tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83755822024-03-08T01:26:21.712+01:00Jeff in PugliaThis Blog will describe my life as a single guy from the Midwest that has moved to Brindisi, Italy.Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.comBlogger512125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-50815126633496798152013-07-09T12:18:00.001+02:002013-07-09T12:18:59.529+02:00Another Italian driver rant...<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; "><font style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I will never tire of complaining about Italian drivers. Riding to work on the bike everyday is not going to help this problem. However I feel the need to relate a story from this morning. I was approaching the worst intersection of my short trip to work. </font><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">I would gladly double the length of my ride uphill both ways to go around it but there is not another way. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "> I really hate this intersection partly because there is absolutely no way to avoid it and second because it’s a rough left turn as I’ll explain. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So let me explain the intersection. There is nothing on my right and I need to turn left and there’s actually 2 left turns as there are 2 small streets that insect at practically the same spot but at different angles. The oncoming traffic is coming downhill around a sharp curve. Of course Italian drivers love to descend this turn at a ridiculous velocity and never once entertain the idea that they can’t see around the bend. Plus people like to park “temporarily” right in the curve so the on coming traffic has even more trouble making the turn. So you have on coming traffic flying around a blind curve and 2 small streets where people are trying to pull out from different angles onto the busier street that I’m on.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So this morning I approach the intersection and I see that a car ahead is stopped trying to make a left turn (at this point I don’t know which street he’s turning down). This is good because it assures me that there is space for me to wait my chance to turn left also. Unfortunately for him he’s trying to go down the second small street (not the one I take). I say unfortunately because some lady has stopped to talk to someone and is COMPLETELY blocking the 2<sup>nd</sup> street. I mean this isn’t double parked, this is in the middle of the street at practically 90 degrees to the small street with no way for anyone to enter or exit. The guy is honking and gesturing as I ride up to a stop behind him. She SEEMS to be trying to end her conversation and move her car but I don’t care because after a short pause I see my break in the traffic and turn left. As I do I see another car is trying to exit the street and it too is blocked by this lady. I can’t help but laugh at her complete disrespect for everyone else on the road. You can’t just stop where it’s convenient for you. I really think that Italian drivers lack any kind of respect for others. That’s the only explanation. I don’t think they realize that every stupid thing they do makes the roads that much more dangerous. This lady wasn’t hurting anyone by blocking the road but what if the guy waiting to turn was hit head on by oncoming traffic. He wouldn’t have been there if she wasn’t blocking the road. There were plenty of chances for him to turn down his street but he’s stranded there until she moves and I know when she does move she has a good chance of surprising someone coming around the curve making things worst. The longer he sits at that intersection trying to turn left the more possibility there is for an accident. Of course the on coming traffic would be at fault for the accident but she’s contributing to it by not letting him clear the intersection. There are so many little things like this every day. One my favorite regular issues is when people park in the bus stop so the bus has to stop in the middle of the road and block ALL the traffic. I love that one! I blow by everyone on my bike and after I pass the bus I have the whole street to myself. Of course the down side of this is that it just makes drivers crazier to pass buses whenever they get the chance. You CAN’T get stuck behind a bus. You might not have time for a coffee!!!…. Oh <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> and my love/hate relationship….. Oh and there’s always time for a coffee….<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; "><font style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </font></p>Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-85718455662614917472013-06-21T15:25:00.001+02:002013-06-21T15:25:44.763+02:00The Heat is On!<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; "><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">Well the weather has changed a little here lately. The cool spring has been replaced but real summer heat. Maybe it feels that much hotter because it arrived all at once. I was loving the cooler weather as it was perfect for biking but I noticed that when it was cooler there was always a lot of wind. Now that it’s hot there the wind seems to have disappeared. I could really use a cool breeze at night to help sleep. Anyway this weather will bring with it the obligation to go to the sea. In all my years here I still do not feel the need to go to the sea. I like cooling off in the sea but most of the other parts I don’t like. The crowds, the heat, the sand, the sun, it’s like you have to run a maze of other hazards to get to the nice cool sea. Then the water is usually too cold (at least in June) to stay in very long so you get out until the heat pushes you to go in again. Enough whining, because the weather is supposed to cool off a little next week already.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hey I’m coming up on my 10<sup>th</sup> anniversary of moving to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region></st1:place>. Who would have thought? My original contract was to work in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region></st1:place> for 3 years but things just keep working out to where I need to stay. Every year it was just for 1 or 2 more years. Even now my future here is in doubt as working conditions are not ideal. There are several layers of problems that are trying to force me out. If you ask me what I want and I’ll say it’s easy. Stay here and continue to work as I have been. Let’s see if that’s possible. In the 10 years that I’ve been here I’ve learned a lot and changed quite a bit. I only moved once the whole time and it only up 2 floors in the same building. I’ve always described this adventure as a roller coaster ride of emotions. I’ve had some of the best days of my life in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Brindisi</st1:city></st1:place> and also some of the worst. Things I never thought would happen and things I never thought I was see.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; "><font style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; "><font style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; "><font style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Nello waiting for the gecko.</font></p><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Rz5lqzwRprWOaLb9NXVwmd_-388HoGZduTL_eAmKWjl59aCV0uUoCWzXqn398fhYxNkrxWIV3QtkYHTtaya-uhimjHn2rPd9h_raa-pjzSZ_8ZXRxsZa3mOGfoFzCegTC_4V/s640/blogger-image--143726008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Rz5lqzwRprWOaLb9NXVwmd_-388HoGZduTL_eAmKWjl59aCV0uUoCWzXqn398fhYxNkrxWIV3QtkYHTtaya-uhimjHn2rPd9h_raa-pjzSZ_8ZXRxsZa3mOGfoFzCegTC_4V/s640/blogger-image--143726008.jpg"></a></div>Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-78615202545213377932013-06-07T14:09:00.001+02:002013-06-07T14:09:21.386+02:00CaffèI don't know what's so great about this new coffee bar outside my apartment. It's always packed, well at least there are always people parked all over the corner almost blocking access to my street (via Appia) going to the right in the picture below. They must be giving coffee away!! I say that because there's another coffee bar across the street (look in the upper left of the photo) that doesn't have near the same popularity. Bohhh! Just a little rant today. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1T_zu3x9X-TwaeQAAP04DdEvA2U5245aUBPhv3yhhiJvAR0X06CqbUiSRcNRJVRQclzkU6ONWSLrk3-sTN-wrPOOMVLyrTACuRdB10DK1JKuVBqUTZvMPaZLSxdk5IfdNzz9/s640/blogger-image--697434726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1T_zu3x9X-TwaeQAAP04DdEvA2U5245aUBPhv3yhhiJvAR0X06CqbUiSRcNRJVRQclzkU6ONWSLrk3-sTN-wrPOOMVLyrTACuRdB10DK1JKuVBqUTZvMPaZLSxdk5IfdNzz9/s640/blogger-image--697434726.jpg"></a></div>Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-16211383781893105732013-05-31T11:23:00.001+02:002013-05-31T11:23:05.034+02:002013Ok so here I am again saying I'm going to restart the blog. This time I mean it. Once a week I WILL write something as there is so much going on. This weekend Brindisi is opening a new park (called Cillarese) and the work along the sea in town is almost complete. Right now there is a boat show in town that is free to get into for the first time in years. I always wanted to go but it was so expensive that I always rejected the idea. Ten euros to look at boats!! No way. This year I hope to check it out. Last night I passed through but the show was closed. Here's a photo from the other side of the port looking towards the boat show. