We tried to post pics and a blog on the evening of our first day, while sitting in our car at the driveway of our host (scabbing off their internet). We were so fatigued that we could barely think or see straight and apparently the computer was too, because as we were ready to post, it gave a message like, “ooohhh, so sorry……I’ll be out of juice in about three milliseconds, you should switch to non-battery power to continue”. Since we didn’t have that option, we left and went to a family restaurant in Pienza and made reservations that had been recommended by our host, Isabella. Of course we made the earliest reservation possible, 7:00 PM and arrived in jet lag stupor. We knew the Italians don’t even show to eat until 7:30 or 8:00, but we would’ve fallen asleep by then.
Arrived in Roma as many of the masses have for centuries, tired, smelly, and a bit confused. After renting a beast of a car... a peugeot the size of a flat bed farm truck, we struck out on the autostrada blasting everything off the road, because we could. I want to mention that our bodies thought it was 12:45 Sharp county time in the am.
After some unsettling driving we came to Orvieto and spent a good amount of dazed time walking about. We loved it and surely did not spend enough time there but we felt we needed to get to our rental location Creatoile while we still had out eyes open. Our host Isabella is beyond delightful ! Truly one of those people who delight in seeing others delighted.
Yes, we are tired, but we're staying out for some genuine Tuscan food at Pienza, recommended by Isabella.
We had our first gelato from the Nana pictured in the photo. She said it was. "prima gelato!"
Liane wants to ask those who would know, is this the original St Hedwigs?
Ciao
Pictures will have to come tomorrow....
I've been on the edge of my seat waiting for a post! I can't wait to see the pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update. Hope your navigating goes well, it's tough without street signs!Don't know where the original church built to honor the Polish patron saint of silesia hedwig "Queen of Poland" is located but they are everywhere she wasn't beatified by the vatican until 1979 and not cannonized until 1997.
ReplyDeleteHere is a little article about St hedwigs in berlin:
(Local Name: St Hedwigs-Kathedrale) The building of the Baroque St Hedwig's cathedral, the seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Berlin and modeled on the Pantheon in Rome, began in 1747 (architect Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff). The money required to build it was collected in Roman Catholic countries by a Carmelite monk named Mecenati. The site was provided by Frederick the Great. Apart from the Cathedral, St Hedwig's is the only church built in Berlin during the time of Frederick the Great. After the end of the Seven Years' War, building continued in 1772 under the direction of Johann Boumann the Elder, and the church was consecrated in November, 1773. It was named St Hedwig's Cathedral after the wife of
Duke Henry of Silesia, who was much revered in Silesia (The conquest of Silesia by Frederick the Great had for the first time incorporated large Roman Catholic territories in Prussia). The relief on the pediment was carved by Nikolaus Geiger in 1898. The church was destroyed by fire in the Second World War and was rebuilt between 1952-63. The rather plain interior is modern, (architect Hans Schwippert), but the original structure of the dome has been preserved. In the crypt below the church are graves of bishops.
you should post pictures of the rental car too, I want to see.
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