This Annunciation is one of my favorite pieces of art. Painted between 1433-34 by Fra Angelico, it hangs in the Diocesan Museum in Cortona, Italy. I have had the gift of visiting Cortona several times, and I love to stand in front of this painting, viewing the scene taken from the Gospel of Luke (1:26-38). The strikingly beautiful Gabriel has a message for Mary. Before he makes the announcement, the most important ever made, he has a more simple message. “Do not be afraid.”
Category: Travel
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Happy Independence Day
I had the chance several years ago to visit Mt. Rushmore with my family. If you ever have the chance to make the trip, do it. The 60′ busts carved by John Borglum into the granite face of the mountain are breathtaking. I have saved this picture for some time, waiting for the right moment to include it in one of my postings. It seems to me that we need to get back to the visionary leadership that these four presidents represent. More on that another time.
Today, I want to talk about Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, a great hero of the Civil War. On July 2, 1863, he was standing on Little Round Top during the battle of Gettysburg and made a decision that still affects us today. One person. One decision.
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Fireworks and St. Francis
One year, I was leading a tour of Italy and we happened to be in Assisi for the 4th of July. I had a bunch of teenagers with me, and they reminded me that they had never been away from the US on our Independence Day. I knew I wasn’t going to find any fireworks, and I also realized that it wasn’t necessarily the place to whip out our American flags.
So, we did the next best thing. We sat around in the piazza outside the doors of the Basilica of St. Francis, and prayed. One person had speakers attached to his ipod, so we listened to some praise and worship music, praying and singing, as the sun went down. It was a really beautiful and powerful prayer experience for me and my fellow travelers.
But what causes us to remember that evening is the fact that, as soon as the sun went down, somewhere on the opposite side of the valley below the Basilica, fireworks began shooting into the sky. The display didn’t last long, but, as I recall, it was a good-sized display. It had been like a miracle and we all stood there awestruck. Then we laughed like crazy.
God wanted to give us a little gift that night, and He surely did. I don’t think anyone on that trip mentioned being homesick again. Our God is a God of miracles, some big and some small. No matter how bad things might seem, we can never lose sight of His love and care for us.
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Making All Things New
Using laser beams, archeologists working in Rome recently uncovered what are believed to be the oldest surviving frescoes of the Apostles Peter, Andrew, John, and Paul. Dating from the 4th century these works of art are located in the catacombs of St. Tecla. They’ve known that there were frescoes there, but they were covered with a thick layer of centuries old calcium build-up. It took specialized lasers to remove the deposits, and what was underneath was truly amazing. Making All Things New.
I know they call it the Eternal City, but isn’t it amazing that archeologists and scientists are still discovering such things? These catacombs are located below an insurance building near the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. In an article I read about the find, they said that these images might have influenced all the other early depictions of these saints.
Once, when I was on tour in Rome, our guide said something that stuck with me. As we were standing in the Roman Forum, Gino made the comment that, when you visit such places, you come to realize that “what was once old suddenly becomes new.” Everything is constantly evolving, sometimes being used for the same purpose, other times for something completely different.
As I was praying this morning, I got to thinking about these images and what they might mean to me. I thought about the tedious process of removing all that calcium. I began thinking about what might be waiting to be re-discovered in my own life.
For many people today, certainly in these tough economic times, some of their most important and precious dreams have been covered up and buried. Maybe something immediately comes to your mind? If this is the case for you, maybe it’s time to uncover them and start the very important work of making all things new.
Throughout the summer, I want to keep refining our understanding of the theme of this blog, Making All Things New. I think there’s a lot to be uncovered in each of us, and what better way to spend our summer down time than reflecting upon how it might get played out in our lives. Have a great day:)
In my area, the schools let out this week, and summer officially begins. I know the kids are really excited, just like we were when we were children.
Actually, I’m pretty excited too. Summer is supposed to be about relaxation and rejuvenation. Just about now, I need both, and so do most of the folks I know. Maybe it’s because we had such a fierce winter, but we were already dreaming of walks on the beach and food on the grill in March. It’s taken awhile to get here, but we sure are ready for long and lazy days of doing nothing important.
Over Memorial Day, I began reading a spy novel, which I finished this past weekend. Deliver Us From Evil by David Baldacci was a good read. My mother got me hooked on this type of suspense novel years ago, and they make their rounds through our family. The book I’m really looking forward to is Brad Thor’s newest novel, Foreign Influence, due out at the end of this month. I have read everything he’s written, and I guess Thor has become one of my favorite authors. He’s a master at drawing you into the lives of his characters and the adventures they have.
Anyway, whatever it is you do in the summer, start making plans. It’s here :). What are you most looking forward to?
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Corpus Christi
In the Catholic Church, today is the Feast of Corpus Christi, a day we commemorate Christ’s desire to remain with us always in the Eucharist.
This special feast began centuries ago in the Umbrian town of Orvieto. The story is somewhat lengthly, and I think I’ll save it for another time. Today, I wanted to write about the town of Orvieto and it’s great Cathedral, two of my favorite places to visit in all of Italy.
