might have in Italy. Check this out. </span><a href="http://www.earthwatch.org/exped/camilli_images.html"><span style="font-family:verdana;">http://www.earthwatch.org/exped/camilli_images.html</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">There is a trip June 3-8, 2012 that is a possibility. It is in the Tuscany area we are most interested in seeing - not only would we be in Italy but we would be doing research and contributing to Earthwatch.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;"></span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">What do you think?</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><br /><div></div></div></div>Kathryn Voskuilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827584833951647323noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036803141282879342.post-21993704615569233652011-08-28T06:00:00.000-07:002011-08-28T09:47:36.391-07:00Italy - #1 on my bucket list<span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwqlM771relBkSytsUvzLN3KlXXKJw8n8dExFSFqG6jIzCAuLbrTroKsJbB8_ESIw7HHgjFLqVuxOlUv5vv7Sw2llDfU_CMp8HVcUcTO2t1z1rXnP8qlKQ8zWVXM0ghi4U0bRLm6C7kM/s1600/Italy+regions.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 273px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645940094671253794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwqlM771relBkSytsUvzLN3KlXXKJw8n8dExFSFqG6jIzCAuLbrTroKsJbB8_ESIw7HHgjFLqVuxOlUv5vv7Sw2llDfU_CMp8HVcUcTO2t1z1rXnP8qlKQ8zWVXM0ghi4U0bRLm6C7kM/s320/Italy+regions.jpg" /></a>
<br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">Ciao!</span></div>
<br />
<br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;">Italy has long been a fascination of mine...when I was in jr. high school in Salt Lake City I had to write a research paper about a country, and I chose Italy...I actually found that paper in a box of "stuff" my mom gave me recently. Written long before internet access to any and all topics, I dove into historical, anecdotal and visual resource books at our library. This was my first understanding of places outside of my home town, state, country. And I knew I wanted to go to Italy someday.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;"></span></div>
<br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;"></span></div>
<br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;">Everyone who knows me, knows that going to Italy is #1 on my bucket list. And they also know that when I have a vision it eventually becomes a reality. (i.e. living at the beach in Florida, taking my dad to Washington DC and Gettysburg). There are so many incredible sights to see, wines to drink, and foods to eat in Italy that my vision is somewhat blurry. </span></div>
<br /><div></div>
<br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;">That is why I'm writing this blog. I invite you, your family, your friends, anyone who has been to Italy, lives in Italy, or like me, is fascinated by Italy, to help clarify my vision...so that when Rick and I do take this lifelong dream trip (plan to take this trip summer 2012)...that we have the best possible experience. </span></div>
<br /><div></div>
<br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;">If you've been to Italy, please share your experience with us on this blog. If you have books you suggest we read, pictures to share, stories to tell, we are grateful for your willingness to post them here. Please share this blog with your friends and family who have been to Italy or would like to go as well.</span></div>
<br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;"></span></div>
<br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;">One of the blogs I've started reading is <a href="http://wanderingitaly.com/blog/">http://wanderingitaly.com/blog/</a>... I love it because it is microscopic in nature...looking closely at Italian culture, events and history from a fun point of view. </span></div>
<br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;"></span></div>
<br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;">Thank you for reading and contributing to "Italy - from Vision to Reality"...I look forward to our inspiring, insightful and invaluable conversation and to dreaming together.</span></div>
<br />Kathryn Voskuilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827584833951647323noreply@blogger.com2