Functional Leg Muscle Developed From Stem Cells

There are hundreds of individually-named skeletal muscles in the human body, each positioned in a specific place to allow the body to move in countless different ways. When muscles lose function due atrophy or injury, motor function decreases, and it can diminish an individual’s quality of life. A new paper published in EMBO Molecular Medicinedescribes a study that used stem cells to grow leg muscle tissue in a dish, which proved to be functional after it was grafted into a mouse. In the future, this technique could be applied to humans, providing tissue transplants to treat muscular dystrophy or a number of other muscle-related diseases.

Read more here:
http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/functional-leg-muscle-developed-stem-cells

People With Disabilities Can Easily Find Accessible Spots With This App...

This is a great APP!  I am unable to take escalators and some stairs since I had my brain surgeries. I am always on the hunt for a workable elevator at the train station and other public spaces.

___________

Inspired by his own experiences, a filmmaker has created an app to help people with disabilities.

Jason Da Silva was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a disease that affects the central nervous system, in 2006, and uses a motorized scooter to get around, according to Mashable. As a filmmaker based in New York City, he quickly discovered that it wasn't so easy for people with disabilities to maneuver around the city.

"It was very frustrating," Da Silva told Mashable back in 2013. "I was finding that the freedoms that I had -- just simple things like meeting up with friends and things, it was becoming more and more difficult."

Read more here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/22/axs-map_n_6721138.html?utm_hp_ref=technology&ir=Technology

Every Journey Begins From Where You Stand...

Happy New Year!!

My Journey: Living Abroad with a Chronic Illness...Firenze, It...

My Journey: Living Abroad with a Chronic Illness...Firenze, It...: Ponte Vecchio - my favorite bridge in Firenze...over by the 3 arches one can see both sides of River Arno I was sitting a few afternoon...

Living Abroad with a Chronic Illness...Firenze, Italy - Terza Parte!

Ponte Vecchio - my favorite bridge in Firenze...over by the 3 arches one can see both sides of River Arno

I was sitting a few afternoons ago enjoying a great cappuccino and tiramisu in La Cité Libreria Café when I suddenly realized it was Thursday and I had not even started my blog.  I also realized in that moment that I was "living" and enjoying life here totally and completely!  This was just too awesome! 

Unfortunately, I had to hold off on my enthusiasm to write this Blog after already being tardy because I had been home bound for two days because of excessive pain along my shoulder and my entire right arm.   My posture has really suffered due to my constant pain and I have been trying to correct it.  But I am acutely aware that trying to fix my posture will not happen without even more pain. Today I am feeling better but my arm is stiff and sore.  It's part of what I manage in my present life and yes even here in Italy.  I must say though that I had a pretty good "run"... of escaping with only "normal" pain up to this point.  
It is harder to be patient and wait for the pain to subside while I am here in Firenze (Florence).   I just want to get outside every day but I know I must be patient because it can get worse if I push the limits.

My three bridge options to get to downtown Firenze are the Ponte Santa Trinita,the 
Ponte alle Grazie and Ponte Vecchio.

My favorite by far is the Ponte Vecchio which means "Old Bridge".   It is also known as the Bridge with Houses.
The bridge is said to have been built in Roman times and was destroyed by flood and was last rebuilt in 1345.  It was the only bridge in Firenze that was not destroyed when the Germans retreated out of Firenze in World war two.  It is believed that Hitler himself gave the directive not to destroy it.  Some buildings on both ends of the bridge were damaged but were restored with old and new material and design.

This is the entry to the Ponte Vecchio..it's crowded on the weekends

I live on the left side of the River Arno and the Ponte Vecchio and downtown Firenze is to the right

The other day I was out on the square and saw a host of Asians dressed in ceremonial garb and they turned out to be Koreans promoting their upcoming Traditional Arts Festival. They made their way through the square to the Ponte Vecchio where they gathered and burst out in song!

Korean Group singing. They stand between two of the arches on the Ponte Vecchio 

Steve and I went to LaCite Libreriacafe for a free dance lesson and to listen to a live band last week.   Unfortunately we got there a little late and the lesson had already began but the live band was great!    The dancing seem as if it would have been too much for me but it was great watching the guys and gals have fun.   La Cite was recommended by our new friend Matt from Chicago.  Matt is an App Developer who is also here in Firenze for his second extended stay.

Having Cappccino and Tiramisu at La Cité Café

Literally every square inch of Firenze has something interesting to see.  The other day Steve and I were just wondering along one of the narrow streets close to the Ponte Vecchio and came across some unusual art.  Creatures painted white with human bodies with heads of different creatures.  Some were scaling the wall of the Hotel while others were suspended in the air.
It was commissioned by the Gallery Art Hotel and created by artist and architect 
Simone D'Auria as a tribute to the city of Firenze to beautify the space.
The goal of the exhibit is to send a positive message and invitation to continue moving forward whatever the challenge maybe....to climb up...to be innovative and overcome one's limits!  
Which beautifully sums up my reason for being here in Firenze!

