Anyone with even a twinge of OCD can appreciate the satisfaction that must arise from completion of a giant mosaic. If you have more than a twinge, as I do, you’ll think you’ve gone to heaven when standing in front of the giant golden religious puzzle art that is the cathedral in Monreale, Sicily. Honestly, if there is a positive afterlife, I’m sure that every day you must have the opportunity to place the last tiny square in a similar work of art. Of course, Hell would be facing a similar work with the last piece forever out of reach.
churches
An elegant Swiss secret: Rheinfelden
The water provides typical Swiss perfection: a glassy showcase for the pure, blue sky and delicate buildings. As you watch swans and ducks glide by, it’s easy to get lost in the moment and imagine this place as an eternally peaceful paradise. However, during World War II, the bridge that now serves as a rather uneventful crossing point into Germany was the site of many escape attempts by American prisoners of war. The waters that seem so pristine and still were for many a terrifying conduit to freedom, either in life or death.
Owning Orvieto: a secluded Italian escape
I sat on the steps across from the duomo in Orvieto, munching contentedly on olive oil breadstick nuggets from the wine store and admiring the way the light changed the face of the cathedral. It was like watching the colors of Ayers Rock change at sunset, translated into the ancient gilded luxury that seems natural […]