Tracks of the StoneBear Odyssey ROF = Ring of Fire: March 2016

Monday, March 28, 2016

Covered Bridges ALAbama

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ROF= Ring of fire journey

Saturday March 26, 2016

Blount County, ALAbama   Covered Bridges 

We've seen some covered bridges in quaint places like Tennessee, Maine, the Canadian Maritime Provinces, but we have a few unique treasures right here in ALAbama.  

Head up Hwy 75 into Blount county, Alabama   

There are still a few preserved relics of covered bridges. 

A couple have had some renovation to keep them operable. 

Warning signs for a 3 ton Limit. I don't believe I'd try to cross in an Escalade with the family. 

This is the Locust Fork stream/river of the Warrior River... the headwaters of The Black Warrior River.

You never drink twice from the same stream. 

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Bologna, Italy 3

ITL Bologna 3

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ROF= Ring of fire journey

ITL= Italy Journey 

Thursday November 19, 2015

Bologna, Italy 3 more 1st day late afternoon

Exiting the Cathedral you take a minute to gain your composure. I want to go on to the other dome I saw from the plaza square.

Headed towards a street to the dome... a couple of street musicians are there hustling up a few bucks by their music talent. An acoustical guitar & a squeezebox accordion... these guys were good. A LOT of spirit, energy, enthusiasm in their music. Of course I had to drop a Euro in their case. I appreciate talent... musical, paint, sculpture.... All of it!!! It's the sciences, Math/ geometry/ algebra/ building/ engineering/ mechanical that we do to MAKE a living. It's the Arts.... Music/ dance/ paint/ sculpture/ literature/ poetry that we LIVE for.  

I respect the spirit of street musicians, starving artists by choice, that say let's get out today and hustle up some bucks. You know.... eat, pay the rent, make a buck for a date tonight w/ a lady. Those are my kind of people. I always make sure to put something in the guitar case. ... I give them my respect with a small donation and a big thank you. 

 Absolutely fantastic.

Down the small Bologna street a few blocks and come to the Two Towers. There is a leaning tower in Bologna. (Pisa is well known for it's leaning tower... Bologna is as phenomenal!)   

 Wikipedia: the famous Two Towers: the Asinelli Tower (97 m) and the Garisenda Tower (48 m).

 None of this was planned so it's a real treat to see this.

They are located at the intersection of the roads that lead to the five gates of the old ring wall (mura dei torresotti). It was located at the site of the early medieval Gate to the Via Emilia, the Porta Ravennate, now remembered by the name of the adjacent Piazza di Porta Ravegnana. The taller tower is called the Asinelli while the smaller but more leaning tower is called the Garisenda

 Amazing history here. ?Did I mention I liked Bologna?

There was street work nearby that had the entrance of the dome cathedral closed so I missed that. 

The rest of the afternoon walked the side streets and backtracked to the main drag and back to the apartment by dusk. 

Going by il Portico, Paolo's restaurant the bread smelled wonderful. we'll come back for a kings dinner after we regroup.  ...also see Paolo's il Portico restaurant blog post.

This was a walk through mid evil Europe as good as it gets. A small city, easily walked sights, great architecture, great history, great Cathedrals and sights, great people,... Bologna was the best of Italy. 

A good day. 

You never drink twice from the same stream.

Friday, March 18, 2016

Bologna, Italy 2

ITL  Bologna  2  

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ROF= Ring of fire journey

ITL= Italy Journey 

Thursday November 19, 2015

Bologna, Italy 2 afternoon

The Bologna Old City Square, Piazza Maggiore,/ Neptune fountain is only 5 blocks from the apartment. 

In the Plaza square is a large fountain. Beautiful sculpture. It's the Neptune Fountain with 4 mermaids at the corners. Absolutely beautiful. Of course I have to throw a coin in the fountain; I do hope to return here one day.

On the right/ east side is an old brick 5 story building. Arches in the brickwork. Several 10'x 10' large white squares on the wall face. Inside is small 3" squares... it's black & white photos.  

Along the base of the wall are some flower bouquets, a couple of wreaths. This is the Bologna Veterans memorial. ?Is this the Veterans Administration building? No,... It's the city library. 

Across the square is a huge wall of a building. The top half is a brown brickwork. Workers are in the middle of the square breaking down a platform stage where a festival is over. Missed that... would liked to have been here a couple days earlier to see the performances. There is always some artistic something going on in all of these Italian cities. It's just the normal artistic culture here... this is normal life here.

Go over to the huge wall building. Marble steps up to the entrance platform. 20' wooden doors. In & it's the city cathedral, The Basilica of San Petronio. The huge brown brick wall is deceiving,... it's the end of the cathedral hall, The construction started in the middle ages, 1390. 400' long,x 190' wide, x 150' high...

... it is overwhelming to stand on the marble floor tile work, turn and look at the artistic craftsmanship of the sanctuary and breath the air of this sacred place. It is humbling; I stand in awe. ... and have to take a few minutes to say a prayer for Sons.

Speechless!!!

Inside the Basilica is breathtaking beautiful. These pictures can't even capture the magnificence of this 700 year old Cathedral.

Just breathtaking to stand here.

You could spend days here... it's that powerful. 

After a while you just have to exit & go on.  

And there are shops with GREAT food at affordable prices. Do eat a bologna samich when in Bologna. You won't be dissapointed.

On past the square I can see the top of a cathedral dome a few blocks further on and some masonry brick towers. Let's go see what this is about.

Bologna is a wonderful city to explore. It's one of my favorite stops on this journey. Wait 'til you see what's on the other side of the square... down two blocks. ... also see the Bologna 3 post.

You never drink twice from the same stream.