Until next time, Ciao!!

Awesome Art display near the Ponte Vecchio 

         

Suspended in mid air -  photo Steve Brulé

Hanging with the guys  - photo: Steve Brulé

                                                     These guys decided to take a break from scaling the walls and hanging around in the air                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                 The Ponte Vecchio as seen when walking from my apartment                                                                                                                                                                   

                         My favorite shoe store Salvatore Ferragamo...(Can you see our reflection?)

                   Street musicians on the Square playing awesome Italian favorites and other great songs.  
                                                 The little boy was just LOVING it!!!

Travel will move you...

The Travel Channel's mantra is "Travel Moves You"  I totally get it!

Living Abroad with My Chronic Illness - Italy - Seconda Parte

                                    Lighting candles at the Cathedral --Photo credit to Steve Brule



I am so happy that I decided to plan and make this trip to Florence, Italy!
I am thoroughly enjoying each and every single day here!  There is so much history and cool things to see everywhere. Although it is technically the "off' season the city is still buzzing with activity from both tourists and locals. This is especially visible on the weekends.  

I am also happy that I choose to live in a local Florence neighborhood and experience life with the locals.  The monks and staff at the Basilica di San Miniato on the hill know us since we have been there many times. We are also known at the local cafe down stairs.

The Basilica di San Miniato al Monte  is perched on the highest point in Florence. The church dates back to 783. It was rebuilt in 1018 because it was badly neglected.  The views from the grounds are breathtaking!  It is indeed a trek  to get up there but well worth it. 

At the Basilica, the priests and monks put on the Gregorian Chant.  "Gregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of monophonic, unaccompanied sacred song of the western Roman Catholic Church. Gregorian chant developed mainly in western and central Europe during the 9th and 10th centuries, with later additions and redactions."   
The ceremony takes place in the crept of the Basilica on designated evenings for about an hour. Anthony, the young monk we met says they practice the chants daily.  It is truly a very calming beautiful, meditative experience.   
The Basilica is very cold and the crypt is even colder.  Hat, gloves and the warmest clothes are in order here.
On my second visit I bought my thermos with hot tea and had it on the walk home.

                                              Outside the Basilica at night after Georgian Chant

On the way up to the Basilica is the famed Piazzale Michelangelo (Michelangelo Square) with a magnificent panoramic view of Florence. 
"The square, dedicated to the great Renaissance sculptor Michelangelo, has copies of some of his works found elsewhere in Florence: the David and the four allegories of the Medici Chapel of San Lorenzo. These copies are made of bronze, while the originals are all in white marble. The monument was brought up by nine pairs of oxen on 25 June 1873."

The Square is a great spot to view the Duomo and the city of Florence.
My apartment is only minutes walking to these locations in the District of San Niccolo.  It is pretty cool that I can go just about anytime I want.

Photo view of Duomo and Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo

Usually I do not miss the Super Bowl but his year I did because my ankles were swollen and painful from the day's activities and I reluctantly decided to stay home.  We were planning to go to a local Pub called "Uncle Jimmy's" (it's a local hangout for expats) to watch the game at 12:30 AM Italian time.  I was rooting for the Seattle Seahawks but unfortunately they lost in a nail biting finish.  As Steve says it's "all good" because I also love the Patriots.   

We are having a bit more rain than when we first arrived... very heavy and consistent downpours for a few days.  In fact it rained so hard the other day and night that the River Arno which was raging wildly when I walked up to the Piazza Michelangelo the next day. 
"The River Arno crosses Florence, where it passes below the Ponte Vecchio and the Santa Trìnita bridge (built by Bartolomeo Ammanati, but inspired by Michelangelo). The river flooded the city regularly in historical times, the last occasion being the flood of 1966, with 4,500 cubic metres per second (160,000 cu ft/s) after rainfall of 437.2 millimetres (17.21 in ) in Badia Agnano and 190 millimetres (7.5 in) in Florence, in only 24 hours".

River Arno raging after heavy rain last week

A calmer River Arno and one of two bridges I can walk 

across to downtown Florence

I am getting to know my way around town and love a great bookstore/cafe called RED (Read. Eat. Dream)   It's a great place to sit and read, have a cappuccino or just "people watch".   I enjoy watching and listening to a group of about 6 - 8 older retired men who meet-up there practically everyday.  Although I don't understand what they are saying I can tell when they are in a heated discussion and when they are just plain mad at each other.  They look out for each other and share what they have.  They ALWAYS part as friends and come back the next day as friends which is really heart warming to see.

BTW:  I did try the hot chocolate again without incident :)

Living the Italian life...Until next week!  Ciao!!

Bookstore/Cafe...Photo credit to Steve Brule 

Outside RED yesterday...CD launch/Signing...Lots of 

tween and teens girls...Photo credit to Steve Brule

Sitting on my fav bench at the Cathedral of Florence

Photo credit to Steve Brule

On the way up to Piazzale Michelangelo

--Additional background information gathered from Wikipedia