Recently in Travel Category

.....I was an astronaut?"

...because I've been blogging so vigorously!

This is the time of the summer in which I start to go a little nuts. Not because my children are restless and ill-behaved, because they are not, but because the introvert in me is wondering, "Am I ever going to be able to think again?" It's almost as if I can't find myself, and then I start staying up later and later in order to just have some of that time and the resultant fatigue isn't helpful to creative energies. A vicious circle.

I have also been occupied with school registrations, which were this week, and getting Katie ready for another big journey, this time, school-related, with a group. She left yesterday and is, I presume, safely at her destination today.

Thinking about, studying up on various political and religious issues. Thinking about life and how to live it. Thinking about God and the tension between the facts that just as we encounter God through His creation, including His creatures, that creation and those creatures move, change, die and disappear and the questions that raises. Augustine calls, obviously. Thinking about how denying death, separating death out from our daily existence, refusing to accept and embrace our own deaths is an act of profound prideful non-solidarity with creation and most specifically other human beings.  Thinking about the suffering human beings endure right at this moment, suffering so much more painful than mine.

Thinking about a moment during Mass at the Cathedral in Barcelona in which, not knowing the language, my mind was freer to roam, in which I ran through the various options for responses to life at this point and it hit me hard that the only one that was consistent with being a disciple of Jesus, with God's love and love in general,  the only one that would bear any fruit at all was, "Thank you."

Pondering that. Pondering my resistance to it.


Contemplating a major project. Procrastinating on the major work necessary to get that major project off the ground because it involves thinking about all these questions, unsettled and unsure - in addition to those persistent questions about ability and competence.

Read the new Richard Russo yesterday.  I'll have a review tomorrow. 


 Thinking about houses, thinking, as I have discovered is my own particular means of determined escapism, about travel, this time pouring over Gulf shore rentals - I have never been down there, and I thought we might go for a couple of days before school starts. But then, in going to the pool here, we have more often than not found ourselves alone, or near to it. At the beginning of the summer, the complex pools are very busy, but by now, the novelty has worn off. So pondering the situation, with the boys swimming and me reading in the hot sunshine and shimmering waters in near-solitude, I thought...I prefer the beach, but this is pretty sweet. A private pool. We'll stick around.

Well, except for the next couple of days. I have a speaking engagement up north later today and we'll take the opportunity to see a few sites up in those parts. I might get a bit of bloggage in later today, but tonight's stay will be at an internet-free secret location, so we'll see.

In the meantime, just one bit of bloggage, sent to me by a friend, from the print edition of Sunday's AJC, an article on Catholics in Atlanta.

(In case you are confused, the link for continuing to read the article beyond the first page is at the top of the page.)

Nice article in the WaPo today about Franciscan friars walking on pilgrimage from Roanoke, VA to DC:

She pressed $3.52 into his hand, which he accepted reluctantly.

"I realized she wasn't giving this to us or to me," Goodin said. "I think she heard us talk about trusting in God and she wanted to try to trust in the same way. She was giving that money to God."

He and the other friars have thought about the woman a lot. Last week, they thought about her as they walked along Lee Highway in Fairfax, where Mary Williams and her three kids pulled over in their minivan and offered to take the brothers to a Chik-fil-A.

"It was the oddest experience sitting there at Chik-fil-A with everyone staring at us," said Williams, 45. "The high point was when the guy dressed up like a cow came out and gave us all high fives. He was in costume. They were in robes. A lot of people were wondering what was going on."

People had much the same reaction Tuesday as the friars crossed the Memorial Bridge and wandered past the Lincoln Memorial. In an instant, tourists went from posing in front of Lincoln's statue to posing with the Franciscans.

Their plan was to spend one last night wherever God provided and then arrive this morning at the monastery near Catholic University. They hope to spend the day there, telling the story of their journey and the goodness they encountered to anyone who wanted to listen.

Their message will be simple: "Anything can happen when you live in the moment, one step at a time," said Mark Soehner, 51, one of the mentors to the young friars. "But to find that out, you have to be willing to take that one step."

I am so superstitious, I could not write this post until I'd received my credit card bill for the car rental in Sicily.

Superstitious as in "don't count your chickens before they hatch," which, to tell the truth, I do not see as much superstition as just received wisdom. Do not talk about apparently good things until it is too late for them to be ruined and you, in turn, to be humiliated by your overwrought opinions and expectations.

Forgive me if I've blogged this before. Between message boards, Twitter and Facebook, I can't keep straight what I've said to whom, where and when. Oh, and email and regular conversations with actual human beings in person. Can't forget that. Oh, and for an introvert, the conversations you have in your own head. Those get tossed into the mix, too, believe me.

(Update as I finish the post - yes, I remember blogging on this before. Well, I didn't blog on the actualy car.)

