Statues

Now, when walking around Milano, I came across these two statues.  They are life sized.  One was on each side of the large iron gates.  Really, folks, is this Robert E Lee and maybe the other one is Andrew Jackson???

 All this time I have seen so many statues of Jesus, Neptune and the great statue of David.  Now to see these along the street, made me chuckle.  By gosh, if they were in Columbia, SC or Richmond, Va there would be a group of people protesting to take them down.  And then across the street would be a protest for keeping them up to preserve history.

Well, here is Milano, no one even cares.  I am not too sure if anyone even notices.  And just who are they guys.  Why are they here??????

Take a lesson from the Milanians, keep going, do not even notice and let things just be.......

New Year's Eve

When in Milano and it is New Year's Eve and it is cold and rainy, go out and discover. 

 The is a mosaic of a bull.  Look closely and you can see his balls.  Now, I am not too sure what it all means, but people were waiting in line to put you heel on the bull's balls and make a turn.

Is this for good luck for the New Year, who knows,..........

 I waited my turn and put my heel on the bull's ball and make the turn without falling down.

Hey, I did......Look at the people in the background, they could not believe this old American woman was getting into the spirit too.

What away to celebrate.........

Balls to the wall, no balls to the heel

Doors of Malta

When I was in Malta,  I did a lot of walking. It was warmer and sunny, finally.  After Milano with the cold and the snow, it was nice to walk and enjoy the sun.  I came across this section where it was like condos.

 Each door had such beautiful colors and each one different. 

 Each had a different iron gate

 Really, this could have been an East Carolina University door, (with a yellow door knob)

 Sky blue to brightern you coming in ..............................

 The light, the door, and the gate are the same color paint and look closely under the light, the house is called "Sea Breeze"  This place did not miss it calling

The last place is waiting to be update, or to be sold, or for some one to rescue it.  Still a great place with great potential.

Marsaxlokk Fish Market Malta

When I was flying from Sicily to Malta, there was a bunch of ladies on the plane.  They had gone for  to Sicily to shop.  The lady beside me and I began a conversation about Malta.  She told me to go the local fish market.  I had to take a bus from St Julian's Bay to Valletta and then on to Marsaxlokk.  It was maddening with tourist and locals.

 When I saw this carriage being used to display greens, it reminded me of the carriage at my barn with flowers and shells.  So, in Malta, some people recycle, reduce and REUSE too.

 The town is rather small and the walk around the harbor is filled with these small colorful wooden boats.  This was such a beautiful day and the bright sun make theses boats come alive

And just what would one do after visiting the fish market..............lunch and fresh fish.  I could not believe it, there was a harborside restaurant that the special of the day was SOFT SHELL CRABS.  Can you believe it,  Mrs Georgie, that have your trade too.

Gosh, it was good and sat there enjoying the scenery and the sun, the market started to disappear.  When they say it ends at 1pm, they mean 1pm.  Vendors hustling to pack up their leftovers, take down the tents and they were off.

This sea side village from a bustling shopping area to just a few people taking a Sunday afternoon walk.  Everything shut down and closed.

I found that between 1pm to 4pm there was nothing open.......... 

Christmas Day

I am in Castel Gandolfo for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  I t is cold, but not as cold as Milano.  Here I am in the square where the Benedict Cathedral and the summer palace for the pope.  Although the Pope is not here.  I think he might be doing some in t Rome. 

 I was walking around when this family asked me to take their picture.  Now they asked in Italian, so I said in English, "I do not understand all the words, but I get it, you want me to take your picture." So I did and this is selfie of us with the young man in the foreground, spoke some English.  Really, there may be a language barrier, kindness and being friendly, goes a long way and transcends obstecials.  "Boana Natalia"  that is Merry Christmas in Italian.

 This the sign for the town of Castel Gandolfo.  The palace of the Pope.  The hotel that I am staying is just beyond the sign.

This is the Italian Christmas breakfast.  Now, don't just hate people that have nothing to do than take pictures of food, but I just had to do this.  I just had to chuckle when cookies were on the breakfast display.

I look forward to seeing you in the New Year!!

Jeanne

Charlotte Airport

Doing this post has been difficult for me, as finding the time, so today........I was looking at my pictures and this was the first. 

Dawn, my daughter and I were on the first leg of our trip, leaving Charlotte to Newark.  Now, as many of you know, I am not savvy with technology,  and even with the kiosk at United Air.  It kept saying SEE AGENT.   Not even looking at the board with the flight schedule,  our flight was cancelled!  Not just us, but all the other passengers too.   There was a mad dash to rearrange out itenary to Milan. 

Can you imagine have me asking as kind of questions, "What is the compensation?  A free flight? Free up grades??????

This agent is doing her best to get us rebooked. 

After much to do, we were rerouted to Chicago, then to Newark,  then Frankfort and the Milan.  We were told there were upgrades for us.  Oh yea, worth the wait, until we got on the plane.

We were upgraded from seat 14A to moved to the front of the plane to 12A.   Moving us up just a row or two. 

The good news we were on our way.

The adventure begins...............................

So this is Christmas

Ok, it is Christmas here too and the music is playing "So this is Christmas."   There are Christmas trees and the typical Christmas lights.  Oh, yea, lights go on and off and flash all colors and they have the same ability to have 1/2 lights on and flashing the the other half go on and off. 

Today, I traveled to Birgu, a local market with everything one could want for any reason.  There was vegetables, fruits and the

BY GOSH, there it was, the dreaded fruit cake. 

So somethings are the same all over the world.

So this is Christmas  (music) and the fruit cake