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dgObcoyTJ0q5GPBvbkq1eu0X65U0XtcE234IiMcjp86z085UpC0-OjAGthdtFmV6qmeMSNB8HhmpYjheFBIeiGhhO1mNIa7doJI-t5D0nYEIkoZWA3joMN55I7BR-K7gKkUS/s640/blogger-image-1667919748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dgObcoyTJ0q5GPBvbkq1eu0X65U0XtcE234IiMcjp86z085UpC0-OjAGthdtFmV6qmeMSNB8HhmpYjheFBIeiGhhO1mNIa7doJI-t5D0nYEIkoZWA3joMN55I7BR-K7gKkUS/s640/blogger-image-1667919748.jpg"></a></div>Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-21504479719566032192012-08-21T16:43:00.001+02:002012-08-21T16:43:56.189+02:00Botswana and Animals!Hey readers I just got back from 2 weeks of going all over Botswana looking for animals. I think I'll put up a few blog pieces about it because the stories are too long for Facebook. Of course names will be changed to protect the innocent. I had a great time and the trip was not easy but that was part of the fun. We had several nights of camping in subzero temperatures and when I was in boy scouts we didn't even do that. Despite being in Botswana during winter and the dry season we were lucky to see a good number of animals. Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-9079073800379753142012-05-18T15:03:00.001+02:002012-05-18T15:03:35.566+02:00The New BikeThis is a Create Bikes fixie that struck me with its colors as I thought surely no Italian driver could say they didn’t see me on this thing. I bought the bike at Absolute Bikes in San Pietro Vernotico. I may mention this store a lot in the blog because I really like going there and I’m convinced that they need to open a store just like it in Brindisi. This bike’s not a true fixie because I have the bike set up to ride on the sprocket that free wheels. If I flipped the rear wheel around it would be a true fixie. I use this one for my daily commute to work and I have tried the fixie side but I’m not convinced that I like that setup yet. Having one gear is not a problem as the ride to work is pretty flat and only about 3 kms. The narrow handlebars allow me move easily between cars in traffic and bike just seems much more maneuverable than the mountain bike. Also I’m sitting up higher than the mountain bike so I can see what dangers await me up ahead. The brakes aren’t that great so I tend to ride slower which is also probably a good idea in my particular urban environment. It’s not a particularly light bike at 11 kgs but again “che me frega?” it’s all about getting in shape. I hope to slightly trick this baby out or at least do some upgrades that I’ll talk about/do later.<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqCZik-rM5psUwWFY0uiiDUTIKphq6DmcLFdiR6Ea6F-fxdv2MPT9J1CGJwyNcBj8A4vauixX4XIYPKS0OpuQ5QPM3cQvwIfWvJ2PjsM3wE40y2VnvzxQlOmyZj_GbOJbYJnO/s640/blogger-image-395835977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqCZik-rM5psUwWFY0uiiDUTIKphq6DmcLFdiR6Ea6F-fxdv2MPT9J1CGJwyNcBj8A4vauixX4XIYPKS0OpuQ5QPM3cQvwIfWvJ2PjsM3wE40y2VnvzxQlOmyZj_GbOJbYJnO/s640/blogger-image-395835977.jpg" /></a></div>Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-40774338843920057842012-05-16T12:14:00.001+02:002012-05-16T12:14:18.710+02:00Old Mountain BikeThe workhorse is my old Specialized Hard Rock. I think I bought this bike in 1996 as it has an A1 cyclery sticker on it from the west side of Indianapolis. I’m pretty sure I was living on the west side in 1996. I know I had just moved to Indianapolis from Cincinnati to start my first real job after graduation. I know I was still driving that god awful 1988 Mercury Cougar that I bought from my parents. This poor bike has no suspension because that was only on those super expensive mountain bikes at the time (how times have changed!). It was just an entry level mountain bike that had what you needed and nothing more. This seems to still be true because I still use it almost exactly as it was with very few problems; most of the problems have been brought on by me and time. I think the center pull brakes and grip shifters were the s**t then so it was considered a little tricked out because it had those 2 things. I’m not sure what possessed me to pack it for the move to Italy. There wasn’t much chance that I was going to use it because I feared Italian drivers like you wouldn’t believe back then. Since I started riding it again lately on long rides I’m finding that it has weathered time but needs some real tender love care to be a reliable bike. I’m no bike mechanic so it should be interesting to see what happens when I try to fix it. I’m an Engineer so it’s in my blood to think that I can fix it. When things go wrong I’ll just take it to the store. Absolute Bikes has already replaced the right side grip shifter as it was completely shot when I start riding it again. I took the original kick stand off and threw it away long ago thinking it added too much weight. Now I’ve added a crappy Italian one that barely keeps the bike standing. The most recent addition is panniers and rear rack from Topeak that I bought back in the States. I think I’m going to really like this combination. I like to carry a lot of stuff and this bag will let me do that and leave my back free of the sweaty backpack come summer.<br />
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So that’s an introduction to my old bike. Next time my new bike. <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiNZiUskdzCbgOAt24S-B8VYUcrkxJhGRDBriPTd6te9EXW285anmqWwAlw_MObzPM4O3Qkxf8TMIl-kTEHzAFsjXxetsYXwDsEqbTntJcWFYA5tG6bml9j9VDndji48rI9Y8/s640/blogger-image-1114414024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiNZiUskdzCbgOAt24S-B8VYUcrkxJhGRDBriPTd6te9EXW285anmqWwAlw_MObzPM4O3Qkxf8TMIl-kTEHzAFsjXxetsYXwDsEqbTntJcWFYA5tG6bml9j9VDndji48rI9Y8/s640/blogger-image-1114414024.jpg" /></a></div>Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-72947354326291916772012-05-15T11:00:00.001+02:002012-05-15T11:00:13.630+02:00Biking BlogI’m thinking about revamping this blog about my life in Puglia. I stop blogging because it seemed like I was repeating myself and whining about the same old Italian problems that will be here forever. About September of last year I started getting interested in biking. I brought my old mountain bike over when I loved to Brindisi in 2003. It has largely been gathering dust because I was afraid to confront Italian drivers on their home turf. I’m not sure what pushed me but I became fixated on a Fixie. I bought the yellow, blue and red machine and started using it as regular transportation to work. Now I also use the old mountain bike for longer trips on the weekend. I’m starting to think more about a real trip with the bike, like from Brindisi to Rome on the Via Appia so that leads me to the revelation that I’m posting today.<br />
I could turn this blog into something where I post about what I’m doing and where I’m going on the bike. It would serve as a record and hopefully push me to go out more and get in better shape. I could still whine about random Italian things like food, weather, politics etc. So what do you think? I wonder if anybody is even still reading this blog. Well it’s been hard to muster the will to write so let’s see what happens…..<br />
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Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-30482861828130818942012-02-23T12:00:00.001+01:002012-02-23T12:00:26.006+01:00Italy can be so stupid sometimes...I say this with all due respect. One of the many laws that government is trying to pass is getting a little of the good old political treatment. A simple law is now becoming a classical example of the Italian bureaucracy. Listen to this… The new law would limit cash transactions to 1,000 euro (the current limit is 2,000 euro). You can’t buy something in cash for more than 1,000 euro, which sounds reasonable because carrying around tons of cash is not a good idea. With this law it would be harder to launder money and it makes it harder to avoid paying taxes. Credit cards are great for their perfect electronic record of the transaction. Now the parliament wants to add a little exception. They want tourists to be exempt from this rule. I guess these super rich jet setters can’t be bothered to buy things with their credit card. If you’re buying that Rolex or Gucci you want to be able to throw down a big wad of cash because that’s more exciting? I’m looking at you Russians when I say this. So with this exemption it means the store will need to make a copy of the passport of the tourist buying the item for 1,000 or more and then within 3 days deposit the money in the bank with the copy of the passport. Of course all transactions will have some paperwork that goes with them and copies etc... Why can’t Italy make a simple law and stick to it? I mean this original law would help address another issue, which is that tourists should NOT be parading around with huge wads of cash. That’s like wearing a sign that says “ROB ME”. As a foreigner I don’t want some stupid crook to mistake me as one of these idiots going around with too much cash in his pocket. This is just one small example of Italy trying to cater to a very small crowd and screwing everything up. And this exemption can be so easily abused. For crying out loud all they need to do is get a copy of a passport of a foreigner. In hotels they take your passport and make a copy during your stay. Now the hotel clerks could start a side business selling passport copies to merchants who need it for locals who want to spend large wads of cash. The exemption makes a simple thing difficult and opens a whole new line of abuse. Stick to the original law it’s so easy. Cash transactions are limited to 1,000 euro!!!Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-28831086623192571832012-02-14T16:09:00.001+01:002012-02-14T16:09:16.268+01:00CarcofiOk that hail photo sucks but this photo of artichokes at the market last weekend is pretty good. <br />
