Three things I learned this week

-In Ancient Rome and Etruria, priests called Augurs watched bird flight patterns to to predict the future. In fact the word Temple - templum in Latin - denotes a space tem - "cut" out of the land - a fixed spot - where the augur could get a good view of the birds and the night stars.

-The Gobekli Tepe is considered possibly the world's first temple. Located in southeasternTurkey, it's assumed to be more than 11,000 years old. Currently under excavation.

-This looks like a beautiful, picturesque lake, right?

Instead, according to my in-laws, it's not only is teeming with poisonous seaweed that people tend to get fatally tangled in, but also possesses whirlpools that drag people to its depths. And it's very deep - about 560 feet so. It's Lake Albano, a small volcanic crater lake that lies at the center of Castelgandolfo, where we are currently staying with family.

This picture is a video still - note Lake Albano behind us. Moments later, on the sandy banks, Chiara threw a huge temper tantrum because she wanted to go for a swim in said lake. "I WANT. I GO. I WANT. I GO," she furiously yelled ad alta voce. We are happily learning that she is a very determined little girl: poisonous seaweed, whirlpools, lack-of-swimming skills be damned - she was ready to dive in and go for a swim in Lake Albano.