Italian Super Blood Moon

If I am ever a bartender this is the first drink I'm going to invent. If I am ever a fiction/fantasy writer of vampire novels targeting the 13-17 demographic this will be the title of my first best seller. Also, band name. Actual Italian super blood moon, however, turned out to be largely a bust. The full eclipse happen about 4:50am here. This morning I managed to get out of bed (without awaking any little monsters) and walk the 1/2 mile to the river for the unobstructed views of the dense clouds (it was, ironically, a beautifully clear day today after about 9am) where the slightly bigger than normal full and ruddy moon should have been hovering just over the sheer cliff face of a majestic mountain. The moon did peek out a couple of times for upwards of tens of seconds, so that was nice. I did take a (horrible) photo of the moon during one of its cruel flirtations with photo-ability just to justify standing alone on a bridge in the chilly dark. As a consolation I give you a picture of this fully illuminated wig shop, which was particularly creepy at 5 in the morning. You're welcome. I also managed to get all the way back home without getting mugged, which was Christine's biggest irrational fear (she insisted that I take my passport; you know, so I could be identified).

Castello Del Buonconsiglio

Saturday morning we decided to visit Castello del Buonconsiglio.  This castle is in the middle of the city and is one of the major tourist attractions of Trento. It is most famous for being immediately adjacent to Maya's school. The original section of the castle was built in the 13th century. It was in use as a castle (and incrementally expanded) until 1803. The principle expansions were all done by household names like: Bishop George of Liechtenstein, Johannes Hinderbach, Bishop Bernardo Clesio, and Bishop Francesco Alberti Poja; men who obviously need no further introductions. The Austrians used it as barracks and/or a prison during the First World War. In the 20's (when this part of the world was returned to Italy) the castle and grounds became a national museum and was restored to its current glory. A related and (mildly) interesting fact: "buon consiglio" translates to "good advice". Spoiler alert: we received no advice, good or bad, while visiting the castle. My advice is to remember that 2 year olds are horrible people (to visit antiquities with). In the end we had an enjoyable (enough) time and nothing was permanently damaged. After our morning of seeing of said site, we had a quick lunch and a much needed nap. In the afternoon we went to the playground near Lago di Levico and enjoyed dinner at the Picco's.

 (frescoes)

 (salvaged reliefs)

(cat mummy) (obviously)

(Egyptian funerary mask) (why? what do you keep in your Italian castle?)

(architectural embellishment of staircase railing)

(the soft glow of the illusion of stillness)

(roasting unicorn) (this is why unicorns are now extinct)

(Augusto Tower)

(views from a loggia in the International Gothic style, obviously)

(dude hanging out at a hole in the wall)

(not a new book)

(not a new metal tablet)

(courtyard fountain)

(this was in the fun house mirror room)

(fancy ceiling) (Cora asked for this ceiling in her house)

(band of angels)

(this lady was holding a plate of eyeballs) (St Lucia of Syracuse)

(Madonna and most of Child) (Cora asked "why are there so many babies?")

(painted ceiling)

(flower and bug)

(Castle grounds)

(children not being still)

(discussion about the virtues of archery as home protection)

(flower and bugs)

(exterior wall and grape vines)