Several years ago, I was leading a tour of Italy, and many close friends were on the trip. We visited the usual tourist sites, and after leaving Assisi and heading south to Rome, I built into the itnerary a visit to Orvieto. As we were leaving, someone came up to me and said something like, “My whole life I’ve heard about Florence, Pisa, Assisi and Rome. I can’t believe no one ever told me about Orvieto.” Once you go there, you’re hooked!
Orvieto is situated on the flat summit of a large butte of volcanic tuffa. The site of the city is one of the most dramatic in Europe, rising above the almost vertical faces of the tuffa cliffs. Since there is very little car traffic allowed in the city center, buses have to stay down in the valley below. To reach the city, you have to travel on a funincula, a kind of tram that hugs the mountain as it goes up to the top.
You may recall the song Funincula Funinculi. The story goes that, at one time, these kinds of trams were operated by people pulling ropes that lifted the tram either up or down. I always get it mixed up, but I think funincula meant going up, and funinculi meant heading down. I can’t imagine the strength that was necessary to get these people movers up and down.
Back to the Cathedral. To me, it’s facade is one of the most beautiful in the world. Done primarily in mosaic, the artist used a lot of glass pieces that must have been gold -leafed on the back, because when the sun hits the cathedral, it’s like a thousand lightbulbs going off. Remarkable.
The cornerstone was laid by Pope Nicholas IV in 1290, and the magnificent church was completed in the mid fifteenth century. The walls are striped in white travertine and greenish-black basalt, in narrow bands. This was the first church I had ever seen this style, and it is striking. This great cathedral was built to commemorate the Eucharistic miracle of Bolsena. The pope at the time, who verified the miracle himself, later asked St. Thomas Aquinas to write songs to commemorate the event, and he produced two pieces that are still sung on a regular basis in Catholic Churches all over the world, O Salutaris, and Tantum Ergo.
There are two main things to see in the cathedral. One is the chapel of the miracle, and the other is the Brizi Chapel, which houses one of the great frescoes of the Renaiassance, the masterpiece by Lucca Signorelli known as the Last Judgement. I think this fresco is one of the greatest works of art I have ever seen, and I could sit for hours in this small chapel and take in the artistic drama and mastery captured there. It is no wonder that historians say that this is where Michaelangelo came for inspiration before painting the Sistine Chapel.
Any photograph can’t really caputure the powerful imagery on these four walls of the chapel. One day, I hope you’ll have the chance to see it for yourself in Orvieto. In the meantime, there are Signorelli paintings in museums all over the world, including one right here in Baltimore. If you can find one, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Every so often I visit Frances Maye’s blog. She’s the author of a bunch of books on Tuscany and Italian life, and when I check our her site, I get a taste of la dolce vita. When I checked today, I saw that she was cruising around the Mediterranean, giving onboard talks on Italian life to about 100 people. What a life! Not only does she spend half her year in a villa in Tuscany, she gets hired to give a few talks on a cruise, probably being paid handsomely for her time and effort. Actually, I love her writing style, which draws you into the scenes she so wonderfully describes. I also greatly respect her ability to reinvent herself at middle age into a travel guru. She’s over twenty years into it now, and still going strong.
Now, here in Maryland, it’s almost 90 degrees and 90% humidity. I work up a sweat by just opening the back door. Hot and sticky doesn’t begin to describe it, but maybe tomorrow will be a bit cooler. One can only hope.
It’s strawberry picking time here, so in honor of Frances Mayes, I’m going to give you one of the easiest recipes I know for delicious strawberries. I know it may sound strange, but the key ingredient is basalmic vinegar.
Basically, take a pint of ripe strawberries, cut them in half, and throw them in a bowl. Add three tablespoons of a good quality basalmic vinegar to the berries, and toss to coat. Put in refrigerator to cool, at least one hour. I like to bring them to room temperature before serving, as this intensifies the flavor.
I’m not a chemist, but I’ve been told that there’s a chemical reaction that takes place between the strawberries and the vinegar. The berries come out super sweet, and you hardly taste the vinegar. You won’t need to add any sugar unless the berries are not quite ready. Just try it!
I always serve these berries with a nice biscotti cookie. A dark chocolate one with almonds is in the photo, and you can pick them up just about anywhere. This makes a nice, easy, and light dessert, and goes great with a good cup of coffee. Enjoy.
Last year around this time, some of my family and I had the chance to visit Virginia Robinson Gardens in Beverly Hills. Although we had never heard of the place before, its not too far away from Glendale, tucked into one of the canyons just up from Beverly Drive. Mrs. Robinson was the heiress to the JW Robinson department store fortune, and she lived the high life. Touring around the beautiful grounds, there was no doubt the place was built for parties. From the stories the docent told us, I doubt if anyone in her circle of friends ever had a day job. It must have been fun, but I think it would have gotten boring after awhile.
Well, the reason I wanted to write about our little garden tour is because its planting time just about everywhere. There are public gardens all over the country. Take some time over the next couple of weeks and visit one. They usually have some interesting and unusual plant you’ve never seen before. Or maybe you’ll come upon an interesting design. If you see something you like, write the name down, or draw a sketch of the layout.
