Michelangelo Buonarroti was of noble birth, but was not raised by his parents.  His father had him brought up by a stone carver and his wife, because his own wife was too ill to take care of the child.  While living with his surrogate parents, young Michelangelo learned the skills that would serve him throughout his life., but his father was displeased when his son told him he wanted to be an artist, and it took much convincing for Michelangelo to be permitted to further his apprenticeship.

Michelangelo went on to study sculpture at Medici gardens, where, like Leonardo da Vinci, his talent was allowed to flourish by Lorenzo de Medici, patron of the arts, and ruler of Florence, who introduced him to the great thinkers of the renaissance.

Following his sojourn at Medici gardens, Michelangelo went to Bologna, then to Rome, where he saw the impressive marble statues which he would later echo in his own works.  Upon his return, he set out to create his first complete sculpture, as statue of  Mary holding Jesus’ lifeless body, known as La Pietà.  His first large scale commissioned work was the statue of Bacchus for a sculpture garden.

Shortly thereafter, he created one of his most important works, the statue of  David,  a commissioned piece symbolizing the liberation of the republic of Florence.  Michelangelo truly had achieved fame as an artist, and his talent became sought after by Pope Julius II, who asked him to embark on a very demanding artistic journey, a commission to paint the ceiling of the Sistine chapel in the Vatican.

At first, Michelangelo, who had been busy painting frescos in Pope Julius’ tomb, refused his successor’s request, feeling that the undertaking of such a monumental task would take him away from his first love, that of sculpture, but the Pope insisted, and his word prevailed.

Ironically, Michelangelo’s work on the chapel ceiling far exceeded the original outline of the commission, which called for twelve paintings instead, he covered the entire ceiling with over 300 figures, from The Creation of Adam to Noah and the great Deluge.  It is interesting to note that the Pope did not object to the large amount of nude figures in the paintings.  Michelangelo’s portrayal of women has also been the subject of speculation as to his sexual preference, as his depiction of Eve shows her as having very masculine features.

The next big commission for Michelangelo came when he was asked to paint the altar wall by Pope Clement VII, shortly before his death.  The fresco in question was that of  The Last Judgment, a vivid rendition of the Apocalypse and of Heaven and Hell.  In a comic twist, Biagio da Cesena, the master of ceremonies for the Vatican, who had denounced Michelangelo’s use of nude figures as inappropriate, was cast by Michelangelo as Minos walking through Hell, a serpent biting his genitalia.  Michelangelo himself appears on the fresco as the flayed skin of St-Bartholomew, and in the lower left hand corner, as one of the damned, looking earnestly at the dead, rising from their graves.

The Sistine chapel was to be the last of Michelangelo’s paintings, with his focus returning to his first love, that of sculpting. Later, shortly before his death, it was decided that Michelangelo’s nude figures would be censored, their sexes draped in cloth by an extra layer of paint.

The Spainsh team paraded through a sea of fans in Madrid on an open-top bus

Spain’s victorious World Cup squad have returned to Madrid amid scenes of joyous celebration in the capital city.

Hundreds of thousands of people lined a five-mile route as the team made their way through Madrid on an open-top bus.

Captain Iker Casillas had earlier carried the trophy down the steps of the plane as the squad made a triumphant return from South Africa.

The players then went on to meet Spain’s royal family and Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

And the celebrations concluded with the bus parade that snaked through the heart of Madrid, as firefighters hosed down fans sweltering in 40C temperatures and Spanish air force fighter jets flew overhead trailing the colours of the national flag.

The Spanish World Cup squad were greeted by King Juan Carlos

The parade came to a halt at the esplanade near the Puente del Rey, where the festivities were expected to continue officially until midnight.

European champions Spain won the World Cup for the first time in their history thanks to Andres Iniesta’s extra-time winner against the Netherlands in Johannesburg on Sunday, and many fans made the trip to Madrid’s Barajas Airport to greet the returning heroes.

