Author Archives: Linda

I would wake each morning in Venice to the “laughing” sound of seagulls.  Today I heard geese and I knew I was home!  Page and I were thrilled with the gift of breakfast foods at our home Sunday night from two couples!  Such a relaxing breakfast on Monday morning!  But we needed to go outContinue reading “First Day Home”

Is this Lent?  Sheesh!  Normally you give something up or do something extra. Well…. we have! We have decided to shelter-in-place here in Casa Artom.  Other than going out to buy groceries, we are staying in and having the five Italian professors teach online or Skype in the classroom instead of showing up.  Page continuesContinue reading “Is this Lent?”

Yes! It’s not just us! Look who also is laying low while working here in Venice! Tom Cruise has been forced to hole up in a luxury hotel in Venice when the filming of Mission: Impossible 7 was halted after an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy.  He is staying across the Grand Canal from usContinue reading “Holed Up in Venice”

The tradition of Carnival in Venice began in the 11th century and declined by the 19th century.  It was revived in 1979.  This year it started on Feb. 8th and ends on Feb. 25th (Fat Tuesday).  However, we just got word today that it is being cancelled early due to the Coronavirus. Much like MardiContinue reading “Venice Carnival”

In 1516 all Jews in Venice were confined to an area in Cannaregio. This is the world’s oldest ghetto. Christian guards manned two water gates to this islet.  The name “ghetto” was used after a foundry that formerly occupied the site.  Eventually, all Jewish neighborhoods throughout the world were called ghettos. The Jews were allowedContinue reading “Jewish Ghetto”

It was early spring when we were in Greece. Crocus were popping up! Athens was full of pale yellow taxi cabs, motorcycles, Smart cars, and all of them parking anyplace along the streets. Sadly, graffiti was everywhere! However, orange trees lining the streets were a lovely contrast. Out in the country it felt like theContinue reading “Impressions of Greece”

Our fourth day of site-seeing in Greece was supposed to be a free day, but we were on a roll.  Page arranged for George, our driver to and from the airport, to take us south to see the Temple of Poseidon that he remembered fondly 52 years ago.  This drive through wealthy beach towns andContinue reading “Temple of Poseidon: Almost “Sunset at Sounion””

With awe-inspiring and spectacular views high on the southern slopes of Mt. Parnassus, this is home to the prophetess known as the oracle (a.k.a. the Pythia or sibyl), the mouthpiece of Apollo on earth.  So glad we spent the night here before our visit to the ruins.  The night sky followed by misty morning mountainContinue reading “Divining Delphi”

If it’s Tuesday, it must be Olympia! There came to be a place in Greece where young men trained mentally and physically and a competition ensued.  This was the site of the original Olympic Games located in the valley of the Alphios River in western Peloponnese. This river is all but dried up as youContinue reading “Ancient Olympia”

The Royal Gardens (Giardini Reali) are located near Piazza San Marco. The entrance is however hidden between the stalls in front of the back side of San Marco. The garden had been created by Napoleon (Here we go again!) and the young Viceroy Eugenio di Beauharnais. They wanted to use the Procuratie Nuove building asContinue reading “Royal Gardens”

There is a reason for the timing of our class tours.  I probably would have stormed inside this church on first sight, but I knew the guided tour with our instructor would be worth waiting for.  Of course, we had to read about the Fourth Crusade first!  It made this visit that much more meaningful.Continue reading “St. Mark’s Bascilica”

Family Dinners – every Wednesday night!  Groups of three prepare dinner for the entire house and we dine together.  Two weeks ago Joy helped me make lasagna and a salad while Page supplied the wine.  Last Wednesday night three students served bruschette, spaghetti, and salad after a little reception for our invited weekend guest andContinue reading “Family Dinners”

Cafés around Venice are a bit different than I have seen before.  The idea is to go in, order a cappuccino (comes in a tiny china tea cup and saucer), stand near a coffee bar (or sit depending on the crowd), then pay as you leave.  The cup is so tiny that you are doneContinue reading “Cappuccino”

Michael Calder was on his way to London for business, from California where he lives, and decided to visit us this past week.  He and Page go way back to their days at Hamilton College. They met on the college soccer field in 1971 and joined the same fraternity, Chi Psi. Since Mike grew upContinue reading “Calderiffic!”

The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is an ornate building in Venice.  It’s a 16th-century art museum featuring works by the dramatic Renaissance artist Jacopo Tintoretto.  “Scuola” means school.  “Schools” in Venice were actually social institutions between the 1400s and 1700s.  The “Schools” were similar to modern trade unions: corporations, associations of people doing theContinue reading “School of Rock”

San Giorgio Maggiore is a 16th-century Benedictine church on the island of the same name. The bell tower here allows you to see the San Marco basilica and the Palazzo Ducale across the water. Besides the nicer view, the lines are also limited or non-existing. The bell tower was built in 1791, after the previousContinue reading “San Giorgio Maggiore”

Laundry (bed sheets, bath towels, hand towels, tea towels, dish towels, bath mats, etc.) get done every Tuesday (lower floor) and Thursday (upper floor) by Cheti.  She knows everything about housekeeping, but…she doesn’t speak English.  We do a lot of sign language with each other!  The faculty apartment has a combo washer/dryer.  And I meanContinue reading “Laundry”

This is a replica of the Murano wine decanter (but in red and a fuller decanter) Page bought his parents in 1968 on a trip through Europe when he was 15.  At home I have the 6 goblets displayed around the decanter just like this photo I found on the internet.  I have never usedContinue reading “Glassmaking is in the Family”

The following is what I learned about gondolas: Two hundred years ago, there were 10,000 gondolas in Venice. Although the aristocracy preferred horses to boats through the early Middle Ages, beginning in the 14th century, when horses were outlawed from the streets of Venice, the noble class embraced gondolas as a respectable form of transportation.Continue reading “Gondolas”

Fridays are free days.  No classes means a long weekend, every week!  The students typically will be taking off for a flight somewhere on Thursday afternoons, but this, their second weekend, is being spent getting their residency permits.  No “out of the country traveling” until that is accomplished.  Page and I decided on a localContinue reading “Padua”