Caffe Rivoire, Firenze: Tales of Tourists Walking Around Aimlessly
Sunday, August 25, 2019
A Revolutionary Summer…
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Arab Spring got you on edge? Here’s a Revolution that might sooner bring the edge down on you!
Tales of Tourists Walking Around Aimlessly: Florence, Italy
Friday, August 23, 2019
Ah, beautiful Florence Italy. Nestled in the hills of Tuscany, this one time medieval colossus thrives today as a mecca for tourists, students, and artists. Home to Renaissance superstars such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Giotto, and Botticelli. Does the world’s next great artist walk these streets today, disguised as an unsuspecting tourist? Only posterity can know, next time on TALES OF TOURISTS WALKING AROUND AIMLESSLY!
Happy Birthday, Jackie!
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Jacopo Peri, the original opera man, was born today in 1561. Play it again, Marco!
Revolutionary Dayz
Sunday, August 4, 2019
As we observe (or some of us anyway) the details of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak’s trial, many are reminded of how remarkable Egypt’s non-violent overthrow was. Really. If it was in France it would have been a bloody mess…
–One more time with feeling!
History Schmistory: When In Rome
Friday, June 28, 2019
“When in Rome do as the Romans do” is a commonly used idiom. An example of its use in a conversation would go something like this:
Person #1: “I refuse to try that sushi!”
Person #2: “C’mon, try it! When in Rome do as the Romans do.” which means, when in a new place behave like they do.
We may understand the meaning of the saying but do we know the origin of it? Well, it all started back in the 16th century when Saint Ambrose, bishop of Milan gave some good advice to Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo. Saint Augustine had asked Saint Ambrose if they should fast on Saturdays, like the Romans did. Ambrose replied by saying, “When I am here, I do not fast on Saturday; when I am in Rome, I fast on Saturday.” Of course he said this in Latin but that’s beside the point. Eventually this turned into the phrase that we know today. So when in Rome, fare come i romani!
History Schmistory, June 24: Dance Dance Revolution!
Monday, June 24, 2019
1374 – A sudden outbreak of St. John’s Dance caused people in the streets of Aachen, Germany, to experience hallucinations and begin to jump and twitch uncontrollably until they collapse from exhaustion.This phenomena, know as “Dancing Mania” spread throughout Europe over the next few decades.
And still continues to effect “victims” all over the world today…
Featured Video: Louis XVI Takes a Selfie
Friday, June 21, 2019
MarcoNaut, Matt, telling us about his experience at Versailles!
http://youtu.be/CvMSYV_acpE
History Schmistory, June 16: Wait, She Didn’t Die?
Sunday, June 16, 2019
1567 – Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned in Lochleven Castle prison in Scotland. While we had mentioned in a previous “History Schmistory” that Monty Python says Ms. Mary dies, we were on a mission to find the REAL story. Take that Monty!
In case you missed it, here’s another clip of Mr. Python’s take on the Q of S….
