tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6380094967122156092024-02-22T07:05:12.653+00:00The Michael Chronicles Europe 2010Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-45744839910514996312010-09-30T18:30:00.024+01:002010-10-04T12:48:42.937+01:00Bangkok Metropolitan Hotel and the new nahm Restaurant<blockquote style="font-family: Helvetica;" type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;">I'm in Bangkok on my way home to Sydney. I'm finishing the blog; thinking about a movie; and maybe working out how to put together a coffee table book of my better photos.</span></span></span></span></div></div></blockquote></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Helvetica;" type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;">The Metropolitan has been my favourite hotel in Bangkok for many years. I love the welcome; the contemporary yet very warm and comfortable feel of the place;. the large, cream matt-finish marble bathroom with the lemongrass toiletries (something I luxuriate in sinfully, and always look forward to returning to); the polished wood floors; crisp linens; terrific breakfasts that make 'healthy' taste so good. </span></span></span></span></div></div></blockquote></div></div></div></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;">Now, the celebrated Australian-born David Thompson of Darley Street Thai (of old) in Sydney, and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: AmericanTypewriter-Light;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;">nahm</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"> at the Halkin in Belgravia (the first Michelin-starred Thai Restaurant in Europe), </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;">has recently opened his restaurant here in the Metropolitan.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: AmericanTypewriter-Light;">nahm - </span>wonderful, authentic Thai cuisine with recipes Thompson developed for the Royal Family. One of the hotel staff told me that this younger generation of Thais has never experienced such food before. The degustation menu gave me the chance to taste many delicate flavours of unusual combinations of fresh produce. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBLEdC0dYMETPbB0IBfzluLRY2YAzNCoOXkhSeySLC6OMz6yIRqMgp6jzH1QZeE8geLNdSLT_DOASpU_RPP8yYBmKwPA5aoRQHkiJJH1UaLX8KYbVtU_Hj9dKH2PsLxLkwa531sUxJWM/s1600/IMG_6749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBLEdC0dYMETPbB0IBfzluLRY2YAzNCoOXkhSeySLC6OMz6yIRqMgp6jzH1QZeE8geLNdSLT_DOASpU_RPP8yYBmKwPA5aoRQHkiJJH1UaLX8KYbVtU_Hj9dKH2PsLxLkwa531sUxJWM/s400/IMG_6749.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The sweetness of the longan fruit made even sweeter by the black sticky rice and caramelised taro - I'm happier with the slice of fresh green pear with green sugar, salt and chilli pepper!</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 19px;">No matter how careful, a stray chilli sent my hiatus hernia into overdrive; (thank God for the cucumber in the fresh vegetables and herbs bowl); but the delicate blue swimmer crab curry with coconut, turmeric and summer limes was a soothing balm. It was simply wonderful! Why can't we have this simplicity in Sydney? 'My' Sailors Thai Potts Point could just get us there.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIO3lwBlkb-QcIkIEwID_Sqt53dpKlSwReQpIo3lpv8CKnQsdZdDoZw-jAaeslQubgFvTa112UlFrw-2x5tRPjLw4dnvPbr4eS7rdN5fPh4t_W9f__723PL4xfwT0dpNoMacTUacmxS30/s1600/IMG_6708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIO3lwBlkb-QcIkIEwID_Sqt53dpKlSwReQpIo3lpv8CKnQsdZdDoZw-jAaeslQubgFvTa112UlFrw-2x5tRPjLw4dnvPbr4eS7rdN5fPh4t_W9f__723PL4xfwT0dpNoMacTUacmxS30/s640/IMG_6708.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The zen-like simplicity of the forecourt of the Metropolitan in Bangkok</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Click on Picasa Album to see the slideshow and captions on the full screen</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fmichaelmusg%2Falbumid%2F5522740686143563489%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-76095041160633637152010-09-25T16:32:00.024+01:002010-10-05T00:09:11.524+01:00A Long Weekend in Rome<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Our long weekend in Rome is not off to a good start. The Hotel de la Ville (where I stayed on my first-ever visit to Europe with Alan and John in 1967) has only one instead of two rooms that were confirmed to us. A frustrated Edmundo tells an officious receptioniste, "stop talking like a broken record telling us over and over the hotel is full. Just do something and fix it!" The Duty Manager eventually found us a shoebox for the first night.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TJ4dhlrwkHI/AAAAAAABFno/vdSL4Ny8y3Q/s1600/IMG_6544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TJ4dhlrwkHI/AAAAAAABFno/vdSL4Ny8y3Q/s640/IMG_6544.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">After all that we need a drink and a bite of lunch but the restaurants closed at three!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFw-ifXrHXERTmips93BMD3437Ug81N6znX6yJU_T1ycMdcLc0-KOIhKJj6XT0JQpqTOIhZhTbU3PWpka9t8taaYu99m_8wjJrBQOzp58bpOWGezaTB84m02AtoMDeBEoCPBrOh0zBzjg/s1600/IMG_6546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFw-ifXrHXERTmips93BMD3437Ug81N6znX6yJU_T1ycMdcLc0-KOIhKJj6XT0JQpqTOIhZhTbU3PWpka9t8taaYu99m_8wjJrBQOzp58bpOWGezaTB84m02AtoMDeBEoCPBrOh0zBzjg/s640/IMG_6546.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">t's hard to believe that peace and tranquility can be found here in Via Margutta just five minutes walk from the bustling Spanish Steps</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> love the siena colours of rust on the walls of the buildings of Rome</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVp1IUI0ElXYEOoRQ1kgX21dFq-xHMfd9zoDUAfwoYuQH1XNqMl8YJkjQpz3DfIdD6tjcLzkiDZfVpsHk3dPIFzDvje1xO2DZ1veJ7tl-EzoZsMSzJjDVzXdPr28qK-Qvi6g1jm1Zdns/s1600/IMG_6562.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVp1IUI0ElXYEOoRQ1kgX21dFq-xHMfd9zoDUAfwoYuQH1XNqMl8YJkjQpz3DfIdD6tjcLzkiDZfVpsHk3dPIFzDvje1xO2DZ1veJ7tl-EzoZsMSzJjDVzXdPr28qK-Qvi6g1jm1Zdns/s640/IMG_6562.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">. . . . and imposing statues at every turn</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnntp2xqd10rAfxY-8ScRhfcp3-6npAjxAhOoXNUSm5hLMko9Q0jSnGn70PSAq7f28nIuuqJYszaNYwJqHQtKo-_1LXPXEkspnMnHfkdElUG01e5NoVr_TDJcaevjMdKy_91FCBYCThfA/s1600/IMG_6579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnntp2xqd10rAfxY-8ScRhfcp3-6npAjxAhOoXNUSm5hLMko9Q0jSnGn70PSAq7f28nIuuqJYszaNYwJqHQtKo-_1LXPXEkspnMnHfkdElUG01e5NoVr_TDJcaevjMdKy_91FCBYCThfA/s640/IMG_6579.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">On one corner of Piazza del Popolo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I check out the old Piazza di Spagna American Express office that I spent so much time working on the internal layout more than 20 years ago. I can't recognise it today</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAEjNFVT0axlPbm6Ga9AaiZAcIecfeVgOSmtIEWC9VJ88W7D7Psj2m8AYLgeRRjw-qHYT5IvAXGnKxBuUqjrkZpje9xXHYJwH5xBw4lu_vLjI0TMUD7IZm5P1UJ1ndcd198HkLR8z1N8/s1600/IMG_6583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAEjNFVT0axlPbm6Ga9AaiZAcIecfeVgOSmtIEWC9VJ88W7D7Psj2m8AYLgeRRjw-qHYT5IvAXGnKxBuUqjrkZpje9xXHYJwH5xBw4lu_vLjI0TMUD7IZm5P1UJ1ndcd198HkLR8z1N8/s640/IMG_6583.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I have to pick my way through hordes of tourists sitting on the Spanish Steps to return to my hotel (and a new room!). </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezsOAGpykdr05tVAdd7aYcZDQPVDJNuzWVYcbKYfRGh0XoEX5Uv6cYFONQONjZHEYZ99Tj_nFvjoOHJgd8bWBUwd_iJW4dSFONEJCgP-u1EZ3JZ4kyijSlGh-FybnVfIJnDy9Ktuf8Qs/s1600/IMG_6581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezsOAGpykdr05tVAdd7aYcZDQPVDJNuzWVYcbKYfRGh0XoEX5Uv6cYFONQONjZHEYZ99Tj_nFvjoOHJgd8bWBUwd_iJW4dSFONEJCgP-u1EZ3JZ4kyijSlGh-FybnVfIJnDy9Ktuf8Qs/s640/IMG_6581.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A sunny day in Rome after being very overcast and dismal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Where are the pots of azaleas of old?</span></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFuNylrQhIrM9wJB-XxMg4c9X_FLtRHv_XBW6u34kCX-7Cj-XSqm0mgz5ReHXJUarOmrcd0v1Kc11IerPQVbX1-sIlRerhnGyBXYZL8ipm-9R-T0eat2AcVnEgS3_VLB14Js1VIZ_zEdE/s1600/Michael+Spanish+Steps+80s+CanoScan+LiDE+259+copy+2d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFuNylrQhIrM9wJB-XxMg4c9X_FLtRHv_XBW6u34kCX-7Cj-XSqm0mgz5ReHXJUarOmrcd0v1Kc11IerPQVbX1-sIlRerhnGyBXYZL8ipm-9R-T0eat2AcVnEgS3_VLB14Js1VIZ_zEdE/s400/Michael+Spanish+Steps+80s+CanoScan+LiDE+259+copy+2d.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Michael in 'working times' of the 80's - when the Spanish Steps had more azaleas than tourists</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Sunday Mass in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican also gives us the opportunity to admire this wonderful edifice once again. At noon, we wait in the rain to see a cloth placed over the sill of a distant window, a sign the Pope is about to appear to recite the Angelus, and address the crowd. A rapturous crescendo of 'Viva el Papa' goes up as His Holiness appears, on an outdoor screen!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYGI8r0BRnf1wlKzlShwD4o45JdqMlagRvRGsde4h-VVOCwu1p39fFSosI2TFYoJ1zHAUumGqVPqxrGUeZrvHiAjwxwV6fryeVBNgOMPYMnLZHd6HbJxi-GowqbGi1xRxRFJoLEXvQ_0/s1600/IMG_6601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYGI8r0BRnf1wlKzlShwD4o45JdqMlagRvRGsde4h-VVOCwu1p39fFSosI2TFYoJ1zHAUumGqVPqxrGUeZrvHiAjwxwV6fryeVBNgOMPYMnLZHd6HbJxi-GowqbGi1xRxRFJoLEXvQ_0/s640/IMG_6601.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Michelange<wbr></wbr>lo's great dome above Bernini's bronze <i>baldacchin<wbr></wbr>o</i> canopy in the centre of St Peter's Basilica</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYOYw4080hWRsCNYBexnxUfW4ohqXOTB42cPHchiQ2tYvyXxp-yumVi7UTvGcjWb4m6fLhlCEjnvaozfG3DNylz-DRIgTot81RDih4vkrCc5M2l3FdXsYpXxwpIopVABqqFITVx1xZbQ/s1600/IMG_6616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYOYw4080hWRsCNYBexnxUfW4ohqXOTB42cPHchiQ2tYvyXxp-yumVi7UTvGcjWb4m6fLhlCEjnvaozfG3DNylz-DRIgTot81RDih4vkrCc5M2l3FdXsYpXxwpIopVABqqFITVx1xZbQ/s640/IMG_6616.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The spiral bronze columns derive their shapes from the columns of the baldacchino in the original St. Peter's Basilica built by Constantine, which legend has it came from Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTyVnnOsZJzSGWxS0e_bL_fQ97EFk51x69NU4AAmOEy2ELyyZnugf2XaKgxseXKm3OIcaZcq_YLcpn0ZLmvQNWkmcSaJPsgO5FA-FRcxjbswp8ClfcejkymqeaUMLtoEQKvalpPd2lis/s1600/IMG_6598+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTyVnnOsZJzSGWxS0e_bL_fQ97EFk51x69NU4AAmOEy2ELyyZnugf2XaKgxseXKm3OIcaZcq_YLcpn0ZLmvQNWkmcSaJPsgO5FA-FRcxjbswp8ClfcejkymqeaUMLtoEQKvalpPd2lis/s640/IMG_6598+-+Version+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">One of the Papal Swiss Guards, founded in 1506, in the traditional colourful uniform </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">A side trip to the flower markets in Campo di Fiori is very disappointing . . . but t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">he traditional Italian radicchio and porcini mushrooms in the vegetable stalls save the day</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSf2z9fVI-vQ2vojEWjau8Djjf5kWKQJHj_08g7Svue87og2_FjwVX5_hPY0Jj2ryTd7C3ZA1f4ciN0nk7QClUdTg6KQXyj0wrBcWm8mQltn54nlKgRKuBvJtrlptsp0RCslOSTjwtAk/s1600/IMG_6650+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSf2z9fVI-vQ2vojEWjau8Djjf5kWKQJHj_08g7Svue87og2_FjwVX5_hPY0Jj2ryTd7C3ZA1f4ciN0nk7QClUdTg6KQXyj0wrBcWm8mQltn54nlKgRKuBvJtrlptsp0RCslOSTjwtAk/s640/IMG_6650+-+Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This is what I'll use when I make the <i>Stefano</i> Torgiano radicchio and red wine risotto</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVwKgJBuqxzAR3CW53q780UUu4_j2dexAKTsRo1iA2oet8afCCzxsr1FeTe_ngPXYtn8g8ieZfNPCNBfHqKjZm90FKcyG9zdGW2hpUhjQrOZuJDnXXbyhQwxaKNkOFQvHFTexC-KJ4ew/s1600/IMG_6648+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVwKgJBuqxzAR3CW53q780UUu4_j2dexAKTsRo1iA2oet8afCCzxsr1FeTe_ngPXYtn8g8ieZfNPCNBfHqKjZm90FKcyG9zdGW2hpUhjQrOZuJDnXXbyhQwxaKNkOFQvHFTexC-KJ4ew/s640/IMG_6648+-+Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I've had my fill of grilled porcini with rosemary and garlic on this trip!