It rained all day but the streets were still full of with locals and tourists. The Red and black pub facades standing out among the store fronts on the narrow pedestrian street. Inside these classic bars are stone floors, well worn stools and tables, and whisky bottles lining the walls, some enshrined in glass cases. […]
We had a whole day to kill waiting for our night flight out of Malpenza so Peter, David and I headed north to Lake Maggiore and a little town called Stressa. We renamed it “No-Stressa” As we took the Exit off A22 we found ourselves winding down steep switchbacks with 180 degree curves barely wide
Stressa, Lago Magiore Read More »
Rising over the ridge at seven comes the Tuscan sun to wake up the sleepy olive trees. Can this hard dry earth accept another day in the sun? The earth is hard and wears a thin grass coat of burnt yellow and raw umber. The cypress trees stand tall and elegant like solders guarding the
“Jesus Wants us to touch human misery, to touch the suffering flesh of others. Whenever we do so, our lives become wonderfully complicated and we experience intensely what it is to be a people, to be part of a whole…we do not live better when we flee, hide, refuse to share and lock ourselves up
The Samaritan Church Read More »
Sitting up above Cortona is a well preserved 13th century church and adjacent convent. The view of the Valley and lake below is breathtaking. Inside upon the alter is a full length glass coffin with the darkened but still uncorrupted body of st Margret. This is the last day of our family holiday in Cortona
Santa Margarita of Cortona Read More »
We are in Sienna today. Too Hot and overrun by tourists for my liking. The grey toasty, eyeless face of this incorruptible saint is a bit much for me to take in. Old carved up flesh seems more of a ghoulish spectacle than a way to honor this woman or draw us into the beauty
St. Catherine of Sienna Read More »
Wind swept, stone struck, ringed walls. Flat plain below with patch work of yellow fields. It’s the feast of Corpus Christi and a Eucharistic procession flows through the ancient hill town. Plaster is missing in patches revealing 800 year old stonework. Every glance is a Fantasy photo, a James Bond movie setting. The sun is
The Town of Cortona Read More »
Food and Freedom The Father gives himself completely and intimately to us and yet does not impose his way. He walks with us but does not chose our steps. He breaks bread with us, sustains and accompanies us, but we often don’t recognize Him. He is the way and he is on the way with
The Feast of Corpus Christi Read More »
The roof is made of rounded heavy orange clay tiles. They are lichen stained in patches of green,grey and black. The shutters and doors are heavy oak with iron bars to reinforce. The stone walls are 2 feet thick and rise up from the earth forming a kind of cave entrance into the hillside. There
A Tuscan Farm House Read More »
Milky grey and white, opaque yet translucent, patches of pink, black spider veins and grey strands and bands. Hard edged, cornerstones, yet soft worn curves and carvings. Impervious yet porous. Gorgeous open facing and changing hue and mood with the light of day. Rain soaked becoming the color of human skin. Absorbing, revealing and concealing