The flight landed at 1338 local time with Spanish flags flying from the cockpit windows and two fire engines making a guard of honour with their jet streams.

The plane was emblazoned with the words ‘Campeones’ (Champions) and ‘Orgullosos de nuestra seleccion’ (Proud of our squad).

Casillas, who was in floods of tears after the final whistle at the Soccer City Stadium on Sunday night, again appeared to be on the verge of crying as he led his team across the tarmac to a waiting coach.

They were taken to a nearby hotel to eat and rest before heading to the Royal Palace for a reception with the Spanish royal family.

King Juan Carlos was accompanied by his wife, Queen Sofia, his eldest daughter, Princess Elena, and his son Prince Felipe and his wife Letizia.

“Thank you champions, in the name of all of Spain and all Spaniards,” he said after personally greeting each of the players.

“This is a well deserved victory for an exceptional team which thrilled the hearts of all Spaniards. You brought together all Spaniards, made our dreams a reality and projected the name of Spain around the world.”

Spanish commentary of Iniesta’s goal

The squad then moved on to the Moncloa Palace to be greeted by Prime Minister Zapatero, who singled out match-winner Iniesta for special praise.

Immediately after scoring the winning goal, the 26-year-old had taken off his Spain shirt to reveal a white T-shirt bearing the message: “Dani Jarque: always with us”.

Jarque collapsed and died at the age of 26 in August 2009 following a training session with his Espanyol team.

“He represents like no-one else good football and human qualities,” Zapatero said of Iniesta. “I want to make a special mention of somebody who yesterday remembered someone who is no longer with us when he scored the winning goal.

“There is no better role model for our youths, given his talent and personal qualities. Thank you Iniesta for remembering Dani yesterday during an unforgettable day for Spain.”

While the celebrations continued across Spain, the Dutch team were also given special treatment as they returned home on Monday and were escorted through Dutch airspace by two fighter jets, one of them orange.

The squad met Queen Beatrix at her palace in The Hague in the morning, followed by a boat tour through Amsterdam’s canals and a party in the city’s Museum Square.

“It’s a little bit strange to stand here now, we haven’t quite overcome the disappointment yet,” said coach Bert van Marwijk.

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Facts & Figures

Don’t postpone your trip to Kili too long as you might miss one of the most prominent features: the snow and ice… Unfortunately the beautiful Kili glaciers are retreating fast (last year the NY post mentioned that they all might be gone in 15 years!)

One of the greatest vacation destinations is a
tropical island. The climate is constant, the food is exquisite, the
shopping is affordable and you can take part in seasonal sports all year
long.

Perhaps the first and obvious attraction on a tropical island
vacation is the beach. Tropical islands are renowned for beautiful white
sand beaches unlike any others in the world. It’s the contrast of the
colors that produces such a wonderful affect as the white of the sand
contrasts with the deep blue of the ocean water.

You can’t find this color scheme anywhere else and because tropical
islands recognize that their beaches are their main assets, they’re sure
to keep them free from the pollutants that so often despoil beaches in
the industrial world. These unpolluted waters are perfect for every sort
of water sport from surfing to swimming to snorkeling. In fact, there’s
no better climate for snorkeling and scuba diving than the tropical
climate.

If you’re new to snorkeling or scuba diving, make sure you take
advantage of the many lessons and guides that cater to beginners on
every tropical island. The wealth of instructors is one of the greatest
parts of vacationing on a tropical island where, because of the tourist
industry, it’s possible to learn almost any leisure activity. And
because of the purity of the water, you’re certain to be able to see
things underwater with clarity unavailable in the waters of an
industrialized nation.

And although most tropical islands are not part of the industrial
world, they are part of the developed world. Their economies are rich
and they offer every amenity of the United States and Europe so that
while you are on vacation you can enjoy the different climate while
enjoying the same standard of living.

