LOL. Only today was I notified this notice was sent out about my 'alleged' disappearance in June:
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Would I travel again? (Closing Comments)
Would I travel alone again? YES!
But in future trips I will add more social interaction. For example, I can meet up with a sketching group, or I can take a cooking class, or language class. If I am real lucky maybe I can arrange to meet up with my penpal once again. :-)
I noticed it was very easy to talk and hangout with people at the airport but not so easy elsewhere.
Other notes on Italy:
1. Having my own apartment when I travel makes a big difference in my experience. Hotels make me feel like an outsider. Apartments help me feel like I am part of the community. Oddly, I loved drying my clothes on a line in Italy just like all my neighbors, and will do that when I return to California as well. And I must say I did enjoy opening a window to yell down to my neighbors and vice versus instead of texting or using the phone. Heh.
2. Italians know how to make a salad!!! They are so beyond iceberg lettuce, grated carrot, and tasteless tomatoes drowned in ranch dressing. They enjoy a variety of greens, tuna, juicy tomatoes, olives, and slices of mozarella buffalo cheese, all simply dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
3. My main takeaway from this trip is that the Italian culinary lifestyle taught me that we HAVE all the ingredients we need to make delicious meals...especially in California. The secret to rich flavor is fresh and organic vegetables, fruits, and grass fed animals, and making the effort to cook with them.
Cook simply; cook creatively; and cook with multiple colors!
Speaking of real ingredients and colors...I decided to invest in a gelato making machine made by DeLonghi.
4. Even hardships can help prepare you for the future. My overnight in the kiosk at the airport actually helped me get an early start on turning my hours around and readjusting to California time. I rather enjoyed the challenge. At least it makes a good story. And good stories mark an excellent adventure.
Thanks for reading my blog!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
But in future trips I will add more social interaction. For example, I can meet up with a sketching group, or I can take a cooking class, or language class. If I am real lucky maybe I can arrange to meet up with my penpal once again. :-)
I noticed it was very easy to talk and hangout with people at the airport but not so easy elsewhere.
Other notes on Italy:
1. Having my own apartment when I travel makes a big difference in my experience. Hotels make me feel like an outsider. Apartments help me feel like I am part of the community. Oddly, I loved drying my clothes on a line in Italy just like all my neighbors, and will do that when I return to California as well. And I must say I did enjoy opening a window to yell down to my neighbors and vice versus instead of texting or using the phone. Heh.
2. Italians know how to make a salad!!! They are so beyond iceberg lettuce, grated carrot, and tasteless tomatoes drowned in ranch dressing. They enjoy a variety of greens, tuna, juicy tomatoes, olives, and slices of mozarella buffalo cheese, all simply dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
3. My main takeaway from this trip is that the Italian culinary lifestyle taught me that we HAVE all the ingredients we need to make delicious meals...especially in California. The secret to rich flavor is fresh and organic vegetables, fruits, and grass fed animals, and making the effort to cook with them.
Cook simply; cook creatively; and cook with multiple colors!
Speaking of real ingredients and colors...I decided to invest in a gelato making machine made by DeLonghi.
4. Even hardships can help prepare you for the future. My overnight in the kiosk at the airport actually helped me get an early start on turning my hours around and readjusting to California time. I rather enjoyed the challenge. At least it makes a good story. And good stories mark an excellent adventure.
Thanks for reading my blog!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Italy: Venice, Bologna, and Urbino
Monday, June 25, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
My long, long, LONG trip home + an airport adventure
After a tearful goodbye with Jen and Richard in the morning I headed to Venice one more time on the bus since my flight left at 10 that night. It was one hot day and since I had not slept very well the pervious night I dragged myself from deep shadow to deep shadow sitting down frequently.
I did treat myself to a special dinner at "Al Profeta" right across from my Venice apartment of two weeks ago. The image below is a white fish sprinkled with bread crumbs, zucchini, arugula, and pine nuts.
After dinner I had my last two scoops from favorite gelato shop "IL Doge." This time one scoop of peach and one scoop of chocolate.
