Darby is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania where you can stand with one foot in town and the other in SW Philly. It is bordered by Darby Creek. It has a public library erected in 1743 and a cemetery more than 300 years old. The Quakers lived there early in the colonial era. In 1900 3,429 people made their homes there in 1940 10,334 residents of Darby existed. It is here, in November 1960 where I had my first view of the world.
Friday, July 05, 2024
Villa d'Este, Tivoli, Lazio, Italy
Thursday, July 04, 2024
Villa Adriana, Tivoli, Lazio, Italy
Reflection from Italy on USA Independence Day
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Wednesday, July 03, 2024
Crossing the Apennine
Tuesday, July 02, 2024
Rainy Day Picnic in Abruzzo
Day Thirteen: Our intention was to have a relaxing beach day but we awoke to an overcast sky with rain predicted. Caesar wanted to visit a piece of family land so we drove into the hills and spoke to his neighbor who was growing the most remarkable tomatoes. He kindly gave us a bucketful when we left. We decided to revisit Guardiagrele where we visited a bottega and bought spices and dried herbs to bring home as well as some local salami and other dried meats and local cheeses. Instead of having Pranzo at a restaurant, we enjoyed a picnic on a park bench where we shared a roast porchetta panini, chips and a beer. Caesar dozed off on the bench until a thunderstorm interrupted his slumber. It is so cool to watch the weather from the high hills in Chieti because you can see the weather forming and moving and feel the changes in the wind and temperature. After the rain stopped we drove to Torrevecchia Teatina and admired the homes, the views and the Montepulciano vineyards. We talked to a few locals, visited the cemetery and enjoyed the sun and cool breezes after the rain. Check out the photo of the cactus I ran into. That hurt. We stopped at a supermarket on the way home to get some of our favorite things to bring home. The Italian supermarket has four ( no exaggeration) aisles of pasta, not including the fresh pasta in the refrigerated area. We are leaving Abruzzo in the morning so we spent the evening packing up and enjoying the tomatoes that the farmer gave us along with the delicious bread made by Danilo Toscani Del Nibletto and some local fruit, cheese and meat. Sad to leave Abruzzo but looking forward to the last leg of our journey-Lazio.
Monday, July 01, 2024
Celebrità d'Abruzzo
Sunday, June 30, 2024
Make New Friends
Saturday, June 29, 2024
The Tremiti Islands
We drove to the Molise region, about an hour away to Termoli where we traveled by ferry for an hour to Isole Tremiti. Wow! This archipelago of five islands has been inhabited since the Iron Age (4th century BC) and was through various periods of history used as a place of confinement. During the Fascist regime, homosexual men were rounded up and confined here. So, the beauty of the place is tempered by the loneliness and hardship endured by those who visited here in other circumstances. We rented a Zodiac boat and Caesar piloted us around all the islands, where we could see fish in the crystal clear water at a depth of dozens of feet. We had rough sea in a few places and it was as scary as it was beautiful. Enjoyed lunch on the island of San Nicola and a cool dip in the water afterward. That’s the story we’ll tell you in person. We ended the day at the dock in Termoli where we watched Italy lose in the Euro Cup. Think Eagles losing in the playoffs. Sad sight indeed.
Friday, June 28, 2024
Beach Day in Abruzzo
Thursday, June 27, 2024
Arrivederci Giovinazzo. Benvenuti Francavilla al Mare.
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Bari, Puglia, Italy
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Day of Rest
Monday, June 24, 2024
Market Day in Trani
Sunday, June 23, 2024
Traveling to the Salento
Saturday, June 22, 2024
The Royal Palace of Caserta
Friday, June 21, 2024
Naples & Caserta Vecchio
Day Two: Naples
Walked 25,000 steps in 93 degree weather. Hold none of these comments against me.
Sunday, March 24, 2024
Palm Sunday
Villa d'Este, Tivoli, Lazio, Italy
Day Sixteen: We wrap up our journey with a visit to Villa d’Este a 16th century villa commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este (1509–...
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I found an old e-mail that I shared with family and friends, dated April 25, 2003. That was long before I kept a blog and when people sti...
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I am recovering from a Valentine induced chocolate high and while I am sure that I am not totally sober, I am sober enough to have regrette...