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">On my last day, I take advantage of a late check-out from my hotel and walk in the nearby Borghese Gardens. The views over the terracotta roofs of Rome from here are quite amazing.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TKG9dnaK62I/AAAAAAABF1s/ZA93E4wc1qw/s1600/IMG_6701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TKG9dnaK62I/AAAAAAABF1s/ZA93E4wc1qw/s640/IMG_6701.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Victor Emmanuel Monument from the Villa Borghese Gardens on my morning walk</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZDpjq-WT0y9Exw4P3XfBFxSMo7_D3mwOPLt0O-AZgAV22G-_kcBWFq-zZX141FYhnmMaxEW6AH_R8i9Vph6CiViwkoHuMunOfbEc2TtmK-eQXvT0B8qO4I_OdkOW0-BzSPe-MEpPR6Y/s1600/IMG_6694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZDpjq-WT0y9Exw4P3XfBFxSMo7_D3mwOPLt0O-AZgAV22G-_kcBWFq-zZX141FYhnmMaxEW6AH_R8i9Vph6CiViwkoHuMunOfbEc2TtmK-eQXvT0B8qO4I_OdkOW0-BzSPe-MEpPR6Y/s640/IMG_6694.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i>Tempio di Esculapio</i> in the (English) Lake Garden in the Villa Borghese Park</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">View the Picasa Web Album - click on the pictures below and it opens into full screen; you can also view the photos one by one.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fmichaelmusg%2Falbumid%2F5521698822813801217%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-49770250857022180922010-09-25T16:22:00.005+01:002010-10-02T20:44:05.444+01:00Farewell to Umbria<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">23rd Sept</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Stefano was so pleased with my photos of the figs, carrots and maize etc in his vegetable patch earlier in the week, so much so that he offered to come over and cook for us on our final night. He brought all the ingredients including a flagon of olive oil from last year's olive crop as well as fresh radicchio and red wine to make the risotto. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">We have so many laughs as Stefano does a 'Julia Child' and we video the performance.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASVq5UbHYBJb7BcDNDBlC2q77f6NRLi0LuyQxNMStNCHd-wuTBx-DvsKN0WHTq_C3bd2EUBHXrch7Cohw8zO8xeNc9xsRDQXjDGlKQAmtcB5Ml2ajh0HtzGtchy986MyA13mXSuC2760/s1600/IMG_6570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASVq5UbHYBJb7BcDNDBlC2q77f6NRLi0LuyQxNMStNCHd-wuTBx-DvsKN0WHTq_C3bd2EUBHXrch7Cohw8zO8xeNc9xsRDQXjDGlKQAmtcB5Ml2ajh0HtzGtchy986MyA13mXSuC2760/s320/IMG_6570.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To illustrate this blog post, I had to photograph the red radicchio 'cup' containing my seafood salad at lunch in Rome today</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">All we we did with this great flagon of home-pressed olive oil was to fry the onions at the beginning of the exercise, but it looked good</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHponJ690azldjVHwjDCHt8ZzEKSDguW20jGSVfStL5QnWwtCqUaVcmZ1uzutTJaaoAXs6y8puDrQmbt3WEWvq8QeYwQ7vNmnw-Pmuu1eRr3MAp26sKBPzXzb1_E4og3P1KQuhgVAJYOo/s1600/MVI_6502+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHponJ690azldjVHwjDCHt8ZzEKSDguW20jGSVfStL5QnWwtCqUaVcmZ1uzutTJaaoAXs6y8puDrQmbt3WEWvq8QeYwQ7vNmnw-Pmuu1eRr3MAp26sKBPzXzb1_E4og3P1KQuhgVAJYOo/s640/MVI_6502+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJtUFz5i16_Em3kjrtmhkZRGvKh_uvYPJ3lKzgNo8PjpZSrGzF1kANCXWtnDG-5W8lO_yN1NLbEBPut2uqQHH5YRYgi_97gtVgBP-l27bq48w5bsLjAyf6uRIf5RODnW3fiDUY9XNuEw/s1600/IMG_6534+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJtUFz5i16_Em3kjrtmhkZRGvKh_uvYPJ3lKzgNo8PjpZSrGzF1kANCXWtnDG-5W8lO_yN1NLbEBPut2uqQHH5YRYgi_97gtVgBP-l27bq48w5bsLjAyf6uRIf5RODnW3fiDUY9XNuEw/s640/IMG_6534+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Edmundo, Michael, Stefano and Nasser still laughing after video-ing 'The Chef and the Cook' show at Villa Chiara</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Now, here is the recipe for Stefano's </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://web.me.com/mmus/files/PDF/risottoradicchiorecipe.pdf">Radicchio and Red Wine Risotto</a> ENJOY!</span>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-30946551947959562062010-09-21T09:30:00.010+01:002010-10-06T17:51:25.515+01:00Of Umbrian Hill Towns and Masterpieces<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I enjoy a 'field day' today with no limits on the taking of photographs of interiors in the Duomo in the hilltop town of Orvieto. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The fields along the way are also worth a picture or two (and worth risking driver Edmundo's wrath for wanting to stop in impossible places on narrow mountainous roads).</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyqjzToIxwZN2soJrKPSpilveLt7OZAADVYY_C64AdITKJ4UqDVKix0wYpcvHNu5DyXzcbwyXBdwnWc4OZafmoiIiYAQYlFnj3l3ygjAGt5I8FrvH9Danwud9C321xoEoQJP1X3Lxf9s/s1600/IMG_6277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyqjzToIxwZN2soJrKPSpilveLt7OZAADVYY_C64AdITKJ4UqDVKix0wYpcvHNu5DyXzcbwyXBdwnWc4OZafmoiIiYAQYlFnj3l3ygjAGt5I8FrvH9Danwud9C321xoEoQJP1X3Lxf9s/s640/IMG_6277.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sunflowers in bloom and others past their prime make for a colourful landscape. You can understand why I asked Edmundo to stop on a bridge!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3EVr9YyL6IeDRjgbaMXHWFmFPKQEVMMXOgKjL3_dsh0fYqFD6bNOX02tQhpAOFfAiVJ2nM6GRWtzaPlrLQcgx1Zyvp2ZjUezQvDk-icP7GXcO_pGM743zSraN8DNzNuFU8SajJy8Vyw/s1600/IMG_6288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3EVr9YyL6IeDRjgbaMXHWFmFPKQEVMMXOgKjL3_dsh0fYqFD6bNOX02tQhpAOFfAiVJ2nM6GRWtzaPlrLQcgx1Zyvp2ZjUezQvDk-icP7GXcO_pGM743zSraN8DNzNuFU8SajJy8Vyw/s640/IMG_6288.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Vineyards and the rich soil of a valley high in the mountains on the way to Orvieto</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">After finding ourselves on the cliff top in Orvieto, we walk through the dark medieval streets and alleys. We come upon a light filled square where the glittering facade of mosaics, marble and bronzes on the 13th century cathedral rises skywards. It is said to be the finest example of Italian-Gothic religious architecture.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JKGLKfz7VFsJxfIV4fs6duEX_vhg0O_7KJzxw_s0XRmF31Ya51HRZR440AHVYDbnOQJj3jXlHJjSWeGPehdzSqi71EG4DeuOL-Sov6CRdoh35d51lJAg4ZuL70ULPmYsXOmp2TQ823Y/s1600/IMG_6289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JKGLKfz7VFsJxfIV4fs6duEX_vhg0O_7KJzxw_s0XRmF31Ya51HRZR440AHVYDbnOQJj3jXlHJjSWeGPehdzSqi71EG4DeuOL-Sov6CRdoh35d51lJAg4ZuL70ULPmYsXOmp2TQ823Y/s640/IMG_6289.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The foundations of the Cathedral were laid in 1290. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This coincided with the period of maximum splendour of the city of Orvieto at the centre of a far-flung territorial dominion.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The most exciting and eye-catching part is its golden frontage, which is decorated by large bas-reliefs and statues with the symbols (Angel, Ox, Lion, Eagle) of the Evangelists created by Maitani and collaborators (between 1325 and 1330) standing on the cornice above the sculptured panels on the piers. </span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BpqZ9VaC5vGnOgzgtdv8bD_1I01xleDp53QOUeG-FileIgJ_ePsoBV8yanlX4P7DKi7qA4x4PEj2cyfz4b_qpT_Nt0-GOx3Ob-InroO7CBhzUsMj765I71fqDyijhfhvlNr_EBKeSss/s1600/IMG_6313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BpqZ9VaC5vGnOgzgtdv8bD_1I01xleDp53QOUeG-FileIgJ_ePsoBV8yanlX4P7DKi7qA4x4PEj2cyfz4b_qpT_Nt0-GOx3Ob-InroO7CBhzUsMj765I71fqDyijhfhvlNr_EBKeSss/s640/IMG_6313.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Mosaic with the Coronation of the Virgin in the central gable of the facade </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObSPMmSWdkyZcqp4KSAFf6x8Ms5GK3E7MVSYrZBxdUjfz376LHdFp_aKIPRJz-8-5fpZjZh3kMlreyuoOCixVSDelrqYpsqejALeyfAFCpevk7mPJvVfbsVyUnkQ01AqTRm8gKJAjLuk/s1600/IMG_6317+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObSPMmSWdkyZcqp4KSAFf6x8Ms5GK3E7MVSYrZBxdUjfz376LHdFp_aKIPRJz-8-5fpZjZh3kMlreyuoOCixVSDelrqYpsqejALeyfAFCpevk7mPJvVfbsVyUnkQ01AqTRm8gKJAjLuk/s640/IMG_6317+-+Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Marble bas-reliefs with stories of the Old Testament adorn the lower piers of the facade. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">One small section shows the Creation of Adam and Eve.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8loFyOru0UxVjQOXO-spMnZFb6sBqMUzkElsMoAwbebZJBaWmGlTcqWsZYRJ8ZD3aPy01OluJAZKhi9VIC4VIHm9BXqrzIWFEHQyMR-htJQGirBRAouvsr92dL2LjCRZXMwSQtv2MR8/s1600/IMG_6328+-+Version+2+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8loFyOru0UxVjQOXO-spMnZFb6sBqMUzkElsMoAwbebZJBaWmGlTcqWsZYRJ8ZD3aPy01OluJAZKhi9VIC4VIHm9BXqrzIWFEHQyMR-htJQGirBRAouvsr92dL2LjCRZXMwSQtv2MR8/s640/IMG_6328+-+Version+2+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">14th century bronze of the figure representing the evangelist Mark on the piers in the facade</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The colourful decoration in the San Brizio chapel depicts scenes from the <i>End of the World -</i> the Resurrection of the Flesh; the Damned; and Paradise. It is largely the work of Luca Signorelli, who Michelangelo is said to have admired before he even commenced on his masterpiece work in the Sistine Chapel. I look on this as a mini-Sistine Chapel experience, without the crowds, and I'm allowed to take photos.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">My Picasa web album at the end of this post has more photos of the amazing detail.</span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8ATp8XqCWtFopakQeQkdWvhWU-Olp9tmD_MCV0PnRPVj-TnGcpCb0n15GpxWYMxs5GIKMzqEuCMqeSDF7jnqQm5PGmUvXiOS-Dch0Za-T-hVgzNTitJOHL6UfWasFCZexAanpxGZqeo/s1600/IMG_6308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8ATp8XqCWtFopakQeQkdWvhWU-Olp9tmD_MCV0PnRPVj-TnGcpCb0n15GpxWYMxs5GIKMzqEuCMqeSDF7jnqQm5PGmUvXiOS-Dch0Za-T-hVgzNTitJOHL6UfWasFCZexAanpxGZqeo/s640/IMG_6308.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The flip out and rotating view finder in my Canon G11 lets me take some amazing ceiling shots in the San Brizio side Chapel in the Duomo. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwXlP2RK0Ugh9lvIQyp896Jt6cdZPdJHp4auUd7LO_KBjv3zmOQ8sB1L1ICNj-_Q8dEVRm0o9y8rGe4d-uSH_lV2HjAcPUptJBWf5UKtuvQTC9sSocSMbdXmngbK09Kru0sOP98B3-zw/s1600/IMG_6301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwXlP2RK0Ugh9lvIQyp896Jt6cdZPdJHp4auUd7LO_KBjv3zmOQ8sB1L1ICNj-_Q8dEVRm0o9y8rGe4d-uSH_lV2HjAcPUptJBWf5UKtuvQTC9sSocSMbdXmngbK09Kru0sOP98B3-zw/s640/IMG_6301.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Resurrection of the Flesh</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxA3LFKLEO36tTJfaHdapVd5kXRTAP8fcdK-ZqXqgkHWG_uQP8WwcWcPAXRdzsRjsr62ImgZuurIn_ixM0PrSV_QF9s9tOpodWOLtWOmZ64Xet54Tkv0zuD38PewHoH2l3g5Iz2ogZZo/s1600/IMG_6301+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxA3LFKLEO36tTJfaHdapVd5kXRTAP8fcdK-ZqXqgkHWG_uQP8WwcWcPAXRdzsRjsr62ImgZuurIn_ixM0PrSV_QF9s9tOpodWOLtWOmZ64Xet54Tkv0zuD38PewHoH2l3g5Iz2ogZZo/s640/IMG_6301+-+Version+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Resurrection of the Flesh in close-up</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2LKGUSKuyhk7aI1P1_FNo-jw9DA00ykOM5XIAFubtfie9aRh0FhnA0XSC2zPCM7rkFzIxQx-26sTyFH4XwZ8StrjeKqbugXxjG0Ux6FD95mUR2PBA9NHvuSX1Y9cl4kPGBNIMHohLzI/s1600/IMG_6307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2LKGUSKuyhk7aI1P1_FNo-jw9DA00ykOM5XIAFubtfie9aRh0FhnA0XSC2zPCM7rkFzIxQx-26sTyFH4XwZ8StrjeKqbugXxjG0Ux6FD95mUR2PBA9NHvuSX1Y9cl4kPGBNIMHohLzI/s640/IMG_6307.