<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cYl-nWX68LJdsvtQfF0ybYCNiaVH0XT9n25qWrW3gXanpKqcmJYxmNGIUZMRN8uTJRhwKPyEXiejxzn3ndNV8w2BZNNZHPhqYE0VO2ojHBQElOBK1bStFYd5uehjZT25_nkP/s640/blogger-image--2049589840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cYl-nWX68LJdsvtQfF0ybYCNiaVH0XT9n25qWrW3gXanpKqcmJYxmNGIUZMRN8uTJRhwKPyEXiejxzn3ndNV8w2BZNNZHPhqYE0VO2ojHBQElOBK1bStFYd5uehjZT25_nkP/s640/blogger-image--2049589840.jpg" /></a></div>Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-51775802594005568332012-02-14T16:07:00.001+01:002012-02-14T16:07:35.846+01:00HailA photo of the hail from my balcony. <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1N1gqcbipDDuJ89TlFdEgGWLLkUUgW7rlVaCYYptMwERgNzGjEbMGCuh-uVFtyXy-HrEx-w6PX0A7XB2ZbYBUtJtqz5MbYDBKVbv_a1PUVdy_fpeDPfOmz-KD2tfWo_q49Px_/s640/blogger-image-657083945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1N1gqcbipDDuJ89TlFdEgGWLLkUUgW7rlVaCYYptMwERgNzGjEbMGCuh-uVFtyXy-HrEx-w6PX0A7XB2ZbYBUtJtqz5MbYDBKVbv_a1PUVdy_fpeDPfOmz-KD2tfWo_q49Px_/s640/blogger-image-657083945.jpg" /></a></div>Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-88547324789985976112012-01-25T14:33:00.001+01:002012-01-25T14:33:06.308+01:00ItalyWell I'm still in Puglia and boy have things changed. Well not for me but for Italia. The government has changed and Italy was thrown into the spotlight for the debt crisis. Now the new government is trying to patch things up which obviously is not going down. Add in a few unrelated disasters (Concordia sinking and today earthquakes) and I think I have some stuff to write about. So I'm going to try to get back on the blog wagon. Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-11087908999016349852011-09-09T15:17:00.001+02:002011-09-09T15:18:32.998+02:00Holy CrapHey with this new Google Blogger App I can update this blog from anywhere. It may be just the thing to get me excited about blogging again. Only time will tell...<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4NbMwfOm8wsIfTCB3_3-JTkp-h-p2LHaGc-nCFgslljIovtuVRw62EXebauoDGmmANg6oXZKxsdiWaYT8SKcIOAz-jxTZwJrW7DRVO7GcOlu7RtUd6qiyV0pvHIh6l5cTJZ2/s640/blogger-image-1292122204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4NbMwfOm8wsIfTCB3_3-JTkp-h-p2LHaGc-nCFgslljIovtuVRw62EXebauoDGmmANg6oXZKxsdiWaYT8SKcIOAz-jxTZwJrW7DRVO7GcOlu7RtUd6qiyV0pvHIh6l5cTJZ2/s640/blogger-image-1292122204.jpg" /></a></div>Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-37418168822031662992011-06-02T13:03:00.003+02:002011-06-02T13:34:51.385+02:00Belgium photos<div><br /></div><div>Explanations of the photos to be added one of these days...</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGz_dqmdOv-xyBLRJDLpTG4KhlxcRC87y2e9W0WaJ69jGEUryEe2vwdBFOw1XPDBDxBoxujVPTgK7LI8p2WRCSO4q31ZOwMVT7_SZpTYMRQOrNyA9xXrfCGNGcM_F5F_GBG0ym/s1600/IMG_1105.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGz_dqmdOv-xyBLRJDLpTG4KhlxcRC87y2e9W0WaJ69jGEUryEe2vwdBFOw1XPDBDxBoxujVPTgK7LI8p2WRCSO4q31ZOwMVT7_SZpTYMRQOrNyA9xXrfCGNGcM_F5F_GBG0ym/s320/IMG_1105.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613581044646666354" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFht2JXtJbXzK5DkSA2H_-P_bHYmBQ4_qhTXRZS1uSQDV5Ity5jrSdYOOG46rTul4Qlbbmod41dTPD0zp_uFtyOZ8DGCmdS_zDyrS0cFkUgn18N-j-dJYY0GM-7PE0hVwL110/s1600/IMG_0997.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFht2JXtJbXzK5DkSA2H_-P_bHYmBQ4_qhTXRZS1uSQDV5Ity5jrSdYOOG46rTul4Qlbbmod41dTPD0zp_uFtyOZ8DGCmdS_zDyrS0cFkUgn18N-j-dJYY0GM-7PE0hVwL110/s320/IMG_0997.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613581042236298114" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1U7Jx2yhci_sgddF99tvj04CxhEq45xVRf6UdaCJYeqG_G6bek-6fJfTf4PrmESbLrR-1JDKaUrke9gDK95_OfuQVBdl3D4ecJoxGQKswFZtyp9g25x9f0po8E5488n0oDhB/s1600/IMG_0953.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1U7Jx2yhci_sgddF99tvj04CxhEq45xVRf6UdaCJYeqG_G6bek-6fJfTf4PrmESbLrR-1JDKaUrke9gDK95_OfuQVBdl3D4ecJoxGQKswFZtyp9g25x9f0po8E5488n0oDhB/s320/IMG_0953.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613581039205357330" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRZOLSCU7QhpGzhGNybUktzPqsRWXyeCbtC_dFye9UlN_jAMqaobDOqoF7HXuxOHIaoFlUIOnLPx5VtQ7aoqOeLlD2tx-6z6tRVPR_XqKkKSIcOuzFfHTL2LqYOpLkHNcYqjm/s1600/IMG_0834.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRZOLSCU7QhpGzhGNybUktzPqsRWXyeCbtC_dFye9UlN_jAMqaobDOqoF7HXuxOHIaoFlUIOnLPx5VtQ7aoqOeLlD2tx-6z6tRVPR_XqKkKSIcOuzFfHTL2LqYOpLkHNcYqjm/s320/IMG_0834.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613581031929363266" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEyoH9-wv9jsCDp_3eIbXwtKvIdey9ILA4qzcUCX3NvVY3AYdjf7eaWXy2STgs-DyQ6PVBAwL9SgEQHEZmmR4nIXFHdUKGH5y5ufCTg3mjOqvcSdlYbzd8fzQCIU_lDGNRkfP/s1600/IMG_0786.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEyoH9-wv9jsCDp_3eIbXwtKvIdey9ILA4qzcUCX3NvVY3AYdjf7eaWXy2STgs-DyQ6PVBAwL9SgEQHEZmmR4nIXFHdUKGH5y5ufCTg3mjOqvcSdlYbzd8fzQCIU_lDGNRkfP/s320/IMG_0786.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613579625925724690" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuHb1SyuhS6ssNasVy8C6dUoxbpsuDLk7Q9C_dmO0pPU5Ujc4KZNsbQkx52xF79riFaXJGFRAWRwZO-LZkDBbH6AezS87bimREXfCWUMtqTwK7HNNIeinAzO3EPNIrQRLDgxR/s1600/IMG_0750.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuHb1SyuhS6ssNasVy8C6dUoxbpsuDLk7Q9C_dmO0pPU5Ujc4KZNsbQkx52xF79riFaXJGFRAWRwZO-LZkDBbH6AezS87bimREXfCWUMtqTwK7HNNIeinAzO3EPNIrQRLDgxR/s320/IMG_0750.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613579623478653922" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPRkdPzr5LoEuw4QQzZsK3IJ3shnLulNoq8jc7sLzzBoWGxJAp4Qi09LVpv6vlzjt89-WzfrJLaTrNJ_F4zbwhMQdmk_gRtxcBiFewhmEpvgpkEywIt_8FFk7tzPdK4F-cbxt/s1600/IMG_0725.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPRkdPzr5LoEuw4QQzZsK3IJ3shnLulNoq8jc7sLzzBoWGxJAp4Qi09LVpv6vlzjt89-WzfrJLaTrNJ_F4zbwhMQdmk_gRtxcBiFewhmEpvgpkEywIt_8FFk7tzPdK4F-cbxt/s320/IMG_0725.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613579615913593410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdS3tRkOjKZ_Flth-O7GngH8E-GDpOKcJnhc8BWlJlQyteoYQ-mt3J-SHPsHBugLrCcMd15DUkFKrnnrTtHPJlYqvjZ87S4RhzKJIS4pPF_n887EwrNSQNMkkCnNXzTA1s7zW/s1600/IMG_1127.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdS3tRkOjKZ_Flth-O7GngH8E-GDpOKcJnhc8BWlJlQyteoYQ-mt3J-SHPsHBugLrCcMd15DUkFKrnnrTtHPJlYqvjZ87S4RhzKJIS4pPF_n887EwrNSQNMkkCnNXzTA1s7zW/s320/IMG_1127.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613579611429015586" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSCjZPsAygfvk4_E6cbz-o51IAj4vZgsqvdkhRmJM1EW40pW7UUk7V7qxpU56dVWUor2gzSuw8XLA3JrqaXYfIu2R6ke0FT8ZoEpQI3ygZYq4eOVKLQIcOEeyJ7BVa5iXpHGE/s1600/IMG_1126.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSCjZPsAygfvk4_E6cbz-o51IAj4vZgsqvdkhRmJM1EW40pW7UUk7V7qxpU56dVWUor2gzSuw8XLA3JrqaXYfIu2R6ke0FT8ZoEpQI3ygZYq4eOVKLQIcOEeyJ7BVa5iXpHGE/s320/IMG_1126.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613579613438127682" /></a>Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-73049381179708573472011-06-02T12:59:00.000+02:002011-06-02T13:03:30.384+02:00Belgium (May 20-23, 2011)<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Last weekend I used Ryanair to have a long weekend in Belgium. They fly Brindisi to Charleroi for ridiculously cheap (this round trip ticket was 40 euros with all the taxes included). I believe this is really cheap because it was over the weekend and the weather in May can be great. This is February or March when the weather is miserable in these parts. We were really lucky with the weather because it was not to hot and not too cold which was important because the hotels we stayed in didn’t seem to have AC so any later in the year and the rooms probably would be uncomfortably hot.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The flight arrived early Friday morning and we jumped into a rental car and headed towards Bruges. We had time plenty of time to get there so we stopped and checked out Gent on the way. Gent was supposed to be a less touristy medieval town like Bruges and for the most part it was. It had some charm but we were left a little disappointed. It wasn’t small and quaint like we were expecting.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In Bruges we used my navigator option on the iphone to get us close to the hotel. We couldn’t get to the hotel because the road was closed. And when I say closed really I mean there wasn’t a road, it was gone. They had it stripped down to bare ground about a foot below street level. I guess this was good because it meant there was no street noise. I highly recommend the Hotel Gheestilic Hof (or something similar to that spelling) as it was great. We were within walking distance of all the major attractions and man did we walk. The first night we had dinner near the main piazza and learned something I didn’t expect. In Belgium this time of year it gets dark really late. We were hoping to stroll around the piazza just after dark admiring the lights but that didn’t happen because at 10:00 PM it was still light out. Also a strange thing about Belgium is everything closes early. The main clock tower (the main tourist attraction) closes the stairs to the top at 4:15 PM! The stores close around 6:00 or 7:00 PM and even the place we had desert at on the square was kicking us out at 10:30. We sat down at 10:00 and the waiter announced that we needed to order right away if we wanted anything. Come on man it’s the weekend, live a little and stay open to midnight. Do you need to get home to bed before the sun sets????