I dragged myself around a bit more and then took the bus back early to the Venice Airport. Sat around for about four hours. The flight to Paris went without a hitch, but then I had figure out how to spend the next 12 hours.
This is where I spent the night in Paris: on the floor of an airport kiosk!
After a very poor nights rest I checked in my baggage only to be held back by soldiers who were inspecting an unattended bag.
Once we were released I really enjoyed the rest of the Paris airport. I don't remember it being so high tech! They have big areas to connect to the internet, loads of natural light,
3-d movies, and
places to listen to music while being exposed to some sort of light therapy.
And take a look at these beds! I wish I had know about these before last night!
I am happy to report I had a very enjoyable flight from Paris to San Francisco with no travel sickness. Thank you Jen, the pill worked!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I did treat myself to a special dinner at "Al Profeta" right across from my Venice apartment of two weeks ago. The image below is a white fish sprinkled with bread crumbs, zucchini, arugula, and pine nuts.
After dinner I had my last two scoops from favorite gelato shop "IL Doge." This time one scoop of peach and one scoop of chocolate.
I dragged myself around a bit more and then took the bus back early to the Venice Airport. Sat around for about four hours. The flight to Paris went without a hitch, but then I had figure out how to spend the next 12 hours.
This is where I spent the night in Paris: on the floor of an airport kiosk!
After a very poor nights rest I checked in my baggage only to be held back by soldiers who were inspecting an unattended bag.
Once we were released I really enjoyed the rest of the Paris airport. I don't remember it being so high tech! They have big areas to connect to the internet, loads of natural light,
3-d movies, and
places to listen to music while being exposed to some sort of light therapy.
And take a look at these beds! I wish I had know about these before last night!
I am happy to report I had a very enjoyable flight from Paris to San Francisco with no travel sickness. Thank you Jen, the pill worked!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Venice, Italy
Friday, June 22, 2012
No Tourists at Urbania, Italy
After the hordes of tourists at Venice it was a treat to spend a week in the region of Le Marche where tourists do not go. We had this small town (population 6,000) of Urbania to ourselves. I am not sure we saw another tourist here.
A vegetable oil collection drum...how cool is that?
I saw many cars parked at an angle like this.
We enjoyed the moat around this palace. I think it needs a few crocodiles.
These narrow streets always were very clean.
We missed the vespa race by one day. That would have been something to see!
The bicycle mailbox was my favorite.
My penpal Jen taking in the sights.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Urbania, Italy
Thursday, June 21, 2012
What is it like staying at a farm for vacation?
One of the main reasons I wanted to stay at an organic farm was to absorb the Italian passion for growing organically. Giulia Savini, owner of the farm Locanda della Valle Nuova, has become a major inspiration for me. Not only does she grow things organically, she is also a cook!
The farm is located in the Le Marche area (north east) of Italy in an area devoid of tourists. After braving the crowds in Venice, and Bologna, my last week at this farm was just what I needed.
Here is a short video on what the farm looked like. If it intrigues you here is the website : http://www.vallenuova.it/en/locanda/casa.htm
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
The farm is located in the Le Marche area (north east) of Italy in an area devoid of tourists. After braving the crowds in Venice, and Bologna, my last week at this farm was just what I needed.
Here is a short video on what the farm looked like. If it intrigues you here is the website : http://www.vallenuova.it/en/locanda/casa.htm
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
British Guest at the Farm Unknowingly Gave Me Tips for Toastmasters
One of the guests staying at the farm was a British woman from the southern end of England. She was an amazing storyteller. With her rich elocution, and ability to construct drama and resolution she was fun to listen to. In this very short audio clip she talks about how she does not care a wit for front lawns!
She explains if you don't water your lawn that' s ok because it will grow back. And she also doesn't understand why her neighbors are so fussy about their lawns. (And I agree! :-)
Unfortunately I only captured a few sentences to remember her by.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
She explains if you don't water your lawn that' s ok because it will grow back. And she also doesn't understand why her neighbors are so fussy about their lawns. (And I agree! :-)
Unfortunately I only captured a few sentences to remember her by.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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