The other day we went to Fiesole to look at the Roman amphitheater. It was in part an excuse for a long walk as it was a warm and sunny day.
Fiesole is high above Florence, and so we took the bus to get there and walked back to the city through a maze of small country roads, stopping on the way to eat our packed lunch.
The ruins are supposed to have been restored a good deal in the 19th century but are still very interesting. Beside the amphitheater there are Roman baths and the ruins of an Etruscan temple.
The arches below had collapsed but were put back together when the ruins were restored.
The most interesting thing for us was that the very first time we went to Italy with Lorne's mother and his aunt in 1987, we did visit these ruins, and Lorne found two pictures of us with his aunt Muriel.
The ruins have not changed, I wish I could say the same thing about us!
Muriel, sitting next to me, was then the age I am now. She passed away two years ago.
Here is a last one, obviously taken from quite a distance. Lorne is sitting in the amphitheater and, above, Muriel is taking my picture.
It is interesting to compare what one remembers.
Lorne remembers the ruins well, but I don't.
However I have a vivid memory that when we first visited these ruins, the ground was covered with thousands of very small cyclamens. They must still be there but, not being in bloom at this time of the year, I did not spot any.
On the way back to Florence.
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| The amphitheater in Fiesole |
Fiesole is high above Florence, and so we took the bus to get there and walked back to the city through a maze of small country roads, stopping on the way to eat our packed lunch.
The ruins are supposed to have been restored a good deal in the 19th century but are still very interesting. Beside the amphitheater there are Roman baths and the ruins of an Etruscan temple.
 |
| The two arched doors lead to the Roman bath |
The arches below had collapsed but were put back together when the ruins were restored.
The most interesting thing for us was that the very first time we went to Italy with Lorne's mother and his aunt in 1987, we did visit these ruins, and Lorne found two pictures of us with his aunt Muriel.
 |
| Lorne, Muriel and Alain |
The ruins have not changed, I wish I could say the same thing about us!
Muriel, sitting next to me, was then the age I am now. She passed away two years ago.
Here is a last one, obviously taken from quite a distance. Lorne is sitting in the amphitheater and, above, Muriel is taking my picture.
It is interesting to compare what one remembers.
Lorne remembers the ruins well, but I don't.
However I have a vivid memory that when we first visited these ruins, the ground was covered with thousands of very small cyclamens. They must still be there but, not being in bloom at this time of the year, I did not spot any.
On the way back to Florence.
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| Olive trees, pines and cypress - the ever present trees of Tuscany |
So beautiful! I'd love to go back to Italy. You must have so many wonderful memories of the places you've been and the people you've been there with.
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