Indeed, the shopping is one important aspect of a well-developed
tropical economy. Shopping in many island nations is duty-free. Some
islands like St. Martin’s, the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic are
known specifically for their jewelry. It’s possible to buy every sort of
precious metal and stone at a steep discount while you’re on your
tropical vacation.

But the duty-free shopping is an ancillary part of a tropical
vacation that for many is focused on seasonal sports. Most tropical
islands have numerous golf courses that operate year round. Golf tourism
constitutes a significant segment of general tourism as golfers from
cooler climates seek access to warm weather and open courses year round.

Plus, the singular beauty of the beaches and foliage of a tropical
island spills over into the design of courses with water hazards and
white sand traps. Even if you aren’t a serious golfer, access to a
course is one of the many amenities that most luxury
beach hotels offer and it’s a great place to learn the game. Clubs
can always be rented for a day or a week and lessons are sure to be had
at the course’s pro-shop.

But if golf isn’t your game and you’re not traveling just to be
pampered, another important part of any tropical island vacation is
exploring the food. Of course, the resort or hotel you stay at will be
able to prepare the typical comfort foods of any western nation but
you’d be wasting your money to stay at a tropical island and not
experience the island cuisine that the locals eat.

Tropical island cuisine is unique in that it’s influenced by the
foods of many nations and waves of immigrants. This produces a blend of
tastes and styles that draws from English, French American Indian,
African, Dutch, Indian and Chinese foods.

Each tropical island is a distinct nation that offers travelers a
unique experience. If you like to golf, swim, surf, eat, snorkel or just
relax, there’s something to do in the tropics.No matter what you want
to do with your vacation, you can find activities to keep you busy and
all in a pleasantly warm climate. Next time you travel to your favorite
tropical island, consider a timeshare
vacation. When you choose a timeshare
vacation, your family will enjoy all the comforts and luxuries of
home while experiencing an enchanting tropical island getaway.

I will continue to add to
this page as time permits and focus more on
what my trips into the Amazon are like. I am fortunate to be able to
experience
and explore the Amazon and its native cultures that the tourist never
sees.
Maybe I’ll write a series of short stories about some of my more
memorable
adventures as everyone keeps telling me I should.

(Tribune Media Services) — Our alarm didn’t go off.

Forget about our plan to leisurely stroll through Rome’s famous Borghese Gardens to get to the Borghese Gallery in time for our reservation to see the fabulous collections of paintings, sculptures, mosaics and bas-reliefs from the 15th to 18th centuries. Reservations typically are needed at this small gem of a museum.

Even for the experts, touring Europe doesn’t always go as planned — especially when they wake up late. So, instead of a leisurely walk (not to mention a much-needed cappuccino), my daughter Reggie and I race to a cab from the apartment we are renting to the museum where we get in line with all of the other tourists with reservations.

It was worth the effort and so was getting the English audiofone so we could hear an explanation of what we were seeing — Bernini, Corregio, Titian, Raphael … even without having had coffee first.

Afterward, we stroll through the park (the little kids in the family, we decide, would love the zoo here and the chance to run and jump). Rome is the first stop on Reggie’s college graduation trip that will culminate with a weeklong hiking trip along the Amalfi Coast with the American company Backroads.

But first some culture and history at the Vatican for my history major. No matter how you try to engage kids at the Vatican (counting the dragons in the paintings, for example), confesses Monica Saab, an accredited Vatican tour guide, kids seem to most like seeing the dead popes in St. Peter’s Basilica. (If you want to tour St. Peter’s on your own, go late in the afternoon and avoid Wednesdays, unless you want to be there for Pope Benedict’s audience.)

Some families prefer to have someone else sweat all the details when traveling to Italy, and they pay for the privilege with companies like Adventures by Disney, Abercrombie & Kent Family Holidays andTauck Bridges family tours. These types of companies provide kid-friendly guides and unique activities — after-hours tours of the Sistine Chapel, chats with “real” gladiators, making pasta and more. Exploritas (Elderhostel, which changed its name to www.exploritas.org), also offers some well-priced Italy tours designed especially for grandparents and grandkids.

