I'm sorry to hear of Ted Turner's passing. Like me, many people out there were probably inspired to take a harder look at how we treat the planet because of him. Just one of the legacies he leaves behind.
I didn't actually see "Captain Planet and the Planeteers" when it ran on TBS in the early '90s. I learned about it much later when I worked for the @captainplanetfdn . Sustainability was a new world for me, but I learned a ton from our work and staff. And I still carry those lessons with me today.
Once, I even rode the elevator with Ted, and he literally told me, "The power is yours." Quite funny, but he was indeed Captain Planet so not a total surprise.
Though a brief time in my career, I still retain the friendships I made and am grateful for that period in my life. I am changed for the better because of it, and it helps shape my work even now as a Fractional Chief Impact Officer and lead efforts at a #BCorp certified company.
Thank you, Ted. You raised a generation of Planeteers, and we will carry on.
#TedTurner #Sustainability #Environment #Legacy
Last week, I had the pleasure and opportunity to volunteer with Lee Schumann and his team at Hand in Hand Logistics in the Minneapolis area! They have been part of our Leveraging Logistics for Ukraine community since the beginning, and it was fantastic to see their work in person.
Lee has been partnering with #Ukraine in various ways for about 30 years, but since the 2022 war broke out, he has been shipping medical supplies and used fire equipment (including trucks!) to various regions.
He even converted his garage into a full-blown logistics center, complete with a dock! Twice per week, dozens of volunteers from the area show up at his place to sort and pack supplies. Most all are people who heard about what he’s doing through word of mouth and wanted to help.
It was truly incredible to witness what he’s built and how—at 75 years young—he’s still determined to do more for the people of Ukraine. He’s got big plans for 2026 and beyond! May we all aspire to be a Lee!
@vectorgloballogistics@logisticswithpurpose
#HumanitarianAid #EmergencyRelief #UkraineWar #RebuildUkraine
Dear, Diary -
It’s finally time for my Italian adventure to come to an end. It’s been an incredible trip, but it’s time to go. The Euros are running low.
I couldn’t say arrivederci without two final items, though.
First, I was lucky enough to be in Rome for @fdipietro ’s birthday. I was able to celebrate with her at one of her favorite restaurants and see more of her neighborhood, as well as meet a few other people who adore her.
Second, I went to the Fontana dell’Acqua Paola for some final views of Rome. It was a lovely setting to say goodbye to Italy.
From the Winter Olympics to Carnevale in Venice to the Duomo in Milan to incredible art in Florence to the Colosseum in Rome to seeing old friends and meeting new ones to many tiny cups of espresso…it’s been unforgettable.
Italy has been at the top of my travel list for a number of years, and now that I’ve been there, I know it was justified.
I guess the only question left, dear Diary, is, “Where to next?”
Ciao!
Love,
Kristi
#fromitalywithlove #romeitaly #trastevererome #solotravel #ciaoitalia
Dear, Diary -
As I begin to wrap up my Roman holiday and time in Italy, I have just a few more things on my agenda.
First up, above and below ground in Piazza Navona. Up top, I walked around the beautiful fountains and met with my new friend Noemi from the World Food Programme, the world’s largest humanitarian organization. It was amazing getting to know her and more about their mission.
Next, I wanted to see a bit of Rome’s underground so I went to Stadium of Domitian, the only example of a masonry athletics stadium outside of the Greek world. This seemed like a fitting bookend to my Olympic trip.
Finally, over to the Borghese Gallery. I have to admit, dear Diary, that this was my least favorite museum that I’ve seen on my trip. There were certainly some incredible pieces, but overall, it really didn’t appeal to me. However, I checked it off my list.
Rome is know as a “lasagna city” because its architectural, historical, and archaeological layers built on top of one another over centuries. Today, I really got to see that first hand. Fascinating.
Love,
Kristi
#romeitaly #piazzanavona #stadiumofdomitian #borghesegallery #romanholiday
Dear, Diary -
Today, I left the country…to visit the Vatican. Did you know it has the only ATM where you can choose Latin as the language? I really wanted to give that a try, but sadly, it wasn’t available to us tourists.