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Prostitute of the Apocalypse (representing the sinful city of Babylon) being taken down to Hell by the devil</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TJh0Y5z53YI/AAAAAAABEtE/xLOAyK_1Gso/s1600/IMG_6303+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TJh0Y5z53YI/AAAAAAABEtE/xLOAyK_1Gso/s640/IMG_6303+-+Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Damned and the demons</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlb7NUeg762Rpbcr6mOYvnnB0MK3roo65eyNn-AKqJUmjwLzhoJLVddjRAc_hZMrsyYyG6EggZR9LQ2vJcMeSM8No0l6dmDHdoDuP_rk4WlRm7WY3fOCmh3nXwSn4tBrBhVtM5CPghZU/s1600/IMG_6305+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlb7NUeg762Rpbcr6mOYvnnB0MK3roo65eyNn-AKqJUmjwLzhoJLVddjRAc_hZMrsyYyG6EggZR9LQ2vJcMeSM8No0l6dmDHdoDuP_rk4WlRm7WY3fOCmh3nXwSn4tBrBhVtM5CPghZU/s640/IMG_6305+-+Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Paradise</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEmkCw8Bq9ljY-T5IiTc2VKXhSPl3GMdMI3kqNwN52F-kp05qFrmAObPiNSzXz8OFj4UHL0kww6zMMA7xj6DYgfbmGiDof6DLafr6GCsTx2S7-bAYJilr7Y_IK9q-5DIwsH8CTpu29kA/s1600/IMG_6311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEmkCw8Bq9ljY-T5IiTc2VKXhSPl3GMdMI3kqNwN52F-kp05qFrmAObPiNSzXz8OFj4UHL0kww6zMMA7xj6DYgfbmGiDof6DLafr6GCsTx2S7-bAYJilr7Y_IK9q-5DIwsH8CTpu29kA/s640/IMG_6311.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Preaching of the antichrist with the Archangel Michael sending fire from heaven</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JPOlNwx2tx61C0bdIB6FCfnsTukbwXWsox1XA7p9UeQfG7m-9-pIMZmMMXwbS0rL2x3OXHmihFfvGJjCaFII7Fd4u6Yo7PjfgOMeFCJvMoNRCAsaDABN5EZN4fzYRCobqrjnB4Iz7x4/s1600/IMG_6306+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JPOlNwx2tx61C0bdIB6FCfnsTukbwXWsox1XA7p9UeQfG7m-9-pIMZmMMXwbS0rL2x3OXHmihFfvGJjCaFII7Fd4u6Yo7PjfgOMeFCJvMoNRCAsaDABN5EZN4fzYRCobqrjnB4Iz7x4/s640/IMG_6306+-+Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Empedocles, the</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Greek philosopher born in Agrigentum, a Greek city in Sicily in 490 BC, who</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 17px;">established the four ultimate elements which make all the structures in the world – fire, air, water, earth, peers out from one of the lower wall panels in the chapel.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvO8zC6IICwuSH2QOBRxu9_9JAgfrkSeyCgZEDAsu0ZtTNOOrIqmFALTwyzge90ZwDczFAxZKW4qqF4Kps3qc07CoinUXhgKZdtQFqvX7NymcsDDYRzxIeDQrzDzoESCjKk3tRf3Qe3o/s1600/IMG_6318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvO8zC6IICwuSH2QOBRxu9_9JAgfrkSeyCgZEDAsu0ZtTNOOrIqmFALTwyzge90ZwDczFAxZKW4qqF4Kps3qc07CoinUXhgKZdtQFqvX7NymcsDDYRzxIeDQrzDzoESCjKk3tRf3Qe3o/s640/IMG_6318.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">One of the narrow streets in Orvieto with the old Tower in the background. We stop for pasta with fresh porcini mushrooms in a small piazza. We also needed a bottle of the chilled Orvieto Classico Superiore, a medium-dry local wine</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">On the way home, we take the slower mountainous route out of Orvieto to visit another of the famous hilltop towns, Todi. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16YvWhwDr0qPhPvBCLOQhZcIdadUoOmcZ2DnpXTLzxC511uEVOxApM5c2Wix-nnvDqNlA97bQrgm07KNAP5BdjeA_lcyagGoTqrb-uzDMs4_skIL88bWQllzYarSWbewcKE_Z-2OfCb0/s1600/IMG_6336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16YvWhwDr0qPhPvBCLOQhZcIdadUoOmcZ2DnpXTLzxC511uEVOxApM5c2Wix-nnvDqNlA97bQrgm07KNAP5BdjeA_lcyagGoTqrb-uzDMs4_skIL88bWQllzYarSWbewcKE_Z-2OfCb0/s640/IMG_6336.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We stop in the main piazza of Todi for an ice cream and a macchiato</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Click on the Picasa slideshow to view in full screen, or to go through the photos with captions.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fmichaelmusg%2Falbumid%2F5519391231205998577%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-58787105573661586522010-09-21T07:39:00.003+01:002010-09-23T05:41:23.794+01:00A Morning Walk along the Ridge<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I wake to a chill wind and a clear sunny morning after an overcast weekend. Lunch plus dinner each day is starting to take its toll on the waistline so a morning walk along the ridge to the next town is not a bad idea.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHWbtMOWg3gBiCgLD9tajhYOue4YDvhCVTBhpXqAtYEh0vn3KYTiEi0ol2XpxmCwVbzU-LajmcTgSwRX0wIS0ZgQ4eujuZBrqIe_PYdjpFv9zrwPKmCS3Ed35kgnbELoHzi9ESuUzQU4/s1600/IMG_6244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHWbtMOWg3gBiCgLD9tajhYOue4YDvhCVTBhpXqAtYEh0vn3KYTiEi0ol2XpxmCwVbzU-LajmcTgSwRX0wIS0ZgQ4eujuZBrqIe_PYdjpFv9zrwPKmCS3Ed35kgnbELoHzi9ESuUzQU4/s640/IMG_6244.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The sun is about to rise over the valley</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TJhPe_bkM7I/AAAAAAABEqc/RdJ_8ULBwp8/s1600/IMG_6257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TJhPe_bkM7I/AAAAAAABEqc/RdJ_8ULBwp8/s640/IMG_6257.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Vineyards stretch up and across the hillsides</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFXKgUFhyphenhyphennJNXUo6hqLpXHWQfUgVdd_VxulUiueX9t7rcR6296wo9etSmKwnCGat37SVNdh99Ze95tsiz0scGNwNB9HUM14gm3LJoXG7yZr2TudYTku2OuTqH8eqgIRuEDvmZMuXeFRM/s1600/IMG_6259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFXKgUFhyphenhyphennJNXUo6hqLpXHWQfUgVdd_VxulUiueX9t7rcR6296wo9etSmKwnCGat37SVNdh99Ze95tsiz0scGNwNB9HUM14gm3LJoXG7yZr2TudYTku2OuTqH8eqgIRuEDvmZMuXeFRM/s640/IMG_6259.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The plump fruit is ready for harvesting but the grapes are too small and with too many seeds for eating</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYBWLFL2rcWwfpkCNk-JzLWmtmijXMQxkeF4wjcngo0mKIEMVnNbD56Int2ZKKWo7d7MZ-HRRl78pwy1AM1BdgL8IulTUrnV7E41sioAIuT68JpGbUrnGxCodzHEFKGlrQUdfXKqX6Zk/s1600/IMG_6251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYBWLFL2rcWwfpkCNk-JzLWmtmijXMQxkeF4wjcngo0mKIEMVnNbD56Int2ZKKWo7d7MZ-HRRl78pwy1AM1BdgL8IulTUrnV7E41sioAIuT68JpGbUrnGxCodzHEFKGlrQUdfXKqX6Zk/s640/IMG_6251.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wildflowers abound</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Back home at the villa, I wonder if the quince in our orchard will be ready for stewing before we leave.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNRgDu874kLAoMwOBprvmx9e4fYzGFklRPC6Eb8rf6IIHBv60QnFUA4LGrKJG1xzGih3yJEAtVjkresQmEvcxCp3qlL6DDcYhIHWRakta8_tCUk880CsCdc23A1nvfMjNGkc9giupzco/s1600/IMG_6271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNRgDu874kLAoMwOBprvmx9e4fYzGFklRPC6Eb8rf6IIHBv60QnFUA4LGrKJG1xzGih3yJEAtVjkresQmEvcxCp3qlL6DDcYhIHWRakta8_tCUk880CsCdc23A1nvfMjNGkc9giupzco/s640/IMG_6271.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The quince look ripe to me. Pam, how do you stew yours?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">David is leaving today, so he'll definitely miss out on the quince.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7DC24YCeMIR_4ROuwsRRXx4KkkQevFkwyZKr9oZ84joPPc3HpgWgWG-F9MQpAWFWpSrKw4ZWjJDLoJA-JARPx2Qlqde4P8DJqpiu9qMTOaTnKZ187X4MkpD97WsAJrAYbfpvVfSAnjE/s1600/IMG_6274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7DC24YCeMIR_4ROuwsRRXx4KkkQevFkwyZKr9oZ84joPPc3HpgWgWG-F9MQpAWFWpSrKw4ZWjJDLoJA-JARPx2Qlqde4P8DJqpiu9qMTOaTnKZ187X4MkpD97WsAJrAYbfpvVfSAnjE/s640/IMG_6274.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Eddy, Edmundo, Jim and Michael all worked together and travelled frequently to the same meetings around the world for years. Now we come with friends from around the world to this villa in Umbria.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TJmf2w_ykNI/AAAAAAABE2A/Tknirkcu2x0/s1600/IMG_6361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TJmf2w_ykNI/AAAAAAABE2A/Tknirkcu2x0/s640/IMG_6361.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And 'life in the fast lane' at the villa continues . . .</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-39579388796226835942010-09-18T16:04:00.006+01:002010-09-29T16:11:42.768+01:00Stefano's Vegetable Patch<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Here I am in the middle of Umbrian farmland for more than a week, and I haven't found basil that smells like basil. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">On hearing this, Stefano, the obliging interpreter for the owners of the villa, packs me into his car and drives me home to meet Mama Rita and Papa Mario. And then straight into the vege garden. The smell of broken basil would knock you out! And why not take some celery too?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Stefano tells me when papa goes missing at night, he can be found under the fig tree tasting of the fruit. The glistening 'drop' of sweet juice at the base of the fig is an indication of its ripeness. And, I can now vouch for it.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZi7l4FNr1SMwAZePNe3U004CR5cH9e92H333FRSt8vvqvwD-c9vBkyNGvkVuhFxGEefSBTZnOg7pu48HG1lVLgKYxDiOOvEmlZdcGpXgqkL7Ze_5gCB7jIJGytlobB5Z1gWLfREFXA60/s1600/IMG_6178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZi7l4FNr1SMwAZePNe3U004CR5cH9e92H333FRSt8vvqvwD-c9vBkyNGvkVuhFxGEefSBTZnOg7pu48HG1lVLgKYxDiOOvEmlZdcGpXgqkL7Ze_5gCB7jIJGytlobB5Z1gWLfREFXA60/s640/IMG_6178.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The 'drop' as sweet as honey</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoC78TEXQyfM9chw3OidkqxR8MKho1czQ3Ns22QJjbcw3LOf7bcHzy8l7LGzr5XDWyDPV46jpgKb-GdHEQRr9kJd7JiRK-15UwcRd4jsAu-fUBgShzxRg5c26hz3pgfAPHubeIb3frrFs/s1600/IMG_6182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoC78TEXQyfM9chw3OidkqxR8MKho1czQ3Ns22QJjbcw3LOf7bcHzy8l7LGzr5XDWyDPV46jpgKb-GdHEQRr9kJd7JiRK-15UwcRd4jsAu-fUBgShzxRg5c26hz3pgfAPHubeIb3frrFs/s640/IMG_6182.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I'd get lost under the fig tree in the evenings too with this delicious fruit</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Mama Rita disappears into the hen house and comes out with freshly laid eggs for me. Stefano walks me to show me the maize that's grown for the hens</span>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP48NEcZ4JxChJ3aAmtgHdShEVh3YZSDFOmKvSSiW9ssGrlAbKmwF8NhF1SNnEZ70wHukHjaUjbTxntmgCtrCqFAIxDeuND07TURTEKmDKnQUfwblcIVMUM5N6116bfTpVUdhnuwB4ovo/s1600/IMG_6161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP48NEcZ4JxChJ3aAmtgHdShEVh3YZSDFOmKvSSiW9ssGrlAbKmwF8NhF1SNnEZ70wHukHjaUjbTxntmgCtrCqFAIxDeuND07TURTEKmDKnQUfwblcIVMUM5N6116bfTpVUdhnuwB4ovo/s640/IMG_6161.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The obliging Stefano</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEouUxEZE1Sf5vijuboEevBpLvEib4bKL-7pqihPZogQszAb_BT7_w03xxE6f8xqYhtb68ic31XV59YpL6MmSOpa6F0902SzLli0Ag7jvk4I6OAr8m0-aJs6EFCeDiT-RN7qRiPLypd0/s1600/IMG_6166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEouUxEZE1Sf5vijuboEevBpLvEib4bKL-7pqihPZogQszAb_BT7_w03xxE6f8xqYhtb68ic31XV59YpL6MmSOpa6F0902SzLli0Ag7jvk4I6OAr8m0-aJs6EFCeDiT-RN7qRiPLypd0/s640/IMG_6166.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm waiting for breakfast to see if the yolks are this golden colour</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">We don't stop there - we pull up carrots and lettuce and pick the tomatoes.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2xkZ8CyzCgfuQS-SejWeE-GvC4fTEP7v8qkUMMRNNqgyk8m67eUqqgvn08sW8bqDfg-_NVJEf8ttNWDywS3cewhNNZU6Bf1-geTpEHayJtnbP1_V5d0Xe8-ONgRRGC9PQloYwOf7p4A/s1600/IMG_6187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2xkZ8CyzCgfuQS-SejWeE-GvC4fTEP7v8qkUMMRNNqgyk8m67eUqqgvn08sW8bqDfg-_NVJEf8ttNWDywS3cewhNNZU6Bf1-geTpEHayJtnbP1_V5d0Xe8-ONgRRGC9PQloYwOf7p4A/s640/IMG_6187.