Poor Teddi

I have seen so many really good looking men here but they ar3e all priests and as we know the rest are gay So many wonderful adventures. Did the crunch churches today Santa Spirito, John sacred steps. Since I fell on cobblestones looking up trying to safe my gelato I have a banged knee so opted out of crawling up the however many there are saying a prayer on each step. Who knows what fate waits for me but so far the gods have been good to me.,

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New From Teddi!

I saw the pope today. Along with about 300,000 people. Cherly wanted to go so we went and stood for an hour. The window opened, second from the right on the top, banner floats out, everyone cheers and 10 minute later this tiny figure appears. it could have been Elvis for all I could see. He welcomed all said a prayer, then everyone said a prayer in Italian and then he left. After we took the jerky little bus through Camp di Fiori to the Borghese Gallery. Third trip there and still discover something so magnificent. Such decadence and overabundance of wealth while a cardinal and pope. The Berninis are magnificent. Ended day at Trevi fountain. Threw in another coin again so that means I have 2 trips back to Italy. Have to start saving more then pennies to come back.

Perfect weather in Florence. Off to Accademia where once again 
I stand in awe at David's feet. It really is so profound. I stand forever silently wonder how such a piece of marble can evoke so much emotion. The slaves are not too bad either and so interesting to see the steps, the stokes from the hammer on the unfinished pieces. Met friend who restores old papers and documents and during lunch another friend told me that my friend had been given Galileo's journals to restore for her family which owns an antique bookstore here in Florence. Great to see her workshop and some of the documents and ancient art she is working on. Would love to spend a year doing just that. We were invited my friend to leave tomorrow in her car for the hills with no destination in mind and see where we end for the night. Love adventures. Ended day with sundown at Pitti. Such an unbelievable collection of everything from precious art, furniture, objects, endless rooms of treasures. Gardens not to bad either.

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In Pompeii after stop at Herculean. Fast train to Naples and then the local express.Italy is filled with tourist wandering and wondering where they are and how to get somewhere.. Signage is so bad if there is any and what there is is covered in graffiti. No advance notices or noting of stations so you hope and pray you hit the correct one and have time to get off in one piece. Spending night here and back to Rome tomorrow. We have a 3 day pass which entitles us to see 5 places, impossible in 3 days but could not go to Pompeii this afternoon as only allowed 1 visit to each. Museums are very expensive here and twice as much if you are a non euro citizen. We need to charge foreigners more when they visit our museums in US. That would help keep them open.
Save lots of dineros to come visit.

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   More Pompeii Italy images

   
   

More from Teddi!

Back in Rome after great stay in Pompeii and wonderful family that owned the B&B where we stayed. The family was so warm and welcoming and could not do enough for us. The hospitality, home cooked many coursed meal certainly made up for a little pealing paint. When we walk up our hill walk past a small shop making hand made shoes. I always wave at them and tonight they motioned us in. Spent an hour talking with them and watching them make the most incredible shoes. Look them up at fefcalzolai@legalmail.it. Every step is done there. Watched them cut leather, hand stitch, add and trim cork, stitch all amazing steps and even the dying. Love the art and craftsmanship and each pair is truly a work of art. Now I will look with envy each time I pass by and stop by to9 watch and talk. This is the great part of staying inn one place longer. No plans for tomorrow but who knows? I could end up like Geppetto.

Campo di Fiori market

More rain. Actually it poured while we were at Campo di Fiori market. We tried to stay under tents but we finally pulled out our tacky plastic rain coats we bought on street. Then ducked into museum only to find that one of our favorite Artemesia's paintings was on loan and it Argentina until October. Could someone please alert the Italian that it is October. But wonderful visit the to Villa Farnese. CLOSED. But open Saturday morning. Millions of tourist and limited openings. But so much to see. Visited couple churches, forum and so much more.....All Hills Lead to Rome.

Teddi goes to Ostia Antica

Wasted half day but spent it people watching. I decided we should go to train station to get reservations for trips to Venice and Florence. Italy is so overflowing with people impossible to believe. The pope made it the year of Faith so guess the world thinks it has to make pilgrimage to Rome. Never have had Eurorail pass validated but now reservations are required. Also another way to get 10 more euros a trip out of tourist. So we got to Termini and had to take number but no one to ask if it was correct line. We waited through 80 numbers while we watched clerks talks to each other, get snacks, etc. Then were told wrong line so we went to other with over 100 numbers in front of us. Finally got a nice person who was helpful so now our seats are done. Trip to Pompeii no an she said the way the crowds are now iffy but taking chance. Some rain but we were in train station most of day so no problem. Went to Maria Maggiore after. Love to just sit and absorb. Such amazing architecture, artifact, paintings ,etc. Love it all. Even rode the bus back. Quite rough on all the cobblestones. Back needs a rest now.
 Great day, bus then train to Ostia Antica. Ancient sea and river port for Rome bringing goods from around the world. sat at top of theater, so tranquil and could see ruins for miles and miles. Mosaics everywhere remarkable. We did have long trip back as Sally wanted to ride bus to end instead of getting off and walking across the river home. We rode to end, had to jump on return bus and spent hour over back route every bump cobblestone and rattling windows, seat jerking action.Back sore from all the walking and bus

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 Ancien

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Teddi in Rome!!!

