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Category Archives: Rome

My.Daily.Distraction ~ Post 117: Four Little Words

16 Monday Feb 2015

Posted by duckykoren in Church, Pope, Rome, spirituality, Toronto, Vatican

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camera, Church, Faith, love, pope, Toronto

Many years back, I read a newspaper account of an incident between a young girl and Pope John Paul ll.

It happened at the World Youth Day 2002 which was held in Toronto Ontario.

The story goes that it was a very warm day as many young people queued in line for a chance to meet Pope John Paul.

Present in the line was a young girl around eight years old who patiently waited for her turn along with all the others for several hours.

As she neared the front of the line her family looked on with eager anticipation, holding their cameras ready for when their little girl finally meets the Pope.

At long last, the little girl was led by the hand up the stairs and across the stage to where Pope John Paul ll was holding audience.

And finally, she was introduced to the Pope.

Everyone watched as she leaned in towards the Pope and whispered something into his ear.

After she finished whispering into his ear, he leaned back and gazed at her intently.

Then, he leaned forward and whispered something back into the little girl’s ear.

And all at once, the little girl began to weep.

She was taken by hand and led across the stage and down the stairs.

There she was met by her family as she continued to cry.

When she finally calmed down, her family was anxious to find out what the Pope had said to her that made her cry.

“What did you say to the Pope?” Her Mother asked her.

“I told the Pope that I loved him,” replied the little girl.

“Well then, what did he say to you that made you cry?” Mother asked.

The little girl answered:

“He said….

…I love you too!”

Adventures In Italy… Post 75: The Photo Not Taken (With apologies to Robert Frost)

30 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by duckykoren in Italy, Rome, Travel

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Clothes, Hotels, Laundry, Luggage, Rome, Storage, Travel

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Upon returning home from our first trip to Italy in 2008, Frank and I had taken a total of almost 4,500 pictures.

On our second trip we took even more.

Yet, there were still photo opportunities that I missed.

Looking back, I wish I had taken more pictures of our hotel room.

Like the armoire for example.

It is still ridiculous how the hotel expected two people’s worth of luggage to keep their clothes neat and clean in a space designed for one traveller.

There were only five hangers.

Remember, there were three of us, which added up to nine pieces of luggage:

Three large suitcases with the capacity of forty kilos each..

Three carry-on bags…

Three shoulder bags.

Further, there was not a single chest drawer in the room, including the desk by the window.

Also, I wish I had taken a picture of the lovely recessed bay window in the bathroom. Because it was there that we hid our growing pile of laundry behind the curtain from the maid.

We covered it with a towel of course.

And how could I miss taking a picture of the elevators, which seemed designed only for two people.

There is no way that you can not be in this elevator with someone else and not have them invade your personal space.

Of course, if there’s anyplace in this world that exemplifies the joys of getting up close and personal…

There’s no place like Rome!

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Adventures In Italy… Post 73: Buyer Beware

27 Monday Oct 2014

Posted by duckykoren in Italy, Rome, shopping, Travel

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Italy, Rome, Sunglasses, Tourism, Travel

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Before my first trip to Italy in September 2008, I purchased a pair of killer sunglasses from a local shop. They were big, brown and blingy, meaning, that they were encrusted with rhinestones. They were the perfect companion for any diva on her premier trip to the eternal city of Rome. I even bought an attachment cord so that I could hang them around my neck when they were not in use, ensuring that I would not misplace them and thereby lose them.

On the fourth day of my trip I looked down and saw just the cord and no sunglasses.

I figured I had lost them somewhere between the Pantheon and Piazza Navonna.

I thought I was doomed.

September is still a very hot month in Italy, and the sun is as bright as in the hottest days in July.

I knew my eyes could not take the glare, but I was adamant not to spend a small fortune to procure another pair.

All the shops I passed wanted at least twenty Euros for a pair of Sunglasses. At the time that was about $35.00 U.S.

While visiting the forum, I happened to come across a vendor who had a blanket a strewn out over the ground next to the Mamertine Prison.

There were about fifteen pairs of sunglasses on display.

As I perused over the lot trying to deduce which pair would be the most cost effective, the vendor pointed a pair out to me.

