While in Greece and Italy, I found myself in awe of the human spirit driven to continually seek higher ground combined with the engineering skills to achieve these vantage points…how in the world did they ever do that?!
Category: Italy
Sorrento, Italy …Rain and Shine
We drove into Sorrento in a rainstorm but it did not dampen this small town’s charm. The narrow winding streets create a sense of intimacy and invite one to explore. Not knowing what is around the next corner but being greeted with surprise after surprise.
In Southern Italy, lemon trees abound. It seems that lemons come in two sizes here – large and extra large and limoncello is the drink of choice. In one of the stores, I was kindly invited back to see how it was being made. With a vegetable peeler, long strips are taken from the lemon and put right into vats where they are left to steep in vodka for several days. A sugar syrup is made and mixed with the vodka mixture and then it is strained. Limoncello is both delicious and strong (for my taste!). My advice is to try some AFTER visiting all the other quaint shops. We found everyone so open to us and spent a lot of time “visiting”! Hospitality is a hallmark!
The town sits on the top of rocky cliffs. The next day, we ventured down by both elevator and stairs in order to catch a boat over to Capri.
We saw ingenuity at work! Since there is little beach, piers were built out over the water. Sitting on top are very small and brightly colored bath houses for people to change in and then lay out on the piers for some sun bathing!
Sorrento has both charm and grandeur. Taking in breathtaking sites and wandering through the narrow streets, spending time with the locals is such a captivating experience. This is why I try to return year after year!
Capri is next!
The Vatican: Watching and Waiting
Villa d’Este, Tivoli, Italy.
One of the many things I have learned from travel is the importance of trying to be in the moment… (Note the key word is “trying” because it is so easy to be distracted by future details or the pull back home). On this day, several of us decided to get a sandwich from a small family run restaurant to the right of the entrance to the gardens before going in. The family could not have been nicer and we were all just enjoying being with each other even though we did not speak the other’s language. Before leaving, they generously gifted each of us with their home made olive oil. It is the best I have ever tasted! If we were rushing to get into the gardens, we would have missed such a moment of warmth, hospitality and welcome.
I could feel every muscle and every tension in my body just simply melt away within a few minutes of entering the Villa d’Este (also known as the Tivoli Gardens). This truly is a masterpiece of the Italian garden and Renaissance estate. In the 1500’s, Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este, the son of Lucretia Borgia, came here to recover after a failed bid for the papacy and took on the position of Governor of Tivoli. He commissioned Pirro Ligorio and Alberto Galvani to carry out his magnficient dream for his new home and probably soothe his shattered ego – which is a very good thing for us now!
The garden was featured in the opening of the movie, Three Coins in the Fountain and the palace has beautiful frescoes in the reception rooms with breath taking views. The gardens are composed of approximately 500 fountains from grand scale to simple cascading water into small ponds. According to Italy Heaven, “A number of paths and steps lead down through the formal slopes to panoramas and fountains.” One can simply wander and explore beautiful manicured walkways with views of the Rometta , The Water Organ, The Fountains of Dragons and the Path of One Hundred Fountains…each so unique and each providing such an inviting experience into serenity.
Something tells me Ippolito probably never looked back!
Copyright 2012 Frances Schwabenland. Images may not be copied, printed or otherwise disseminated without express written permission of Frances Schwabenland.
Via dell’Amore
Via dell’Amore, Cinque Terre, Italy from Frances Schwabenland on Vimeo.
Via dell’Amore or the Pathway of Love is located in Cinque Terre, Italy. The beautiful rocky coast and Ligurian homes carved into steep mountians make this a must see for anyone wanting to experience a bit of heaven on earth. The path connects the villages of Riomaggore and Manarola and after World War II became a lovers’ meeting spot. With the movie, Three Meters Above The Sky, it became the craze to declare one’s love on a lock and throw the key into the water, forever uniting the couple. (I am such a sucker for a great love story!)
Along with hundreds of new and rusting locks, declarations of love are written on walls and carved into the plants along the way. I believe firmly that there is an energy of place. Here on this pathway of love, one can’t help but feel the expansiveness and beauty while looking out and at the same time, being caught up in the wonderfully uplifting energy of amorous affections.
Copyright 2012 Frances Schwabenland. Images may not be copied, printed or otherwise disseminated without express written permission of Frances Schwabenland.
