Living La Dolce Vita

Day 9

This morning we set out early for Rome with a stop at Pisa on the way.

Pisa

© A product of Silence

Pisa

© A Product of Silence

Although it was really wet this did not diminish the excitement of visiting such a well known attraction. Pisa a very interesting place. The tower is set in a walled square with several other buildings made of Marble. They are stunning to look at and the lean on the tower is really something to see. It is however was not as big as I expected it to be. I decided not to climb to the top.  After our claustrophobic climb up the Nave wall yesterday I’d seen enough of the inside of such a confined space for a while.

We ate lunch at Pisa while we perused the many stalls selling souvenirs and arrived at our hotel in Rome at 5.30. The hotel Domus Sessoriana, lies inside an Archaeological complex, consisting of the Basilica of Holy Cross in Jerusalem and the ruins of the last roman Emperors residence.  The Basilica houses a piece of the Holy cross and it and the hotel are incredibly beautiful to look at both inside and out and afforded us a very comfortable stay. The hotel boasted its own restaurant which is where we had our meals in Rome and a roof terrace offering a magnificent view of the city.

Domus Sessoriana Rome

© A Pruduct of Silence

Seeing the ancient ruins and parts of old stone walls scattered amongst very modern buildings was a constant source of wonder as we moved around Rome.

Going Home

Part 45

Smiling at him Grace wrapped her arm around his waist and they walked down the slope and up over the next rise.

At the top Josh looked down over place where Gavin was fatally injured. Then pulling Grace into his arms he laid to rest the event that had cast a shadow over him for half his life. Grace was right, now he’d been back he knew that he would no longer dread it. He won’t have to steer his mind away from this spot anymore when he thought of the farm. As Josh realised this he felt an amazing sense of relief that he no longer had to work to keep this place from entering his thoughts and looking down at Grace he smiled “thanks.”

Smiling back at him Grace said “sure.”

Strolling back to the bikes Josh was glad he went but all the accompanying emotion had worn him out and as soon as they reached the spot they had left the bikes he pulled out the blanket they had brought to eat lunch on. Shaking it out, he lay down under the tree, with his hands behind his head. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath Josh relaxed for a minute. As he felt Grace sit down beside him he opened his eyes again and looked at her profile. She was so beautiful and reaching out he ran a finger down her arm.

Feeling the caress Grace looked back at him over her shoulder and smiled. Turning and leaning over she moved towards him. She felt Josh’s arms wrap around her before she had even reached him and finding his mouth, she kissed him.

As she settled next to him Josh pinned her down with his leg and when she broke the contact with his mouth he looked at her for a minute before closing his eyes again and pulling her close, breathing in her scent.

Grace smiled. She was glad Josh had managed to do this. She wasn’t sure she’d have coped so well in a similar situation.

Going Home

Part 44

Josh looked at Grace the next morning as she sat on the dirt bike. His expression was concerned. “You sure you’re going to be okay?”

Putting on her helmet Grace nodded, she hadn’t told Josh that although she hasn’t ridden for years, growing up with three brothers she had a go at everything they did including riding motorbikes. So pretending to be unsure she said “don’t worry I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it.”

But Josh was still looking worried as they start out.

However within minutes Josh laughed as he realised Grace had obviously done this before. He made a mental note to make her pay for that little omission.

After about ten minutes riding Josh signaled to Grace to pull up and turned off his bike. They were at one of the spots he used to escape to when he was a kid. There was a huge tree on the bank of a creek. Unfortunately it was now nothing but a dry bed with the water long since dried up.

As Grace took off her helmet she looked around. It was a beautiful spot but she had no idea why Josh had brought her there. He was very vague when she’d asked him and she didn’t understand why.

Still sitting on his bike Josh removed his helmet and stared off to the left.

He appeared lost in his thoughts. Watching him Grace wondered why he looked so grim all of a sudden and getting off her bike she walked over to him. The fact that she got close enough to lay a hand on his arm without him even noticing, told her that something big had a hold on him.

As her touch pulled him back to the present he turned his head. His expression was bleak.  “Tell me” Grace said.

Pointing back to where he was looking Josh said “just over that next rise….” But then he stopped, he couldn’t say it.

