A POSTCARD FROM FRASCATI ITALY

Frascati, a sweet little town about an hour east by train from Rome was a special little day trip when Adolph and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversay May 1996. It is in the Castelli region known for its wine. On the train ride, vineyards everywhere- those fields of grape vines terraced  on hills were seen.

The Villa Aldobrandini is shown in the top postcard. Every town and corner in Italy has a chuch. Chiesa del Gesu, Il Duomo and San Rocco are featured.

Castel Gandolfo is a summer home for the pope. Pope John was the one in 1996. Lots of fountains in every piazza of course.
A side view of the time of the town with the Campo sportivo- sports field.

More pretty views of the town and area. Little towns like this make venturing anywhere in Italy fun. Just watch some of those modern cooking shows with cooks wandering around Italy. The town is known for its porcetta-spiced pork! Hum, maybe a day trip some day for my cook!
If you would like a postcard featured here, email me at abdm@rogers.com, I will give you my address so you can send me a postcard!

A POSTCARD FROM ROME ITALY

Celebrating a big anniversary, it made me reflect on other anniversaries. For our 25th anniversary May 1996, Adolph and I visited Rome for the week as well as one side trip. It was our second time in Rome! We came back again to Italy in 1997.What is wonderful about a large city like Rome is there is always something to see. Revisiting sites seen on other trips is always a must too.

The Vatican! Visited each time we went to Rome. We have been in the Vatican as well visited the Vatican Musuem. The Sistine Chapel of course is a must for every tourist under the sun.

The Trevi Fountain! And a lovely card from our daughter when she visited Italy.

Images around Rome. We had many adventures on a simple week's trip.

The next antedote is one of my favourite stories of all time. Although it has been written in an earlier post years ago, I thought I would rewrite it again. Usually brings a chuckle to everyone! Written in May 1996!Adlph's cousin Lillina had found the cheap traveller's hotel for us a couple of kilometres from downtown Rome. After spending a day in Cassino on the first leg of our trip, she brought us to the hotel at night.
" During our recent trip to Rome to celebrate our twenty-fifth anniversary, my husband, Adolph, left our hotel room at his usual holiday hour of 5 in the morning to explore the neighbourhood and get a coffee. After arising at 6 and spending time washing, getting dressed and organizing our room, I started to question where he might by at 7:30. Shortly he returned stating " I got lost". He told me his tale of going to Piazza Unghiere that had many streets converging onto it. He bought a coffee, juice and buns for us then turned taking the wrong street to return to our hotel Porpora Villas. He walked down one street, sipping the coffee and eating one bun then another, wandering down another street realizing he was lost. Finally deciding to ask a Bar owner-like a coffee shop- for directions. In Italian, he stated, I can't find my hotel. The man asked" What is the name of your hotel?" I don't know, replied Adolph. " Okay what is the name of the street?" Adolph replied again, I don't know! The man surveyed him with his arms full of goodies, split coffee, sugar from the bun on his top and looking a little disheveleled. " You don't know the name of the hotel! You don't know the name of the street! Are you sure your hotel isn't that mental Clinic across the street?"

The story was repeated many times by his cousin. I think even today it gets a laugh at family gatherings.
Some of my favourite times in Rome are just walking around and exploring the side streets. Of course the gelato-ice cream at 4 in the afternoon and shopping are divine too!
If you want a postcard featured here, email me at abdm@rogers.com so I can send you my address so you can send me a postcard!

SIGNS!SIGNS! AND MORE SIGNS!

Street signs are all around us. We live on a street with a name.

Tourist districts.

Warn us not to enter!

Sometimes we can be  pointed in the right direction.

Named after importatnt local heroes!

A hiking trail!

Fresh produce.

Instruction!

A country road!

Calling people to worship!

A sign with wild Canadian flowers bordering in a pretty way!

Historic sites show lots of information on a simple sign. The Government of Canada in two languages and the designation of being a Naitonal Historic site of Canada.

Let us know what to eat!

Capture an event in time!

Highlighting places visited.

Remembering small towns in Ontario.

Some signs even give pertinent advice.

Fund raising events for important causes.

Oh life! Lots of advice from the signs around us! Everywhere we go there are signs! Do we see? Do we listen? Do we pay attention?

JUST GET STARTED TO ACCOMPLISH ANY TASK

Do you ever have days where you know you have lots to do but just can't get around to anything? Well just get started. Tell yourself you will stay at it for 15 minutes. Pulling ten weeds from a garden. Loading the dishwasher. Working on a writing project. Beginning a craft. Many tasks get finished because they were started. One word to a age. One plant to a garden. One step to a walk. More work and less thinking about it. Just think in the wonder of modern times putting a load of dishes on, one can listen to the machine do the work! Procrastination holds all of us back from accomplishing many things in life. Yes many tasks are really boring. Like digging the garden. But putting the plants in let's one have months of enjoyment! So do the boring tasks first to get to the ones really loved as a kind of reward! So what are you waiting for? Get started!

NANA SAYS OUR LIVES SEEM OLD TO GRANDCHILDREN

Recently celebrating a special anniversary, I wanted to show two of my grandchildren some wedding photos from the day and our honeymoon. We looked young and happy so I wanted the kids to see. Especially their grandpa making pancakes on our honeymoon. Sophia looked at one wedding picture of us clearly stating why are all the pictures so old fashioned!

BUILDINGS ARE AROUND US

A tall building can seem intimidating. But it is just a building! People live in tall buildings especially in big cities. Just think of the view from the top or even middle floors.

From a distance they can be diminished.

Looking one wonders how many stories can be told from the inhabitants! Buildings make interesting skylines in cities.

Old buildings add character to city streets.
Really they are just modern caves housing modern cave men and women!

The new blended with the old and reflections from other buildings are always interesting photo opts in one's travels!

PRETTY IN PINK-SPRING 2016 IN RICHMOND HILL ONTARIO CANADA

Taking a little walk close to home, there were some beautiful blooming spring trees.

Sometimes rows of trees.

A small magnolia tree.

In my front garden pink tulips needed a capture.

Those ground flowers!

One of my shots from 2015 near the little park.

Pretty in Pink- the trees and flowers sure put on a good show!