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I think these baby carrots will be best eaten raw. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7i3RjMBLQw2gXEIblh-w5NUumhUuUMaMGq7X4l5bpY1QpxAveTdjlXyIyWMvBWYu70bzz5RmS1GGEZem0QbNalgf1YRyeOkj5TnQNg7jzJlLLN2GBRsOtgn1w8G8b5B33MhvSG15nDY/s1600/IMG_6191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7i3RjMBLQw2gXEIblh-w5NUumhUuUMaMGq7X4l5bpY1QpxAveTdjlXyIyWMvBWYu70bzz5RmS1GGEZem0QbNalgf1YRyeOkj5TnQNg7jzJlLLN2GBRsOtgn1w8G8b5B33MhvSG15nDY/s640/IMG_6191.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Tomatoes for salad and tomatoes for sauce</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">And why not takes some grapes off the vine too? Such is life in the countryside.</span>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-9871504256109457782010-09-17T17:42:00.004+01:002010-09-23T05:42:36.215+01:00Three Generations still work at Wine-making at Casale Villa Chiara<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The tiled roof at the edge of our garden hides a secret wine-making centre. I discover a little hive of industry this afternoon as a tractor laden with grapes heads down the drive. I put my head over the side and the grandmother beckon me down. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">We now have two bottles of 'dolce', sweet grape juice of red and white colour, and a bowl of freshly picked grapes. Danieli, the grandson warns me not to put the tops on the bottles saying, "it will ferment and explode". (it tastes of delicious sweet grape juice.)</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQR5vexUAeUWPwJyZirK809RntZb8JHEyVuMeACLEcXMlseE-LeCq9cbMcxkFGXLRbjUNIqBPQVqEVhcwosizf-ejCtbyocIUmB_23uzHp027UC2X7qfw7c8VziVuiBUKIUvmPw_Juy-U/s1600/IMG_6149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQR5vexUAeUWPwJyZirK809RntZb8JHEyVuMeACLEcXMlseE-LeCq9cbMcxkFGXLRbjUNIqBPQVqEVhcwosizf-ejCtbyocIUmB_23uzHp027UC2X7qfw7c8VziVuiBUKIUvmPw_Juy-U/s640/IMG_6149.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">'vino e cultura' with the Family Rossi at Villa Chiara</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwL4uDsvWIRwU4TFIfuyPz76cvx9s4Kswam5K59gtk9OXsMZSoX6OPVGvtYs53TSwDu18p9ACRrtZh2NXWBgOYXJ2iMg6uWT6deTLZ93hiisoH0FW26XBO_1T_TbI8ZANutfIlD8xiEfo/s1600/IMG_6207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwL4uDsvWIRwU4TFIfuyPz76cvx9s4Kswam5K59gtk9OXsMZSoX6OPVGvtYs53TSwDu18p9ACRrtZh2NXWBgOYXJ2iMg6uWT6deTLZ93hiisoH0FW26XBO_1T_TbI8ZANutfIlD8xiEfo/s640/IMG_6207.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The fertile river valley beyond the tiled roof of the 'winery' at Villa Chiara</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-50458755794039698312010-09-16T18:11:00.004+01:002010-09-23T05:43:19.580+01:00In Harmony with Nature- in Umbria<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHFANMBIZfOIvvsP_84iuI2r-lI6384jEy3RqhBPBil4g1Qzvs1ksRe1TjESOsGqNBy0UGhM_0YFva6mufvoKDKVd_bgNWfCdLw5ldg783_8xaqpzsORQAEt8kORHVv4Pr4K4yb9kwqk/s1600/IMG_6065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHFANMBIZfOIvvsP_84iuI2r-lI6384jEy3RqhBPBil4g1Qzvs1ksRe1TjESOsGqNBy0UGhM_0YFva6mufvoKDKVd_bgNWfCdLw5ldg783_8xaqpzsORQAEt8kORHVv4Pr4K4yb9kwqk/s640/IMG_6065.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxB_1hJkj-tX4OwUavWfgbA55p-9c5C66YMEqrvRZnmVT15n509lw-ezNgFSaEt-dWN4DwPKDo1UT4umFCf0gtvRDH7-sic4mRBC9bAfy2GUOqisTuE8UXUkEsKgqI__g141-7MwhHR4/s1600/IMG_6063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxB_1hJkj-tX4OwUavWfgbA55p-9c5C66YMEqrvRZnmVT15n509lw-ezNgFSaEt-dWN4DwPKDo1UT4umFCf0gtvRDH7-sic4mRBC9bAfy2GUOqisTuE8UXUkEsKgqI__g141-7MwhHR4/s640/IMG_6063.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfR1GydSAGd8XyIBK7u_YTsBZeJbKOtWpqvCPaNhQgYxevDXmXaVrqMTxktHT95q2pxZRruK_qVnQ9KACltgC-emCI9GSa97L5vsirGy-wkxVn_MGOm4Cmo-e4cii4lxTLqDw0akY7e5U/s1600/IMG_6105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfR1GydSAGd8XyIBK7u_YTsBZeJbKOtWpqvCPaNhQgYxevDXmXaVrqMTxktHT95q2pxZRruK_qVnQ9KACltgC-emCI9GSa97L5vsirGy-wkxVn_MGOm4Cmo-e4cii4lxTLqDw0akY7e5U/s640/IMG_6105.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Assisi, and the Basilica of St Francis to the left of the picture</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9R9GGvQ1Zd8xcmxeJ13xGA_k5RC6O7tiI6z1EB9a1PZwDS-QN1qlotQ4Q2_MNDOA0T28C1sDVmkz4DH9WoypTliqM5Jvr7zY5Gv_6XsvtlTD_O-Ql6oiANaKTn09w1snDBWMDPrycoPQ/s1600/IMG_6091+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9R9GGvQ1Zd8xcmxeJ13xGA_k5RC6O7tiI6z1EB9a1PZwDS-QN1qlotQ4Q2_MNDOA0T28C1sDVmkz4DH9WoypTliqM5Jvr7zY5Gv_6XsvtlTD_O-Ql6oiANaKTn09w1snDBWMDPrycoPQ/s640/IMG_6091+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Church of St Clare with 'Franciscan' simplicity in its architecture. Visiting St Clare's tomb and hearing angelic voices of the sisters singing behind the curtained windows in the convent was as close to the most spiritual of the experiences in Assisi</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqd3epL-uwr4QE9-Zun88gcqTJT8MQLQvCq1sBslMK3uqsWhYnD3W1rWJtDQo5bmJGTORxYEQZihgyx1-WMIxx_LQdBHaQBLnyCe_JxD38V613RpAlvT1Blg6Ax1Rp4JXMaiY2yabmoFI/s1600/Map+of+Umbria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqd3epL-uwr4QE9-Zun88gcqTJT8MQLQvCq1sBslMK3uqsWhYnD3W1rWJtDQo5bmJGTORxYEQZihgyx1-WMIxx_LQdBHaQBLnyCe_JxD38V613RpAlvT1Blg6Ax1Rp4JXMaiY2yabmoFI/s640/Map+of+Umbria.jpg" width="564" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Casale Villa Chiara is located in Torgiano, between Perugia and Assisi</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-89377359120233663192010-09-14T23:17:00.004+01:002010-09-23T05:43:52.811+01:00The Colours of Agritourism in Umbria<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Vineyards, olive groves and 'turned earth' surround the Villa Chiara in Torgiano in the Umbrian countryside where we are staying for two weeks. We are located about 12 kilometres either way from the regional centre and university town of Perugia, and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">the hill town of St Francis of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Assisi. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZnDtfP0qwAPRqYeTyKUBgP0st7t-f6neywQep3PvVvXCvLGgM-CIICPmdz0SLaZP8YUwATlwjp6isUpRR2qRI26tDMHrN7XvF2YnIWbeAThVll1VLd5qhEzq1pDhwR30LniZ0MRMKk4/s1600/IMG_5913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZnDtfP0qwAPRqYeTyKUBgP0st7t-f6neywQep3PvVvXCvLGgM-CIICPmdz0SLaZP8YUwATlwjp6isUpRR2qRI26tDMHrN7XvF2YnIWbeAThVll1VLd5qhEzq1pDhwR30LniZ0MRMKk4/s640/IMG_5913.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We witnessed the first pickings today</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQP8gGr9jGvFWj87Jdg2k0kFrZABBCYj3WybJEkaQeRpp2Au9WLIPIQ01LcLgnHf905Joxjz4zCSpsnhbCezTsuAJFOqR9jQb13_33PQiKXMPtRinU5lWqNARABuTFdsD2rRiLRUhinFg/s1600/IMG_6000+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQP8gGr9jGvFWj87Jdg2k0kFrZABBCYj3WybJEkaQeRpp2Au9WLIPIQ01LcLgnHf905Joxjz4zCSpsnhbCezTsuAJFOqR9jQb13_33PQiKXMPtRinU5lWqNARABuTFdsD2rRiLRUhinFg/s640/IMG_6000+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It's still a little early in the season to pick the olives</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRtJHvdiT3hQeCEdVKkYsik0wzROKz7zJQ33ZoORjmDMJG3LaVN0JKkj2-xz3La89eAWxXSYU0l6z_2hL-wFVpt2Kndy05icw-YjSOCgT0MEuo9lOH_F3hmOstYVynmMG-rgfXXJuBo8/s1600/IMG_6033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRtJHvdiT3hQeCEdVKkYsik0wzROKz7zJQ33ZoORjmDMJG3LaVN0JKkj2-xz3La89eAWxXSYU0l6z_2hL-wFVpt2Kndy05icw-YjSOCgT0MEuo9lOH_F3hmOstYVynmMG-rgfXXJuBo8/s640/IMG_6033.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I intend to keep very busy finding landscapes of 'turned earth'. This is the view looking out from one of the terraces at Villa Chiara</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikc8BLG9KUI44Nl_mavfsvGDFqNOSUWb5AnVVXBefpHZ2awrYwaWf3fmhu1p44ELWOQP1nHsS_1OXG3irp_j3QJeTa7meAs8TkxwiyPYSj8XdNbmmOwX6H2qL_A2eix-Zinekhd23JE4E/s1600/IMG_5939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikc8BLG9KUI44Nl_mavfsvGDFqNOSUWb5AnVVXBefpHZ2awrYwaWf3fmhu1p44ELWOQP1nHsS_1OXG3irp_j3QJeTa7meAs8TkxwiyPYSj8XdNbmmOwX6H2qL_A2eix-Zinekhd23JE4E/s640/IMG_5939.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The pool at Villa Chiara - September makes it a little chilly for swimming except in the heat of the midday sun</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The farmer across the way doesn't mind that we pick tomatoes from his trellis</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSxtEwYWuj1OQzEBZv0SU8cl6sIWqE9FL3L8r0XJrHMLaUYBBhGWDDO_InLOkooobF90sxTs4JtxIpoQdOUl5WnmiHMdylM1XpYf_vmYonkyity1UVRZyno2p_7OxZKYbUavZHL78j_0/s1600/IMG_5910+-+Version+2+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSxtEwYWuj1OQzEBZv0SU8cl6sIWqE9FL3L8r0XJrHMLaUYBBhGWDDO_InLOkooobF90sxTs4JtxIpoQdOUl5WnmiHMdylM1XpYf_vmYonkyity1UVRZyno2p_7OxZKYbUavZHL78j_0/s640/IMG_5910+-+Version+2+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">And I'm waiting to make a Waldorf Salad with the apples in our orchard.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrygJrwxYWtqSOegGIKq671QERZ09Er9HvcysqOrcgudu6OMdiVxgGfJPME3mKtVFGd35lUeDsli-SplmKbV4_wHQUnd8YX2UvTnmPhaAUVf50w7TwFNP_OPkASfgQhBc4KEs410C9ls/s1600/IMG_6122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrygJrwxYWtqSOegGIKq671QERZ09Er9HvcysqOrcgudu6OMdiVxgGfJPME3mKtVFGd35lUeDsli-SplmKbV4_wHQUnd8YX2UvTnmPhaAUVf50w7TwFNP_OPkASfgQhBc4KEs410C9ls/s640/IMG_6122.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The town of Torgiano seems to have some stately residences and it also has celebrated museums for wine and olive oil.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oVZ9Jdscg_mX1oLitntpy0W51LPuLSZFBcuELASwQqbfHVJf80etq8xuHHt8OvoHXe-Ta3vGW-I9sLC2_g1ljheyCjxCzct1-f6AFad1DOjjP8i_qqLgfgLZ6DVBnWZfUnl28ieIXCA/s1600/IMG_6023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oVZ9Jdscg_mX1oLitntpy0W51LPuLSZFBcuELASwQqbfHVJf80etq8xuHHt8OvoHXe-Ta3vGW-I9sLC2_g1ljheyCjxCzct1-f6AFad1DOjjP8i_qqLgfgLZ6DVBnWZfUnl28ieIXCA/s640/IMG_6023.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Torgiano - old and older</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The hill town of Assisi is fifteen minutes away and the home of St Francis and Saint Clare. Our visit with our 'unchurched' friends makes me wish I had the 'Brother Sun and Sister Moon' DVD to better tell the story.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TI_v8sWUwvI/AAAAAAABEUY/B2bf7m0wf1U/s1600/IMG_5957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TI_v8sWUwvI/AAAAAAABEUY/B2bf7m0wf1U/s640/IMG_5957.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Edmundo and I attended Mass at the Basilica. Friends Victor (of Jewish ancestry), and Patrick (who is Buddhist in belief) came too and enjoyed the devotion and the music</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUo3nDcRShdUb3LJPqNvhoeRC6wmosFCIKzRjUCJMb-0SVGIyXglmoSF2NY5z8WAP7FthWpOHZm8NiszYDB3h36xsybI-qug0QWVfN-oqopkbVKNhb_LpZeTzL2p6zGhj9wmYESEul6GM/s1600/IMG_5964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUo3nDcRShdUb3LJPqNvhoeRC6wmosFCIKzRjUCJMb-0SVGIyXglmoSF2NY5z8WAP7FthWpOHZm8NiszYDB3h36xsybI-qug0QWVfN-oqopkbVKNhb_LpZeTzL2p6zGhj9wmYESEul6GM/s640/IMG_5964.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael, Pat, Jim and Victor "show us the way to go home" after dinner and copious carafes local wine in Assisi</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">These days, I'm not happy if I haven't photographed a bees or a bug.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAk4t8SiUTSPahp8wsMQwYoBb0ueH0-MLAKIQPor5ajiCeWlbLdF92wJWChMP5Ty8JJI_QaJXz50R913L1XldpEUc2JCG63n-wKoVRkxgzDtCbnpiRIC6VqROIWTY1ko2BQF-ISDKItGs/s1600/IMG_5920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAk4t8SiUTSPahp8wsMQwYoBb0ueH0-MLAKIQPor5ajiCeWlbLdF92wJWChMP5Ty8JJI_QaJXz50R913L1XldpEUc2JCG63n-wKoVRkxgzDtCbnpiRIC6VqROIWTY1ko2BQF-ISDKItGs/s640/IMG_5920.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Out for an early morning walk with Edmundo one morning, a lady up the road saw me spending time over her fence, and came out to see what I was up to. She was thrilled at knowing I was from Australia and offered me seeds for her favourite vine.