Certainly such trips are easier — I never had such a stress-free time as when exploring Vienna and Prague with Adventures by Disney with my youngest child and her friend, and you are sure to encounter other kids along the way so that you are not entertaining yours 24/7. But there is also something to be said for discovering a foreign city on your own with your kids, showing them that on vacation — as in life — things don’t always go as planned and that as long as you work together, you can navigate just fine.

In Rome, I was glad to have a guide. We connected with Saab via Rita Clemens, a Minnesotan now living there and running a company that takes all the stress out of touring Italy for American families, albeit at a hefty price (www.customizeditaly.com).

The biggest mistakes American families make when touring Rome is trying to do too much, she tells us. “One thing a day is plenty,” she says. And if you are cruising in Europe — as many families are these days — Clemens says for less than many cruise/land tours, she can customize a tour for your family and guarantee you get back to the ship in plenty of time. “And you won’t be walking around in a group of 50 people,” she says.

But even Rome’ s most spectacular sites are no match for severe jet lag, we discover. We were supposed to spend four hours touring the Vatican; we last maybe half that. After a much-needed gelato break we make our way back to our apartment located on a tiny cobblestoned street called Via Del Gambero, a short walk from the Spanish Steps, for a nap.

Later that night, we meet up with Jill Kammer, who with her husband runs the company that rented us our apartment (cheaper and more space than a hotel! Cherubs above our bed!) She and her daughter Ava lead us to dinner in the Trastevere section of Rome across the Tiber River. Once an ancient working-class area it’s now hip. (If you want to stay here, check out the Hotel Santa Maria.)

At Trattoria da Lucia, which has been here since 1938, a few tables are set out on the cobblestones and we feast on salad, pasta, and the most tender beef stew and freshest green beans. I never would have been able to find this tiny restaurant on my own. I’m glad we didn’t have to.

The next day, we head to the Coliseum, one of Rome’s top tourist attractions — especially for families. Before hitting a place like this with kids, it helps, of course, if they understand what they are seeing. A book can help too — like “National Geographic Investigates Ancient Rome,” which was published three years ago and will answer a lot of questions that the kids and you will have — like why Rome is called the Eternal City. (The book suggests it goes back to the Emperor Caligula, who ruled from 37 to 41 AD, who wanted to be worshipped as a god.) The book is also small enough to fit in a backpack.

Sometimes sightseeing with kids, especially when it is hot, can feel like a battle too. Flexibility, even when touring great sites, is key. On one trip to Rome with a 13-year-old niece, for example, we left the Forum to go shopping. The Forum will be there in a few years when she will appreciate it, I reasoned. Meanwhile, it wasn’t worth both of us being miserable.

Clemens says, “If you are in the middle of the Coliseum and someone is hungry, go get a gelato!” The idea is to have fun, after all, not torture yourself. Spend time at a playground or park or the hotel pool, if you are lucky enough to have one. (Just Google Rome hotels with pools. I found more than 40. The deluxe Rome Cavalieri, part of the Waldorf Astoria collection, is on a hilltop in a park with a big pool and touts a free shuttle service to Rome’s historic center. Got a soccer ball or a Frisbee?)

We even stop at a cat sanctuary — that’s right — Romans, it seems, are crazy for cats and several years ago, all of the stray cats were picked up and brought to the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary, a no-kill shelter for homeless cats (of which Rome has many) set amid ancient Roman Ruins at Largo Argentina.

By the end of the day, we’re so tired from sightseeing — and full from lunch — that we forgo dinner plans for cheese, bread and wine curled up on the couch in “our” apartment.

But we’re leaving Rome tomorrow, I complain, and we didn’t make it through half of my “must-sees.” Even the best itineraries, I realize, need to accommodate kids, no matter what their ages