</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">One of the highlights was the boat trip on the canals. I was worried that this would be too touristy but the boat driver was great and view from boat was worth the money. My personal favorite was going up in the clock tower. It was over 300 stairs all in a tight spiral. It wasn’t as hard as you expect but I had to stop to keep from getting too dizzy. We were the first ones to go up in the morning after learning the hard way about that early closing time I mentioned earlier.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">After 2 nights in Bruges we went to Brussels for the last night so we would be closer to the airport for early flight out Monday morning. The hotel in Brussels (Best Western City Center) was not nearly as good as the one in Bruges. I really would like to know what “City Center” they are talking about. The two hotels had one thing in common and that was that the road was torn up leading to the hotel. The poor navigator in my iphone again wondered what the hell we were doing. The phone was blurting out directions and seemingly getting upset that we went around the long way. We also found out that we were not far from the “Red Light” district of Brussels during this exploration. I hadn’t seen anything like that since Amsterdam! This hotel was sooo close to the city center that we ended up driving from the hotel to main piazza, interesting given our ability to walk all day. In the end this helped as we were dead tired and stuffed after dinner. One of the highlights of Brussels was dinner. One person of our group had a cousin in Brussels and she showed us around but more importantly took us to a rib place that could be the best I have had in Europe. It was near the Brussels Stock Market and for 15 euro you had all you could eat ribs with a sauce that was dam good. I’m convinced they have stolen the recipe from the USA but that’s ok because we have tons of good ribs sauces and they choose a good one to steal. Brussels seemed to stay awake until after dark so we could see the famous Grote Plaz all light up.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Overall I enjoyed the trip a lot. I learned that Belgian beer is dam good. I know I had heard some good things about it but I really didn’t expect it to be that good. I learned that Belgium eats its waffles in the afternoon, only in the afternoon, and there are 2 kinds. I love the heavier dense kind. They throw a ball of dough that’s the consistency of bread dough into the waffle press and out comes waffle perfection. The other kind is crunchier but seems factory made. They also do a pretty good French fries with an interesting mustardish sauce. They close up the country early so go to any museums or monuments first. They need to take the Italian afternoon pause so they can open past 7:00 PM!</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></p>Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-85066044298032606312011-02-19T10:56:00.010+01:002011-02-19T11:20:49.985+01:00Sicily Round 2<div>I forgot I had the big old Digital SLR so I have these photos too!!!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZZYeRsqAQwSKTlwK5RZIr1StdsVnF66-gYNHCmY5lEuP9b4-_EDpqH2oF7Tac7AMqGukHKsET_ZaJDxKAAXAR2w77gK2wfIQXWAydaBKZv4i3QMHOz1rWNiA5r7oyxIvCc7x/s1600/IMG_3149.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZZYeRsqAQwSKTlwK5RZIr1StdsVnF66-gYNHCmY5lEuP9b4-_EDpqH2oF7Tac7AMqGukHKsET_ZaJDxKAAXAR2w77gK2wfIQXWAydaBKZv4i3QMHOz1rWNiA5r7oyxIvCc7x/s320/IMG_3149.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575342480981036178" /></a>The ear of Dionysis or something like that. I'll look it up later.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5leGyHN3WMtRQVs2FYO6CiZIN2lempRXxcdwrn4el0N_SWwOnt3kx9fyfFWySK8lIBs69RBZOBIbTgmnUuByHvjq3nKSL8USanIFmdqMBujAtyRBqJhl8DN52mFxAurxPuo6P/s1600/IMG_3117.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5leGyHN3WMtRQVs2FYO6CiZIN2lempRXxcdwrn4el0N_SWwOnt3kx9fyfFWySK8lIBs69RBZOBIbTgmnUuByHvjq3nKSL8USanIFmdqMBujAtyRBqJhl8DN52mFxAurxPuo6P/s320/IMG_3117.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575341997959503042" /></a>Sunset in Siracusa</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUq6ho8rTy3O3nLBfoRBRxY2ENMF0IreykX2mF090_QSO32JqWvTJuc3RQXOX8nGnjmaaaRmLgJT7kaXfLNToriGV5hfGH1zYOUytilExxQ0goxpsaNGLwP8dKW_Gtb7lXCWCj/s1600/IMG_3112.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUq6ho8rTy3O3nLBfoRBRxY2ENMF0IreykX2mF090_QSO32JqWvTJuc3RQXOX8nGnjmaaaRmLgJT7kaXfLNToriGV5hfGH1zYOUytilExxQ0goxpsaNGLwP8dKW_Gtb7lXCWCj/s320/IMG_3112.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575341622660027138" /></a>The alley our B&B was in on.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WCO1sAeRwruJWp5063NxqSN_w-Zz_J891Ys9GusyYpEaf29Ctt6Tz0ft5TZVUFfhVWPedRn0e8Z72_uJWcCo2oLRgu4OL22OWYbCd4sIiP5TNXFf0Q2QLWHJ45WJEft51-Ta/s1600/IMG_3107.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WCO1sAeRwruJWp5063NxqSN_w-Zz_J891Ys9GusyYpEaf29Ctt6Tz0ft5TZVUFfhVWPedRn0e8Z72_uJWcCo2oLRgu4OL22OWYbCd4sIiP5TNXFf0Q2QLWHJ45WJEft51-Ta/s320/IMG_3107.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575341255306867538" /></a>Artsy photo of the Duomo in Siracusa</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DwElrDHJEjshPyo7sxuSIZ7_0SX02Nq5H9KRbOJCxfH8XnkzAMv_6N6F7Xma5Ctbh2TxthA3lQUfMRJEwHxBD2Danqk5CnTl_WXdjYwjKo3hHgP2RJpxNDhVdgA2ICFSK7mL/s1600/IMG_3090.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DwElrDHJEjshPyo7sxuSIZ7_0SX02Nq5H9KRbOJCxfH8XnkzAMv_6N6F7Xma5Ctbh2TxthA3lQUfMRJEwHxBD2Danqk5CnTl_WXdjYwjKo3hHgP2RJpxNDhVdgA2ICFSK7mL/s320/IMG_3090.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575340954083196194" /></a>The normal photo of the Duomo</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUPX1Enbo7RZhNln4sX8rDqo5NqcPIwBCF62qPR6I0raTVrE2su91Bblqji0uktRo1zRRuWKv0l3HXZ23WomebKMTiB2O9GQYrzgaD8t0jXNdetUgw9-fL7o8i5LVQEUYNVu_/s1600/IMG_3036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUPX1Enbo7RZhNln4sX8rDqo5NqcPIwBCF62qPR6I0raTVrE2su91Bblqji0uktRo1zRRuWKv0l3HXZ23WomebKMTiB2O9GQYrzgaD8t0jXNdetUgw9-fL7o8i5LVQEUYNVu_/s320/IMG_3036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575340109797781442" /></a>This is a night shot of Castelmola which is actually above Taormina. Very small and quiet town.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs80AyHpvukU9x0N0Q0azXuAqQwH81r5eZciXSY9UlFCT71m2q8VLNSe6G5Ggopx7JnNhspRyxyi63dLG5hsM6F_NJyq_oFGGRL-cJUMa037ncCIyOw_SQilIQmcmM-vW6uBY3/s1600/IMG_3020.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs80AyHpvukU9x0N0Q0azXuAqQwH81r5eZciXSY9UlFCT71m2q8VLNSe6G5Ggopx7JnNhspRyxyi63dLG5hsM6F_NJyq_oFGGRL-cJUMa037ncCIyOw_SQilIQmcmM-vW6uBY3/s320/IMG_3020.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575339610040709106" /></a>Another photo in Castelmola. Not sure how that old FIAT got up the road!</div><div><br /></div></div>Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-84745176270399335992011-02-19T10:28:00.006+01:002011-02-19T10:41:41.076+01:00Photos from Sicily<div><br /></div><div>How about some photos from the trip to Taormina and Siracusa?! Remember I only have a iphone now.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqviQ7IURsy5NaxmCInMf2dt1AcKOCQh6StDz8EBDfjWUyDawDzZAkvvnCzNda7SrXc3gmf-Xj5VzMzCeG4K5nzIT9NQCtc4I8j5oh6tH_KUkokUVoYlzoHnMXFx1bvB18rszF/s1600/IMG_1324.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqviQ7IURsy5NaxmCInMf2dt1AcKOCQh6StDz8EBDfjWUyDawDzZAkvvnCzNda7SrXc3gmf-Xj5VzMzCeG4K5nzIT9NQCtc4I8j5oh6tH_KUkokUVoYlzoHnMXFx1bvB18rszF/s320/IMG_1324.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575331915744061762" /></a>Crossing the straits. It was too cold to go out on deck. This was in January!!!<br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hn9PmFAcXstKrnSDUYL9ZqRI1f-BpdGVFXuFB-po77zIw_KpFzkgdGXTxDFK9C9iVbnoD2GTxgyiZyoQGviUeQIklCtsgiZcMmjfbW-RWuK-kdRqe0R1K-hsCqG3J_Z_1-Zr/s1600/IMG_1319.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hn9PmFAcXstKrnSDUYL9ZqRI1f-BpdGVFXuFB-po77zIw_KpFzkgdGXTxDFK9C9iVbnoD2GTxgyiZyoQGviUeQIklCtsgiZcMmjfbW-RWuK-kdRqe0R1K-hsCqG3J_Z_1-Zr/s320/IMG_1319.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575331915249519266" /></a>Gnocchi with Pistachios. Very good. I highly recommend it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKGrWfGXFMQixTwku9xCnAg9l3k5yP7inU_W_pbFebP4BQHHRnxDFLURHvvmtZMJCm0fqh2Hbibhm447C34LqOjhyLMeeZ4sArZ5pvB-pc85Wqb1k1MIVOzch0AR4l_-o5pFX/s1600/IMG_1318.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKGrWfGXFMQixTwku9xCnAg9l3k5yP7inU_W_pbFebP4BQHHRnxDFLURHvvmtZMJCm0fqh2Hbibhm447C34LqOjhyLMeeZ4sArZ5pvB-pc85Wqb1k1MIVOzch0AR4l_-o5pFX/s320/IMG_1318.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575331910799286818" /></a>Boats in the Siracusa harbor.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOMYAxykBDrGDvvmzXRtXvSwGrPN4HiL1GH9rpJwBdVLOsXG9KjrlMDLow537WP9arCh3n9G4Pe1XYot5-TOX2xFVOm1SmkyjeRlab0pTc23CvRFcZEw5wcoVyokDJVrEsHqz/s1600/IMG_1311.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOMYAxykBDrGDvvmzXRtXvSwGrPN4HiL1GH9rpJwBdVLOsXG9KjrlMDLow537WP9arCh3n9G4Pe1XYot5-TOX2xFVOm1SmkyjeRlab0pTc23CvRFcZEw5wcoVyokDJVrEsHqz/s320/IMG_1311.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575331261412728994" /></a>This was the most surprising find. The catacombs of San Giovanni under this church are incredible.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EYnmhzsoZPSw90Do9dE87DiN-f00JTiETh2CWhUE-4vRALQFgJxn1HZjzfHFUeOpouFp7WxhY8zlcZjWHbGTJSxPVieQl89qJY7naSumIRyzfLXZTZUdDRHXtvkaCep1y-ge/s1600/IMG_1299.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EYnmhzsoZPSw90Do9dE87DiN-f00JTiETh2CWhUE-4vRALQFgJxn1HZjzfHFUeOpouFp7WxhY8zlcZjWHbGTJSxPVieQl89qJY7naSumIRyzfLXZTZUdDRHXtvkaCep1y-ge/s320/IMG_1299.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575331260316155730" /></a>It wouldn't be Sicily without Cannoli!!!!