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Just home from dinner, I catch the others coming in.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NBrcWyMc80CMXYHVSGKCbjiEcUtUA4NdmrHdWUshm00xqu8jJz4Mf3M8Lq3qvH8IWG2Bduu36MW3Q42DigaKzgtx5GKQeDKeatPVKi5MIYZqHDdnAJV4W2aDQyEQYtaNbs2kGy_SjPI/s1600/IMG_6062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NBrcWyMc80CMXYHVSGKCbjiEcUtUA4NdmrHdWUshm00xqu8jJz4Mf3M8Lq3qvH8IWG2Bduu36MW3Q42DigaKzgtx5GKQeDKeatPVKi5MIYZqHDdnAJV4W2aDQyEQYtaNbs2kGy_SjPI/s640/IMG_6062.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old friends, including Eddy, Jim and Edmundo from the 25 years I worked with Amex - all of us now enjoying retirement</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-38640603353167909422010-09-10T21:54:00.004+01:002010-10-01T00:22:53.943+01:00A Quest to better understand what inspired King Ludwig II<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Edmundo and I are attempting to re-live (or at least understand) those things that drove a misunderstood King to create and live the fantasies that endeared him to his subjects. On the other hand, he was 'suspected' by the elite of the time and was driven into a tragic finale. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">King Ludwig was extravagant and loved the finer things of life as much as his love of nature. There were religious and operatic overtones in everything he did. We can see his exquisite taste in the castles and palaces that he created, and by simply travelling around the beautiful settings in the mountains and lakes where he spent his short life of 40 years.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0AWdjGh2rnJ00heAtkZcUGKCmm77vsYT9WBvzOxAiT1K_XDPCV5YphDfbHM1mvGmcwOGNrjiJQYDdBgbbrdpUeNN8MOIE7B0fh5eADbuzpgcjN5sPpVPqrCa1F1lTAuRWVT-TG2HxbM/s1600/IMG_5647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0AWdjGh2rnJ00heAtkZcUGKCmm77vsYT9WBvzOxAiT1K_XDPCV5YphDfbHM1mvGmcwOGNrjiJQYDdBgbbrdpUeNN8MOIE7B0fh5eADbuzpgcjN5sPpVPqrCa1F1lTAuRWVT-TG2HxbM/s640/IMG_5647.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The swan was an emblem of nobility in Ludwig's time. Allegorically, Ludwig named his castle Neuschwanstein (which translates literally as 'new stone swan'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZx8Xs85tVSCZCkObx7MUMMD41hJ7ZQywS8BrqIMSdQ_9Kr0zqvtWwhlTWnYBGOqJFF0604VKada5shvW4YP0Kuf-HglZ_XsZRjT92GoOmbChkjfGiN5l40hnYwWc_QEl8Cte1nS8jYAQ/s1600/IMG_5724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZx8Xs85tVSCZCkObx7MUMMD41hJ7ZQywS8BrqIMSdQ_9Kr0zqvtWwhlTWnYBGOqJFF0604VKada5shvW4YP0Kuf-HglZ_XsZRjT92GoOmbChkjfGiN5l40hnYwWc_QEl8Cte1nS8jYAQ/s640/IMG_5724.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Plansee, a peaceful part of nature along the 'Romantic Route' that we travelled crossing back and forth between Germany and Austria and not far from Ludwig's Linderhof Palace</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXpcoOk19nZuT3rRNMEBBPxFFMWLtTnCM1h-tenZTl2VBIS2tMToybJYKLn2zkG8FNnG7voKpX2rktzvZdC6opVGyK4V8M9cAWpYi8aFcxi5zZtqC1-d5l5nu19kXXeKE7vw8LnLY-ws/s1600/IMG_5764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXpcoOk19nZuT3rRNMEBBPxFFMWLtTnCM1h-tenZTl2VBIS2tMToybJYKLn2zkG8FNnG7voKpX2rktzvZdC6opVGyK4V8M9cAWpYi8aFcxi5zZtqC1-d5l5nu19kXXeKE7vw8LnLY-ws/s640/IMG_5764.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A panoramic view of Linderhof Palace with Bavarian Alps in the background</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh432LjthGJ0RXzbCvejsGFtkJo6eloTJ3OxKDu-16Bk6SdazrhVHLRYkkiPcXjOJxWOUapcn4AzgKLQwvMym4XIxSO2dWHCp5uShrklI43N3uXAqfapJxafH6Gsx_N2ImW7WF0G1s5zF0/s1600/IMG_5757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh432LjthGJ0RXzbCvejsGFtkJo6eloTJ3OxKDu-16Bk6SdazrhVHLRYkkiPcXjOJxWOUapcn4AzgKLQwvMym4XIxSO2dWHCp5uShrklI43N3uXAqfapJxafH6Gsx_N2ImW7WF0G1s5zF0/s640/IMG_5757.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Part of the formal gardens at Linderhof Palace</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsa8Xvf1-xvChsYIv5iMvVGX48_6VHF2RnpuI5dR5M6sNUcYQyix5dj0PXp3_V0tvZc-dZbLIep34H4iKzvw3PPIepZBLVFCzppaM0Nt_y1O_xSz5eZaPARSd62JmcFZXkkVyUGoGeV64/s1600/IMG_5792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsa8Xvf1-xvChsYIv5iMvVGX48_6VHF2RnpuI5dR5M6sNUcYQyix5dj0PXp3_V0tvZc-dZbLIep34H4iKzvw3PPIepZBLVFCzppaM0Nt_y1O_xSz5eZaPARSd62JmcFZXkkVyUGoGeV64/s640/IMG_5792.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Fountain Sculpture in the Gazebo Garden </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4P5A7_2_YoUhLEgi4N2NWajCD8ZT2xz2kaVkHPwpIs_Q1pu7IkzGORCxTKzwA1FMpmQGQMhbbhiKKvTLkmYbNp3ugLGKngigQ03V4BTw9kC2nXFVldfOnqBsyurrxRrqhjX1kiUl-H0/s1600/IMG_5781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4P5A7_2_YoUhLEgi4N2NWajCD8ZT2xz2kaVkHPwpIs_Q1pu7IkzGORCxTKzwA1FMpmQGQMhbbhiKKvTLkmYbNp3ugLGKngigQ03V4BTw9kC2nXFVldfOnqBsyurrxRrqhjX1kiUl-H0/s640/IMG_5781.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The fountain spouts every 30 minutes. We imagine Ludwig being asked by his architect about the height of the fountain and his saying, "make it taller than the house".</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">A little further into the mountains, we stop at the famous Passion Play town of Oberammergau. We're not sure if it is a saintly town or if Jesus should come through and expel all the merchants selling all manner of souvenirs in the myriad of small souvenir shops that fill streets of decorated houses.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKu4SdhG90_lEKWafn8hHMFKvfgW-QR9dSY1eJ5qpFFHhsoXLivtlD96hfY7wb-1-qcRxUzy0Ne7BsOb6rZvr5c0K4JO-0OZ2SduFntBR03duvFafTb9iqOy-xi_3FN2QdZTPTWiPfv_c/s1600/IMG_5818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKu4SdhG90_lEKWafn8hHMFKvfgW-QR9dSY1eJ5qpFFHhsoXLivtlD96hfY7wb-1-qcRxUzy0Ne7BsOb6rZvr5c0K4JO-0OZ2SduFntBR03duvFafTb9iqOy-xi_3FN2QdZTPTWiPfv_c/s640/IMG_5818.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Most of the buildings in town have painted exteriors. Many also feature window boxes of bright flo</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">wers</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TIqoZXSSvTI/AAAAAAABERY/loU1kQoOAtU/s1600/IMG_5827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TIqoZXSSvTI/AAAAAAABERY/loU1kQoOAtU/s640/IMG_5827.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Colourful flower window boxes adorn so many of the homes in Oberammergau - there almost seems to be a competition</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Continuing on our 'Romantic Route' deep in the green Bavarian countryside, we visit the little village of Wies with its mid-18th century Wieskirche. Thousands of people still come on pilgrimage to venerate the "Scourged Saviour", an inage of Christ that is said to weep real tears. Others come to see its frescos, sculptures and gilt in what is said to be the most beautiful example of rococo-style religious art in the world.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsSqMJBalpRGMmv_INz22Oo5EvkUxgXYxQTDL1FsJzKcFoEHRYQkcshJ49jkhBFLGSYmXyqs0PtqCGibmcw75bmXsFSC-TnXF8P2QWGpgN8AlAVHbqVshis6CEeqUGe3FJ1mojglfVxY/s1600/IMG_5860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsSqMJBalpRGMmv_INz22Oo5EvkUxgXYxQTDL1FsJzKcFoEHRYQkcshJ49jkhBFLGSYmXyqs0PtqCGibmcw75bmXsFSC-TnXF8P2QWGpgN8AlAVHbqVshis6CEeqUGe3FJ1mojglfVxY/s640/IMG_5860.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The vaulted ceiling in the nave is NOT a vault in the true sense. Rather, it is almost completely a flat ceiling that rises only at the side 'about 2.5 metres' and then it is flat across the top. The frescoes give us an illusion of a highly vaulted ceiling.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowNusMdpNVW6jqleHSQxfPHn_w1LoCD83gczV-AetQ9KWFQrCKU3ohh9HYzORaQ522hsfToreO0dBObA4SRc3GJVvq7vaQZFpxOWPfzUJULZN9rWH4v4kCqaLaC7PAnHPhClrFafvEEU/s1600/IMG_5857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowNusMdpNVW6jqleHSQxfPHn_w1LoCD83gczV-AetQ9KWFQrCKU3ohh9HYzORaQ522hsfToreO0dBObA4SRc3GJVvq7vaQZFpxOWPfzUJULZN9rWH4v4kCqaLaC7PAnHPhClrFafvEEU/s640/IMG_5857.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wieskirche in the village of Wies was built in mid-18th century to venerate a miraculous image of the 'Scourged Saviour'. It is still a major pilgrimage site.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">And finally, we make it back to our Bavarian-style Hotel Rubezahl in Schwangau-Horn in time for the sun setting on Neuschwanstein and for the dinner that's served from 5.30 to 8pm only! </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPnb50O9t4UFlJYYGutlQWJGf2Wg5YoEXFmm-vn2BlyRpr-R3LX6aKjZsCeWsRrNg2U_5ehA3eNc5LarPrMiRp9VO5BGBYwpK7Tb0j1zlLiDdfkDA1c5-J-2iKVkuGjH8gKmgpkXOME8/s1600/IMG_5882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPnb50O9t4UFlJYYGutlQWJGf2Wg5YoEXFmm-vn2BlyRpr-R3LX6aKjZsCeWsRrNg2U_5ehA3eNc5LarPrMiRp9VO5BGBYwpK7Tb0j1zlLiDdfkDA1c5-J-2iKVkuGjH8gKmgpkXOME8/s640/IMG_5882.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Ludwig's Neuschwanstein Castle at the foot of the mountains across the green pastures from our hotel</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">On another day, we visited Innsbruck, the once quaint city high in the Austrian Alps. The quaint trams that used to add character to Maria Theresa Strasse have gone and the whiole area is one 'pedestrianised cafeteria'.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RZMjIn0TRHPyWoT8l-_DViVPVJAZ1Nc7fJAjkXzC2W8pKZ2G28FFHoSvI05pFVXcHNfLvVfFoRm_IrJuemx8_gWujch2oHPt4-hsrQj5T-2CK7lOPM1Up2p6-_DfRjYqkAfTOEQPqsA/s1600/IMG_5605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RZMjIn0TRHPyWoT8l-_DViVPVJAZ1Nc7fJAjkXzC2W8pKZ2G28FFHoSvI05pFVXcHNfLvVfFoRm_IrJuemx8_gWujch2oHPt4-hsrQj5T-2CK7lOPM1Up2p6-_DfRjYqkAfTOEQPqsA/s640/IMG_5605.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Michael on the famous Maria Therea Strasse</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The Picasa Web Album gives you the opportunity to open into a full screen slideshow, otr if you prefer to see the photos one by one and read the captions, you can do that too.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com.au&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com.au%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fmichaelmusg%2Falbumid%2F5515387456917961169%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com.au/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-5793575057515105012010-09-08T07:23:00.003+01:002010-09-10T23:06:47.347+01:00INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIAStory to come<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mNTB0L9i8XALyBCkieoIS6dspisiPoGvXSsA29D3XlY8AV6ac9qY5diYmgkmoHNWhG4pRC7sr-SE85gHnlwIJSsAGCnVrUpYNTdhRVAdkq1xYUDI7lKZfomtoxVpWm4sfkabG-pUZEY/s1600/IMG_5604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mNTB0L9i8XALyBCkieoIS6dspisiPoGvXSsA29D3XlY8AV6ac9qY5diYmgkmoHNWhG4pRC7sr-SE85gHnlwIJSsAGCnVrUpYNTdhRVAdkq1xYUDI7lKZfomtoxVpWm4sfkabG-pUZEY/s640/IMG_5604.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Edmundo on the famous Maria Theresa Strasse in Innsbruck, the capital of the Tyrol</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Click to open the Picasa Web Album to view the photos one by one, or view a slideshow in full screen.</span><br />
