Thursday October 27, 2022
I am embarrassed that I haven’t blogged since last year. So many awesome things (our Trip to Italy) have happened as well as sad things (Our Nana passing). There is a blog in the works. I know we posted of Italy 2022 in Facebook, but there are so many more things to share. If I am mentally and physically well during Thanksgiving Break, I will probably blog about Italy 2022. Until then … Haven
Read more: It’s Blogging Time, AgainLinks to previous Autumn Antics
Venice, Italy: Hard Rock Cafe & gondolas near St. Mark’s Square
Last October was our 3rd time to Venice. Our hotel room this time was our suite on the Star Princess. We were in Venice October 2 & 3. Our #1 goal was to buy more Murano glass: angels, a Santa Claus, and a Christmas tree. We enjoyed adding to our Murano glass collection, and I will include the pieces in some Christmas shots soon.
I have seen a plethora of medieval architecture since 1984, and my favorite structure from that time period is St. Marks in Venice. I think it’s the combination of Byzantine mosaics and other Middle Ages art and architecture that make it so fascinating to me.
The sun sets on Venice, Sunday October 2, 2011
There was a complete horse-drawn carriage cast in the 4th Century B. C. in Greece. It is called the quadriga; however, the carriage has been lost during the past 2,400 years. I was/am intrigued by it. First of all it’s over 2,000 years old. Secondly, it stood at Constantinople’s (Byzantium, then Constantinople, now Istanbul) famous Middle Ages hippodrome. The Venetians looted Constantinople in A. D. 1204, and carried the quadriga to Venice, Italy. They have been there ever since. Their copy stand over the St. Mark’s Square over the entrance to the basilica. The originals are on display in one of the many museums inside the basilica. If an inanimate object could talk, what AWESOME and FASCINATING tales those horses could tell!
St. Peter's Basilica Sunday October 23, 2011
On Sunday October 23, 2011, Ammon, Carter, and I got to see
Pope Benedict XVI. He was giving Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s Square at the
Vatican. We are not Roman Catholic, but we share Christianity as a common bond,
and our Lord and Savior is Jesus Christ. It was a special moment to get to see
him and think of the 1,600 year old traditions of the Catholic Church. It will also be cool to share this with Carter and Ammon when they understand the Pope and what he represents to the world.
Pope Benedict XVI on the "Pope-Tron"
Hard Rock: Rome, Italy
If we are in a big, cosmopolitan, international city and we’re
not too sure about what food we want to eat for an evening meal, we usually
make our way to the Hard Rock Café. From experience in foreign countries, we
know we will get a good, satisfying meal. We truly enjoy experiencing native/regional
dishes, but evening meals can be SO expensive, and why pay $30 a person or more
for a meal that you might not enjoy when you KNOW you will enjoy a meal at the
Hard Rock Café even though it can be expensive as well?
Hard Rock Cafe: Florence, Italy
In Italy, we ate at the Hard Rock Café Rome multiple times
this trip, and we ate at the Hard Rock Café Florence twice during our stay
there. We were never dissatisfied, and we always left those restaurants full
and satisfied. We also bought our city tee-shirts! The music is always good,
and Carter and Ammon have a good time with the music and the food as well.
During this quick visit, Venice’s Hard Rock was only entered to buy t-shirts and to use the toilet facilities. ;o)
My family and I have a penchant for Hard Rock Cafes and other European destinations.
Some of my Parenting with Pride (please cruise and peruse!) favorites include Stunning Santorini, Oslo, Norway, Dollywood (Country Music Singer’s Theme Park) in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and Marriage Equality in Tennessee .
Give me a “Google” with “Haven Caylor”. Blessings! -Haven
Ammon, Nana, & Carter: Hard Rock Venice, Italy
Trevi Fountain Tuesday October 4, 2011
Cestius Pyramid & San Paulo’s Gate (Ostiense Gate)
I don’t know exactly what to say about Rome except for the
fact that it is overwhelming. I know there are cities which are older, but its
history is amazing. The area of the Palatine hill, of course, had
settlements way before 753 B. C. (Rome’s official “settling” year), but Rome has seen growths, fires, triumphs, tragedies, desolations, and flourishings. Last Saturday, I stood between theCestius Pyramid and the San Paulo Gate which the Ostrogoths marched through to make the final “Gothic” plunder of Rome, and imagined the Eternal City’s gates locked and the city desolate. However, a 21st century motorcycle interrupted my image.LOL
I’ll write more about Rome near the
end of the “Fall 2011 Caylor-Brown Travels” blog compilation. By the way, it’s
great to be home! Hope everyone is well, and Happy Tuesday.
Inside the Sistine Chapel Halls (October 5, 2011)
One of Sean and Haven’s few “alone” times (October 4, 2011)
It is so much better when we leave for long trips on a
Sunday. Our burdens to get things done on Saturday are “lifted” a bit with
having both Sean and I to get things accomplished.
House Sitter Guy, thank you! You are a blessing. Mamaw and
Aunt Karen your vigilance when Guy needs a break is SO APPRECIATED, and
neighbors, your helpful eyes are a blessing as well.
This time the cruise itself is only 12 days. We start with an
Italy terrestrial tour: Rome, Florence, and Venice. Then the cruise: Croatia
(Dubrovnik), Mikonos, Santorini, Ephesus, Rhodes, Corfu, and Napoli. After the
cruise, back to Rome. The ships’ Internet is sooooooo slow, and I will not be
able to send photos. It will just be status updates. However, before and after
the cruise, I MIGHT be able to send some photos if we have Internet access.
Everyone take care and God bless. I am looking forward to sharing when we
return. Haven
(sung to
the tune of “Ten Little Indians”)
Unus, duo,
tres Romani
Quottuor, quinque, sex Romani,
Septem,
octo, novem Romani,
Decem
parvi Romani!
From 1989 to 1993, I taught 6th Grade Exploratory
Latin at Bagley Middle School in Chatsworth, GA. My forte had been Spanish, but
the state of Georgia requested that I teach two languages for the middle school
level. I had to teach myself enough Latin so as to teach 6th graders
for six weeks. You know what? I loved it! It also helped that a teacher who was
an expert in Latin and had helped create the Georgia Teacher’s Certification
Test for Latin at that time taught right down the road from me, and she helped me tremendously. Woo hoo!
I was singing the above song to Ammon on Friday night in
preparation for Rome on Monday morning. In my classroom, we use to sing that song as well. I was thrilled that I could remember the numbers! We are also pulling out our photos of our day in Rome, Italy last October when we cruised the Mediterranean so as to build Carter and Ammon’s schema as well. Enjoy your Saturday!
Haven's Ideals by Haven Caylor-Brown 