The Gorges of the Verdon have been around from millions of years, so they can wait a few days for me to post them in all their magnificence! And I can share a few photos of another magnificent place --Venice!
David had the opportunity to participate in a meeting for two days about the gates that are being built to protect Venice during the storms that cause the flooding --and there was NO WAY that I would not accompany him! We had not been to Venice in more than 30 years --and it is still the same (well, there really are not many opportunities for real estate development --thankfully!) except it seems more prosperous (and more heavily tourist-ed...).
There is little one can say about Venice that is not surpassed by some pictures --except that it was so wonderful to be able to recognize and love everything on the menu --spaghetti alle vongole, al nero de seppia, risotto primavera, fritte miste, pasta e fagoli! France may be about the food --but remember WHERE it came from!! (Although there is no Italian equivalent of the French cheeses, and the essence of terroir as manifested from olive oil to wine...)
I spent the days (while David was in his meetings) with another woman (her husband is at MIT in civil engineering and is chairing the committee) just walking through the city, which is the best thing to do in Venice... so I'll share some sights...
As you know, Venetian glass is world renowned for its colors and creativity. Glass-making has been a Venetian art since the 12th century, coming from Constantinople when the crusades sacked the city and the artisans fled (another story of the Church going after those with different beliefs, this time the Eastern Orthodox. And this crusade, the 4th, started in France and got the Venetians to help out --they split the spoils... and I wondered why the Church was a target during the French Revolution... all this destruction, murder and pillaging --sounds like Iraq). The glass factories were moved to the island of Murano, just off Venice, in the 13th century to prevent fires. There are still craftsmen (I did not see any women!) working there, although some younger artists work on the mainland of Venice. We took advantage of the free water taxi ride out to Murano to see the factory and walk through the galleries --there are some incredible pieces, as well as pieces that my grandmother would have loved-- and there are some museum quality pieces. The use of the old techniques like the millefiori rods in contemporary applications produces some wonderful effects --and of course the colors are stunning! (I did succumb to a small pendant lampshade that I found after looking at hundreds of them in the shops that line every little calle or canal!)
If we have buona fortuna we will return in late October! Ciao!
(29 juillet- we will be going in October as David will be joining the group!)
1 comment:
you guys are so lucky!!! i am extremely jealous. enjoy it while it lasts :)
ps- while i agree with your comment about french vs italian cheese, one must say that while there is not the same scope of cheeses in italy there are certainly some delicious ones, in particular a sweet gorgonzola, which i do not think that the french have.....
Post a Comment