THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED BY For those of us who had the good fortune to have our High School English teachers expose us to the poetry of Robert Frost, his words come back to us in later life with so much more meaning.  In 1920, Robert Frost was age 46 when he wrote his poem, The Road Not Taken. His final stanza is perhaps the more familiar:   I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.   In high school, one is not well equipped to relate to explorations based on retrospective reflection.  I recall at the time a sense of ambivalence with Frost’s reference to “. . . telling this with a sigh” combined with his chosen title, The Road Not Taken. Was this perhaps an indication of regret?  In high school a question occurred to me whether Frost was suggesting caution in deviating from the more common norm. That was likely a reflection of the influences that reinforced conformity in the New York City of the 1950’s. But not surprisingly, as I have made the long journey into ages hence, I have a fuller appreciation of what Frost was suggesting. There are sometimes elements of awareness that become apparent in what seems like a moment of epiphany. And then there seem to be others that germinate over time and become more slowly refined and redefined.  In the course of musing over the extent to which I have a distinct sense of calm comfort walking these ancient streets in Ascoli Piceno, I have come to realize I have made an older person’s transition.  Typical of a younger person with so much of life yet to unfold, my focus in youth was on the future and how best to prepare myself for it.  But now, in a much later phase of my life, focus has shifted to one more centered on reflection. The emphasis for me now is to make the most of each present moment. Later in life, contemplations on what the future holds become less enticing.  In many respects,...

Making a Home

By Larry & Arlene on May 13, 2016 in Blog | 13 comments

Making a Home: Hello dear readers.  It’s been a long while since I have shared my thoughts with you.  Thank goodness Larry is still feeling inspired to write and keeping the blog going.  I really can’t say why I lost my writing mojo other than we have a very active life here now and writing takes a lot of time and mind space – both of which are in less supply these days. My weeks are now filled with Pilates classes, a Stitch & Bitch group, Italian lessons from my ever-patient teacher and friend, plus Larry and I are in our 5th week of a 9-session cooking class with a chef.  We have also joined a group called Universitá della Terza Etá (University of the Third Age) that hosts very high-quality lectures on art, history and architecture, trips within Italy with qualified experts, and all manner of classes in the arts and crafts for mature adults (through which we are taking our cooking classes).  As with most things here in Ascoli the costs are amazingly low as this is a non-profit enterprise, possibly subsidized.  For example, we are paying the same for our nine four-hour-each cooking classes, taught by a local chef, as I paid for one four-hour cooking class through the Culinary Institute in San Diego – and we get to eat what we cook.. The addition of some more American expats has really enriched our lives as well.  They are all very interesting people and we have much in common – i.e. we love Italy, specifically Ascoli, are curious, independent and crazy enough to pull up roots and live in a foreign country.  We love and enjoy our Italian friends but communication with those who do not speak any English (fortunately many speak or understand some English) remains a challenge for me but Larry’s Italian is progressing rapidly.  Mom always hinted that I could be a bit lazy and stubborn, and the truth is, with the English speakers it is just easier.  “Total immersion language learning” is not as automatic as we are lead to believe, especially since every Italian community has their own dialect. I can write Italian, am pretty good at reading, and am proficient...

ITALY IS GOOD FOR ME We are grateful to those of you who have kindly offered comments and encouragement on our Blog effort.  It seems the Blog may be stimulating thinking by others on what a post-working life might be for them. Much of what I have attempted to communicate has been reflections on our unfolding lives in Italy. I haven’t set out to explicitly say very much about changes to the person I may be in process of becoming.  That is simply because I have to believe it is something about which there would be little interest.  Additionally, I’m still trying to figure out what is happening while I’m standing right in the middle of the process. And then the other day, a reoccurring awareness came into sharper focus for me. It seemed we might have begun to grasp there had been changes to the process of how we went about decision making. In doing some minor tasks, I realized I was reacting and behaving in a manner that was different than how I might have responded in the past. Yes of course, if we are paying attention to what is going on around us, we probably react by adjusting our response to what we feel is appropriate in that particular situation.  But the point that came to me was the yardstick I now seemed to be using in gauging ‘appropriate,’ had been realigned. A more fundamental change seems to have been going on. In the event what we are now sensing might be helpful, I thought I would pass along a few thoughts and further-ranging speculations. Clearly, retirement brings changes. There are obviously any number of factors involved. In retiring, the daily demands of the job are no longer the driving force behind many of our actions.  For some, contemplating a change that significant can be very intimidating. That is particularly true if the primary criteria you use to define yourself is your job. Starting early to begin thinking those implications through can be a very productive and probably important process. Those of you who have read previous Blog comments of mine have probably picked up on my increasing sensitivity to the idea of being more open...

