Bergamo - Day 13

Another great day as we travelled about 1 1/2 hours to Bergamo. Bergamo is divided into two sections: Citta alta (upper city, the ancient part) and Citta bassa (lower city, more modern). You can take a cable car up the mountain to the old city. It's actually a sweet deal because your bus pass will also work for the cable car. Both parts of the city are really beautiful, but we spent our day in the old city. Bergamo became a roman municipality in 49 BC. That just blows my mind. Bergamo is referred to in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer's Night Dream" and in Debussy's "Suite Bergamasque."

One of the main cathedrals, Santa Maria Maggiore, had a continuous tradition of music teaching and singing for more than 800 years, beginning in 1137. While we were inside the church, a man started playing the organ and it was an incredible experience to feel the music vibrate through that beautiful cathedral.

High above even the old city is another section called San Vigilio which can also be accessed by a cable car. That area is topped off by an ancient citadel built by the Viscontis beginning in 1331.

All in all it was an awesome day (with the exception of the VERY HOT train rides). Oh, and I should mention that Baylie had a little mishap. She was running on some uneven pavement, fell and hit her head on a curb. She got a little cut above her eye. We were so grateful that it wasn't more serious because we wouldn't have even known where to go for help. Plus, it's in her eyebrow, so even if it does scar, it won't show. She looks kind of pitiful running around with a big bandaid on her head though.

Tomorrow we're going to spend some time in Milan. It's not my favorite city in Italy, but the duomo there is amazing and not to be missed. We're also hoping to do some souvenier shopping since Pavia isn't exactly a tourist spot (although it should be). That will be our last day and then Sunday we head for home. I guess it's time to start worrying about getting bumped!

P.S. If you'd like a cold hard reality check regarding the U.S. economy, spend two weeks trying to live on the Euro where the dollar is worth only about half as much. Very painful.

My Mormon friends should appreciate this shot. (Moroni is a prophet in the Book of Mormon.)