At Robinson Gardens, I found this little urn of succulents interesting:
Then, when you get home, do a little research on line about the plants you liked, then track them down. There are lots of on-line resources today, and two that I like are Bluestone Perennials and Whiteflower Farms.
Here’s how I interpreted the urn of succulents above for my own garden:
The gray and black scheme worked great at Robinson Gardens, but I’m a color person, so I took the concept I saw, came home and made it my own. Now, I know not everyone is going to be that ambitious. No problem. Just make a trip to Lowes or Home Depot, or better yet, a local independent nursery. It’s always nice to help the little guy, and right about now, they really need the help.
Get a few market packs, get them into the ground with a little fertilizer, and then look forward to a summer of brilliant color. Or maybe the cool monochrome of the urn above from the Robinson Gardens might be just the thing for you. Either way, try something new and have fun.
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Tuscany Pt. II
At church on Sunday, a young man I’ve known for many years came up to talk with me. Seth had just returned from a semester in Florence. We had talked excitedly before his trip. I love to tell people about some of the more obscure places to visit when they’re in Tuscany. Florence is filled with them.
Seth lived and took his classes in the center of Florence near Santa Croce. Built in 1294, this great Gothic church is where you’ll find the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo. The piazza in front is where you can buy inexpensive watercolors, leathergoods, and way too much touristy junk.
An area of Florence I like to hang out in is called, Oltrarno, which means “over the Arno.” At one time, you were considered inferior if you lived on this side of the Arno, because it meant that you couldn’t afford to live in a big palazzo in the city center.
All that changed when the Medici family decided to jump over and build a massive palace in 1550. They ruled Florence from the Palazzo Pitti for the next 300 years.
When I’m in Florence, Oltrarno is one of the first places I venture to. After crossing the Arno by way of the Ponte Vecchio, where gold merchants have been selling their wares for centuries, you make a right and follow a small street which runs parallel to the river. My family and I love to visit a little art gallery on this street. Years ago, when the dollar was very strong against the Lira, we bought some paintings there. Now, I can’t imagine paying the prices that hang on the tickets.
So, instead of buying paintings, I walk down a few buildings and enter a little tiny shop where all the lady sells is gift wrap. Now, this isn’t your usual kind of wrapping paper. This stuff is hand printed and sold by the sheet. Mainly geometric designs, the paper is inexpensive and beautiful. I usually buy about twenty sheets,which can be folded easily and tucked into the suitcase. On very special occasions, my friends get their present wrapped in one of these special papers.
This side of the Arno is filled with craftspeople making all kinds of beautiful objects. Restoration studios abound as well, with artisans working on priceless objects from museums.
Obviously, I could go on and on. I love Florence, and if I were rich, I’d have an apartment here. It is simply an amazing city that I don’t believe you could ever get bored with.
I asked Seth if he had tried Cinghiale (wild boar). Yes, he had, and loved it. Good man, Seth. Unfortunately for him, it was on one of his last days. Wild Boar has to be marinated and cooked for a long time. It is one of my favorite Tuscan foods, and I promise you now that I will view eating numerous servings on my next visit as a way to remind myself just how much I gave up when I became a vegetarian 🙂
To finish up, sometimes we tourists can get overwhelmed in a place like Florence. At first, it’s almost like we’re on some movie studio lot, or at Disney World and we’re seeing imitations of the real thing. Lots of history was made in Florence, some great, some not so great.
During World War II, bitter fighting took place in the piazzas we sample our gelato. Partisans were hung from the lamp posts to warn others about the consequences of joining the fight. The fighting here was bad and street to street.
I learned a lot about all this in a book entitled War In Val D’Orcia,written by Iris Origo and recommended by Frances Mayes. I think reading this book helped me to be a better kind of tourist, one who takes less for granted, realizing how precious is the gift of these experiences.
Somehow, I’m thinking there are going to be many parts of my Tuscan tale to come….
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The Best Idea We Ever Had
I’ve been sick with the flu for the past day or so, and it hasn’t been fun. I hate getting sick, which doesn’t happen too often. When it does, I’m down for the count. On the bright side, staying home has given me the chance to watch the last of Ken Burns’ series on the National Parks.
I’ve learned so much about the history of the Park Service, and one of the things that’s most impressed me is the number of citizens who were involved. In the early days, they donated the land, sometimes begging the government to take it. They had to fight special interests, people who put money ahead of beauty and preservation.
There are 392 national [arks today, and nearly 300,000,00 people visit them each year. Since their inception, the NPS estimates that 11,700,000,000 people have visited. Woven throughout Burns’ series are the stories of many people who have either helped shape the parks, or who have visited and kept a record of their experiences.
Author Wallace Stegner called the National Parks “the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than at our worst.”
In my memory, I can see a photo in one of my mother’s many albums. It is of my niece Shannon when she was a toddler, taken on a visit to Yosemite. My mom instilled in me a desire to get up and go, to experience something new, to delight in the world around us. Together, we’ve explored several of the national parks.
As I wrote in an earlier blog, one of my favorite trips was to the West, from the Badlands to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. It was just a magnificent vacation, and I will always be grateful for it.
Happy Mother’s Day!