Dusting The Blog Off

Well, it's been too long! Not much has been happening in my craft area lately. Working on getting back into the swing of things. I retired a year ago and thought I would of been crazy crafting. Well maybe this year.  I have done something new though but not proficient in it yet. I'm playing around with machine embroidery. So far I've only done some bibs for gifts and did not take pictures. Have to start remembering to do that.

I also have been working on my family tree again and had the most wonderful experience in meeting with one of my half brothers who had not seen me in 60 years. I was just a wee one so I do not remember back at that time. We had a nice visit and I'm planning on visiting again soon.

This summer when out west visiting my brother I had the opportunity to do a little traveling. My cousin was with me and we went to the Grand Canyon. Took the train in and then a bus tour. After our trip there we visited Vegas. I had not been there since around 1971. Talk about changes, it's nothing like when I first visited.  Silly me had brought some change to use for the slots.

Not the greatest picture of the Grand Canyon but it's breathtaking.

Also visited a Route 66 Museum in CA on a travels. Talk about memory lane, there is so much packed into that little museum.  Could bit help but get my picture taken is this Beetle Bus. It made for a fun day.



Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Pompeii

Pompeii..... is a town which was preserved by layers of ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvlus in AD79.  Walking the cobble stone streets was amazing!  You could even see ruts from the chariots in some of them.  Everything from the bakery to a brothel.....yes that right, was a part of this town.  Walls giving hints to the history of what may been in the partial structures that are left standing.

Can you say Sorrento and Capri? Just beautiful! Our accommodations were so nice and we had a great view with a balcony. Only problem no time to enjoy it.  But who wants to be in the room when there is so much more to see and explore.

Tuscany

Dinner in Tuscany after touring the Certosa Monastery.  There are about 4 monks left living there. The government now owns the property and when the last monk dies it will no longer be a monastery. Their ages range from the 60's to the 80's.  Always looking for more to join.  They make their own liquor which we got to sample at dinner time.  Their property is now cut in half and what was once their pharmacy is now the restaurant where we had dinner.  It is across the road which was on the property before the road was built.  A few pictures below from the monastery and dinner.

Outside the monastery and after we got in the door. Notice how were locked in the wood that prevents the door from being opened from the outside.

Inside the chapel you will notice that the choir seats raise up on on the bottom of each seat is a carved demon face. Interesting to see that.

 

Inside the restaurant....we were entertained by an opera singer. Very booming voice he had.

We had several meals included with the tour but this one was an optional tour which we took all but one.  Did not want to miss a thing. If you go make sure you bring your appetite as the included meals are much larger than what at least I was used to.  Could not possibly eat all of it. Salads were served in the meal not first as I am accustomed to.

 

More Italy

Florence was nice everything from visiting the Museum where Michelangelo's sculpture of David is on display and also the Santa Croce Basilica.  The surrounding area is famous for the quality of it's luxury goods. 

This is not the original sculpture but a copy. I know had taken some pictures of the original, but for some reason they have gone amiss.

And this is part of the Basilica .... it is huge. They are in a continuous process of cleaning the outside. It takes a long time to do even a small section.

Plenty of outdoor eating in all the cities we visited. This happens to be in Florence.

Our tour bus.  We traveled with Insight Vacations and took the Best of Italy tour.  Was a great tour as faster pace as you take in a lot.  We stayed in Hotels that were old and very new.  Some had awesome views.  Will post more later.

 

Italy

Let me begin by saying it's almost impossible to take pictures without others being in them.  I took over 500 some good some not so good.

To have this experience was awesome to say the least.  To imagine a structure even standing with this much remains and to be standing inside it is an experience that I will never have again.  The Colosseum was a beauty in it's day.

 

Below a few pictures within the Vatican.

 

This is a staircase without stairs. It was used to move horses hence no stairs. They had some open windows with some awesome views within this stair well.

One of the many places we went to was Venice. Things you learn about the places when you are actually there.  May of know in the past but forgotten.  Venice is made up of 100 islands and has 400 bridges connecting them if I recall correctly.

And yes a gondola ride was a must! Very interesting this city on water.

 

Can't go to Italy without seeing Pisa!

Well for some reason pictures are not wanting to upload so I will save more for another time.

It's been a long time since my first knee was replaced.  I have since had my left knee replaced in August 2012.  Finally I am able to continue on with my life without constant pain.  With the new knee replacements I was able to take of trip of my lifetime to Italy for 12 days in May of 2013.  What a great experience. 

Been trying to get back into my scrap booking and other paper crafts.

Hope to share some photo's both of Italy and some paper fun soon.