 A NEW STATE OF MIND  We made a decision to create a new lifestyle in a different place hoping the process would generate new experiences.  This is just one more admission on our part to having a low threshold for boredom and finding new experiences invigorating.  An interesting aspect of new experiences seems to be, it tends to create a new state of mind. By deliberate choice, we came to live in the historic center of a provincial capital town, ‘off the beaten path’ in central Italy.  We chose to live in the older center of a town that has had the fortunate, good sense to consciously preserve the medieval character of the area. An impression that has grown on us is the level of respect the people of Ascoli have for themselves through respect for their cultural heritage.  The path along which the people of Ascoli have travelled through time is for them an immediate, visceral experience in their daily lives. What greets us on a daily basis here in Ascoli Piceno is very different from the American southern California that had previously been home. There is no question preserving the medieval character of Ascoli is an asset to promote tourism.  But the people of Ascoli have long been committed to preserving their cultural heritage well before mass tourism became a reality. It seems that tourism is drawn to experience Italy because of the respect these people have for their long heritage rather than sites like Ascoli being ‘manufactured’ to promote tourism.  This is not ‘theme-park-kitsch.’ This is the real thing far beyond what promotors could have manufactured and in a lot better taste. But Ascoli is also a place in touch with modern technology.  The already ample street lighting in Ascoli Piceno is in the final stages of being replaced by highly energy-efficient LED elements being installed in the existing, medieval appearing street lighting lanterns. Fiber-optic communication infrastructure is also in process of installation while preserving the historic character of the pavement. Beginning to feel at home in a cultural environment different than your own does not happen overnight. I don’t think either one of us would try and pretend we are at that point just yet. ...

This year, we celebrated Arlene’s birthday in January by enjoying an extended weekend in Paris. We flew from Rome to Paris-Orly and stayed in a small hotel footsteps off the Rue Cler in the 7th.  The atmosphere was traditional Parisian residential with specialty food shops, cafe’s, small restaurants plus a short walk to the Eiffel Tower.  January in Paris is bound to be ‘seasonal’ but the over riding benefit is being tourist low season.  Paris is an under two hour flight from Rome and budget air connections make the wonderful experience very attractive. Gran Palais and Champs Elyseess Eiffel Tower in the clouds Eiffel Tower from Champs de Mars Eiffel Tower and birthday celebrant Eiffel Tower base Louvre pyramids at damp dusk Louvre pyramid stair Louvre pyramid stair study From Louvre pyramid – old plus the new Louvre pyramid entrance La Gioconda behind bullet proof glass Picasso at the Louvre Venus d’ Milo Diana the huntress Psyche and Cupid Louvre interior Notre Dame Notre Dame Interior Notre Dame Rose Window Notre Dame nativity Notre Dame Nativity Nativity detail Notre Dame exterior nativity Paris restaurant nativity San Sulpice Altar San Sulpice Sunday organ concert San Sulpice organ Rue Cler Cheese vendor Sunday bird market Sunday bird market...

Gaudi Park Geuel Project Barcelona from Park Geuel Park Geuel Entrance Park Sculpture Park Sculpture Park Passageway Park Apartment Structure Gaudi Residence Gaudi Garden Sculpture Gaudi Garden Sculpture Gaudi La Pedrera Building La Pedrera Exterior La Pedrera Courtyard La Pedrera Staircase La Pedrera Staircase La Pedrera Apartment Hall La Pedrera Apartment Study La Pedrera Apartment Window La Pedrera Apartment Dining Room La Pedrera Bathroom Bathroom Accessory La Pedrera Attic Roof Arches La Pedrera Roof Supports La Pedrera Roof Vents and Chimneys La Pedrera Roof Vents La Pedrera Roof Line Gaudi Loveseat Gaudi Settee Gaudi Chair Picasso Museum Stairs 4 Cats Restaurant – Picasso 4 Cats Restaurant 4 Cats Restaurant Interior Royal Palace Square Entrance Royal Palace Square Main Market...

