Prisoner of Hopes

Category: History

  • Epistemology: Educating for Sanity

    Epistemology: Educating for Sanity

    Ever wonder how two people can look at the same issue, the same facts (transcript, video tape, testimony, etc.) or have the same exact experience and come away with completely different views about what happened? For centuries, humans have been wrestling with the question, “how can we really know anything.” As a freshman college student…

  • Empathy: Educating for Sanity

    Empathy: Educating for Sanity

    It has been a hard ten days. The turmoil in this country, the barrage of executive orders, the anger and accusation is exhausting. To be clear, I reject bigotry of all forms. I am saddened by the targeted attacks on public servants and the incivility on display by government officials. Most of all, I am…

  • Meandering: Travel Goals Italy

    Meandering: Travel Goals Italy

    With just a few days left in Italy, we drive over to Ivrea. We had driven through town earlier in the month and I was charmed. It seems like a good place to explore. The hardest part of exploring unknown areas in Italy is navigating parking. We try a parking lot next to the oldest…

  • Pavia, A Study In Honoring Tradition: Travel Goals Italy

    Pavia, A Study In Honoring Tradition: Travel Goals Italy

    Today we venture to the Italian city of Pavia. Home to one of the world’s oldest universities, final resting place of St. Augustine, the Southern seat of the Dukes of Milan; Pavia has a long and interesting history. The Castello Visconteo di Pavia is our first stop. Built in 1360 by the Lord of Milan,…

  • In search of the Shroud: Travel Goals Italy

    In search of the Shroud: Travel Goals Italy

    You can’t visit Turin without wondering about the mysterious shroud of Turin. The shroud first appeared in France in the 1300’s and was claimed to be the shroud that wrapped the body of Jesus after his crucifixion. While a bishop in the late 1300’s and dozens of scientists have called it a fake, the faithful…

  • Grand Torino: Travel Goals Italy

    Grand Torino: Travel Goals Italy

    With only one more day to spend with the siblings in Italy, we decide to head to Turin (Torino). This often overlooked town was the capitol of the Northern Roman Empire and the domain of the Savoy dynasty. There are more palaces in and around Turin than you will find in entire countries. The Palazzo…

  • Milano At a March: Travel Goals Italy

    Milano At a March: Travel Goals Italy

    It was a priority to see the Last Supper at the Santa Maria Delle Grazie in Milan. To get the tickets for Last Supper, we have to take a tour. I may have mentioned that I am generally not a tour person. I actually hate them. The Walking tour of Milan started at 8:15 am.…

  • Retracing Our Footsteps: Travel Goals Italy

    Retracing Our Footsteps: Travel Goals Italy

    Sometimes you encounter a place you can’t wait to share. I was captivated by Orta San Guilio and couldn’t wait to share it with my family. After excitedly sharing the virtues of a visit, we drove over on a bright Monday morning. The destination did not disappoint. First we trekked up the mountain to visit…

  • Valley of the Castles: Travel Goals Italy

    Valley of the Castles: Travel Goals Italy

    We are up at dawn. This is the first real adventure with my extended family. My brother drives us over the mountain in his rental car. I am now in the backseat. No longer the driver or the navigator, I am left to look out the side window. I try not to be a backseat…

  • The End of the Road: Travel Goals Italy

    The End of the Road: Travel Goals Italy

    Wanderlust…our internal yearning of wanting to see new things, hear new sounds, smell new smells….means that every day we venture out to parts unknown. We try to keep the destination within two hours drive to ensure we have enough time to enjoy each new spot without tiring or feeling rushed. We never know what we…