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZqDjoVyQBlq8nXXEQnJTn2OTP1xDxJaC-K5XUtjU4FJfIqET-38ysPWNoXIADEOgIm7hu_zvwKPEgrXHDIzUNoKp6jYUJzk2QA-_ramnNGqqEU-enWsnTt9QvvIcOuhahakr/s1600/IMG_1291.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZqDjoVyQBlq8nXXEQnJTn2OTP1xDxJaC-K5XUtjU4FJfIqET-38ysPWNoXIADEOgIm7hu_zvwKPEgrXHDIzUNoKp6jYUJzk2QA-_ramnNGqqEU-enWsnTt9QvvIcOuhahakr/s320/IMG_1291.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575331260213577698" /></a>The only view of Mount Etna. The rest of the time it was covered with clouds.<br /><br /><div><br /></div></div>Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-54167611363081441232011-02-05T18:11:00.002+01:002011-02-05T18:48:25.162+01:00Plastic in 2011<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So this year we (</span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Italy</span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and I) are lowering our plastic usage, sort of, let me explain. </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Italy</span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> passed a law way back in 2007 to cut down on the number of plastics in use. The law got pushed back several times but finally came into effect on January 1, 2011. It says that plastic bags are “illegal”. Now I put that illegal in quotes because like everything in </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Italy</span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> it’s all relative. For one thing the stores are allowed to keep giving them out until they run out of the old stock. They are supposed to use only biodegradable after that and charge for them to give people incentive to use reusable bags. They are trying to promote cloth bags. So far this year I haven’t noticed any difference. There were some places that already used biodegradable bags and some that didn’t. It seems to still be that way. But before I knew all this I had already started collecting cloth bags last year in various ways so now I’m making the most of them. For instance last year in </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">India</span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> I was in a part of the country that already had a ban like this on plastic bags. In 2 places I bought something and they put the items in a small cloth bag. This worked out great because now I have 2 cloth bags, one small and the other medium sized. Also last year I got 2 bigger bags when I bought cat food. They were part of a promotion and they are very ugly but they work. Two other cloth bags were given to me as promotional items when new stores opened in </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Brindisi</span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. Sorry mom the cloth bag you gave me I gave to</span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Alberta</span></span></st1:state></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> because it wasn’t manly enough! Anyway I have made it habit this year to always go out with a bag in hand, even if I’m not planning on buying anything. I figure you have to get in the habit or it won’t work. It seems to be working. The number of plastic bags that I had has diminished greatly, so what am I going to use when cleaning the cat litter boxes?!! I’ll have to get some good biodegradable bags myself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Then other part of my low plastic life is water bottles. At work I can get a half liter bottle of water for 25 euro cents out of the vending machine. This seems like nothing so I didn’t think twice about buying a bottle once in a while. Also there are recycling bins at work so I always put the bottles there so I felt ok about it. This year I’m trying to eliminate it all together by refilling a bottle and bringing it from home. The result so far is I have bought 1 bottle of water from the vending machine at work. I don’t think I have saved much money but I would like to think that I’m doing my part to improve my habits every year. At lunch they give a half liter bottle with your meal so there is nothing I can do about that. I have started bringing in a panino for lunch instead of always eating in the cafeteria.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In a related story I bought a new CD case. This is the book-type of case that holds just the CD. I took all of my CDs out of their stupid individual cheap crap plastic cases and put them into the new book-type case. I saved the CD cover/booklet with the CD because that’s important part of these old CDs. My first reason for this was my CDs were taking up too much space on the shelves of the apartment and I never use them. This change made it so my CD collection takes up A LOT less space, which in turn gave me room for other crap that I’ve been collecting on the shelves. Also I felt good throwing out all cheap plastic. Many were already broken or cracked so feel a little liberated by doing this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Last year was LED light bulbs and solar panels. This year plastic. Hmmm what else can do to be greener? That reminds me that I’ve seen LED light bulbs on sale lately. I think a new generation of bulbs are about to come out and they need to sell off what they have in stock. I think this year they will come out with bulbs that give off “good light” and by this I mean truly equivalent to incandescent but they will stay be too expensive. I say in 2014 LEDs will replace 90% of the lights we use. I already see more and more styles and types in the store. I saw some being used to light the tunnels on the A3 from</span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Salerno</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> to Reggio Calabria on my way down to </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sicily</span></span></st1:state></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. That should be a good test of them. If they can take being on all the time and in the conditions of the tunnels then they could prove their worth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Calligraphy';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><br /></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-84785551039181688132010-12-23T18:57:00.004+01:002010-12-24T13:20:00.858+01:002010 The Year in Review<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill- -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Back in the good old days when I blogged a lot I could wrap up the year with a highlight from each month. Let’s see if I can do that without the help of continuous blogging to look back on. If I forgot something important then feel free to remind me in the comments.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill- -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">January</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">I went to </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Tunisia</span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> and realized a life long dream. I went and saw Luke Skywalker’s house from the original Star Wars. Of course there was a lot more to </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Tunisia</span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> than that but lets not get into the details about how Tunisians are TERRIBLE at giving directions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">February</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">I saw my beloved Colts get beat by the Saints in the Superbowl. Well I did see some of it live and then I fell asleep. I guess its ok they lost as </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">New Orleans</span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> “needed” it more according to the articles. Blah, blah, blah.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">March</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">My soccer team won the work tournament here in </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Brindisi</span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">. Kolletti Bianchi (White Collars) were unstoppable in the semifinals and finals. I have to admit that those two were my best games too. I tried to explain that when the game is important I turn up adrenalin because when you’re over 35 you have ration it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">April</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">I can’t think of anything that happened in April. That’s unusual because April is Easter and usually I take a trip with that nice long weekend. This year it came and went with no explorations. I can’t remember why. Then April 25th</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> and May 1st</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> both fell on the weekend so a trip using one of these holidays was also out of the question. Italians really need to learn to move vacation days to Mondays and Fridays like we do in the States.