The price tag said forty euros.

“Troppo caro,” I told him explaining they were too expensive.

He then held,out a pair that I had noticed earlier.

I handed them back.

He asked me how much I was willing to pay for them.

“Five euros,” I told him.

He wasn’t happy.

I didn’t care.

Sensing my resolve he then turned around picked up a brown paper bag and slipped the sunglasses inside and then handed me the bag.

Incredibly surprised and not believing my luck, I quickly handed him five euros.

He was so unimpressed with my bartering skills that he didn’t even look at me as I handed him the money.

Needless to say he never thanked me.

Again, I didn’t care.

Please understand, I am not one to barter. I understand the need for people to make a living. I am usually very compliant when it comes to prices.

However, being inequitably gouged is another matter entirely.

There was a logo on both the top and left hand corners of the sunglasses. I knew that I had seen it before, and should know the brand it stood for, but the answer eluded me.

It was only after I arrived home, that I realized that it was the Chanel logo on the glasses.

Understand, I knew that the glasses I purchased were not a genuine Chanel product. Knock offs are big business. However, I did not purchase it because it had the Chanel logo.

I purchased the sunglasses only because I was desperate for a pair of sunglasses without feeling I had wasted my money.

It was about a month after our trip to Italy that I read of Italian law enforcement officials cracking down on bootlegged merchandise.

Anyone caught with bootlegged merchandise was subject to a five thousand euro penalty.

Whoa!

I could only think of how fortunate I was that I no one noticed my sunglasses and questioned me about them.

At that time, one euro was worth 1.65 Canadian.

Our entire trip to Italy had cost that amount.

Each time I think back on this, I tend to feel a little sick inside.

Needless to say, on our 2012 trip, there were zero designer labels when we packed up to go home.

In fact, if it even remotely looked as a designer knock off it wasn’t coming home with us.

Six years later, I still have the same sunglasses and revel in the memories that they
evoke.

It was without a doubt, the best five euros that I have ever spent.

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Adventures In Rome… Post 72: Sexy Scaffolding?

25 Saturday Oct 2014

Posted by duckykoren in Advertising, Construction, Europe, Italy, Rome, Travel

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Advertising, Art, Construction, History, Italy, Rome, Scaffolding, Tourism, Travel

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When most of us think of scaffolding we think of the unsightly structures that are used to support people and materials in constructions areas.

In my lifetime I have seen more than enough ugly scaffolding and would be quite happy never to see it again.

However, reality dictates otherwise.

There is perpetual need for scaffolding as buildings, bridges, and monuments age and need repair.

There is no place that you will see more scaffolding than in an ancient city where frantic construction is taking place to save crumbling buildings and structures that are thousands of years old.

Imagine my pleasant surprise when I learned that scaffolding didn’t have to be ugly anymore.

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In fact, in Rome it is all to easy to walk by a building and not even notice that it is under construction.

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Imaginative engineers have even come up with what can be considered as nothing less than ‘sexy’ scaffolding.

Believe it or not but this high tech scaffolding has even become a medium for business advertising.

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My Father always told me that those who can ‘build a better mousetrap’ are those who will become rich beyond the dreams of avarice.

Well, by the looks of these incredible new forms of scaffolding, someone has become very rich indeed…

…and rightfully so.

 

 

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Adventures In Italy… Post 67: Close Encounters With An Italian Candy Vending Machine

17 Friday Oct 2014

Posted by duckykoren in Bus Stations, Candy, Italy, Rome, Travel

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buses, Candy, coins, Italy, money, Vending machines

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The clock radio read 6:30 a.m. As we closed our hotel room door shut to head downstairs to the lobby.

Today was our last day trip which would take us to Hadrian’s Villa and Tivoli Gardens.

It was with great trepidation that another cab was ordered to take us to the Appian Line bus terminal.

You might remember me telling you of our horrific cab ride two days earlier when we went to Florence.

Thankfully, this cab and its driver were much, much kinder.

Frank gave him a five euro tip as well. After my last experience, I thought he deserved more. I am so mystified as to how two cab trips to the same destination could be so different.

