Maybe you thought I got lost, but, no, I didn't. I just wandered around Europe for three weeks, then came home and delved into three weeks of holiday fun. Now Dave is delivering Marie to the airport and Eben is hanging out with his buddies, so I have some time to finish this blog. Be warned: I tell the story mostly with pictures, so it got long. Hope you like it.
Travels with Marie
After the Wisconsin in Scotland program ended, Marie arrived so she and I could travel together for 10 days. We had a delightful time in Scotland and in France.
We took a tour through the Highlands, seeing a winter coat on the mountains,
taking a cruise on Loch Ness,
and finding Nessie!
We visited the best sites in Edinburgh--the castle, National Museum,
and National Gallery--and went to a dance performance as well as a few pubs,
including one near the former site of the gallows
The Christmas Market had just started, so did our Christmas shopping : )
While in Paris, we went to Notre Dame, which is spectacular and moving.
We also went to Sainte-Chapelle (above), a Gothic chapel with massive stained glass windows
The Palace at Versailles and its Hall of Mirrors are beautiful--both opulent and decadent
Fun in France
The Palace was followed by a trip up the Eiffel Tower,
timed to watch the sunset and the moon rise--truly awesome!
We did an art museum binge, starting at the Louvre
Enjoying the classics and a little art in the making.
We also went to Musée d'Orsay for the Impressionists and
Musée de l'Orangerie to see the huge Monet water lilies
On our way to the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe,
we happened upon another Christmas Market. 'Tis the season!
England
After Marie left, I finished packing at Dalkeith House and then traveled to London, my base for the last two weeks of wandering. While there I did a few day trips to places I have read about for years, satisfying my literary curiosity.
Stratford-upon-Avon was a must see--and delightful
In addition to seeing Shakespeare's birthplace there,
I also saw Anne Hathaway's birthplace and other historic buildings.
I went to a Royal Shakespeare Company production of Love for Love
by William Congreve at the Swan Theatre.
(If you're wondering why it wasn't a Shakespeare play,
the company tours those during the winter)
I went to Cambridge to walk among the famous university buildings
and to see the beautiful churches
The day was mild, so I walked the "Backs" where I could glimpse the
university from the banks of the River Cam
and watch the punters propelling their boats.
My interest in the Canterbury Tales led me to make my own pilgrimage
The cathedral is impressive
The volunteer docents were eager to talk as there were few tourists
in early December. I liked having the place almost to myself.
Surprise! another Christmas Market
and look who else was there!
Norway
One of the best parts of my after-travel was my weekend in Oslo with our Norwegian daughter, Aurora and her significant other, Martin. She is teaching English at a high school and working on a master's degree. Fortunately, she had a break from exams, so we got to sit up late and talk as well as visiting her family. We also found time for some Christmas Markets : )
The tram stop near their home. It is a delightful place to wait for your ride.
Oslo was decked out for Christmas
We shared some glogg, a moose burger, and rakfisk.
That was some kind of rotten fish (her words) with cream cheese and onions
rolled up in a piece of lefse--yes, they use it like we would use a tortilla.
We also went to a more alternative, artsy Christmas Market
complete with graffiti and a fluorescent pink Christmas tree
The best part was having time with Aurora and Martin.
Believe it or not, we sat outside at a cafe on the harbor
(in December!) and enjoyed some delicious sushi.
Italy
The last stop on my European tour was the Tuscany region of northwestern Italy. It was just the sort of mellow, beautiful place I needed. I spent the first few days in Florence, trying to cover the entire history of Western art through the many museums and churches there. Wow! The Medici Chapels, Academy Gallery, Bargello Museum, Santa Croce Church, Uffizi Gallery, the Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore--the Florence Cathedral), Pitti and Vecchio Palaces and plazas all over the city. Lots of Michelangelo (including the David), Botticelli, Donatello, Raphael, Caravaggio--what a privilege to see such fine works of art! To end the tour, I traveled to Siena, billed as Italy's loveliest medieval city. I did my best to absorb it all; liberal doses of pasta, wine, and gelato helped : )
When I stepped out on the street and looked right, this was my view.
The cathedral stands across the street at the end of the block.
It dominates the skyline, and the view from the top of the dome is wonderful
It's as impressive on the inside as it is on the outside
with its pink, white, and green marble
One side of the Uffizi looks out over the river to the hills beyond
It's double the pleasure to have fantastic art inside and beautiful views outside
Part of the view is of the River Arno and its many bridges
The courtyard at the Bargello
Chapel of the Princes at the Medici Chapels
There he is!
In the company of other Michelangelo sculptures
For a switch from sculptures and painting, there's the museum at Dante's house
or the massive and beautiful globes at the Galileo Museum
Of course, art and history pervade here as well
Santa Croce decorated for Christmas
Lighted trees were on all the plazas
and then there was another Christmas Market
You'd think I was in Europe of something : )
The holiday lights in Siena added to the magic in the evening
During the day, the decorations led the way to its vast central plaza
the heart of the city
Piazza del Campo
From there, I worked my way to the plaza by the Duomo di Siena
and found these chubby women in a sculpture by Xu Hongfei
titled Civil Happiness
Thus my parting image: me as a happy traveler
looking in wonder and joy at the facade of Duomo di Siena,
a perfect ending to an incredible semester
Thanks for being my audience. Let's be sure to get together to swap stories before too long.
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