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">May</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">In May I made up for April. I went Whitewater rafting in </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Calabria</span></span></st1:state></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">. I think it’s amazing that this was my first time in real white water. I’m also upset at my slow reactions when someone in my raft fell out. I imagined that in such a situation I would summon superhero strength to pull the fellow out of the dangerous waters. It ended fine but I did nothing heroic and the waters weren't dangerous. I also went home for a week of R&R in </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Cincinnati</span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">. I’ve learned long ago that I need a trip home about every 6 months or I’ll go crazy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">June</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">This was the start of the World Cup 2010. Highlights for </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Italy</span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> were few so I’ll just relive 2006 in my head. At least the </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">USA</span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> made some highlight film material.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">July</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">This month too seemed quiet and without highlights from what I can remember. Maybe this is because like April it’s the month before a lot of traveling. I didn’t have a big 4th of July </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">celebration at my house like in 2009. I guess I need to bring that back in 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">August</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">August is always the big vacation month in </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Italy</span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> and this year was no different. I again went to </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Asia</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> for the 3rd </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">year in a row. This time it was to Eastern India (</span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Calcutta</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> to </span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Darjeeling</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">) and then </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Bhutan</span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">. Very nice trip and definitely another highlight of my life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">September</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">I was back in the States but this time for work. I also managed to see a lot of family on the weekend, which is great when it works out like that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">October</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">This went I really started feeling bad. For those of you who don’t know I was getting a very strange feeling of nausea. It had been bothering me for weeks but in October I really felt bad so much so that I went and saw my Italian doctor for the first time. It was a good experience with the National Healthcare System. Finally I used my tessera di sanita.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">November</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Continuing my stomach issues I had a gastro-scope done and they found that the valve at the top of my stomach (called the cardias) ain’t doing its job well. So now I’m doing much better with the help of Omeprazolo (I think that’s what it’s called). Also I went to </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Torino</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> for a long weekend, which was a surprisingly nice town. Then I went home to </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Cincinnati</span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> for Thanksgiving. I’ve learned over the years that traveling at Thanksgiving is way better than Christmas. Anybody seeing the news about </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Europe</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> right now knows I choose wisely.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">December</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">This month has been quiet. I guess the highlight is looking back at all the crazy stuff that happened in my life this year. I’m happy spending another quiet Christmas in </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Brindisi</span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">. After Christmas I may drive down to </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Sicily</span></span></st1:state></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">. I love to visit that part of </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Italy</span></span></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> I still haven’t seen </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">Stromboli</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> or Siracusa which would be nice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">There is definite fear in the air for me in 2011. A lot could happen. The most definite thing is that I will turn 40! Uffa, that sounds old. My return to the States seems more definite than all the other times that I said I was moving back. I think 2010 was the only year that there </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;">wasn’t</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"> a danger of me being moved back to the States. This time it could really happen and as usual I’m undecided as to weather its good thing or not. Sometimes it seems like a great idea when something is pissing me off and at other times I think about ALL the changes that will lead to and I think I should stay. Still Italians have taught me a thing or two about family so if I have to leave at least I will be getting back closer to family. There’s nothing wrong with that.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-15447337587374031692010-12-19T12:59:00.002+01:002010-12-19T13:06:45.189+01:00Regata di Brindisi December 19, 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAPqxsSiuwct5P7WpkGqiYqjXe37c-aiAB1bhrQjN2QVkLnTsFZfJI79ifMQExZcY4gh8uLowETVJDPLffN1iWnUcIKFxLYnSjDP0Be_deeiMBTv1kIsTOc75EeArG5ut6-zU/s1600/IMG_2998.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAPqxsSiuwct5P7WpkGqiYqjXe37c-aiAB1bhrQjN2QVkLnTsFZfJI79ifMQExZcY4gh8uLowETVJDPLffN1iWnUcIKFxLYnSjDP0Be_deeiMBTv1kIsTOc75EeArG5ut6-zU/s320/IMG_2998.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552363218933829186" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gp_kg2CPmAb8nEz-r2WPoaU4zxrvLkGmXW76aHoTzoaGRg1Hovxu0UnLkdUjWtTgdT0iky8DJmt0ze8pxgkrR84FhXkOgGCd1m1zlSoPrnXL1McZDVux58_H8IniPuLyLz3n/s1600/IMG_2997.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gp_kg2CPmAb8nEz-r2WPoaU4zxrvLkGmXW76aHoTzoaGRg1Hovxu0UnLkdUjWtTgdT0iky8DJmt0ze8pxgkrR84FhXkOgGCd1m1zlSoPrnXL1McZDVux58_H8IniPuLyLz3n/s320/IMG_2997.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552363216300182722" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9CyA02chfCmSu69aBhodM7bsFp7QdoHb-pGrUlmiEBvlRruR3rE0Jjl2fEKqFeI_W2K6L9GQPQo6g8fpb5rlvMz7txlg6eg-873P5h7MjRMWczMk8z1lgsxREcs8_luSElDR/s1600/IMG_2996.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9CyA02chfCmSu69aBhodM7bsFp7QdoHb-pGrUlmiEBvlRruR3rE0Jjl2fEKqFeI_W2K6L9GQPQo6g8fpb5rlvMz7txlg6eg-873P5h7MjRMWczMk8z1lgsxREcs8_luSElDR/s320/IMG_2996.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552363213335818578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjtvRGVvNxsMWyLrsYvWQm39YZd9CxHEhSZjHZrUdg2C7iVnoRfLTvxzzkxp2IHH3gATRkrYFJiOOHIQEaQ7JftiPthLHHiRWV2OJsRmOYOPhQ95QWF4I-n7f2kYatOImnJ5R/s1600/IMG_2995.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjtvRGVvNxsMWyLrsYvWQm39YZd9CxHEhSZjHZrUdg2C7iVnoRfLTvxzzkxp2IHH3gATRkrYFJiOOHIQEaQ7JftiPthLHHiRWV2OJsRmOYOPhQ95QWF4I-n7f2kYatOImnJ5R/s320/IMG_2995.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552363205882591922" /></a><br />Some photos from today. I was looking for Christmas photos but found this race instead.Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-71667848304296911892010-12-01T23:02:00.005+01:002010-12-02T20:36:48.477+01:00Traveling, what joy?<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">So let’s recap my latest visit to the states from a traveling view point. Going to the </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">US</span></span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> was relatively easy this time. There was a strange procedure in </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Rome</span></span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> for getting on the plane. They made everyone get out of seated area by the gate and then slowly let everyone back in by checking their ticket and passport. Then of course they checked your ticket and passport again as you went through to get on the plane. I won’t blame the Italians because I’m pretty sure we Americans have required this system to travel to the </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">USA</span></span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">. I didn’t see this for the flights going anywhere else in the world from </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Italy</span></span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">On the plane things were great. The seat next to me was empty! I can’t remember the last time the plane wasn’t packed going across the pond. I wonder, is this Alitalia’s fault or is it the economic crisis? Usually I take Continental to </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Newark</span></span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> and its packed solid. Anyway I didn’t care. I dumped my backpack in the seat next to me and connected my Ipad to the headphones and my entertainment for the 10.5 hour flight was set. My expensive Bose headphones have paid for themselves if you ask me. You can truly forget you’re on a plane under their noise-cancelling cushions. It’s a good thing I had this stuff too because this old plane has the monitors in the aisle so everyone watches the same crappy movie. The plane left a little over an hour late so I missed my connection in </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Chicago</span></span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">. This news hits me like water on a duck’s back. I’ve missed so many flights I no longer get upset.