Sun Valley, Idaho trip

Arrived Friday afternoon in beautiful Hailey, ID and met Kate and her wonderful roommate Carrie at their house (free accommodations during internship, house sitting).

We drove up to Ketchum in the mustang with the top down, acting like glitterati, as best we could. Kate showed me her workplace fornthe summer-the environmental resource center.



We then had dinner at Sawtooth club restaurant, a major revelation there being the grilled artichoke with an aioli that was fantastic.

I had the opportunity to be Lily Tomlin's character Edith Ann after dinner.



We rubbed shoulders with Jamie Lee Curtis on the street.

After loading Kate's host's kayaks on top of her Fit, it was early to bed to get up Saturday early for a combination kayak/hike trip in the Sawtooth Mountains to some alpine lakes. I had never explored this part of Idaho, and was excited to see a new section of the country.

Here we are paddling across Redfish Lake just south of Stanley, ID.






Scenery not too shabby! Reminded me of some elements of the Tetons and Yosemite.

After paddling for an hour or so, we reached the far end of the lake and began hiking. The mountain views just kept getting better and better!







After 3 miles, we had to cross a rickety bridge over a creek to head uo toward Saddleback Lakes.






We ascended steadily up to the base of a rock face with climbers, called Elephant's Perch.



Can you see them?

Kate was very excited to see this close up. When I asked her if she could climb that she said sure! Yikes. I decided I needed to take lessons.

We found a small pitch nearby, and though lacking ropes and proper equipment of any kind, I thought, 'if she can do this, so can I!'

Here I am making my way up the face, no problem.




Suddenly, my arthritic grip let loose a bit and I began to panic. Kate kept snapping pictures!



Finally, I could hang on no further.



The fact that I am writing these words shows that I was able to survive this harrowing experience. Nevertheless, if you want to climb vertical rock walls. I suggest getting better equipment and practicing a bit more. (PS - please ignore the growth angle of trees in these images; they all grow that way in Idaho)

More spectacular scenery as we reached the lakes.



Can you see Kate?

The Sawtooths are truly spectacular. Here are a couple more photos from the day.







Oh, and to top off 7-13-13, we received news upon arriving at Stanley, ID for dinner, that I am now a grandfather. Yeye, in Chinese; I think I am going with that. I'm still not ready to be called grandpa yet. But I am beyond thrilled at the arrival if Reiya Zhu McGraw and Liya Zhu McGraw - I think they will rock my world!

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Location:Sun Valley, ID

Sunday in Rome

Rome is quickly ascending the city favorites list. So much to see!

This morning Dave, Jody and I walked the 25 minutes to the Vatican to see if we could get in St. Peter's and perhaps climb the dome. That plan was doomed as we joined flocks of pilgrims hoarding their way toward the square way in advance of the pope's Sunday appearance at his window. Felt like the hours before a football game...all to catch a glimpse of a guy in a funny hat! (Sorry to my catholic friends)



So instead we climbed one of Rome's seven hills for a splendid view of the city from the west. We also encountered along the way statues idolizing Anita Garibaldi and her husband, two heroes of Italian history.

One of the park areas had a wonderful umbrella pine (maritime pine);


After that we ambled through Trastevere, which means 'across the Tiber', then crossing the Tiber to visit Campo de Fiori, an open market area with a lively scene of music and stands selling cheap art to produce. We then headed back to the piazza Navona to meet Ann, Kevin, and Laurie for lunch. Lunch was good wood fired pizza with a taciturn waitress.


In the PM Ann, Dave, Jody and I ascended the monument to Victor Emmanuel, whom Italians must have adored since they spent what must have been more than a billion dollars in today's terms to erect this colassal homage. The view from the top was fantastic in all directions. These photos were the result.


The Colisseum for Victor Emmanuel monument


The pantheon from VE monument



A gull, looking mischievous, after having decorated these horse statues






David and Jody peering through the binoculars at the sights



Here's a panorama shot:


Foot-weary, we slogged back to the hotel, shopping along the Via dei Corsi as we went. I reluctantly indulged myself, at the urging of my spousal unit, and purchased a nice Italian leather jacket, which I plan to sport en route to our dinner tonight.


This will likely be my last post from our trip. Hope you have enjoyed traveling along with us. This has been a great, rewarding, and much needed break from work. Now we have even more places we want to return to some day.

Ciao!