But we saw many other fascinating things such as the first Popemobiles, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the crypts underneath. It was truly a microcosm of the Catholic faith.
From there, I saw the Pantheon. Built as a Roman temple 2,000 years ago, it became a Christian church. Its huge concrete dome is still an architectural marvel, and was a source of inspiration for many famous domes we know today.
Finally, dear, Diary. I met up with my dear friend and former coworker, @fdipietro . Fabiana and her family have lived in Rome almost 10 years, so she gave me a tour and progressive dinner around her Trastevere neighborhood. It was amazing to catch up and laugh with her again. Just like old times.
It was yet another wonderful day in Rome, full of ancient wonders and new memories.
Love,
Kristi
#thevatican #vaticancity #romeitaly #pantheon #trastevere
Dear, Diary -
Ancient Rome was today’s agenda. It was incredible to walk in these ruins and see history come to life.
First up was the Colosseum. I definitely felt all the Gladiator vibes and need to rewatch the movie.
“What we do in life echoes in eternity.” - Maximus
Second was the Roman Forum next door. It was basically the town square. From churches and temples to government buildings to legal proceedings to grocery shopping, it all happened right here.
Next was the stroll to the adjacent Palatine Hill. It is thought to be the birthplace of Rome, from the Romulus and Remus mythology, but then became home to emperors and rulers over time.
Each is so rich in history. You can see the symmetry but also how each site is distinct and tells its own story.
Dear, Diary, it was today that I truly felt I saw Rome.
Love,
Kristi
#romeitaly #italyvacation #italianhistory #ancientrome
Dear, Diary -
My Roman holiday has begun.
My first impression? Massive.
Everything is just enormous, and you can see that this was an Empire trying to flex its muscles. It is 100% designed to display power and authority.
First up, Trevi Fountain. At 86 feet high and 161 feet high, it is stunning. I had to stand there for a few minutes to take it all in, despite the crowds shuffling around for better views and photo opps. In fact, now it costs €2 to stand at the base due to the over tourism, but I was totally fine being a level up. But it is certainly a marvel.
Next was getting my first glimpse of the Roman Forum from the Capital Museum hill. As the hub of Ancient Rome, it was the heart of the city and where everything happened—political, legal, religious, and commercial. From monuments to gods and emperors to government buildings to stores, this little area held it all. It is wild to see how it was all crammed together.
It was kind of like the first time I went to Philadelphia and saw that most Revolutionary history took place within just a few square blocks. Mind blowing.
Finally, I ascended the Spanish Steps. Also seen in Roman Holiday, they were built to connect the Spanish Embassy with the Trinità dei Monti church at the top. They also stand out because the architecture is so different from much of the city. Fun fact: it is the longest and widest staircase in Europe.
Again, I was surprised to see so many tourists. I can’t imagine what the summer must be like here!
So, day one was just about hitting a couple of highlights and getting acquainted with the city. It was a beautiful introduction.
See you tomorrow.
Love,
Kristi
#romanholiday #romeitaly #solotravel #ladolcevita
Dear, Diary -
Florence was an absolute pleasure. From the history to the art to the architecture, it is pretty unforgettable.
On my last day there, I went to the Pitti Palace and the Accademia Galley, and finished up at Piazzale Michelangelo.
The Pitti Palace was originally built for a wealthy banker in the mid-15th century, but was later acquired by the famed and powerful Medici family and became their primary residence. It is lavish to say the least. You can definitely see the signal that they’re trying to send.
The Accademia Gallery contains many beautiful works, but is primarily known for housing the largest number of Michelangelo's sculptures in the world…including the David.
Dear, Dairy, at 17 feet tall, the statue is simply awesome. It is easy to see why it has captured the attention of millions of people over hundreds of years. I still can’t believe: the detail of the hands and that it was carved from a single piece of marble. Wow.
To cap off my Florence exploration, I went to see the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo, which overlooks the city.
It’s a popular and crowded place for this activity, but as you can see by the photos, totally worth it. It was a fabulous finale to this part of my Italian tour.
One last stop, dear Diary. Now on to Rome. But I absolutely want to shout out my remote tour guide, @karaswilley , who created my itinerary and helped make a few days more manageable.