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">So the flight to the </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">USA</span></span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> was pretty good with only one missed flight and no lost luggage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Now flying back to </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Italy</span></span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> sucked and I took a trip into “Bizarro World” for those of you who know Star Trek (for those of you who don’t it’s when things are opposite of what they should be). First in</span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Cincinnati</span></span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> I went through the full body scanner with the new rules. After my radiating experience he asked if I had anything in my back pocket. I did. I had one frickin piece of paper, my travel itinerary. That was enough to make me a pat down victim. So a word to the wise, you can’t even have a piece of paper in your pocket with these full body scanners. No wonder people with prosthesis or other medical conditions are getting harassed. I’m all for safety but this was ridiculous. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Then in </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Chicago</span></span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> I had to go from one terminal to another. To do that you go outside of security zone so I had to go through security again. It was then that I remembered that I didn’t go through a full body scanner at O’Hare coming into the country (going to the internal </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">USA</span></span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> terminal of AA) so O’Hare must not have them I thought. But I was wrong, going into the International Terminal I had my second full body scan for the trip. I learn quickly and had NOTHING in my pockets so I didn’t get a second pat down. I was amazed how quickly the line moved. I mean consider how hard it is for people to remove obvious pieces of metal, like a watch, when going through a metal detector. I guess the threat of pat down gets people to remember the rules much quicker. I think you American men are going to need “manbags” for traveling. That way you won’t have </span></span></span><b><u><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">anything</span></span></span></span></u></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> in you pockets going through security.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">The plane from </span></span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Chicago</span></span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> to </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Rome</span></span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> was about 1/3 full. As soon as we were at altitude people spread out like an oil spill. Again I was about as comfortable as you can get on plane and not be in 1</span></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">st</span></span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">class. Again the plane was very late leaving ….<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">I arrived in </span></span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Rome</span></span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> and I didn’t even check how much time I had until the flight for </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Brindisi</span></span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">. I knew I was close but no need to rush because you can’t! As I’m going into the line for security for transferring flights there was an Alitalia person there saying “Qualcuno per </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Brindisi</span></span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">?” This is strange so I told her I was. She moved a pedestal that let me into a shorter line for security. That has never happened before. In fact the opposite seems to happen. This was now “Bizarro World”. Usually you’re running late and you want to skip ahead so you ask someone and they say sorry because everyone i s running late, which I have to admit is true. Then I knew I was in Bizarro World because after security there was the same lady from Alitalia waiting of me. I felt like a VIP. She told that the plane hasn’t started boarding yet but it will soon so we walked quickly towards the gate. Normal world made a brief appearance as I waited for passport control. A kid cut in front of me and of course it turned into a big problem. He and another student and 2 teachers were coming to </span></span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Italy</span></span></span></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> from </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Turkey</span></span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> as part of some exchange program. I learned all this as the 3 other people behind me went up there to talk to the customs agent after the kid couldn’t answer a single question. Bizarro World conquered as another agent came over and escorted them off to an office to talk about their issues. Then I went up customs agent who seemed apologetic. He commented, “I’ve never seen an American with a permesso di soggiorno before.” “I follow ALL the rules”, I commented back in my best Italian. I wanted to add “even in </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Brindisi</span></span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">” but the less you say the better. My Alitalia friend was waiting for me again after passport control and she explained that they had started boarding but I should be fine now if I knew where the gate was. I confirmed I knew exactly where it was and I promised to go straight there so she went back to whatever she needed to do. I’d never had treatment like this from Alitalia.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">I made it to the gate in plenty of time because the plane from </span></span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Rome</span></span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> to </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Brindisi</span></span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> was packed. What the hell is going on? Usually the flight to </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Brindisi</span></span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> is almost empty and I can stretch out and get quick nap on the 45 minute flight. Of course the one time I arrive last was very important because there wasn’t a square inch available in the overhead bins. I had to put my backpack under the seat in front of me leaving just enough room for my feet and that’s it. At least this was a short flight to be packed in like a sardine. My one joy was another person tried to fit one more bag in the overhead and several other people said, “Hey careful, that’s my bag!” as he adjusted things to no avail. I laughed because I know the people complaining would have doing the same exact thing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">In </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">Brindisi</span></span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"> all was well. My bag made it fine and it also seemed to have no new damage (still in Bizarro World). I bought the ticket for the bus to the center of town and of course I could see it leaving before I could get out of airport terminal. That was ok because I know how the guy drives and he was back in about 20 minutes. It gave me time to notice that price of the bus ticket has gone up to 90 cents (from 80 cents) at the tabaccaio in the airport, while the price of buying it on the bus is still 1.50. Next time I’ll go straight to the bus!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;">So what did we all learn here? A lot I think…..</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-86241256184714169282010-09-27T17:26:00.001+02:002010-09-27T17:28:46.121+02:00Still hereSo I haven’t blogged in a long. Hey it’s not the “in” thing anymore. Facebook has definitely taken over the time I used to spend writing here BUT (that’s a big but) now it seems Facebook is getting old. Thank god I dropped Farmville and Mob Wars. Those games really can be addicting a take over too much of your free time. Now I’m back in my routine. Going to the gym 2 or 3 times a day and play soccer 1-3 times a week. That’s good use of my free time. Not much is new here though. I still have only 2 cats. I still have the same Italian girlfriend. I’m still in the same apartment with the same car. I feel something has to change. Change I can believe in! Oops getting too close to politics there.