Monghidoro, Italy on a lazy Sunday afternoon (Memorial Day Weekend, 2012)
Memorial Day, 2012. I chose this weekend to honor my grandfather James Nix who is 94 years old, the last of his unit, who served his country during World War II overseas in these two towns: Monghidoro, and Loiano Italy.
By going to these towns, and recording my experiences for him to share this year on Father's Day, I hope that it will bring me a little closer to understanding this great man who I don't believe I really know as well as I thought I might have.
I feel myself incredibly lucky to have been able to finally do this for him. First of all, because in 1997 he paid a considerable amount to send me to school in Florence, and I was unable to complete the journey then.
So now, 15 years later, not only did I find myself with the income to be able to make the trip, but I still have my grandfather alive, and cognizant enough to appreciate that I have finally completed my hero's quest, and have made good on my promise!
Church Bells of Bergamo in Italy
Free video about city of Bergamo. This free video was created for you by and can be used for free under the creative commons license with the attribution of epSos.de as the original author of this city of Bergamo video.
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It is the fourth municipality in the region by population. The city and its hinterland counts 483 214 inhabitants, spread over an area of 341.33 km². The city of Bergamo is divided into two distinct parts, the Upper Town, with an old town surrounded by walls, which, as you might guess from the name, is in the higher altitude, and the Lower Town, which, despite being also of ancient origin and retains its historic villages, has been made in the most modern part by recent actions of urbanization.
Bergamo is located in the piedmont, where the high plains gives way to the last hills of the Alps Orobie, midway between the rivers Brembo and Serio. The ancient city was founded just over the hills. Bergamo, according to the Köppen climate classification, the climate is typically temperate mid-latitude ( CFA ), generally rainy or humid all year round and very hot summers. The proximity to the mountains, however, allows it to avoid the phenomena of fog lingering winter and heat of summer that characterize the nearby Milan.
From 1428 Bergamo became part of the Venetian Republic, whose domain brings peace and prosperity. The Venetians rebuilt the old city, erecting massive defensive walls. The Venetian rule continued until the Napoleonic era when, after a short experience of the Republic of Bergamo, the Cisalpine Republic and the Kingdom of Italy, with the Restoration Bergamo falls into the sphere of Austria 's Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. The Austrians are the proponents of the first industrialization of the territory of Bergamo, with the installation of textile manufactures. Bergamo taking part in the Renaissance by providing a large part of the Thousand. Giuseppe Garibaldi himself entered the city with his Hunters of the Alps, June 8, 1859. From 1860 Bergamo is part of the Kingdom, and then the Italian Republic.
Bergamo and its province contributed to the expedition of the Thousand with a large number of citizens, 174, belonging to all social classes except the rural world. Some of them took on national stature and historical importance not only as Garibaldi as well as patriots for their participation in the events of 1848.
Bergamo is one of the few Italian cities, along with Ferrara, Lucca, Verona, Padua, Treviso and Grosseto, whose old town is completely surrounded by walls which, in turn, have maintained intact their original appearance over the centuries. The most known and visited Bergamo Alta is the Old Town Square, with the Contarini Fountain, the Palazzo della Ragione, the Civic Tower (called the bell ), which is still at 22 100 body shots - those in the past announced the closing night gates of the Venetian walls - and other buildings that surround it on all sides. Impressive, opposite the Palazzo della Ragione, the large white building of the New Palace, which houses the Biblioteca Angelo Mai.
From the sixth century Bergamo was the center of one of the most important duchies Lombards, together with Brescia, Trento and Forumiuli The first duke was Lombard Wallari. After the so-called period of anarchy, the Lombards and the restoration of the monarchy with the election of a king Authari, 584, Duke Wallari, like the other dukes, kings gave way to the new half of the Duchy of Bergamo which is the western part of the Brembo comprising the territory of Lemine.
During the last phase of the tumultuous Middle Ages, with the fratricidal struggles between Guelphs and Ghibellines, Bergamo gave in 1331 to John of Luxembourg, King of Bohemia. Under the rule of the King of Bohemia began construction of the fortress whose completion was subsequently completed by Azzone Visconti first and the Venetian Republic, then under the dominion which was erected the imposing circular tower.
Venice, in 1428, succeeded to the Visconti in the domain of Bergamo and proceeded to extend the system of defense which was located in the city. Potentiated the Fortress adding the tower, which still exists, and it completed the defensive with the construction of a belt of ramparts, commonly known as the Venetian walls.
With the discovery of the Americas, the Republic of Venice was beginning its inexorable decline in the domain of maritime trade, because of that, he turned more and more attention to businesses that were taking place at the center of Europe.
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Church Bells During the Sunday Farmers' Market in Auvergne, France
I am making an exception here and posting this clip on YouTube -- it already exists on Dailymotion under LisaFalour. I do two channels on YT: CUTECATFAITH and SLOBOMOTION. I try not to duplicate anything among the three places.
I think this clip will fit in with this channel okay, however, and I hope you like it!
copyright 2012 Lisa B. Falour, B.S., M.B.A. all rights reserved LISA, INC. (EURL) cutecatfaith.com
Since we were headed for a vacation in the Lubéron region of France and that is very far from where we live in Paris, my Parisian spouse chose Murol in Auvergne as a stopping point for a week. Yay! The high altitude here does affect your health, so plan and drink a lot of water.
This church is Romanesque in style and 12th c. Aren't the bells lovely? We had just missed the Mass, which I would have liked to attend, but we then toured the church. This town is known for spas and a special type of cheese, Saint-Nectaire.
The market was not huge and I recognized some of the vendors in other villages later in the week. It was nice to say hi to them! I got a lot of fresh food here for about five euros, but I regret I did not buy more rosé wine from a local family! It was less than 2 euros per bottle, a Gamay, and was the best I have ever had. This region is in central France and there are many volcanoes, castles and spas here, and it is superb for sports in Summer and Winter! This church features the flower of life motif and is one of about five in the region which are considered hugely important, architecturally. No one is sure about the origins of this place, which has a lot of pagan and Roman origins. This part of France is especially family-friendly. Despite the dangerous terrain, I saw many babies and toddlers, all fine. Pets are also generally welcome.
If you want some help dealing with France, I can advise. I do charge, but it's all declared.
One negative note: food prices around this area can be a little high. If you rent a furnished place here, as we did, you might want to pack and take some basic supplies. Most things in supermarkets here started at 4 euros per item! We are talking a box of generic ... breakfast cereal? I don't eat that, but hey!
I really liked the people of this area, and I often do not take well to the French. Les Auvergnats tend to be talkative, open, honest and show a lot of solidarity, even if you are a stranger. Perhaps it is the terrain. I don't know. I did note a difference in this region, however, and so did my spouse. If you speak French, you can definitely gab around here! And find out everything!