Rome, Milan, a garden and a squirt were on Wil's post-concert itinerary

Wilmer Henninger, like Molly, has sent us photos from the end of his Italian trip, and while he has returned home, we're happy to share his latest pics. We begin in Rome, or rather, Vatican City.

"Our guide told us that taking photos in the Sistine Chapel was not permitted, and several signs prior to entry confirmed that. But amid the milling throng inside, the hubbub, the heat, and general lack of reverence, hundreds of flash photos were being taken, so I took one of my own. The famous panel of God giving Adam a soul is in the center."

"I went to see this basilica, called St. John Lateran, one of four in Roma and the original home of the papacy before moving to Vatican City.  My sister said it is her favorite church of all she has seen, and she has seen thousands (true!).

"I put this at the top of my list, as well.  No photo can show the colors and the reverential grandeur of the place. Perhaps the feeling comes from the lack of tourists, as it is located somewhat off the beaten track. Whatever the reason, this is worth a stop for anyone interested in church architecture."

I'm not sure of the sequence, but at some point, Wilmer took off for northern Italy to see the city of Milan.
  
La Scala is a world-renowned opera house in Milan. The theater was inaugurated on August 3, 1778.

"Who would have thought this was one of the world's most important auditoriums? You would drive right by it, even if trying to find it. All the funds were spent inside, for sure. Our guide said that when it was built, there were buildings across the street, and spending on a more impressive facade would have been a waste."

 

"Across the way, Leonardo da Vinci ponders the new additions on the rear of La Scala."

"Here is the Milan Duomo, which, we are told, is the world's third-largest. Very impressive on the outside, but not so much inside in comparison to others we have seen."

"The inside is dingy from candle soot, incense, and other pollutants. It should be bright like the exterior--it's the same marble!



"Beside the Duomo is the Galleria, roofed over 1865-1877, if I recall our guide correctly. So it is the first 'mall,' they say."



"This would have been impressive, but here is the ubiquitous Italian restoration-in-progress. Supposedly, every cultural feature is being restored, trees planted, roads repaved, etc., because Milan will be holding a world's fair in 2015, and gazillions of visitors are expected.

"While the choir went off to visit Assisi and Spoleto, I rented a car and went to see a villa I had learned about in my Landscape Architecture History class. Villa Lante is being restored to its former grandeur by the Italian government. Thus one must imagine the fountain in this photo to be operating."



"The most impressive fountain at Villa Lante."

"On my last day before returning home, I took a train to Geneva--very modern and fast."

"The Alps near the Italy-Switzerland border."

"My visit to Geneva included seeing CERN, Europe's institute for nuclear research. Primarily they are looking for the 'Higgs bosun,' a particle predicted by scientists as the particle that gives everything mass. The visitor center shown gives an introduction to the institute's work.

"In another building, displays and a movie provide more information."

 

"Out front of the main building, I walked northward and found had I walked from Switzerland across the border into France.  Don't tell Customs!"

"I ended my day--and my trip--with a walk around the Geneva waterfront and saw the famous fountain that is a single squirt over 300' high."

Thank you, Wil, for sharing this "extra" part of the trip with us. We have enjoyed it immensely. Thank you to all the Market Square Singers who contributed to our blog and to all those who read and left such kind comments.

Singers return to American soil; pictures from "over there" are still arriving

As far as I know, all of the Market Square Singers have returned to our shores. (I hope someone will let me know otherwise.) At least one of those singers has sent some pictures for you to enjoy after the fact. She is Molly Shortridge, who played the flute with the singers at their concerts. Pardon me, Molly, for not knowing if you sang, too, or what the extent of your performance was.

At any rate, Molly was quite observant of her surroundings and apparently enjoyed pictures of her psalm-singing cohorts. Here are the pictures in no particular order, with Molly's captions.

"Somebody had a sense of humor and added this man to the Italian road sign."

"Molly, Lana, and Meg taking a break from the heat in Florence."

"Ken, Molly, Maggie and Lee at the castle in Assisi, enjoying the view." 

"Signs were all over town for our concerts.

Here we are on par with the sandwiches."

"It was so hot, this cat had to seek respite in a flowerpot."

"Molly and mimes in Pisa."

"Judy and Chris in Perugia."

"Farewell dinner party with the Maestro (second from right)."

"Here are Ken, Tim, Alice Ann, Cindy and Bob, all taking a respite

from a nine-hour stomp in Roma."

"Yes, Italy has a torture museum."

 [ Ed. note: I am sure there is a joke in there about choir rehearsals with Maestro Riley, but I will use restraint.]