Rain again in Rome but it does not stop us. Wonderful weekend with visits to Villa D"Este and Hadrian's villa. English friends rented car and driver and so now I have walked Hadrian's wall in England with them, seen his tomb and been to his villa together. Crowds are at least a million near St. Petes and we have not even been inside yet. 6 wide and lined for blocks as far as the eye can see. We think it may be the new pope. I have never seen so many people. At Trevi fountain where we went at night we could not even get close to it packed with people. We hope that it lessens towards end of month. Off to Pantheon today and area close by. Sunshine today but rain predicted.
Thought of Jeff as we are off to buy coffee pot. The one cup is not working well. Friends stayed at hotel right next to where Shari stayed when making film here. Recall memoires of past trips. Hard to see Rome all in a life time.

A Guest Blogger- Teddi Shattuck!

Thought apartment in Rome was perfect but internet does go down so rewriting message. After full day of walking city, shopping, lunch in Trastevere by old apart ment love the view of church dome from my bedroom and ready for sleep. Friends come from England tomorrow and should be such fun. Apartment up steep hill and several steps but half block from Tiber and great location.

India

Water storage

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Kolkata is the former capital of British India, and one of its most beautiful attractions is the Victoria Memorial, built to commemorate Queen Victoria, Empress of India, upon her death in 1901.

Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, West Bengal State, India

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Tea Plantation- Darjeeling

Darjeeling which is home to India's highest railway station. From here, it's a 1 hour ride on the famous "Toy Train" to reach the day's destination...

road to  Darjeeling! 7,000 feet up!

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Mumbai is quite a place! I am staying at the Hotel of Three Rings from Hell! I have a lovely view, it's a little noisy. The real problem is the bed which is a wooden platform with several layers of cloth. I'm really sleeping on a wooden board. It is teaching me GRATITUDE! Everywhere one goes here, folks are sleeping on the street, ground, or floor with just a blanket. I at least have a platform! Last night I slept 11 hours. I walk so much, by the time I hit the bed, I'm ready to sleep.

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Gate of India

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There are sooo many things to talk about! Everyday,there are things that break your heart and things that amaze.I was told to bring pens to give to children and since I had 6 boxes left over from the election, I brought them. While I waited for the tour bus, there was a little guy(6?) working like a slave, throwing buckets of garbage away, blah, blah. I walked over to him and gave him a pen. he had no idea what it was and walked over to his father. His dad showed him and then started to pocket it but I shook my finger and he gave it to his son, who beemed. I got on the bus and we were off for a n 8 hour tour. Stopping at a stop light , 4 lanes of traffic there was a little girl doing cartwheels and hip hop dancing in the middle of the street in hopes that someone in a car would give her money... The most heart wrenching was a woman 1,000 years old pulling herself on a bag down the street. Her legs didn't work at all and she weighed 80 lbs. She was smiling and talking to the shop keepers and was having a good old time. The power of her soul was awsome.

More workers

 workers...

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Yesterday, I was in my "penthouse", with the door open to the balcony and I looked up from my book and there was a huge monkey sitting on the railing watching me read! Yikes, NATURE!

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India 4

every once in a while you see something that so engages you, you'll never forget it. Such was the GOLDEN TEMPLE!! IT IS THE VATICAN TO SIKHS. One of the most amazing places, it even made me spiritual. It is surrounded by marble buildings with domes, gleeming white. There is a walkway next and pilgrims are all walking in one direction with their hands clasped. In the center is a reflecting pool that is 5 football fields across. In the center of the pool is the golden temple and yes it's gold. After walking around it for 40 minutes you finally walk on a 2 block long bridge to the temple. as you come into the hall, the is a blue velvet canopy that is embroidered with pearl and silver. The head "rabbi" sits there and to his left is a 5 piece "band" playing golden instruments and singing which is piped out to the rest of the buildings. In front of the "rabbi" is a "carpet of flowers" in a mozaic. There are pilgrims on 2 sides chanting? Above all this is a hugecrystal chandalier. This pavillion is 2 stories tall with worshipers on the 2nd story.
That sundown, I went to the boarder with Pakistan. Every night India and Pakistan have a marching battle.There are huge gates on either side which they open but you can really only see your "team". The uniforms of the Indians were so kooll and I'msure these soldiers were chosen on height and beauty. They do kicks above their heads and all sorts of firery things. Reminded me of cock fighting.
After this , I had to go back to the Golden Temple to see it at night. Very emotional!

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The Sikh belief system is fairly down to Earth; One god is the creator of the universe, all human beings are equal, people of all religions and races are welcome in Sikh holy places, women have equal status with men, be peaceful and loving and stand for truth and justice.

Add captionBuilt by the fifth Sikh guru, Arjan Dev, in the 16th Century, the Harmandir Sahib, or Golden Temple, is the holiest temple and spiritual home of the Sikh religion. Called the Golden Temple because it is plated in pure gold. Amritsar, Punjab State, India.