This morning Stefano suggested that we drive to the medieval Tuscan town of San Gimignano, which we haven’t visited in years.
Well, I didn’t need much convincing (none, in fact!). It was a perfect day for such an outing, sunny and glorious. Besides, this little trip gave me an opportunity to take a few photos for the blog! 😉
I had forgotten how breathtaking San Gimignano is, even though only 14, some websites say 15 (I have to say that I didn’t 
count them) of its original 72 13th century towers are still left standing. But those 14 or 15…aaah, what a sight!
We walked all over the place and had a fabulous time popping in and out of countless arched alleys and walking on the ramparts of the town’s 14h century fortress (Rocca di Montestaffoli). A lovely day.
It must have looked like Manhatten when it had 72 towers :-). But you’re right, what a lovely place. I’d love to be able to go there on a day trip – especially when it’s quiet.
Paul
Wow that looks amazing, just the sort of thing that facinates and inspires me.
Also just found this whilst i was going over info available on methyl donors which i take, and which had a profound effect on my abilty to think clearly improved my overall feeling of well being. Here is an excert followed by a link
Clinical analyses of SAM, SAH, and HCys appear to constitute a useful tool in examining populations at increased risk of developing cancer attributable to alterations in methyl availability. Dietary or metabolic deficiencies of the physiological methyl group precursors in humans have now been linked to increased risk of several types of cancer. These include: multiple myeloma (27) and carcinoma of the colon (21) , breast (24) , stomach (27) , and pancreas (28) , as well as to the formation of preneoplastic lesions of the lung and cervix (25 , 26) . Metabolic insufficiency of physiological methyl groups has also been produced by exogenous agents known to be associated with increased cancer risk in humans, such as arsenic and alcohol (50, 51, 52, 53) . Genetic polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and catechol-O-methyltransferase, each of which modifies SAM bioavailability (54 , 55) , have been associated with altered risk of colorectal cancer and breast cancer in humans (23 , 56 , 57) . In this regard, it is worth noting that women, who in the present studies had lower levels of SAM and SAM:SAH ratios than did men, showed an elevated risk of developing multiple myeloma in cases of vitamin B12 deficiency (27) and of breast cancer formation with the consumption of even moderate amounts of alcohol (58) . Further studies are required to establish the utility of blood determinations of SAM, SAH, and homocysteine in assessing cancer risk.
http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/10/6/649
My tests for Brucella and Bartonella were negative, but they appear to be tested against IgA and IgM, which are my two suppressed Immunoglobulins so i’m not sure they would have shown up. Hope your tests are ok
sue
Paul: don’t go in summer, then. Now or spring are purrfect.
Sue: very very interesting. I confess that I had to look up methyl donors. What do you take, specifically? A vit B combo? Since I eat tons of garlic and onions, I guess I am getting some MD from my diet. I have decided to skip taking folic acid after reading that it feeds cancer cells, though. I will ask my hematologist about that later this month.
I still have to look at all the links you have sent to me. Some time ago, when I found the possible link between MGUS and Helicobacter, I found some info on Bartonella, too. Since I was diagnosed with MGUS not too long after I got my first cat (from a shelter), earlier this year I asked to have that test, but it doesn’t exist here. So I only got the Helicobacter pylori test (=negative).
Boy, these pesky bacteria!
Take care,
Margaret
San Gimignano,the Mediaeval Manhattan.Unforgettable although
it’s many years since we were there.Our guide explained that
If the tower was very tall it was OK to go up so far and build the
rest alongside,hence the different counts.
There was a man and his wife who had this little shop
[I think it was in the rock, or wall] who sold a superb Chianti,
the best I have ever tasted. All that Resveratrol too.
They also had a superb olive oil.
You have evoked a happy memory,Margaret,thank you.
I’ve not had alcohol for 18 years, but I enjoy garlic and I’m
convinced it does me good.I eat it raw – I understand
that it loses its therapeutic qualities when heated.
Bon appetit,
Old Bill.