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fmichaelmusg%2Falbumid%2F5514223971738332849%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-72324955073757365652010-09-07T00:59:00.007+01:002010-09-10T09:09:05.139+01:00LOST! Near Mad King Ludwig's Neuschwanstein Castle<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Arrived late in Munich from Croatia at sunset . . . Avis computers down . . . no maps . . . brand new car . . . gear shift for Edmundo to master . . . we head south but somehow find ourselves west! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">My iPhone GPS to the rescue, but we have to re-trace our steps on narrow 'regional' roads where directions signs are small and not luminescent . . . I still have my 'reading' glasses only and am no help at all . . . very dark night. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">. . . eventually we arrive at our chalet hotel . . . with castle floodlit on the mountain outside our windows. . . . dining room closed at 9pm and it is now past 10pm . . . but we negotiate ham and cheese with a glass of wine . . . bed beckons . . . tomorrow is another day!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsB1eC0IJxVwhkcWGgTVVvowyFTNP5803txa4xIMMp_R7X4KIKA8t9YzPck8Cc7SDDg-E1ox7XsOlmojHel1elciYEcIn9c87V-8UHjlC-jFJIZfLou_AONN3Jd53uE6c4B4GTei6Yyv4/s1600/IMG_0113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsB1eC0IJxVwhkcWGgTVVvowyFTNP5803txa4xIMMp_R7X4KIKA8t9YzPck8Cc7SDDg-E1ox7XsOlmojHel1elciYEcIn9c87V-8UHjlC-jFJIZfLou_AONN3Jd53uE6c4B4GTei6Yyv4/s640/IMG_0113.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">How can a man sleep with cows moo-ing outside his window so early on a rainy morning? Neuschwanstein Castle is across the grass on the mountain-side in the top left. A photo from my iPhone.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28XzHM7hHrxcsGYiK6OOZXdieF5u_YnV0DHjGrCQPzZHOtnpbryS8Ddvu3tayW4JVqJ4BLmj1gnUW7XrTeYQ0R8s9gff0EXhxdwnb8LvsbQc-hiCET2KVcXMaLBVXWBOod_KmcZxIGKQ/s1600/IMG_5626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28XzHM7hHrxcsGYiK6OOZXdieF5u_YnV0DHjGrCQPzZHOtnpbryS8Ddvu3tayW4JVqJ4BLmj1gnUW7XrTeYQ0R8s9gff0EXhxdwnb8LvsbQc-hiCET2KVcXMaLBVXWBOod_KmcZxIGKQ/s640/IMG_5626.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Neuschwanstein Castle</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2xXwP2p2uokj87m4sogbbp4mkHajJlyTfcDniCvcxIep7NiWXQKnUb6yAG78TauoYL6IWnAegDNdDRqOi6NVTv45Pm60qTQoFyS5HJWwUhp4dBKCc1Yp8CHh0YRsbJQjRSjjfAmAQaA/s1600/IMG_5640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2xXwP2p2uokj87m4sogbbp4mkHajJlyTfcDniCvcxIep7NiWXQKnUb6yAG78TauoYL6IWnAegDNdDRqOi6NVTv45Pm60qTQoFyS5HJWwUhp4dBKCc1Yp8CHh0YRsbJQjRSjjfAmAQaA/s640/IMG_5640.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking it easy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
Click on Picasa slide-show below to view photos and captions one at a time<br />
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fmichaelmusg%2Falbumid%2F5514266721837860801%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-68501446322938394312010-09-04T17:06:00.013+01:002010-09-10T14:59:57.784+01:00SPLIT, and Roman Emperor Diocletian<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Picasa Photo Albums for ALL the ports will be added shortly</span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERZUTWbeQ9V-gYRDHKLplXe-MiOgaAfbaih0fuMaSIdbbDPEEO6UVLdbQRMbrfQHcv5GoJTTBVhxzKMILQBodjrs2_4ly91wlh4EfcrbcdXJhXp5FpEgn9xDgy7HsLmZMvFe6VhdhuCM/s1600/IMG_5472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERZUTWbeQ9V-gYRDHKLplXe-MiOgaAfbaih0fuMaSIdbbDPEEO6UVLdbQRMbrfQHcv5GoJTTBVhxzKMILQBodjrs2_4ly91wlh4EfcrbcdXJhXp5FpEgn9xDgy7HsLmZMvFe6VhdhuCM/s640/IMG_5472.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cathedral of St Domnius in the centre of 3rd century palace of Roman Emperor, Diocletian</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I wonder what covered the skylight in this circular 'vestibule' in the entrance to Emperor Diocletian's chambers 1,700 years ago? </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFdf1EKDlzg_1TXC2ACgo5r6CtvCRqrV963PL8Kuu-k_zGNdIHbum7Km6D6o7heqFQFcyg1l9bcLfv2Xpv9u7rJZAob6tjgLTwkOFwkUVbbbXYagUSwyOY_q_0tbYxBJaOdU-VZoVJ2E/s1600/IMG_5503+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFdf1EKDlzg_1TXC2ACgo5r6CtvCRqrV963PL8Kuu-k_zGNdIHbum7Km6D6o7heqFQFcyg1l9bcLfv2Xpv9u7rJZAob6tjgLTwkOFwkUVbbbXYagUSwyOY_q_0tbYxBJaOdU-VZoVJ2E/s640/IMG_5503+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The acoustics are wonderful inside. Singers entertain all day with traditional Dalmatian songs (and keep me from my late afternoon siesta with the sounds coming through the walls of my hotel, next door!)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Fresh local seafood is a feature of most meals here in Split . . . </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aMEkJX9z07Pe2BtsLIGBMB72DYDeZ5eoj_x11u0qr61JROn_ZSF06eDxEMlhQhVvflJh_OQFq58XTTb3XrRxK1kZ1jP243YpfQ0xBJvslydZFFb-EUp6byDuU74Tcz55x7K8BZa7b7I/s1600/IMG_5542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aMEkJX9z07Pe2BtsLIGBMB72DYDeZ5eoj_x11u0qr61JROn_ZSF06eDxEMlhQhVvflJh_OQFq58XTTb3XrRxK1kZ1jP243YpfQ0xBJvslydZFFb-EUp6byDuU74Tcz55x7K8BZa7b7I/s640/IMG_5542.jpg" width="636" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We chose the sea bass at Nostromo Restaurant in the fish market for dinner, and carpaccio of sea devil and tuna at Varos for lunch</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">And you can't beat the summer fruits at breakfast each day at our new hotel Vestibul Palace right next to the vestibule in Diocletian's Palace.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Rx7HesvmdWUkK1NkQq0rs6TqTzC9sMnNGV_zZ2ErVwz4mQloCBP1p9uf2GV-mF9uaULsfQwexteI-NUxPCBhHVf6_nPD9evgj_9aZULdXu2Id83hyphenhyphen5D1qKLhSoQ4JlxHzFKuX-0w_Hg/s1600/IMG_5550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Rx7HesvmdWUkK1NkQq0rs6TqTzC9sMnNGV_zZ2ErVwz4mQloCBP1p9uf2GV-mF9uaULsfQwexteI-NUxPCBhHVf6_nPD9evgj_9aZULdXu2Id83hyphenhyphen5D1qKLhSoQ4JlxHzFKuX-0w_Hg/s640/IMG_5550.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As you can see, I am still practising the focus and blurred 'bokeh' effect in some photographs</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Walking with Ivanna, an expert in local history, is probably the highlight of our visit to Split. I had a thirst for some history after our relaxing cruise around the islands for seven days. Understanding what motivated a Roman Emperor; learning a little of the politics of the period; and seeing the magnitude of Diocletian's 3rd Century Palace rounds off the complete Croatian experience.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">To understand the 'story' better, click on slide-show below, and it will open to full screen, allowing you to take in the captions one by one.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fmichaelmusg%2Falbumid%2F5513478102350779217%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-80338668392208239212010-09-04T16:45:00.003+01:002010-09-05T22:56:33.642+01:00Trogir - historic town listed among UNESCO's World Heritage Sites<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Trogir's roots go back to the third century BC when it was founded by Greek colonists. The Romans have held power, as have the Venetians and the Hapsburgs. More recently Trogir has been part of Yugoslavia, and now Croatia.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TIJj7ApFfMI/AAAAAAABDlk/-0ssQmcrBsA/s1600/IMG_5396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="481" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TIJj7ApFfMI/AAAAAAABDlk/-0ssQmcrBsA/s640/IMG_5396.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Kamerlengo Fortress on one end of the island of Trogir</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbe3k9Ts-kzMyNPqfq4cAxjuURILXuKmL70CzwilzD1bqkuPpssY037J1tTuGRafUNIzuVl_h3N3cEwOMr6vd358lJdgyNSA6jhzK54TBMoFFSNY6Knb2ytXMeuCH3FpQ9KIAFUBVbuw/s1600/IMG_5414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbe3k9Ts-kzMyNPqfq4cAxjuURILXuKmL70CzwilzD1bqkuPpssY037J1tTuGRafUNIzuVl_h3N3cEwOMr6vd358lJdgyNSA6jhzK54TBMoFFSNY6Knb2ytXMeuCH3FpQ9KIAFUBVbuw/s640/IMG_5414.jpg" width="481" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Adam stands above a Venetian Lion at the entrance of the Cathedral of St Lawrence (Eve is on other side of the front door)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TIQR3OI9O_I/AAAAAAABDwU/z09i26wxzPc/s1600/IMG_5441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TIQR3OI9O_I/AAAAAAABDwU/z09i26wxzPc/s640/IMG_5441.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A wide promenade beside the walled city of Trogir with yachts moored alongside</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-24299494334061015772010-09-04T16:05:00.003+01:002010-09-05T22:33:22.233+01:00Milna, on the island of Brac<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">While Captain Toni is taking on water and refuelling the 'Linda', we go wandering in the back streets of the small fishing village of Milna, on the island of Brac. Time is standing still here compared to some of the other ports we have sailed in to.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TIJe_ucJXpI/AAAAAAABDlU/OGteGcrH66o/s1600/IMG_5327+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TIJe_ucJXpI/AAAAAAABDlU/OGteGcrH66o/s640/IMG_5327+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The small fishing village of Milna, on the island of Brac</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The church stands in a commanding position on the waterfront.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TIQKPLPTmYI/AAAAAAABDus/j0Eux2JluzM/s1600/IMG_5386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TIQKPLPTmYI/AAAAAAABDus/j0Eux2JluzM/s640/IMG_5386.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Grass grows from the bell tower </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">This fishing village has some very poor sections . . .</span> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqO1qmRrWp1e17ra_rvxS-AhfQ3ZhCc4umsznUYMuL_T34WSAb4-SQzRKEkPFdboYzxMhv82uvadXmFW-CMEYqlEGyipqPDfJMyyF3JuoXu2ZF_0brrMooSvEwNSvq6h0j1ICMiVBlcSE/s1600/IMG_5390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqO1qmRrWp1e17ra_rvxS-AhfQ3ZhCc4umsznUYMuL_T34WSAb4-SQzRKEkPFdboYzxMhv82uvadXmFW-CMEYqlEGyipqPDfJMyyF3JuoXu2ZF_0brrMooSvEwNSvq6h0j1ICMiVBlcSE/s640/IMG_5390.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There's a few tumble-down structures in the back streets away from the waterfront</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">However, dinner of grilled fresh tuna at the new Yacht Club is very up to date.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViTDRoX9NCUsqXFsZOCxx5WAFfyAd68axOZ351IZt_6wbrgaxrMY6e0GESeJseWws6MjLqxzGzD6o_Fym5vumrL-i5i21nuT69oV66Ry-dpJRXvtEuxAKtZ_7XFlk7oIGwtdqb4GpL8Q/s1600/IMG_5370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViTDRoX9NCUsqXFsZOCxx5WAFfyAd68axOZ351IZt_6wbrgaxrMY6e0GESeJseWws6MjLqxzGzD6o_Fym5vumrL-i5i21nuT69oV66Ry-dpJRXvtEuxAKtZ_7XFlk7oIGwtdqb4GpL8Q/s640/IMG_5370.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Tuna steaks cut for us as we watched</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-54916504191064442182010-09-02T14:33:00.007+01:002010-09-04T17:27:22.741+01:00Bol, on the island of Brac<span style="font-size: large;">Sergio ferries us up on to the sand at this famous arrowhead of a beach on the south east of the island of Brac in central Dalmatia for a swim.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fQOZbWGzctCXojyOcFZGc3M0Bhn1t9HVCpu9ImP4mmO8nBd9JNrmr3m9sdakEJSka3MiJov6RREJd735e9foWPeppSw4ZNKHAlrOyiFa6lrEfmoMSi70NIxxmrqV4gwHbo-cYPiZRdM/s1600/IMG_5312+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fQOZbWGzctCXojyOcFZGc3M0Bhn1t9HVCpu9ImP4mmO8nBd9JNrmr3m9sdakEJSka3MiJov6RREJd735e9foWPeppSw4ZNKHAlrOyiFa6lrEfmoMSi70NIxxmrqV4gwHbo-cYPiZRdM/s640/IMG_5312+-+Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Bol's famous fine pebble beach, Zlatni rat (Golden cape) like an arrowhead stretching into the clear Adriatic waters</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuO8FLwKaDwNGe9lLjgqxooxt_6DYSF6-0slkqbA5j40VSBOnHfNqackeZukIBQi9xs8_lLFf2ib_VitNbJu38iiAl2HvCloY_Bs8OGsXhtCCo9obdiba2dAIRJFHfc34dBiULyAkjMM/s1600/IMG_5287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuO8FLwKaDwNGe9lLjgqxooxt_6DYSF6-0slkqbA5j40VSBOnHfNqackeZukIBQi9xs8_lLFf2ib_VitNbJu38iiAl2HvCloY_Bs8OGsXhtCCo9obdiba2dAIRJFHfc34dBiULyAkjMM/s640/IMG_5287.