There was no question that I would have to rent a car in Sicily. If I had been traveling alone, maybe not, but with three children in tow...yeah, there's no way we're hauling luggage around up and down, in and out of buses, waiting and waiting. In an urban area, no need, but in Sicily, it seemed like a good idea, if not a necessity.

(Although I have to say - I saw lots and lots of buses on the roads. They were massive and looked very comfortable - on most I could see someone - usually an elderly man - sitting shotgun in the front, talking animatedly to the driver. I told Katie that they all looked so comfortable I really was curious and was determined, at some point, to ride one...)

I stressed about it a bit - I've never driven a car in a foreign country except, well, Canada - and I don't think I actually drove there, to tell the truth. I'm pretty sure that Michael did all the driving on all of our Canadian excursions.

Why did I stress? Because, you know, "ITALIAN DRIVERS? OHMYGOSH ARE YOU KIDDING?"

Everyone - on message boards, in emails, telling me that it would be just insane.

I can't tell you what was in my head as I approached this moment. Mad Max hepped on espresso, practicing for a Formula One on hairpin turns sideswiping me on a cliff above the Meditteranean as I struggled with a manual transmission, which I hadn't driven in two decades maybe?

Yeah, that.

...around the world.




Outside the Chattanooga Aquarium, June '09





Agrigento, Sicily, July '09

(Yes, I know the stroller is empty...)

And you think there's something wrong with a dinner of cream cheese, crackers, cantaloupe, apple juice and yogurt? Bring it!(as in "be my guest to bring something else")Spying on the neighbors:In all the time I've spent in Florida, on...

Or, as I call it, "meds"...

I broke down and bought one, not at Mount Etna, but at one of the souvenir stalls outside the Archaelogical Park in Siracusa:I have to admit, seen alone, when not lined up in the midst of dozens of other similarly-glittered-up...

This is not to be morbid or obsessed, I promise.It's just that the cemeteries in Sicily fascinated me. Perhaps this type of arrangement, this landscape is common in southern Europe or Italy. I don't know.  It was a bit like...

Carmelite church, Scicli, Sicily, Italy....

Okay, okay...not a parable. A saying. Got it. On the western coast of Sicily, they harvest salt. Not as much as they used to, but they do , indeed, still do it.(The tiles are placed, obviously, to hold the salt...

Or, actually, weeds among the chickpeas.I have written a bit about the agriturismo at which we stayed - and which I absolutely plan to return at some point - the Sillitti Farm, owned by Sylvia and Bruno (photos here)....

The Good Shepherd: South of Caltinessetta, Sicily...

I am slowly getting back into the groove. I am not exhausted or even tired, and no one else is either. I was fairly efficient in unpacking - unusual.  it's just that there have been and are things to do...

On our way from the agriturismo (south of Caltanissetta) to the beach place in the south, we took a bit of a long way, via Caltagirone, very famous for its production of ceramics. The stair steps are quite well-known: Photo...

As I mentioned, I've been up for a while, everyone else is asleep, I just got that work I had to do finished, so let's post pics and blog madly with this fantastic Wi-fi here in Charlotte.I really liked Barcelona...

Currently at the Charlotte airport, on the last leg of this crazy itinerary. Tried to get an earlier flight from here to BHM, but it was overbooked anyway. (Thanks, Gashwin for your advice!)Katie and Michael are crashed on the floor....

I'm so confused. I keep wanting to say Ciao. The Sardana, danced in the Cathedral square after noon Mass: And adios from two now-experienced Barcelona public transit navigators, using up that final T-10 ride on a last look at Sagrada...

Well, not really a manifesto. But anyway...Down at the port, Barcelona....

Buying the boys little notebooks to take along on this trip was genius, if I do say so myself. They forget them a third of the time, drop them while crossing streets a few times a day, but all in...

And I got them...Gracias!...

On a backstreet in Barcelona....

Today began with rain in Barcelona. And continued. And kept going. And still kept falling, even after we had decided it was tapering off, then emerged from the subway station into the midst of umbrella-sellers (I cannot possibly reproduce with...

I have to say, first off, that I know next to nothing about Spain. I have an interest in some aspects of Spanish history especially the Counter Reformation and the Spanish Civil War,  but had never really thought about it...

Glad to be here, for many reasons, including a decent little washer-dryer combination (one of those that does both functions in the same machine.) Was going to go to Montserrat, but I think we're worn out enough from day...

He's everywhere.No, not Michael Jackson.Padre Pio.Yes, I knew he was popular. Yes, I knew Italians loved him. But I had no idea almost every church I would enter would hold an image of Padre Pio. I have to say, I...

Yes, I left my camera in the apartment this morning as we set out for Modica. Durn. There would have been some good photos there. Ah, well, I photographed it with my brain, I hope.This southeastern part of Sicily is...