And so, we arrived at the bus station at 7:a.m., right on schedule.

Well, Frank’s schedule that is because, as it turns out we were one and a half hours early, as the bus tour was not scheduled to leave until 8:30 a.m.

That meant a trip to the coffee shop around the corner from the bus station.

A last hurrah of sorts.

Six coffees, two Danish and an orange juice later we emerged happy and well coffeed.

We returned to the bus station with still almost an hour left.

Once again I found myself sitting in the bus terminal lobby getting caught up on my writing.

I was on my third page when my eyes started to wander to the vending machine next to me.

It was interesting to try to figure out what was inside the colourful packages behind the glass.

Please refer to the photo above and let me know what you think these two packages hold.

I must say that the package with the little green blobs had me intrigued the most.

Looking back, I wish I would have forfeited my loose Italian change to this machine.

Next time I will.

I’ve just got to know what those little green blobs are all about…

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Adventures In Italy… Post 64: La Dolce Sunshine

14 Tuesday Oct 2014

Posted by duckykoren in Italy, Rome, Travel

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Tags

Rome, Trajan's Market, Travel

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After spending virtually our entire day in Florence in the rain, and with no nap I was not surprised to see that we had all slept well.

We had another free day. I opened my eyes at nine am, which meant that we had missed the buffet breakfast. Well, sometimes sleeping in is worth missing a chocolate croissant for.

There was only one thing that I had really wanted to do before heading out today, and that was washing out a few things just to get them drying.

And so I did, without any effort at all as a matter of fact. I had Jen drag out one of the suitcases under her bed, stretched out a hand towel, and laid our underthings on top, then pushed the suitcase back underneath the bed where they could dry in peace.

Without too much further adieu, we were out the door by 10:30.

For only the second time on our trip, we were met by brilliant sunshine.

Imagine that…

We allowed Frank to lead. After all he had been the one studying the maps all morning. If anyone had a plan, it was him.

We started heading down down one small street after another… through one alleyway and down another.

It was delightful.

You know, there are so many side streets hidden about in Rome, that if would take years of walking to visit each and every one of them.

And so… I make a conscious effort to notice every little nuance.

It could be a long time before I get another chance to revisit this same street.

I’m so grateful for every statue we come across, every street we traverse, every bite of pasta I consume.

Many times I have promised myself to try and remember each and every moment of this…

“La dolce vida…”

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And so as Jen and I blindly follow Frank to destinations known only to him I find myself thinking…

“Life is indeed good this day.”

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Adventures In Italy… Post 53: Circus Maximus… Ben-Hur’s Field Of Dreams

02 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by duckykoren in Blogs, Circus Maximus, Gladiators, Rome, Travel

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Circus Maximus, Italy, Judah Ben-Hur, Rome, Tours, Travel

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At first glance, the great Circus Maximus looks like a plain open field, and quite ordinary.

But after a few moments, the truth about it begins to emerge and the inside of your mind begins to transform it into what it was in the ancient world…

The well known chariot racing ground.

I remember it best from the movie Ben Hur… that’s the way that I see it in my mind’s eye.

It was a holiday tradition, every Easter for our family to watch Ben Hurr.

But that was so very long ago.

Unfortunately, it was quite cold outside when we visited Circus Maximus. that’s probably why there are very few people milling around this rutted out field which is actually larger than I imagined it.

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Now, it is a great green field in the middle of a bustling city, people bring their dogs here for a romp.

Indeed, we must have seen at least six pet owners walking one, two, even three dogs.
As they cross paths the pooches exchange sniffs, make friends then proceed to play.

It seems a really nice way to meet new people.

Besides that, I love the wide open space of it all.

It’s a nice getaway from the never ending calvacade of motorcars and Vespas.

The air is cleaner, and fresher without the toxic exhaust fumes that cannot be escaped. The narrow streets are always choked with fumes from the motor vehicles.

Currently, Jen and I are both bundled in warm black fleece jackets and buried under cowls.

Frank is proving to be quite the contrast by stoically refusing to wear a jacket.

Looking back, perhaps he did that to make the experience more real.

More austere.

Dear Frank:

You must really love Rome.

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