Golf Tournament

In Fresno

I remember how cold it was- after Christmas!

 

Zachary, Markie and Mark

 

Anne (Suzanne's Mom), Suzanne and Celeste

GOOD TIMES ON LAWNWAY

 

Ann and Marie-SISTERS

Ann celebrated her 80th Birthday

You can tell they have Irish blood in them!

 

COUSINS ON THE BEACH

 

Nicholas and Mateo

 

Josh and Rich

Good Times on Lawnway

 

My DAD was so happy to see McDonald's.

Tired of Fancy Food

 

 

A Smile for the Day

"Just Don't Cut my Ears off:)"

Had to use the red kitchen scissors!

 

 

Stephane climbing Vernal Falls

in Yosemite

Good Memories on Lawn Way

Bench on Pier

"Jojo"

 

Happy Birthday Tricia

 

PEBBLE BEACH GOLF LINKS
WITH Suzanne Orlando!
SHE IS SO LUCKY TO BE THE GOLF CONCIERGE...AND THEY ARE LUCKY TO HAVE HER!!

We signed up for the guided tour to avoid the 3hr waiting in line.  The tour includes: the Vatican museum; the Sistine Chapel (named after Pope Sixtus IV) and St. Peter's Basilica.

Women can't enter the Chapel or Basilica with knees exposed.  The street vendors wanted 15 euros for these coverings but we bargained them down to five.

Our tour guide, Monica, made it clear, "if the knees are not covered, you can't enter'.  She spoke good English but she couldn't help saying "allora!" When it was time to move on.

The Chapel is where the Cardinals cast their votes for the new Pope.  The hold many masses and religious services throughout the year.  So it has spiritual  and political significance.

The discovery of America was a turning point for the church: expansion of Christianity, brought power and wealth to Rome and an emerging middle class of merchants and entrepreneurs.  We stopped in Genova (birthplace of Columbus) for a few hours on our way to Acqui Terme.  When you walk out of the train station you'll see this statue of Christopher Columbus

The Sistine Chapel would now become a centerpiece of grandeur and beauty for the expanding Church. In 1508, Michelangelo began painting the ceiling of the Chapel.  It is considered the greatest work of art of human civilization. It took him 4 years to complete. He became partially blind due to paint falling into his eyes.

His other masterpiece was his Last Judgement that covers the entire back wall behind the altar.
He started this painting in 1535.  It took 5 years to complete. He was almost 67 when he completed it


The nudity in this painting led to a major controversy.  Biagio da Cesena was the Papal Master of Ceremonies and he deemed this painting "more suitable for public baths and taverns"
Michelangelo was furious with Cesena so he painted his face into the body of Minos (son of Zeus and a judge of hell) .  Our tour guide did not explain what the serpent was doing between its legs. She did mention the donkey ears

When you take the Chapel in as a whole, you will naturally stop. Your spine may tingle, your heart may throb and your jaw will relax and drop.

We shouldn't underestimate the grandeur and beauty of the side walls: they tell the story of the old and New Testament and were painted by grand artists such as Botticelli, Perugino and Roselli.

Michael

Celeste, Suzanne and Nicholas

Went out Kayaking

Awesome job Nicholas

 

Happy Birthday

Mike

More good times on Lawnway

After soaking up history, food, culture  and some of the world's greatest architecture and art in London, Amsterdam, Paris and Rome, we arrived last night in Cinque Terre for a late night swim

We arrived in Monterosso after 7pm

Cinque Terre is not just a national park, it's a UNESCO world heritage site

The water is perfect

The bluffs are like Capitola

Like Monterey bay, the marine area is protected
Historically, only Monterosso was a fishing village.  The other villages cultivated olives and vineyards

You can't access the villages by car--only by foot, boat or train. We swam till dark and then walked along this charming promenade

We capped off the evening with a gelato.  The tiramisu--way too delicious for words.

Michael





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