Looking at him Grace asked “Gavin?”

Josh nodded and looked down at the bike.

Lifting her hand and rubbing his back Grace could feel tears burning her eyes and as he reached out and pulls her close, holding her tight, she realised she wasn’t the only one crying. Josh’s grip on her was so tight Grace had trouble breathing after a while but she didn’t care she could feel the tension in his body.

Finally stirring Josh lifted his head.

 Looking at him for a minute Grace pulled his head towards her and kisses him. Not a kiss to stir him to passion but a sweet kiss to comfort him. Then stepping back and grabbing his hand she said “let’s walk over there.”

Josh just looked at her frowning. He didn’t want to go any closer just being this close hurt enough.

Seeing the look Grace sighed and tried again “Josh I think you need to face it, then it won’t have the power to hurt you anymore.”

Still unsure Josh looked at her for moment then lifting his leg over the bike stood next to her. Putting his arm around her shoulders he kissed her and resigned, said “let’s do it then.”

Betrayal

Sarah pulled up in the driveway and turning off the ignition, she bit her lip to stop it trembling. Her husband’s car was in the drive way ahead of hers and sandwiched between them was her best friend Gayle’s. She had been told that they met here at this time of day when she would normally have been at work, but she didn’t really believe it until she saw both cars. Now she was having trouble breathing. How could they do this to her? And in her own home no less. She just couldn’t get her head around it. Even with the evidence in front of her, her mind was frantically searching for another explanation as to why they were both here together. But deep down she knew there wasn’t one.

What she had to do now was to work out what to do about it. If she went in there and confronted them there was no going back. It would mean the end of her marriage and no end of upheaval for the kids. How could she do that to them? But then could she cope with the alternative. Could she face either her husband or her friend, knowing what she did and pretend it wasn’t happening? She needed to think. Backing out of the driveway she drove a short distance down the street and parked. 

With all her heart she wished she hadn’t come. She wished that well meaning person had never told her what was going on. While she was ignorant, she was happy. But they had told her and she had come and now her head hurt. But it caused her nowhere near as much pain as her heart. She had trusted them both and they had betrayed her in the worst way possible. As she sat there tears began to fall and she was powerless to stop them. Leaning her arms on the steering wheel she put her head on her arms as sobs racked her body.

Living La Dolce Vita

Day 8

© A Product of Silence

Today we set off for a tour of two Tuscan towns. The first was San Gimignano, where we picked up our tour guide for the day, a man who was incredibly knowledgable and at times quite funny. San Gimiginano is an old town set in the side of a hill, with narrow, steep streets and beautiful old buildings. 

San Gimignano

© A Product of Silence

The next town we visited was Siena. Here we had lunch in the square where they hold the Siena il Palio. This is horse race that takes place in the main square of Siena twice a year, on July 2nd and August sixteen. The horses that compete come from the seventeen neighbourhoods of Siena. The inhabitants of these neighbourhoods do everything they can to make sure their horse wins.  Our guide told us that this race is all about the horses rather than the riders and the winning horses have been known to be ridden into the buildings of their neighbourhood as part of the celebrations. 

Siena

© A Product of Silence

After a lunch spent imaging the horse racing around the stone square we commenced what became the longest tour of our lives. Having already spent the morning walking, this tour started at 2.15 and finally finished at 6pm and involved continuous walking up and down the steep streets of Sienna. We visited some amazing buildings, including Siena Cathedral where, we undertook a hair raising climb up the inside of unfinished Nave wall. It involved a long, tight spiral staircase and was the first time I've ever felt slightly claustaphobic. However at the top we were rewarded with the most incredible view over the city at dusk. 

Siena Cathedral

© A Product of Silence

After such a full day, heading out of Siena, all we wanted to do was sit down. However this was not to be. On leaving the city we then undertook a further half hour walking tour as we searched for our missing bus. 

On board at last and off our feet, we headed back to Florence, stopping for dinner on the way. Now I have to say that meal consisted of some of the most delicious pizza I've ever eaten, but I’m not sure if this was actually due to the pizza or because by then we were so exhausted and starving anything would have tasted good.

 Arriving back at the hotel at ten o’clock, we gratefully fell into bed.