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Location:Rome, Italy

Memories for a lifetime

Saturday morning we took the modern metro to from our hotel to a spot near the Colosseum, where we were to meet our personal tour guide Fausta Delpiano. She had been recommended by fellow bikers while we were in Puglia, and we were soon to find out we owed them a huge debt of gratitude! Fausta was outstanding.

First, she took us to a Rennaissance church near the Colosseum and explained how it had built upon Roman ruins and a residence, but incorporated bits of those layers into its structure. 'Recycling' of Roman materials was to become one of many themes for the day. We weren't able to take pictures in the church. Monks were chanting prayers as we walked and whispered questions to our guide.



Fausta explaining to Jody about the how the left side of the Colosseum had begun to collapse and was supported by modern brickwork on the left.

Next, we worked our way west to the massive Colosseum itself, working our way from the outside to the inside. To say the structure was massive doesn't completely capture the sense of the place. It was, for Kevin, David and I, so much like a modern football stadium, in many ways, that it was almost eerie. But everything was made of massive blocks of stone, not flimsy steel and concrete.



Here we are, ready to attend the game.



Inside the Colosseum

Of course the games were a bit different than modern football; violent entertainment, crowds cheering, wild public celebration and tailgating, yes, but on the field of battle, death, either for animals or gladiators, was the end result, rather than touchdowns or hard tackles. A clever wood floor with trap doors to dramatically raise the 'monsters' gladiators were to fight created a wild spectacle that thrilled crowds for a few hundred years and helped maintain the popularity of the emperors.



Dave and Jody in front of the most famous angle from the outside

Next we were led to the roman forum, the city center where business was conducted from government to markets to worshipping the gods. Not much left of it, and some parts seemed badly reconstructed, but still inspiring.



Remains of a temple; much of this area was raided for marble etc for other structures, including major basilicas nearby.



Fausta explains the Forum



David and Ann listening to explanations about the various structures we saw




An overview of the Forum

Next, it was off to the Pantheon. On the way, Fausta pointed out places where Roman ruins had been co-opted for other purposes.

I don't have the traditional front on view of the Pantheon, but here are a couple of shots showing a side view and upward view of the oculus from within










A final farewell picture with our favorite tour guide of the trip, and that's saying something! If she doesn't have a PhD in roman history, she deserves one!

After lunch and obligatory gelato, we separated to do our own thing. Laurie went for a run, Ann went shopping and the rest of us visited more major sites, ranging from Piazza Navona to the Fountains of Trevi to the Spanish steps, shown here with colorful umbrellas because it had begun to sprinkle.



The Spanish steps

Wonderful street scenes greeted us all the way









Our day ended with an amazing 4 course dinner at Ferrera, a highly recommended restaurant, just Ann and me, in the Travestere district. Others had dinner on their own too.




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Location:Rome

Rome, day 1

Today we visited the smallest country in the world (106 acres), and no doubt, the richest, by far, per capita. Talk about the 0.000001 percent! No wonder the reformation happened. If there had been a second coming the money tables would have been flying around St. Peter's square....whoops, did my Protestant roots just come out?

So if my dominant impression is unprecedented opulence, I nevertheless have a newfound admiration for the artists who served the Vatican, and I do appreciate that their works are preserved for all to see. Michelangelo is my renaissance hero, and having now seen the Sistine Chapel, my reverence is invigorated. Unfortunately, I couldn't take any pictures. Rick Steve's audio guide was a great, though too brief, description of the magnificent frescoes.

The Raphael rooms were astonishing as well, and I can show a picture or two of those.



My favorite was the School of Athens, with all those famous Greek gods of scholarship; Plato, Aristotle, and all those dudes.



Love the fact that Raphael stuck Michelangelo in there.



And of course they raided the tombs of the pharoahs because one pope loved all things Egyptian.



Statues galore, including some oddities




And the ceilings themselves were as ornate and beautiful as what was hung on the walls sometimes.



With all this precious art, it was reassuring to know the Swiss guards were in charge of security, armed with a crazy long axe-like object. Sigh.



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Location:The Vatican

The day between

Today we transferred by bus to Lecce, which is known as the Florence of southern Italy. Much baroque (read ornate, 16th century) architecture and a lively city scene.



Baroque church near our hotel.



A papier mâché art shop



Close up of one of the papier mâché pieces.

This region is known for its papier mâché art, and I must say it is impressive. Would be tempted to buy but I have no idea what I would do with it if it survived the transatlantic flight!



Enjoyed taking in the sights before dinner. Followed guide recommendations and went to a superb restaurant for dinner. My gnocchi was out of this world!

Off to Rome tomorrow!


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Location:Lecce