| I was sitting in the U. S. Military compound in Vicenza, | | | | Vicenza, Italy assigned to a nuclear site nearby, it was |
| Italy assigned to a nuclear site nearby, it was | | | | seemingly built during WWII, I presume so, it looked |
| seemingly built during WWII, I presume so, it looked | | | | much before my time anyhow, larger bricks than |
| much before my time anyhow, larger bricks than | | | | normal, than contemporary that is, old mortar |
| normal, than contemporary that is, old mortar | | | | in-between them. At first I took a liking to the place, it |
| in-between them. At first I took a liking to the place, it | | | | wasn’t big by acreage, but the city would |
| wasn’t big by acreage, but the city would | | | | tranquilize me much more, later on. It was a short bus |
| tranquilize me much more, later on. It was a short bus | | | | ride away. And the nuclear site was beyond the city |
| ride away. And the nuclear site was beyond the city | | | | limits out in kind of an isolated area, more rustic |
| limits out in kind of an isolated area, more rustic | | | | geology.I had arrived to this duty station from Fort |
| geology.I had arrived to this duty station from Fort | | | | Rucker in Alabama, where I had been a Staff |
| Rucker in Alabama, where I had been a Staff | | | | Sergeant, aviation school for helicopter pilots, in the |
| Sergeant, aviation school for helicopter pilots, in the | | | | United States. During the in processing, at this Italian |
| United States. During the in processing, at this Italian | | | | compound, my new duty station (for a month), I was |
| compound, my new duty station (for a month), I was | | | | ordered to attend a two-week class on Italian culture, |
| ordered to attend a two-week class on Italian culture, | | | | and its language; the building was on the compound |
| and its language; the building was on the compound | | | | and not all that from barracks. I didn’t really |
| and not all that from barracks. I didn’t really | | | | care to jump into my new duties, it was much more |
| care to jump into my new duties, it was much more | | | | revitalizing to take it at a slow pace and I got my |
| revitalizing to take it at a slow pace and I got my | | | | wish.It was the first of April 1980, a chill was in the air, |
| wish.It was the first of April 1980, a chill was in the air, | | | | one that provoked you to wear a sweater, or a ting |
| one that provoked you to wear a sweater, or a ting | | | | heavier cloths; also, it was starting to rain, and the big |
| heavier cloths; also, it was starting to rain, and the big | | | | toads of the nuclear site were carrying their young on |
| toads of the nuclear site were carrying their young on | | | | their backs, I think the mud was too much for |
| their backs, I think the mud was too much for | | | | them.—“It is finished!” said my |
| them.—“It is finished!” said my | | | | instructor of the cultural program (it was Friday), I do |
| instructor of the cultural program (it was Friday), I do | | | | not think there were grades handed out, I can’t |
| not think there were grades handed out, I can’t | | | | remember, only attendance was marked each day |
| remember, only attendance was marked each day | | | | and afternoon; so we all passed with flying colors. |
| and afternoon; so we all passed with flying colors. | | | | There were perhaps twenty of us in class, the new |
| There were perhaps twenty of us in class, the new | | | | troops on the block, you could say. I put my hat on my |
| troops on the block, you could say. I put my hat on my | | | | head and motioned farewell to the teacher with a |
| head and motioned farewell to the teacher with a | | | | quick ‘Thanks,’ and started to leave the |
| quick ‘Thanks,’ and started to leave the | | | | room.“Wait a little,” said she to the class, |
| room.“Wait a little,” said she to the class, | | | | as they had also stood up to go to lunch at the mess |
| as they had also stood up to go to lunch at the mess | | | | hall. “,,,today if you want I can take a group of |
| hall. “,,,today if you want I can take a group of | | | | you after lunch to the downtown area to see a few |
| you after lunch to the downtown area to see a few | | | | sights, the market, and [a pause as if she didn’t |
| sights, the market, and [a pause as if she didn’t | | | | want to commit herself too deep], and we shall see |
| want to commit herself too deep], and we shall see | | | | what is open to visit.”So now, going along the |
| what is open to visit.”So now, going along the | | | | busy streets in a bus were several of us uniformed |
| busy streets in a bus were several of us uniformed | | | | soldiers, with an Italian lady that spoke not perfect |
| soldiers, with an Italian lady that spoke not perfect | | | | English, but good enough, “Use your new |
| English, but good enough, “Use your new | | | | words…” she suggested to us as we |
| words…” she suggested to us as we | | | | had previously entered the bus, and now I was indeed |
| had previously entered the bus, and now I was indeed | | | | using them to excuse myself from constantly bumping |
| using them to excuse myself from constantly bumping | | | | into everyone; the bus, or the driver or perhaps the |
| into everyone; the bus, or the driver or perhaps the | | | | cobblestone road made me look clumsy, it was ever |
| cobblestone road made me look clumsy, it was ever | | | | five minutes I had to pardon myself.The inner-city |