Basilica East Facade East Towers East Towers East Facade Detail Crucifixion Detail Exterior Sculptures Exterior Sculptures Basilica Nave Basilica Interior Basilica Interior Basilica Interior Basilica Interior Basilica Stained Glass Basilica Ceiling Basilica Nave Toward Altar Basilica Altar and Crucifix Crucifix Detail Basilica Interior Basilica Organ Pipes Basilica Tower Stairway Basilica Tower Interior Basilica Workman Basilica Workman Basilica Workman Basilica Tower...

Toledo, Spain Toledo Cathedral Toledo Cathedral Nave Toledo Cathedral Choir and Ceiling Toledo Cathedral Choir Toledo Cloister Toledo Cloister Toledo Synagogue Constructed By Moor-Islamic Craftsman Toledo Town Wall Gate Seville Cathedral Giralda Tower From Royal Palace Carriage Entrance Seville Giralda Tower Seville Cathedral – Night Seville Cathedral Gothic Detail Seville Cathedral Gothic Detail Seville Cathedral Side Isle Seville Cathedral Side Isle Seville Cathedral Transept Seville Cathedral Transept Seville Cathedral Choir Seville Cathedral High Altar Tomb- Christopher Columbus Plaza of Spain Plaza of Spain Tower of Gold on the Guadalupe River Triana Bridge Triana Bridge Detail Guadalupe River...

The Alhambra in Granada Alhambra from Generalife Palace from Generalife Nasrid Sultan’s Palace Courtyard Nasrid Palace Portico Moorish Arches Archway to the Courtyard Sultan’s Palace Entrance Hareem above a palace entrance Sultan’s Palace Interior Decorative Entrances Nasrid Archway Toward Alhambra from Generalife From Alhambra toward Abyazin Moorish Quarter Alhambra wall tower Alhambra Wall Alhambra wall at night Alhambra Gate Sultan’s Summer Palace Seville – Real Alcazar Wall Real Alcazar – Royal Palace Place Wall Entrance To Royal Palace Courtyard Palace Interior Courtyard Moorish-style courtyard Palace courtyard Courtyard portico To the King’s private garden Palace Interior Courtyard Palace stairway Moorish ceiling tiles Visiting...

Trieste, Italy – Hotel View Trieste – Grand Canal Trieste – Grand Piazza Arlene Giving Joyce Encouragement Beauty and Bronze Nova Gorica, Slovenia Station Slovenian Rail Vintage Train On Slovenian Rail At Lake Bled, Slovenia Lake Bled Flat Bottom Boat Lake Bled Transportation Oarsman Underway St. Peter’s Church, Bled Church at Night Bled Castle above the lake Slovenian Hay Drying Rack In the Slovenian Julian Alps Julian Alps Castle Julian Alpine Valley Alpine Crests Toward Slovenian-Austrian Border Alpine Slopes High Alpine meadow Alpine Farm Headwater of Soca River Alpine Sport Training Complex Ljubljana, Slovenia Ljubljana toward castle Ljubljana River and Castle Ljubljana Square Ljubljana City Center City Center at dusk Ljubljana Castle Ljubljana Castle Roof Line Ljubljana Castle Courtyard Courtyard at night Ljubljana from Castle From Castle toward our apartment Toward our apartment Apartment- Top floor More planning underway On the street where we lived Our street at night The three bridges Spanish Orchestra Concert Square at night City Hall Square City Hall Courtyard Ethnic street musician Impromptu practice Street jazz combo In the groove Visiting Italians Bridge sculpture Bronze sculpture Bronze sculpture At the Dragon Bridge At the Dragon Bridge Urban courtyard Ljubljana River walk River walk cafes Ljubljana Open Market Market food stall Local favorite preparation Food preparation Flower stall Flower stall Fresh fruit stand Shopping Shopping Ready to party Street wedding celebration Bride partying A bride’s assist Wine and Ljubljana At the three bridges Three bridges at sunset From the river Ljubljana at night Dusk on the...