The American Cemetery

On the west side of the Greve river, approximately 7.5 miles south of Florence, Italy, set against a backdrop of hills dense with London Plane trees, headstones belonging to 4,402 American Military Dead stand on 70 acres of foreign soil. Pine, cypress, willow, oak and cedar trees enclose the section along with oleander, crepe myrtle and laurel-cherry shrubs.
A bridge set between the cemetery office and the visitor’s center at the entrance to the cemetery leads us to row after row of crosses and stars of David. The cemetery is hushed except for the occasional rustle of a leaf or a bird’s fragment of song. We wander among the headstones that bear the names and dates of birth of the servicemen and women who were lost to friends, loved ones and our nation. Here and there, we see a pebble placed on a stone; a way to say “We are here. We came to see you. We will never forget you.”
Americans, traveling through the area, stop at the cemetery, on the west side of the Via Cassia, a major highway that links Florence with Rome and Sienna, to pay their respects to the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War II. The majority died in the fighting that occurred after the liberation of Rome in June 1944 and during the fierce battles in the Apennines right before the end of the war.
The cemetery is one of 14 permanent memorials built by the American Battle Monuments Commission. The site (liberated on August 3, 1944 by the South African 6th Armored Division) and the stone used to construct the chapel and headstones was supplied by Italy.
On the highest of three terraces located in back of the burial site are two open sections partially enclosed by walls; to the east is the American flag. Tablets of the Missing, constructed of Travertine stone, connect the two sections. Visitors barely breathe as they read the Baveno granite panels; on the tablets are inscribed the names of 1,409 Americans (United States Army and Air Forces and the United States Navy) who died in our nation’s service and rest in nameless graves. They came from every state in our union but Alaska and Hawaii.
Men study the north section’s west wall where two marble operations maps tell the story of the American Forces in the area. Inscriptions in English and Italian provide an explanation for the maps and the military operations. A forecourt at the south end of the tablets leads to a marble and mosaic chapel; a place to meditate and pray for the peace represented in a sculpture that rests on a pylon.
May they rest in peace.



My cozy mtstery, titled Scene Stealer, is available wherever eBooks are sold. An audio version is produced by Audible.com

MORE BEER

Since I prefer wine to beer, I'm not sure why Belgium's beer fascinated me. Perhaps because there are 365-days in a year and it’s been said that Belgium has a beer suitable for each day. Others claim the number and varieties of beer hover between 450 and a thousand. Beers from all over this constitutional kingdom have their own taste, aroma and character: dark, blonde, sweet, sour, bitter, tangy, and fruity (cherry is a favorite). No wonder the Belgians are devoted to beer and the Confederation of Belgian Brewers describes their country as a “Beer Paradise.”
Belgium even has a patron Saint of beer. During the middle ages, breweries were local, and the beer often produced in monasteries. In the 11th century, when an outbreak of plague convulsed Belgium, a Benedictine monk thrust his crucifix into a brew-kettle to persuade Belgians to drink beer as a substitute for water (boiled, filtered and or fermented during the purification process, beer is a much safer drink). To quote Ben Franklin, “In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” The plague ended and the monk was beatified as Saint Arnold.
Every year, Brussels holds a Belgian Beer Weekend in Saint Arnold’s honor; the celebration begins as a church service followed by an academic session and a parade of costumed brewers, dressed as King of the Mashing Fork, through the streets to Grand Place where the public is welcomed, beer stands offer brews from around the realm and lively music and entertainment add to the festivities.
Grand Place 10 is home to the Belgian Brewers’ Museum (Musee des Brasseurs Belges.) Operated by the Confederation of Belgian Breweries, the Knights of the Mash Staff.; the museum, in the vaulted basements of the Brewer’s House, exhibits modern and traditional techniques. Brewing and fermentation tubs and a boiling kettle may be viewed along with other equipment and supplies used in an 18th century brewery. A café transports the visitor back in time with exhibits of stained glass windows, paintings, pint pots, antique pitchers, vintage tankards and to parch the beer devotee’s thirst - the perfect pint.
Abbey beers come from a great many different abbeys; and abbeys often produce two distinct types of beer: double (a sweet and dark taste) and triple blond with a heavy percentage of alcohol. Trappist beers refer to the type of abbey that manufactures the beer.
One of the most traditional beers today is Lambic; (a beer that ferments spontaneously from wild yeasts found in the local air.) The non-malted wheat beer naturally ferments from three to five years in wooden hogshead barrels. The first taste is sour and acidic; after the second the dry, tart flavor turns into a delightful, refreshing drink.
Lambic beer is produced at the Cantillon family run-brewery in Brussels. Established in 1900, the brewery conducts tours and has a small museum Musee Bruxellois de la Gueuez. Gueuez is a mixture of lambics, and shimmers like a glass of champagne. The beer improves after years in the bottle. Cherries added to Lambics produces Sweet Kriek and may also be made with raspberries – a beer often imbibed during the warm summer months. Bierre Blanche is lighter and Witbier (made with wheat) is traditionally drunk with a slice of lemon. Candy sugar sweetens a Lambic known as Faro.
Bruge has two breweries in the heart of town; De Gooden Boom that specializes in Tarwebier, a wheat beer and Bruge Tripel with a 9.5 alcohol content. De Straffe Hendrik produces another aromatic wheat beer.
Many beers have their very own beer glass; the glass designed to enhance the taste is used exclusively for a particular beer. For example: a glass for an Abbey Ale is shaped like the chalice used by monks for centuries. Belgian beers are served in snifters, flutes and champagne glasses. Brewers use a champagne bottle, corked and wired, for beers that will be re-fermented. A good beer is as prized in Belgium as a fine wine is cherished in France. Since antiquity, aficionados are reputed to favor Belgian beer above all others for their taste, quality and diversity.