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Captain of the 'Linda' AnTONIo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlALK0xHNcj1f-TJ3Ysa2p6E5gbLWNT7qCWRQdzLLufU_6SuWZ6izoM3f93BJ6GwtTfDzK6Hkw3qC3EuE_t2znIKfMKuETFJFqqRbk-vL96qZsKqdxc7Xfkv2cGk8Hl414drRHTF-O_Qs/s1600/IMG_5323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlALK0xHNcj1f-TJ3Ysa2p6E5gbLWNT7qCWRQdzLLufU_6SuWZ6izoM3f93BJ6GwtTfDzK6Hkw3qC3EuE_t2znIKfMKuETFJFqqRbk-vL96qZsKqdxc7Xfkv2cGk8Hl414drRHTF-O_Qs/s640/IMG_5323.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sergio, our Croatian fun-loving 'bundle of trouble'</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSlE4DsqwX1opAjv-9SIN0G7ZGGL2OIPxcRpeWBuCsBfbCxtmnJCAfV769W1gXoTEvke_BL9SVAaJBf5HpF__-XdifJDQMtm5FAX0CCCkb0AgJYzH-w2xvs3GMEDQF9g21At85sjoSF8/s1600/IMG_5224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSlE4DsqwX1opAjv-9SIN0G7ZGGL2OIPxcRpeWBuCsBfbCxtmnJCAfV769W1gXoTEvke_BL9SVAaJBf5HpF__-XdifJDQMtm5FAX0CCCkb0AgJYzH-w2xvs3GMEDQF9g21At85sjoSF8/s640/IMG_5224.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Goran, another of the happy crew and a plate of grilled sea bass that Captain Tony picked up from a fisherman friend when he went to get the fresh bread for breakfast this morning</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-49886285517532908082010-09-02T08:29:00.008+01:002010-09-09T06:22:31.378+01:00The Sounds of Solitude<span style="font-size: large;">Solitude in a little bay all alone.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Bobbing, rocking, a soft rhythmic splas-s-s-s-h-ing and an even softer retreating sound of water on the pitted limestone shoreline. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXoMdIW_ZENjl67-AyAddHhf6YEYLNWplT7SYAVTarK8DmlUaN5o2CXYMcuYfHEH62WHPpjdwCtRltzolXnVsU0VSHv_G9tzc6UpX_iMvoSzhd-7yHfeDFRAE_0OHoAPV3PGUSYowswDY/s1600/IMG_5150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXoMdIW_ZENjl67-AyAddHhf6YEYLNWplT7SYAVTarK8DmlUaN5o2CXYMcuYfHEH62WHPpjdwCtRltzolXnVsU0VSHv_G9tzc6UpX_iMvoSzhd-7yHfeDFRAE_0OHoAPV3PGUSYowswDY/s640/IMG_5150.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At anchor</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">Water laps, boards creak, canvas flaps, ropes strain and squeak (although Victor tells me I am imagining any squeaking sound from the straining ropes as they are nylon today and no longer made of twine!)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Out of the blue . . . a mysterious rocking . . . turns out to be an unseen ferry passing a bay away.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And then the sound of a motor – Captain Tony is away to the town in the speedboat to collect fresh bread for our breakfast, and to visit a fisherman friend for the sea bass for lunch.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">THE STILL </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">On another morning, the sounds of silence are quite different - there aren't any!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The sky is lightening. On the mirror surface of the water in our secluded cove, I can see a reflected silhouette of the rough landscape, and a waning moon. And not a sound . . . or movement. Not a hint of a breeze, but I can feel the chill of the morn under my long night-shirt. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I strain to hear something . . . and ask the only other person on board who is awake what he hears . . . “only the voices in my head”, he says.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlHRER4gzxKrr29immppG9lfyb1_pRvKQPeNo4CDMMySLz4YarOiDmKDFp6n0s8rdwnS88h576tz32fHURUOR1KWT_B5GNIKmW55LzF1cqWhTx_ghynHo8kuRgcqVYs1HjkmiaEHr2eE/s1600/IMG_5280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlHRER4gzxKrr29immppG9lfyb1_pRvKQPeNo4CDMMySLz4YarOiDmKDFp6n0s8rdwnS88h576tz32fHURUOR1KWT_B5GNIKmW55LzF1cqWhTx_ghynHo8kuRgcqVYs1HjkmiaEHr2eE/s640/IMG_5280.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawning</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">Instead of any pinkish colouring creeping into what was yesterday’s clearest blue sky, there’s only more light. Finally, the absolute silence is broken . . . an animal sound . . . maybe the deer with the wonderful horns we saw on the beach yesterday has found his mate . . . this also wakes the insects . . . which like a minor orchestra, start to warm up . . . and a gull screeches from the wings . . . morning has broken!</span>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-14384731266310582182010-09-02T08:22:00.010+01:002010-09-08T21:42:04.464+01:00SAILING<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Under sail on one of the days only.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOc0JrrGqz5Mbvfb5QxOtWeDRTZ4VSc3M5gkXAE0j22Hlp_DEzbPZcT930gA7QVpJyJTTE7upqjI4O42KqEemxZAYt1slRzyaOQ2dprF_JEpAKJPNSfWHyS6gVU674lHUuAtjyV1aTp4k/s1600/IMG_5002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOc0JrrGqz5Mbvfb5QxOtWeDRTZ4VSc3M5gkXAE0j22Hlp_DEzbPZcT930gA7QVpJyJTTE7upqjI4O42KqEemxZAYt1slRzyaOQ2dprF_JEpAKJPNSfWHyS6gVU674lHUuAtjyV1aTp4k/s640/IMG_5002.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbWfKVG4JnVxMaiv5EMDXZ9Hj0S9xaJ5Rb4xhgKyTyI_n15opQ3O6wRWquW1tDCvOl5ELYYUTpFjRaQOxhMOcRRNulJAq26S_DfcmwzGVSIKR-dfs_1pWPh-yLq14jfJpWP5GZiiFAqM/s1600/IMG_5125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbWfKVG4JnVxMaiv5EMDXZ9Hj0S9xaJ5Rb4xhgKyTyI_n15opQ3O6wRWquW1tDCvOl5ELYYUTpFjRaQOxhMOcRRNulJAq26S_DfcmwzGVSIKR-dfs_1pWPh-yLq14jfJpWP5GZiiFAqM/s640/IMG_5125.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">See the white caps. Secure the flag. Feel the wind blow!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVTq97vtABekkE6-1FCiNLTatypEJ91QOrqulmlUwdIuvSTyjhFJWqDvrTCU3Jqno64ME_9nZtAp7_wLg9A-sYrn5jmTy3fGW61_6may2FJqoiC5ooAcRaGFaLNKeq1XA60e62ak7Gps/s1600/IMG_5136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVTq97vtABekkE6-1FCiNLTatypEJ91QOrqulmlUwdIuvSTyjhFJWqDvrTCU3Jqno64ME_9nZtAp7_wLg9A-sYrn5jmTy3fGW61_6may2FJqoiC5ooAcRaGFaLNKeq1XA60e62ak7Gps/s640/IMG_5136.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Under sail</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-9477409705246059462010-09-02T08:15:00.005+01:002010-09-05T09:24:48.050+01:00STARI GRAD - the oldest town in Croatia<span style="font-size: large;">Stari grad is the oldest settlement in Croatia reaching back to Illyrian times. Linda has been anchored in a sheltered cove some miles away since before lunch.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In the late afternoon, the energetic Sergio ferries us to the old town. Standing at the wheel of the rubber dinghy smiling as he opens the throttle, the nose rises, the bottom bounces hard over the swell and water sprays over us, he says mischievously, “you will adventure with Sergio” (laugh, laugh, bump, bump, bones jangle), “we riding the waves”. (more laughs)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Edmundo cuts in saying “it’s more like training a horse”, with his head bowed and hanging on. Coming into the port, Sergio, still amused says “You see how feeling the man after my drive”, as Edmundo clambers up and over the front on all fours and on to the dock.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Smart yachts line the dockside but many more tiny boats give a more authentic feel to the place than Hvar old town we liked so much for different reasons yesterday. Centuries-old shuttered stone houses in narrow streets of cobblestones provide wonderful material for a selection of monochromatic-style photos. Again, the yellow-fruited Canary Island palms add a tropical touch.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJJLzO1X5xLxDRq-uU_zGFX55P6Vv0VGmMnfakXMwp9KVUAhMcMIkFwsDbVRpHv_qUxisLghPAJOSJlcnW7Uah7XOWnTieFdDszxkLxK_0NN5lC33W7UeD5VJ3W25fvUImI5NFPzAc_A/s1600/IMG_5259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJJLzO1X5xLxDRq-uU_zGFX55P6Vv0VGmMnfakXMwp9KVUAhMcMIkFwsDbVRpHv_qUxisLghPAJOSJlcnW7Uah7XOWnTieFdDszxkLxK_0NN5lC33W7UeD5VJ3W25fvUImI5NFPzAc_A/s640/IMG_5259.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Centuries-old stone houses</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Sxbd9PNUgB4fbqXT4M79QCjI3R4v91qyPHcG3UslhQr_BOSgstkbAQa_RyBRxHvjcpGzwvrpQjCSxEKKStQU3ByJOdQl3YyIQW6g9nEm8yC3LSafUXVvlgWRnpj6OcotDVwTxg1-a_8/s1600/IMG_5272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Sxbd9PNUgB4fbqXT4M79QCjI3R4v91qyPHcG3UslhQr_BOSgstkbAQa_RyBRxHvjcpGzwvrpQjCSxEKKStQU3ByJOdQl3YyIQW6g9nEm8yC3LSafUXVvlgWRnpj6OcotDVwTxg1-a_8/s640/IMG_5272.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victor, and John (friends of 45+ years from Brisbane days) and Dr Pat in one of the laneways of Starigrad</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We find Antika, the local restaurant recommended by Captain Tony and order roast chicken in advance. We see the cook leaving the butcher with chickens in a plastic bag swinging from the handlebars of his bicycle and know we are in for a treat. The octopus salad to start was as delicious.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Going home was easier, and gave new meaning to ‘starry, starry night’. The swell had subsided and Sergio kept closer to the shore where it was even calmer.</span><br />
<><><> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody></tbody></table>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-78728427529235520882010-09-01T10:58:00.008+01:002010-09-05T22:18:33.957+01:00Butterflies and Bees<span style="font-size: large;">Getting more comfortable with my Canon G11, I am now spending more time pursuing butterflies and bees.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENMQ91pgIjydy2HHC75Ud_YOFzGImO4b_-0wBK0TY8e3nkNTa9B0qZ553zjzebttt4xm77pRWjsQvNB4rrPEG-Z0pFdpEgvTm89goRWZ4sB4u4OS76ZUFTyc6vW2poAtNURVyJ_nCe9E/s1600/IMG_4863+-+Version+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="636" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENMQ91pgIjydy2HHC75Ud_YOFzGImO4b_-0wBK0TY8e3nkNTa9B0qZ553zjzebttt4xm77pRWjsQvNB4rrPEG-Z0pFdpEgvTm89goRWZ4sB4u4OS76ZUFTyc6vW2poAtNURVyJ_nCe9E/s640/IMG_4863+-+Version+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There's a butterfly in my glass (moored on a lake in the Mljet National Park)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50cs9RunABXjcL6Zu2MOgNfSuscspe4-hXKHmmGeLaqW6PAc_PRBIMBTIdTKzWXOvJByhYHPP126ySR5u1pmctdMkzfcZigxt_WulbP4VW2VCwHwcMn2fANLFH1KCw2Hmj9J4Js2CIAo/s1600/IMG_4871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50cs9RunABXjcL6Zu2MOgNfSuscspe4-hXKHmmGeLaqW6PAc_PRBIMBTIdTKzWXOvJByhYHPP126ySR5u1pmctdMkzfcZigxt_WulbP4VW2VCwHwcMn2fANLFH1KCw2Hmj9J4Js2CIAo/s640/IMG_4871.jpg" width="638" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Šipan</span> island bees looking to sip the Campari</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And there's still the flower or two . . . .</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTf0FZcNyu6Hm6wokqCeL_zflVGIT1qJF_FH7h19_NGhE1W9RX9eao1e4PvhKAmKlKkNOlJpuMCr9_ll6NQt_ZlcHUrqb0HcTRlgdfszKIRKIfENos_wJ3ujd5QW9AoYeROYw0oXHi1aU/s1600/IMG_5261+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTf0FZcNyu6Hm6wokqCeL_zflVGIT1qJF_FH7h19_NGhE1W9RX9eao1e4PvhKAmKlKkNOlJpuMCr9_ll6NQt_ZlcHUrqb0HcTRlgdfszKIRKIfENos_wJ3ujd5QW9AoYeROYw0oXHi1aU/s640/IMG_5261+(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">An exquisite bloom on an old vine in Stari Grad on the island of Hvar</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">And let's not forget the fruit . . .</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3M4VvDd501FnoM4pCc-vWuCLTNAkSRbCDFbmVY7E5kgXyPbyDLdEQYxWP6MZuiK-J2Xjse3rcSuCofZogNUUpzbbTG9Xe3_s_62VCDPu3rFdIckg0PJiBY7TeMOneH54R44dsophFWGI/s1600/IMG_5394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3M4VvDd501FnoM4pCc-vWuCLTNAkSRbCDFbmVY7E5kgXyPbyDLdEQYxWP6MZuiK-J2Xjse3rcSuCofZogNUUpzbbTG9Xe3_s_62VCDPu3rFdIckg0PJiBY7TeMOneH54R44dsophFWGI/s640/IMG_5394.