Author Archives: AlexLevy

About AlexLevy

Dr. Alex Levy is a retired English teacher who survived World War II and the "Final Solution" by hiding in a Catholic orphanage for girls in Belgium for several years.

“Good Morning, Teacher!”

Each year, George Washington High School, whose total enrolment was about 4,000 students, admitted nearly a thousand students “over the counter,” which meant that they were most often kids straight from Santo Domingo and parts thereabouts.  They spoke only Spanish, … Continue reading

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Back at Mount Desert Island

After we left Italy, we returned home and decided to spend a week at our regular campground in Maine.  We drove all night, and arrived in front of the ranger station at about 5:00 AM, and went to sleep, second … Continue reading

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Souvenirs de Florence

In Florence there are three Davids.  One, the original, by Michelangelo, is in the Accademia Gallery, where tourists come to stare at him.  I did that too, but I wondered why.  What can one know or feel about a piece … Continue reading

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San Gimigniano and Nabucco

San Gimignano is a small village in the Chianti producing district of Tuscany, not far from Voltera.  When I first saw it in the distance it looked like a series of skyscrapers against the horizon.  However, I caught myself, realizing … Continue reading

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More Music in Venice

Our last evening in Venice was an interesting one.  As usual, we had come into the city by ferry, and now had to make certain that we would catch the last ferry back to Punta Sabioni at 10 PM, which … Continue reading

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Venice, and More Music

When we visited Venice, we didn’t actually stay in the city.  We camped just outside of it, at a campground in Punta Sabioni, from where we could reach Venice by ferry in about twenty minutes.  The ferry ride was picturesque, … Continue reading

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Ravello and a Musical Interlude

On one of our outings from La Tranquilita, we had lunch in Amalfi, complete with digestive liqueur, and then drove up, up, up to Ravello by way of a long, winding road.  To say that Ravello is incredibly beautiful is … Continue reading

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Priaino

In southern Italy, the Amalfi Coast stretches from Naples to Sorrento. There may be morebeautiful places in the world, but I don’t know of any.  It is all joined by a high coastal highway of one lane in each direction … Continue reading

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Visit to the Vatican

When in Rome, do as the Romans do; and so I joined the  Roman population which seemed to enjoy standing still in traffic jams in Fiats.  I rented a Fiat, and joined the “fun”. In Rome there were so many … Continue reading

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Rome, the Spanish Steps

From pasta to opera, I’ve always loved things Italian, and have always regretted not being able to speak the language.  So, when Linda proposed that we celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary by going to Italy, I was delighted, although I’m … Continue reading

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