"Dave, Ken, Molly, Maggie at the bridge in Spoleto."

"Molly and gelato!"

Phyllis, Marla, Karen, and Molly

in front of the fountain in Perugia.

"Ken, Bob, Alice Ann, Cindy and Molly at the American Bar in Montecatini."

"This gang is ready to eat at Perugia."

"Walking thru the streets to our concert."

Many thanks, Molly, for your contributions throughout your visit. Welcome home! 

Tomorrow, more pictures from Wilmer Henninger, who stayed over a day or two to see some more treasures!

Photos from Lucca, Florence, and Rome arrive

One thing we have learned on this side of the big pond is that Italian Internet and cell phone service may be, as they say, spotty. You'll read a comment by Wilmer Henninger on that matter a little later. At any rate, I am happy to say that last night and this morning a number of photos, taken over the last three days, made their way through the air and into my inbox last night and this morning. And so, we share them with you, hoping to get them all correctly captioned and in the right order.

You will recall that on Saturday night, the Market Square Singers sang in Lucca after their visit to Florence. Let us start, then, with photos of their morning visit to Florence, sent by Wilmer and Lee Gayman.



Leaving the church in Florence where the concert was held, and passing yet another beautiful church. (LG)

Singers Chris and Judy enjoy the stroll back to the hotel. (Photo by Molly Shortridge)

Michaelangelo's "David" is one of the great attractions of Florence. Here, a replica stands outside the City Hall.

"This is actually close to the original intended location for the real David.  An exterior, not interior, location was chosen, so, expecting that it would be viewed from a distance, Michaelangelo made David's hands and feet abnormally large." (WH) 



"Our ticket to the Florence Accademia to see 'David.' Unfortunately, no photography is permitted inside. I didn't attempt a forbidden photo, fearing discovery and expulsion." (WH)

Soon the Singers were on their way to Lucca, about 50 miles distant from Florence. 

"On our way to our final concert in Lucca, we pass one of Lucca's most popular restaurants. It made me sad." (WH)


 Wil, I suppose a citizen of Lucca would be unhappy to run across an Olive Garden in the United States!


"We must park outside the city wall and walk into the city through a portal." (WH)



"A lovely walk takes us to our concert church." (WH)

Lee must have enjoyed the walk, too, and he sent this photo as proof. I'll bet Maggie, left, was eyeing that motorcycle, thinking how fast she could get to the church and give her feet a rest!

Finally, the group arrives at the Church of Santa Maria Corteorlandini, entering, I believe, by the medieval side door. The front of the church now has a Baroque façade.



"Unassuming from the outside, this Lucca church was where we gave our final concert to what was likely our most enthusiastic audience." (LG)



"Here Jim, Wil, and Karen enter the church." (LG)



Dan stops to see if they've put his name on the poster yet.



"Not a great photo, but a good example of how the exterior of some of these ancient churches give no indication of the beauty and majesty of the space within. One is awed by the creativity of design and the size and quality of the handiwork of these ancient artisans." (LG)

 

Both Lee and Wil took pictures of the rear of this church. Both were impressed with the chandelier in the organ gallery, backlighted by the sun. Can you tell which man took which photo?

On Sunday, the Market Square Singers left for Rome for a few days of concert-free touring.



"Some of The Pines of Rome on the way to one of The Fountains of Rome." (WH)


The Roman Colosseum is perhaps the most famous of all the sights in Rome. It is the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering. This amphitheater could seat 50,000 spectators in its heyday. Now it remains partially ruined because of damage caused by devastating earthquakes and stone-robbers. Still, it's a breath-taking symbol of Imperial Rome. Wil Hemminger took this picture.






"Tour guide Luigi gives advice to Karen on what sites and sights to see." (WH)

Rome's first aqueduct supplied a water-fountain sited at the city's cattle-market. By the 3rd century AD, the city had eleven aqueducts, to sustain a population of over 1,000,000 in a water-extravagant economy; most of the water supplied the city's many public baths.

Cities and municipalities throughout the Roman Empire emulated this model and funded aqueducts as objects of public interest and civic pride, "an expensive yet necessary luxury to which all could, and did, aspire."

Most Roman aqueducts proved reliable, and durable; some were maintained into the early modern era, and a few are still partly in use. Here's one Wil spotted in Rome.

"Ruins of an aqueduct on the Palatine Hill." (WH)



Here's a prettier example left by the Romans in southern France, nearly intact today after 20 centuries.

This brings to an end our entry for today. Perhaps some photos will arrive tomorrow, when the Market Square Singers will head home. No matter when we receive the photos, we hope to conclude this blog and bring the story full circle.