Yesterday was a beachy sort of day - and I'm also very glad to report that yesterday I discovered that what looked like a hole-in-the-wall down the road is really a nifty little pizzeria/tavola calda that does excellent pizzas in...

Or just south of it. Acres and acres..er..hectares and hectares.I need to try this before I leave......

It's Sunday night, I'm sitting here on the front porch of our little apartment in a beach town on the southern coast of Sicily. Sitting out here not only because it is comfortable, but because it is the best place...

..or there..Lost internet for a couple of days, but it's back. It's been quite interesting. Going to Mass by the sea - a special Mass they have at 8:30 on Sunday nights literally right around the corner from our apartment....

The duomo, which is interesting for many reasons, including the visible evidence of various stages of construction and restoration. The mosaics give way to baroque decoration, which has been removed from the rest of the church in order to better...

It's early morning here. I've just hung out a load of laundry in the sunny, slightly cool morning air - there's a breeze, so it will dry fairly quickly, in time for us to pack it up and move on.Everyone...

Because nothing says "charming, busy medieval beach town" better than a stuffed....something.From here. An enjoyable little museum containing the Baron's personal collection. Art, archaeological finds, coins, seashells and....critters. I really enjoy these small Italian museums in which they hand...

Joseph: "I wish we could have Sicily and America mixed together..."Me: "Why?"Joseph: "Because then we wouldn't have to eat so late!"Rest assured, we had food back here at the apartment. No waiting until 9 to eat was necessary for the...

Moving on tomorrow (Friday) to another destination. We are loathe to leave this:  But are hopeful that as we move on, the next spot will hold experiences just as interesting and rewarding.Because really, what else can you do? ...

So yes, today was Mount Etna.Totally worth it, as the kids say. Totally.I had promised several things, including castles and volcanos. That's out of the way. I had also promised  puppets, but I don't know if that's going to happen...

When it comes to buying souvenirs, I am usually all for the tacky. My dad and mom went to London right after the Diana/Charles marriage, and I asked them to bring me back the tackiest thing they could find...

Joseph demonstrates his muscles at Mt. Etna.And you know what? Yeah, it's volcanic, and it's really light, and it's a joke, but he is strong. He is....

"We haven't watched television in over a week." "And we'll take anything..even if it's in Italian..."...

As in - serious castle.This is the Castle of Chiaramonte overlooking the town of Mussomelli.We headed up there around 9:45 and arrived around 11:00, even though it was maybe 30 miles from where we are as the crow flies. But...

...but still fascinating.So, as we ate our sandwiches I had picked up at the autogrill on the way back (autogrill=convenience store of sorts with gas station. Coffee/mediocre panini bar replaces slushees and sausages slowly turning on rollers.) - oh, by...

I have weaknesses and strengths in regard to this little Sicilian towns. I can find my way in and out of them, but once in them, I can never seem to find anything I intend to. Even the big church...

So you picture Sicily (or many other parts of Europe) and you might picture "flocks of sheep in the road." I scoffed. A pious myth, I said. Doesn't really happen.Okay, so it was goats and sheep: How is this going...

...of the duomo in Piazza Armerina: A mom's eye view. Her own child in the forefront, naturally. Katie's eye view.  She really liked the almost Wedgewood-like effect of the interior.Little Michael's eye view. (He took the photo. Randomly) Closer to...

I'm sorry.Actually, I'm not really.Look, these little boys have been super, fantastic travelers so far, and even decent eaters. Joseph gobbled down pasta with pesto the other night - perhaps it  being about 9pm had something to do with it,...

Yeah, basically this trip is about going places where Katie and I can absorb a little history and the boys can run around like madmen, ...and contemplating variations of sic transit gloria mundi for three weeks straightOh, and wine and...

The agriturismo where we are staying right now has dogs and cats. Both boys are enchanted with this, but especially Michael. He races through his breakfast so he can run out and greet his friends. This makes me happy, sad,...

I don't mind the Italian way of driving.In fact... I kind of like it.Let me explain. When I was planning this trip, it became clear to me pretty early that renting a car was going to be a necessity. If...

So saith my daughter at the end of the first full day in our B & B in Scopello.My poor children. I haul them around the world, thinking I have explained to them where we are going and why, only...

Our first B & B was in Scopello - we are now in a fantastic agriturismo in the middle of Sicily. But I decided to go in the Scopello direction first because we were flying into Palermo, I knew we...

I have two days to catch up on here - I'm thinking Saturday will be a quiet day, which I need, but you never know. Better internet today, but still not great. However, I will take not-great internet in Sicily...

The quiet life.I finally have decent internet connecton - one which does not involve hanging outside the window of a B & B in Scopello, Sicily, with a TIM USB key trying to catch rays and communicate them to the...

I had no plans for the first full day here - I have very few plans, period, as a matter of fact. As I was thinking about this trip on Sunday night, I was sort of shocked at how few...

