Cruising the Ocklawaha River

Jenny and I having a great day boating on the Ocklawaha River.

Kayaking in Weeki Wachee Springs

Mother’s Day weekend ended with a lovely afternoon kayaking in Weeki Wachee Springs. 

Liz, Jon, and Jenny.

Mom.

Myself with mom and Liz.

Myself with Jon and Jenny.

 Myself with Jenny and mom.

Liz (with an egret).

A manatee coming up for air. 

Afternoon Tea 2024

For Mother’s Day weekend my sister Liz kept with tradition and booked another afternoon tea experience. This year we went to William Dean Chocolates.

Jenny and Liz.

Mom and myself. Photo by Liz Kasper.

Mom and Liz.

Jenny and myself. Photo by Liz Kasper.

The sweet and savory scones.

Sandwiches and savory snacks.

The assorted sweets.

Mom and Jenny.

Mom.

Liz, mom, and Jenny.

Myself, Liz, mom, and Jenny.

Mom and Liz.

Mom and Jenny.

Mom and myself. Photo by Jenny Kasper.

Trevi Fountain and The Return Home

Later that evening we visited the Trevi Fountain. Designed by Nicola Salvi and completed in 1762, it is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome.

We all took turns tossing a coin over our shoulder to ensure our return.

Mom and dad.

We had our final dinner in Rome at Enoteca Barberini. I had the pasta with tomato and mozzarella sauce.

Liz had a delightful caprese salad.

The next morning we were up early to catch our flight back home.

The sunrise on the way to the airport.

Our flight back home took us over the incredible Swiss Alps. 

Flying over Zurich and its beautiful lake.

Campo de’ Fiori

After visiting the glorious St. Peter’s Basilica we headed to the earthly garden that is Campo de’ Fiori market. Back in the Middle Ages the area was a meadow and the name Campo de’ Fiori translates to “field of flowers.” 

The market has been operating since 1869. 

Treating myself to some fresh squeezed pomegranate juice.

Liz (towards the right) checking out the produce.

Jenny enjoying the flowers and a vendor’s adorable little black dog.

 Vibrant produce on display.

At the center of the square is a statue of Giordano Bruno. He was born in Naples in 1548 and had become a Dominican Friar in his early twenties. He was interested in forbidden books and became controversial for his free thinking. When it was discovered he was hiding a copy of the banned writings of Erasmus, he fled Naples and traveled around Europe for a number of years. Having a fantastic memory and a keen intellect, he published several books and even gained the patronage of King Henry III of France. 

He was most known for his cosmology and the belief that stars were distant suns surrounded by other plants that may contain life. He wrote that other planets “have no less virtue nor a nature different from that of our Earth” and similarly, “contain animals and inhabitants”.

He came back to Italy and was turned over to the Roman Inquisition for accusations of heresy, blasphemy, and immoral conduct. He refused to recant and was burned alive at the stake at Campo de’ Fiori on February 17th, 1600. 

His contributions to modern science are still controversial, as he seems to stand on the threshold between the old ways of thinking and the beginnings of modern intellectualism. Many still regard him as symbol of free thought and a martyr of science. The statue was dedicated in his memory by sculptor Ettore Ferrari in 1889. 

Zucchini flowers.

This vendor displaying piles of sliced vegetables.

All the colorful tomatoes.

Dad with his fresh squeezed mango juice.

Dad’s and my shadow cast over the bouquets of flowers.

A flower vendor crafting beautiful bouquets.

Mom and Jenny. 

Mom, dad, and Jenny.

Jenny and dad (towards the left).

We ate lunch at Cantina & Cucina. I got the Tonnarello Cacio e Pepe, and we also got fried artichoke to share. Jenny’s tomato and pasta is on the top right.