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A fig ripens in a back yard in the old fishing village of Milna, on the island of Brac</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-6779830066290826102010-08-30T22:26:00.007+01:002010-09-11T07:15:11.747+01:00Korčula, 'the birthplace of Marco Polo' according to the locals<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Captain Tony tells us of the worst weather of the season forecast for tomorrow. He plans to leave Korčula at 5am and reach a protected bay for shelter on the island of Hvar before the big storm really hit.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">In the meantime, the sun shines. After a morning swimming off the boat, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Željko </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">the cook has prepared another big lunch under thte awning covering the back deck - a Dalmatian staple of slow-cooked fish and langoustine. Time for siesta before sailing on to Korčula, said to be the home of Marco Polo.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWr91Ji5oGKjeVXuM5o3JVgFTUFLRF10mJjnbegzBqN6V4e6lIs0N9u40obFoduHjxycabchCVoYojH-3g0wrTdNDGiw4dc7HjNRYjg9MIHzm8PClaxX7mPPzxxPUknsHqUtfKJm-2c1A/s1600/IMG_5080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWr91Ji5oGKjeVXuM5o3JVgFTUFLRF10mJjnbegzBqN6V4e6lIs0N9u40obFoduHjxycabchCVoYojH-3g0wrTdNDGiw4dc7HjNRYjg9MIHzm8PClaxX7mPPzxxPUknsHqUtfKJm-2c1A/s640/IMG_5080.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Entrance to the old walled city of Korcula</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Rounding a headland, a wedge of land with a mosaic of terracotta rooftops, encircled by old medieval walls, juts out into the blue of the Adriatic. Mountains surround us. Sergio takes us to shore in the rubber ducky to walk through the old town. During dinner the storm hits! Streets flow with water and rain buckets down on us as we bounce on the speeding rubber ducky back to hot coffee on 'Linda'. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TH4hpSlRcRI/AAAAAAABDiA/wqEqnZU3neI/s1600/IMG_5105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TH4hpSlRcRI/AAAAAAABDiA/wqEqnZU3neI/s640/IMG_5105.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edmundo and Michael outside the walls of the old town of Korčula</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The storm rained itself out as we slept but we weighed anchor at daybreak to make it to shelter at the next protected bay on Hvar before the forecast heavy winds made the going too rough.</span>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-15309510621751369842010-08-30T22:20:00.004+01:002010-09-10T15:23:40.464+01:00HVAR - Is it Mykonos, Sitges, or Cannes?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">No, it is Hvar, the latest 'in vogue' spot for sun and fun on an island off the Dalmatian coast - and at half the price of the Mediterranean.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKr7XEJBHTznrmkNR1nHNl5SCvLv1HytQc6t_h2x-zXpGFhKqXUcVjtosc5EfrzlkxXZ1JHI5Tk1EDaV25d_SZn4PkJuf4LFlXKGDQR1ufn93JdFV98CnjI1BQ-JPGVxnC9T3YGs0mjYA/s1600/IMG_5173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKr7XEJBHTznrmkNR1nHNl5SCvLv1HytQc6t_h2x-zXpGFhKqXUcVjtosc5EfrzlkxXZ1JHI5Tk1EDaV25d_SZn4PkJuf4LFlXKGDQR1ufn93JdFV98CnjI1BQ-JPGVxnC9T3YGs0mjYA/s640/IMG_5173.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Hvar old town</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfp2cNpJmLR5hS59BFpNrSi72z779aVyCt0UTV6dj824-UdxfVMpVbGcZhhxYURW60vKSMZWVbwlWljhrxN2DKBL3P-nOpROfXfI8tcCd8NucpLOOtS2ECBt5pZ5K8Gg-TN8MFiTNOmMA/s1600/IMG_5212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfp2cNpJmLR5hS59BFpNrSi72z779aVyCt0UTV6dj824-UdxfVMpVbGcZhhxYURW60vKSMZWVbwlWljhrxN2DKBL3P-nOpROfXfI8tcCd8NucpLOOtS2ECBt5pZ5K8Gg-TN8MFiTNOmMA/s640/IMG_5212.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victor and Patrick, Edmundo, John and LP in Hvar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-54293771555905092802010-08-30T22:15:00.008+01:002010-09-04T16:50:56.808+01:00First stop on the island of Šipan<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">30th August 2010</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Freshly caught sea bream grilled to perfection, washed down with a light local summer white - the ripest of red tomatoes in the salad, dressed by olive oil from Tony the captain's own olive trees; a perfect start to the holiday sitting on the aft deck of 'Linda', moored alongside other yachts in the harbour of the small village of </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Šipanska Luka, a village on the northern part of Šipan island, at the end of a 2.5 kilometre bay. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We are only a couple of hours sailing from Dubrovnik, but already many years from any hustle and bustle.</span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TH4cjFUyx8I/AAAAAAABDh4/nnOdvP2KG_E/s1600/IMG_4932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TH4cjFUyx8I/AAAAAAABDh4/nnOdvP2KG_E/s640/IMG_4932.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our 27-metre, Linda</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">Three hours under motor and we glide into the peaceful saltwater 'Great Lake' on the island of Mljet. It's been designated a Nation al Park to protect the holm oak and Aleppo pine forests. Over the mountain is the smaller lake with the 12th century Benedictine Monastery of St Mary in the middle.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-k6WbRYWsa9N4NdjyNuUXX2UA3Pswtr7J1mj-yjxZrw4htPITBe05mRcXDKE4T8sKIxXuP0Q7NGgrJzOPEvLvf6yqqw0Dx2BuovzZ_XbgF_b1pt6ZcUf4FSNNavotCszkQwQ7XedM6Wc/s1600/IMG_4899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-k6WbRYWsa9N4NdjyNuUXX2UA3Pswtr7J1mj-yjxZrw4htPITBe05mRcXDKE4T8sKIxXuP0Q7NGgrJzOPEvLvf6yqqw0Dx2BuovzZ_XbgF_b1pt6ZcUf4FSNNavotCszkQwQ7XedM6Wc/s640/IMG_4899.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The little isle of St. Mary in the Great lake, with an ancient Benedictine monastery and a church dating from 12th century.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TIJapI1HgkI/AAAAAAABDlE/FMyx635-M1E/s1600/IMG_4952+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="164" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/TIJapI1HgkI/AAAAAAABDlE/FMyx635-M1E/s640/IMG_4952+-+Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"All friends on deck" - four of us have known each other for nearly 50 years!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-10391439371356714082010-08-30T22:11:00.005+01:002010-09-04T21:42:52.312+01:00"Sailing Close to the Wind" - and we haven't even gone to sea yet!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">28th August 2010</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">"We must leave port at 5.30 latest or we cannot leave until tomorrow", says Alan's text message. </span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">He and the others are already on board our motor sailing gulet, 'Linda'. Edmundo and I are stuck in a long queue at the border of Montenegro and Croatia on our way back from visiting the island of Sveti Stefan. We were indeed sailing close to the wind but we didn't miss the boat.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/THwlr-KwTbI/AAAAAAABDho/Lkb8HNah7xI/s1600/IMG_4747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_885R89n1RLQ/THwlr-KwTbI/AAAAAAABDho/Lkb8HNah7xI/s640/IMG_4747.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Old stone fishermen's cottages on the little island of Sveti Stefan, now an Aman Resort in Montenegro</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">We would have indeed 'missed the boat' if not for our resourceful young Croatian driver, basketballer, Ivan. We knew we were cutting it fine with the timing but Ivan found a Russian from Dubrovnik on the car ferry who told him of an alternative route across the border. </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoEiVtRSMqc_IoVkIpOWzOrr9-lbxvtkKYEAB5QSy9CtSqpvLIJeFyAiTnxuYoMt6tV-_UuWCyr1rl6qcFCow6Fwqw1oaK65txDiuBMyYhqF7Lig1_aHLles2QohVPAAsWjlF7xiSlps/s1600/IMG_4759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoEiVtRSMqc_IoVkIpOWzOrr9-lbxvtkKYEAB5QSy9CtSqpvLIJeFyAiTnxuYoMt6tV-_UuWCyr1rl6qcFCow6Fwqw1oaK65txDiuBMyYhqF7Lig1_aHLles2QohVPAAsWjlF7xiSlps/s640/IMG_4759.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Edmundo and our driver, Ivan</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">We followed the Russian around single track mountainous roads to the other border crossing where waiting time in the queue was more reasonable. We drove along barren mountainsides of harsh karst rock stretching down to a sparkling green sea, but inland, there was a greener beauty with hills of olives, vines and tall cypress scattered randomly in unison or in profusion across a landscape creating a wonderful picture-book vista. Sun beds by the thousand adorned stretches of beach for Europeans to come and bake. I felt shrivelled to a crisp just looking down at them as we sped past.</span></span></div><div><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">After all the driving and drama, we didn't have time to negotiate our way into the new Aman property across a little causeway on the island of Sveti Stefan. It's taken them two years to convert all the stone fishermen's cottages on the island into luxury individual apartments for their guests. </span></div></div>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638009496712215609.post-85112113831735565502010-08-28T06:21:00.005+01:002010-09-04T16:50:08.695+01:00"Take me to the Hilton"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Phew! Dubrovnik is hot. It teems with so many tourists. It's like a Disneyland.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">My room in the little 3-Star Hotel Stari-grad within the walls of the old city is quaint but I didn't feel that way last night lugging a 26kg suitcase up four flights of steps to my room. Not only for my knees, but I was tired after a 21-hour, door to door marathon on three flights from Beijing to Dubrovnik. And, after all that, I didn't get to fly on the new Lufthansa A380. It now starts only next week. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nZNsZt7JHEax3Xg1IOEX4OmSlQoNJPqjB7YQjSFFNvzke4VOT1Z7ljKEgmr_WdavX3_wtY-oOL1t6cllbJA7oseJdI9-6zS9UGTeu5Ahky14BBSIcV-0zvv4PW35ToWVda9OcGz0_P0/s1600/IMG_4691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nZNsZt7JHEax3Xg1IOEX4OmSlQoNJPqjB7YQjSFFNvzke4VOT1Z7ljKEgmr_WdavX3_wtY-oOL1t6cllbJA7oseJdI9-6zS9UGTeu5Ahky14BBSIcV-0zvv4PW35ToWVda9OcGz0_P0/s640/IMG_4691.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Only seagulls for company, on the roof of the hotel sipping my orange juice at breakfast</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">All is forgiven now, however . . .</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: right;">lazing over breakfast up on the roof with my own personal view of the tiled roofs and walls of this old city . . .</div></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">taking the shade of the less crowded side alleyways at lunchtime loving the smells of the fish grilling, pizza cooking, onions frying . . . .</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">wandering through the markets tempted by the tables of plump grapes, rosy-cheeked apricots, striped purple figs, and flowers from the back garden.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDBwDbO134Pyq4KxndER_LnHx708jGr2T9dKw9zz8dABtAI3tj3YULrLcHpntwlm6uxzUtDpPlg2S47Bc1dAnKsJ17A303T_0ZzK_MS175ZG1fhmw5i9Dsohu-HRtdVZAbIooKNd1ggM/s1600/IMG_4706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDBwDbO134Pyq4KxndER_LnHx708jGr2T9dKw9zz8dABtAI3tj3YULrLcHpntwlm6uxzUtDpPlg2S47Bc1dAnKsJ17A303T_0ZzK_MS175ZG1fhmw5i9Dsohu-HRtdVZAbIooKNd1ggM/s640/IMG_4706.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Morning markets in Dubrovnik</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fmichaelmusg%2Falbumid%2F5510334465750901697%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="533" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="800"></embed>Michael Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01018910257776549306noreply@blogger.com1