There’s certainly a lot to come back for, but for now, I have seen Florence!
Love,
Kristi
Dear, Diary -
Before visiting Florence, I knew it was the home of all things Renaissance. But it has been remarkable to see that you would know that even if you never stepped inside a museum. It is reflected in every street—unmistakable and unforgettable.
This day began with my most anticipated stop: the Florence Duomo, otherwise known as the Santa Maria del Fiore. It is just striking. From the Baptisery to the Cathedral to the crypt to the museum, it was all so very impressive. But the church and baptistery exteriors were definitely my favorite. I just stood and stared.
The recommended visit was three hours, but I was there just over three hours and felt very rushed at times, and I didn’t even climb the dome or bell tower.
Next was the famed Ufizzi Gallery. I didn’t think it from the outside, but once I got inside, it felt like Louvre, like it just went on and on. I had the audio guide, but in museums this big, dear Diary, the docent tour is best to keep you focused.
I admit to not knowing much about art. But I like looking at it. However, one thing that always captures my attention is when the artist captures the right balance between light and dark. Some paintings just seem to glow with the light the emit, or the shadows they cast. I always look for this.
Anyway, it was another beautiful day in Florence, dear Diary. Throw in a little gelato and it’s pretty darn perfect.
Love,
Kristi
Ps: I have no idea what the costume guys were doing.
#florenceitaly🇮🇹 #solotravels #firsttimeinitaly #ufizzigallery #florenceduomo
Dear, Diary -
I think when I said, “I’m going to Italy,” Florence was the place I had in mind without realizing it. I can easily see why it’s a favorite of so many people. From incredible architecture to art on basically every corner, it is a feast for the eyes and senses.
Yesterday consisted of mostly two items: the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence and the Bargello Museum.
The Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence is where many famous people are buried, such as Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, Machiavelli, Vittorio Alfieri, Leonardo Bruni, and Gioachino Rossini. From the outside, it shows resemblance to the Duomo in Florence, but it is distinctly its own, especially when you walk inside.
Seeing all the tombs and monuments was fascinating, especially to see how they differ and who had the honor of being buried there. And there actually about 300 of them…so good thing we had a map. It really doesn’t take that long to explore but it’s definitely worth a look.
And then over to the Bargello, the city’s oldest public building (1255) and where you’ll now find oodles of sculpture. While I’m certainly a fan of art on canvas, I honestly can’t imagine much that would be more difficult than stone sculpture. One slip and…you’re done.
And to see what magnificent pieces can be chiseled from stone is pretty awe-inspiring. The detail is simply stunning. Hats of to Donatello, Michelangelo, Verrocchio, and the other artists featured there.
Speaking of, outside of the sculpture, they also had exquisite ivory carvings, bronze artifacts, wood carvings, jewelry, and more. It was easy to let a couple of hours pass there.
Dear, Diary, the day also featured the Sant’Ambrogio market, the Mercato delle Pulci antique market, Mexican food (yes, Mexican food!), gelato, more gorgeous buildings, and street performers that make you stop and stare.
It was a fabulous day in Florence, dear Diary. And more to come.
Love,
Kristi
#florenceitaly #bargellomuseum #santacroce #solotravel #renaissance
Dear, Diary -
I arrived in Florence today. I’ve only been here a few hours but I love the vibe and architecture of the city. Plus, I love all the cool doors. If I ever own a home, it’s going to have a cool door.
There was no big agenda for my first afternoon, so I crossed the Ponte Vecchio off of my list. The “Old Bridge” is a famous medieval stone arch bridge over the Arno River in Florence, renowned for the jewelry shops built along its span. Rebuilt in 1345 after a flood, it is the city’s oldest bridge and was notably spared during WWII.
Next, at the recommendation of @karaswilley , I went to the Odeon Theatre. It is a beautiful old building turned bookstore. Super awesome, one-of-a-kind environment. I would’ve looked at the books longer, but I can’t be tempted to pack one more thing in my suitcase.
Much more on tomorrow’s agenda, but for now, this was a great intro.
Love,
Kristi
#florenceitaly #pontevecchio #firsttimetoitaly #solotravel