..is the fact that they sell contact lenses in vending machines.Okay, so I'm kidding. It's my second favorite thing.Oh, stop. For all I know it's a European thing - or even a non-US-thing. All I know is that it's nifty....

And it was worth it. ...

1. Fly First Class or Business. Yeah, I know. Me neither.Okay, try this:2.  Be three feet tall.No? I'm with you on that one too.I always hope to sleep on a plane, but never really have on any of my numerous...

So, yeah, if you saw me running through the Charlotte airport on Monday right before noon and I didn't say "hi..."  well, sorry about  that.  I was determined not to check bags. On the return end, I will, but on...

Something on the other side of a wall-sized window excites Michael."It's Daddy's plane!"Katie and I stare at each other. Neither really knows what to say. Finally, I manage, "What makes it Daddy's plane?" He doesn't answer, but only repeats, "It's...

Well, stage one has happened. Four more to go. I'm serious. This is crazy. But it was (relatively) cheap, and that's the way that goes. You pay one way or another. Like health care. I'm just sayin'.It was a little...

  Stage one. So we're off. Except we're not. Because as the plane sat there on the runway, getting warmer and warmer without any engines running, it became clear something was amiss. And it is. Mechanical problem. Always a...

...with a new camera. Because we're all about depth and profudity here. But I had to practice for upcoming events: There will be pictures of churches: (Cathedral of St. Paul, Birmingham, AL. Not bad.)         Boys running...

Well, actually, it was. A lake beach, of sorts. Muji journal: check. (volume...what? 6? 7?)Summer reading: checkThomas sandals: checkThey're a little small, but whatever.Boys, swimming: checkWhere? Here.  An easy 10 miles or so from our apartment.We had been here once...

We all have our definitions for good service. Here's mine: We sat down, she greeted us, and then immediately, with knowing grace, removed a certain utensil from each of the boys' place settings. Either a parent or a veteran of...

I was awestruck by the pattern on these rays....

So, a bit of change in plans. Not that I plan much these days anyway.I'd post a photo, except for the fact that even though I brought my camera, I left the USB connector at home. (Maybe I should get...

(Comments open now.)Sorry for the slow blogging - but I think the Internet is slow, period, these days, except for @ChangeforIran at Twitter. Well-merited, that. It's nice outside (except for that amazing storm this morning at 11:00 am that left...

...or at least a block down.Thursday night, the boys saw their first Broadway show - The Thirty-Nine Steps, a rather madcap sort of re-imaging of Hitchcock's film, with the primary attraction being the fact that the many characters are played...

A leg. Brought on the train around Stamford, taken off at Grand Central Station....

...who remember how much I always appreciated seeing Buddhist monks in the post office, walking around the park, or in Kroger's in Fort Wayne, Indiana..this is for you: I did love seeing people of all nationalities and faiths going to...

Wednesday night, Katie and I went to see Waiting for Godot.The wonderful daughter of a wonderful friend stayed with the boys in the hotel. Over the four full days we were in NYC, one or all of us saw four...

(as they say at Trip Advisor and such) Dear God, where is she taking me next?...

Knights at the Met....Dinos at the Natural History Museum...Godot...Central Park...MOMA for the daughter...Statue of Liberty...Ellis Island....39 Steps...Becco...Exit the King...now the Intrepid this morning and then we're off back in a southerly direction...later......

Started the day in Times Square: And ended it there:He's been saying he wants a guinea pig that he would name Bugsy after the bug-eyed creature in Bedtime Stories. I don't think he needs one. Or perhaps he just wants...

When they tell you NYC hotel rooms are small....

Apple store entrance (the store is underground) - Fifth Avenue. (that's the south end of Central Park in the background.)...

...we're the English-speaking tourists in the city.And I mean the. only. English-speaking tourists in the city.That would be us....

More in the morning. I will give a big thumbs-up to the closed-off portion of Broadway. A big, busy, glowing, people-watching mecca. With lawn chairs....

Unrecorded...a bowling alley birthday party, attended by Joseph while Michael and I went to the Hoover library...a little laundry. Then: A duct-tape flamingo. A fleshy hippo....

Hey Y'all...this Sunday's NYtimes does 36 hours in The Ham. It's fascinating to read an article like this about a place with which you are (vaguely) familiar. I'm assuming one of the inspirations for the piece is the nomination of local...

St. Patrick was a Franciscan!From the Reptile House at Zoo Atlanta - so I'm glad to see religious imagery, period...and who knows how St. Patrick dressed, anyway......

1.   If you knew the Marlins were playing the Reds, you'd be able to better guess where we were. 2    The best part of the Cincinnati Zoo is the Nocturnal House, without question, with the Insect House coming in a...

...this weekend? Well, some of us walked - yes, walked - from Kentucky to Ohio. Whew! (They rode the bus back, though. Interstate traveling can be tiring.)...