Bests,

Elise


My cozy mystery titled Scene Stealer is available wherever eBooks are sold. an audio version has been produced by audible.com

DR. WATSON - FINAL CURTAIN

A few days ago Sherlock Holmes was talked about on Not Your Usual Suspects. The NY Times had a memorable obit yesterday for Edward Hardwicke who played Dr. Watson opposite Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes in a British television series shown in the US in the 1980s and 90s. I thought he was the finest Watson I had ever seen perform in the role. His portrayal was intelligent and dignified and added a depth to the part. He appeared with the National Theatre and made many excellent motion pictures. He will be missed by all who appreciate a fine actor.

Bests,

Elise

My cozy mystery titled Scene Stealer is available at Carina Press, Barnes & Noble, Amazon and wherever eBooks are sold. an audio version hase been produced by audible.com

Murdock

I've discovered a new detective. His name is Murdock and his television series is shown on Channel 21 in New York. The series comes from Canada and the time seems to be the early part of the 20Th Century. Murdock is into new technology--electricity, microscopes, all new exciting inventions that aid in the solution of a case interest him. He rides a bike and a horse, shares his knowledge with a young subordinate and works well with his pathologist. She can discover a good deal when she begins work on the victim. there is something developing between the two. I detect attraction. The head of the department believes in the old way of doing things and is not adverse to using his fists--a bit of a Neanderthal but he's there when Murdock needs him.

Are there any Canadians reading this blog that can tell me if the series is based on a novel?

My cozy mystery titled Scene Stealer may be found at Carina Press, Barnes and Noble and wherever eBooks are sold. An audio version has been produced by audible.com

Rain, Fog, Doom and Gloom

Rain on Monday and Tuesday, another sloshful day on Wednesday, by Thursday we'll wish we built an arc. Rain is good for gardens, vegetables and dancers talented enough to imitate Gene Kelly in Singing in the Rain. And rain is good for mysteries. Think of London--Jack the Ripper is still written about today. Sherlock Holmes sells and sells and sells. Weather helps mysteries and nudges overactive imaginations. Think of walking home--alone. Late at night--thunder rattles windows, lightning flashes. You look behind and wonder if that was the shadow of a tree or someone following. You pick up your step, walk faster and faster and faster--right into a puddle. Your brand new pair of expensive shoes is ruined and all because you imagined someone was after you. You decide to open your umbrella and hear someone splashing--the sound is too close for comfort. You turn--raise your umbrella and are about to strike then discover it's your next door neighbor dressed in a raincoat, rainhat and boots.

"What a night," she says. "What a night."

I shall look for sunshine and flowers on Friday.

Bests,

Elise

My cozy mystery titled Scene Stealer is available wherever Ebooks are sold. An audio version has been produced by audible.com

On a deadline and will return to blogging in about a week.

Bests,

Elise