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Thalia Toha's avatar

Mary Jane- Thanks so much for sharing this. I think this part to be especially interesting: "Just when I had done and was folding up my tripod, some sort of civic policeman came running up the stairs to apprehend me. I don’t know why they thought it was some sort of military secret?!” That must've been such a surprising feeling to have at the time! Enjoyed this piece. Hope you're well this week? Cheers, -Thalia

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Mary  Jane  Cryan's avatar

I was surpised to find this handwritten note from 20 years ago, and so glad to have made amends for the tacky greeting the town gave the eminent professor from London. I had to make amends by hand delivering my book that gave continuity to his research. On Dec 6 I am giving a presentation about these incredible English connections ,at our local library .Stay tuned .

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Mary  Jane  Cryan's avatar

we never stop learning... rovere is a type of quercia...dont ask me the difference... oak in its many forms... the story of Bainbridge gets gory but he wasnt such a saint either. They were rough times with Henry looking around for new wives, spies, power struggles and changes in religion... -

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aline dobrzensky's avatar

Just fascinating to read about Vetralla and I do hope to visit it one day

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Mary  Jane  Cryan's avatar

next time you are in central Italy you should stop by…

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Lenny Cavallaro's avatar

What a fascinating piece of history!

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Life Lived Italian's avatar

What a sleuth you are!! This is like a following a good detective story. And I love the Pope's gift to the English king. Who wouldn't protect the faith in exchange for one hundred wheels of Parmesan?

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Mary  Jane  Cryan's avatar

Eric, remind me to have a big hunk of Parmigiano vacuum packed for your next visit to Vetralla…as one does for royalty!

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Etta Madden's avatar

Thanks for this fascinating history connecting Italy and England! And, you drove me to look up quercia, which I understood as "oak," so I wanted to know what I was missing about "rovere." I learned a little bit in the process.

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Mary  Jane  Cryan's avatar

Before my talk on Royal English connections on 6 December in Vetralla, there will be another about the 1860 Risorgimental battles and international intrigues in Castelfidardo inLe March on ..20November.

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