| five minutes I had to pardon myself.The inner-city | | | | center was about three miles away, there was a |
| center was about three miles away, there was a | | | | marketplace we stopped at first, a long row of large |
| marketplace we stopped at first, a long row of large | | | | umbrellas, and a long building to its side, I walked up to |
| umbrellas, and a long building to its side, I walked up to | | | | the second floor looked over the balcony, and then |
| the second floor looked over the balcony, and then | | | | joined the rest of the group again: checking out some |
| joined the rest of the group again: checking out some | | | | of the merchandise in the process. They were selling |
| of the merchandise in the process. They were selling | | | | cloths, fruits, and other items, many things.“Your |
| cloths, fruits, and other items, many things.“Your | | | | Italian is already useful to you,” she commented |
| Italian is already useful to you,” she commented | | | | to me, as we wedged through the people of the city |
| to me, as we wedged through the people of the city | | | | on the city’s streets, then we went through an |
| on the city’s streets, then we went through an | | | | archway and down to the 16th century (1550 AD) |
| archway and down to the 16th century (1550 AD) | | | | building known as Palazzo Chiericati the Museum of |
| building known as Palazzo Chiericati the Museum of | | | | Vicenza now; this building was once completely |
| Vicenza now; this building was once completely | | | | surrounded by water. Like the basilica (completed in |
| surrounded by water. Like the basilica (completed in | | | | 1617 AD), it follows classical prototypes with the Doric |
| 1617 AD), it follows classical prototypes with the Doric | | | | order. Similarly, this civic building has open loggias; the |
| order. Similarly, this civic building has open loggias; the | | | | strong horizontality is countered by statues on the flat |
| strong horizontality is countered by statues on the flat | | | | roof, which punctuate the vertical elements; this building, |
| roof, which punctuate the vertical elements; this building, | | | | along with others was designed [architecture] by |
| along with others was designed [architecture] by | | | | Pallidio; perhaps that is why the city is called, |
| Pallidio; perhaps that is why the city is called, | | | | “The Designers City.”The Biblioteca |
| “The Designers City.”The Biblioteca | | | | [Library] founded by Demetrio Zaccarie, has some |
| [Library] founded by Demetrio Zaccarie, has some | | | | 35,000 books. And the river that runs through is the |
| 35,000 books. And the river that runs through is the | | | | Bacchiglione. But even more than the renowned |
| Bacchiglione. But even more than the renowned | | | | Palazzo Chiericati, what stuck me was the Tleatro |
| Palazzo Chiericati, what stuck me was the Tleatro | | | | Olimpico (1580 AD) [Teatro Olimpico di Vicenza] a |
| Olimpico (1580 AD) [Teatro Olimpico di Vicenza] a | | | | most beautiful three-dimensional stage type theater. |
| most beautiful three-dimensional stage type theater. | | | | We all sat on the wooden rotunda like step-seats, and |
| We all sat on the wooden rotunda like step-seats, and | | | | listened to the history by its caretaker of sorts. Like a |
| listened to the history by its caretaker of sorts. Like a | | | | number of other buildings in Vicenza, Andrea Pallidio |
| number of other buildings in Vicenza, Andrea Pallidio | | | | also designed this one. Actually this was his last work, |
| also designed this one. Actually this was his last work, | | | | and perhaps his best. Your eye will be rapidly caught |
| and perhaps his best. Your eye will be rapidly caught | | | | by the stage as mine was, at the center of which is a |
| by the stage as mine was, at the center of which is a | | | | large arch capped by the emblem of the town. The |
| large arch capped by the emblem of the town. The | | | | main body of the stage represents a square, while |
| main body of the stage represents a square, while | | | | behind it are the five streets of Tebe, created by |
| behind it are the five streets of Tebe, created by | | | | Scamozzi who went beyond Palladio's original |
| Scamozzi who went beyond Palladio's original | | | | intentions. We all were kind of uncultured, but we could |
| intentions. We all were kind of uncultured, but we could | | | | not help but be taken in by this masterpiece; it was |
| not help but be taken in by this masterpiece; it was | | | | across from the Museum.In addition to its building |
| across from the Museum.In addition to its building | | | | designs, I learned this city was famous for its wine, as |
| designs, I learned this city was famous for its wine, as | | | | well as its gold, as well as its underground tunnel |
| well as its gold, as well as its underground tunnel | | | | system. Hence, we walked, or I walked her streets until |
| system. Hence, we walked, or I walked her streets until | | | | dark that evening, and I’d return a number of |
| dark that evening, and I’d return a number of | | | | nights to visit her streets again, and buildings throughout |
| nights to visit her streets again, and buildings throughout | | | | my stay in this wondrous city, I had no idea would be |
| my stay in this wondrous city, I had no idea would be | | | | so amazing. |
| so amazing.I was sitting in the U. S. Military compound in | | | | |