Burano, Italy
Burano is a small island located in the Northern Venetian Lagoon. Its fame is steeped in legends which add to the charm of this island. The vibrant colors of the homes are beautifully reflected in the channels. Doorways are covered with equally colorful sheets swaying with the breeze and windowboxes are host to a variety of flowers…quaint, charming and visitors wish they could change their status to resident. It is said that fishermen painted their homes with bright colors so they could easily spot them while out for the daily catch. Square is the typical shape for the homes with two to three floors. It is common for the kitchen, eating area and “water closet” (toilet) to be on the ground floor with the bedrooms on the upper floors.
Burano is also famous for its lace. As the legend goes, A young Venetian seafarer brought his love seaweed from one of his journeys. The woman thought the design to be beautiful and using a needle and thread, worked very hard to preserve the intricate patterns and details. “Punto in aria” is the typical Burano needle lace rather than the bobbin lace of Brugge, Belgium. It dates back to the 14th century. Louis XIV and Catherine de Medici were just two who sought this elaborate lace. Unfortunately today there are very few experts left to carry this on. These remaining gifted women prefer to carry on this tradition from their home, usually sitting outside and socializing with those fortunate enough to be at the right place at the right time! The beautiful handcrafted creations can be found in both stores and the Burano Lace Making Museum.
Every trip I have taken to Italy has always included Burano. I am so taken with the colors, food, traditions and hospitality of the people. This is why I travel!
Copyright 2012 Frances Schwabenland. Images may not be copied, printed or otherwise disseminated without express written permission of Frances Schwabenland.
European Street Mimes and Living Statues
Many European street corners are transformed into open air street theaters, silently drawing curious seekers into the “play”. These actors are definitely committed to their craft. Bodies and faces are totally covered in very heavy makeup, usually white but sometimes metallics are used to birth a character. While this is being applied, the person then begins his/her journey into silence. Costume put on and a pose is struck and kept, and kept, and kept…the physical control shown always amazes me. Then guided by the adage, “When you give, you receive”,the statue may wink, blow a kiss, have a playful picture taken with a curious tourist, in some way trying to bring a smile, make a connection and at the end of the day hoping the jar at their feet will be filled with people’s monetary appreciation.
Copyright 2012 Frances Schwabenland. Images may not be copied, printed or otherwise disseminated without express written permission of Frances Schwabenland.
From Cinque Terre to Dosojin: Renewal, Surprise, and Newness
I just returned from a wonderful trip throughout Italy. Spring is definitely the time to go with cool breezes and fewer crowds. Many people were on their way in for Easter services, while I was on my way out with an Easter story, one of life over death. Cinque Terre is an area of 5 beautiful and charming medieval towns. Tourists can walk a 12 mile footpath from town to town and be gifted with breath taking views. Last October though, devastating mud slides hit. Mad Mudslides is just one of the many videos on YouTube showing the degree of destruction. While there, my group was staying at the Cuccaro Club located at the top of the mountain. It was here I heard the story of courage, resilency and community. The hotel was built and run by three generations but the mudslides broke through the generational legacy. It was destroyed. As soon as the rains stopped, the townspeople from all over came to help the family dig out. Little by little, bit by bit, the hotel was restored. The day we arrived, was opening day! There was such a spirit there I cannot even begin to describe it. All the local people who helped dig out now came back to celebrate the reopening. It was an amazing experience to be able to be a part of this grand celebration and Tonya (the daughter) made us feel just like family rather than the total strangers we were. Nature is powerful but the human spirit has a resilency and strength that was able to prevail through it all and we could all party over that!
This trip was the first time I had ever heard of Kinder Eggs. They are popular throughout Europe but definitely banned from the US. Last year, Customs and Border Protection seized over 25,000 of them from people trying to bring them into the country. These are chocolate eggs that contain a toy inside…a puzzle, an airplane, a doll, etc. They can be found all over and are delicious. Many pastry shops had very large, hand decorated eggs in their windows and I was told they all had surprises inside! We just have scratch off lotteries and Cracker Jacks!
Lastly, when I arrived home, I was so happy to receive word that a new multi-faceted travel website, Dosojin, had just been launched. Dosojin refers to Shinto stone markers which are placed along village borders and street corners to protect the travelers from evil influences. This is the vision of four very talented and creative individuals and I feel so very privileged that they decided to feature my work as part of their launch. Stop by and sign up for the app… it will be a much used tool for anyone who travels. Best wishes to
the creators of Dosojin.
Copyright 2012 Frances Schwabenland. Images may not be copied, printed or otherwise disseminated without express written permission of Frances Schwabenland.