<br />There is some bad news. My pizzeria (L’Antico Sapore) closed for August and is not going to reopen, ever. It really hurt when I found this out. The place seemed to be an institution in Brindisi. It was one of the last wood fired pizza ovens. That may have been part of its downfall as it can’t be cheap to run a wood fire every night. There is oddly even a new place down on the sea that has a wood fired pizza oven and it’s a chain restaurant called “Fratelli di Bufala”. The other night I went to a new place (called “La Pizziaola”) that is now the closest pizzeria to my apartment. The pizza is actually pretty good and they have a Margherita pizza for only 2.50 Euros, which is amazing these days. The new place (new to me that is) still just doesn’t have the character like my old place. I guess nothing lasts forever. Still it makes me worry what other businesses I like that may go away unannounced. That reminds that I heard Blockbuster is gone in the USA but I think most people could see that coming a mile away. Shoot pretty soon CDs and DVDs will be a thing of the past. You’ll have everything in electronic files and streamin’ it. I remember when you had to have a cabinet for all your VHS tapes and the older and more tattered the box, the better the movie.<br />The good news is the Italian politics keeps me entertained. The big news this summer is one of Berlusconi’s key allies Gianfranco Fini has decided to break from PDL and this would mean that Berlusconi has lost the majority and there will be new elections. But wait!! Somehow even with “Fini and friends” leaving the party, Berlusconi still has the majority. Some say he bought, I mean found, enough Senators to just make it. And to add to the situation now there are these strange dealings that Gianfranco Fini’s brother in law did that are just now becoming public. Could it be anymore obvious that Berlusconi has been holding on to this little gem and when Fini decided to do his own thing then Berli let loose? I wouldn’t be surprised if Berli doesn’t have something on everyone!!!! And this scandal is something about a house that Fini’s brother in law may or may not own in Montecarlo and how he paid for it. It’s not even about Fini. Need I remind you that Berlusconi’s lawyer was found guilty of taking a bribe….from Berlusconi? And Berli won’t even think of stepping down for that…<br />All this and my poor dollar is taking a beating again. I have written in my agenda, “On July 6th TD Securities broker Shaun Osborne says that the dollar will be $1.13/ Euro on October 1st and $1.08 by the end of 2010.” I wrote this down because the article said he was the best forecaster of the currency markets and I really hoped it would come true. Well he’s WAAAYYYYY off. Back in July the dollar was around $1.21 so instead of gaining on the Euro the dollar has gone South. This is good for US exports so I can’t get too mad and it reminds me way I shouldn’t make any big purchases here in Italy.Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-2384181911758322302010-05-06T21:52:00.004+02:002010-05-06T22:36:32.328+02:00Some photos from hiking in Calabria<div>I include this photo because the next photo is from that clock tower that you see here...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIc1BgSoD-SkfQRtY1fgn4hxgc_MXKk67KxJoS9qN9S57952-JghHe8fYy7GgaP1II15tQSvdIs5Hdt_XGmQ_an_U_XYyKmrB85EBVQodvb-MO25Hja4cOajlu9hmu0CfzWp1/s1600/IMG_6517.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIc1BgSoD-SkfQRtY1fgn4hxgc_MXKk67KxJoS9qN9S57952-JghHe8fYy7GgaP1II15tQSvdIs5Hdt_XGmQ_an_U_XYyKmrB85EBVQodvb-MO25Hja4cOajlu9hmu0CfzWp1/s320/IMG_6517.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468258059065985282" /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The cute town of Orsomarso....</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDGzTtP34eFEqK6Lpu49K6ysgbWED1fYLoajfG9i4zhiKTw5pNZYR1A8kAFR504nrCyGNQkBqO-1XXRWI_rlTPvIl4r3j_2haBLtBmymKMJ1u8UjFEcyl37soZLrItApsrNcy/s1600/IMG_6533.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDGzTtP34eFEqK6Lpu49K6ysgbWED1fYLoajfG9i4zhiKTw5pNZYR1A8kAFR504nrCyGNQkBqO-1XXRWI_rlTPvIl4r3j_2haBLtBmymKMJ1u8UjFEcyl37soZLrItApsrNcy/s320/IMG_6533.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468257356921606386" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This photo is me practicing for that dream photo that gets me in National Geographic.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkbEK7JTISSdoKlznfm0P-SXQS-5H6DgcXX1MXcKXKj8OJiPkLPm1vJWu2zOQ8T1En3wdBmEy5iFHE7AmPd-npyN_endWjVYtWlov9tur7cj8MBzTAWFghrJwyoV6zrWu96Rx/s1600/IMG_6509.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkbEK7JTISSdoKlznfm0P-SXQS-5H6DgcXX1MXcKXKj8OJiPkLPm1vJWu2zOQ8T1En3wdBmEy5iFHE7AmPd-npyN_endWjVYtWlov9tur7cj8MBzTAWFghrJwyoV6zrWu96Rx/s320/IMG_6509.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468256485055531794" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>This photo is from Saturday afternoon when hiked along a river called "Fiume Argentino." This whole area could have been used in a water commercial.<br /><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvU_Zp8eAMFRpvikx3iuPuAthlCP3SxPhdiDvbGjBjsyY_WCBT65ycgajCsvK0B_P3vhKzpiNoqc1-RvoBVoyA8O7UnO3FsSIY8DYh4ps4ihHBmatbRHgZcb9gWSgvsAgpniT3/s320/IMG_6469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468248567861900578" border="0" /><br /><div><br /><div><div style="text-align: left;">They said the old owner of the agriturismo liked Ostriches and that is the only reason they still had a pair. For the record they produce 3 eggs and week and they are not fertile for some reason (these two are a couple!).</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcLQMzZV0zMAZGXKGMjOBCzYNXpI1P80U5wD5VARO1IURbdT9XKDRafmWcsGPw5LypWhSJqvulzgqh9VLdBRagyJL2m0QRPM6KejfJeBoaG3pdtZwcK7TMmq16EKbr9PqfcRa/s320/IMG_6459.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468255202168526242" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-26766085387730755902010-04-24T13:30:00.000+02:002010-04-24T13:32:27.182+02:00What the hell is going on?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); "><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">I tell you it’s never a dull moment in Europe or Italy. We have volcanoes ricking havoc in the skies. We have Greece falling further into an economic ruin and here in Italy we have no elections for 3 years, or do we? The other 2 problems are getting plenty of western press so I’ll dive into the Italy problem for you, the reader. We just had an election where the right leaning party won (the PDL of Silvio Berlusconi). Now of course both sides SAY they won but let’s be blunt. Silvio Berlusconi’s side picked up a couple of regions thanks to the left (Partito Democratico) being a bunch of idiots. Now Silvio’s “Party of Love” (I’m not making that up) is having a big old family feud. The PDL is made up of 3 groups one lead by Fini, one by Berlusconi, and one by Umberto Bossi. The problem is not everyone in party agrees on the direction. Silvio Berlusconi and Gianfranco Fini have been at odds for a while and it’s finally coming to head. Today the real nut-job of the party Umberto Bossi has chimed in and it seems a split is now inevitable. I say Umberto Bossi is a nut job because he honestly believes that Italy should be split in two so the wealthy North can live without being bothered by those dirty southerners (and I can’t write what he thinks of foreigners). Bossi’s son recently went so far as to say he has, and will never, visit Italy south of Rome. If that wasn’t enough he also said he’s not a fan of the Italian National Soccer Team in the upcoming World Cup. Now that’s just crazy talk... you see why I call them nut jobs?...</p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="line-height: normal; font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">So the next step is will this rift lead to Italians voting again. You see every time a party loses a majority in the houses of parliament the Italians have to vote again because you HAVE to have a majority to get anything passed. So if Fini is kicked out or leaves the PDL and he takes his support with him then it could mean that Berlusconi no longer has the votes in Parliament needed to pass new laws. I find it hard to believe that all this would not be part of Berli’s plan, so I’m thinking he’s been buying up Fini supporters in the background this whole time so that if Fini leaves he goes by himself. Then again Berli did spend most of his time in power working on laws that would benefit him so maybe he knew this split was coming and he wanted to make sure his ass was covered before getting into new laws that Bossi wants…. Silvio did a good job of covering his ass… So the politics leading up to the election was all left verses right with scandals and controversies. Now it’s plain political infighting among the people that should have it made for the next 3 years. It’s almost as if they are afraid of not being the center of attention. </span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style="line-height: normal; font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">All this political mess and I now just noticed that two BIG Italian banks had their credit rating downgraded, Intesa San Paolo (my bank!!!) and Mediobanca (the bank run by Berlusconi!!!!!)</span></span></p></span>Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375582.post-46268191509419289972010-04-22T22:23:00.004+02:002010-04-22T22:36:27.604+02:00photo from Ostia Antica Easter weekendSlowly getting back to blogging.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXlZx4EzXo9yrlqRrmYRQuZ5KUBatBD7wXAoUaefBLZUKvr4_PSCEaZzIqiUA8ENSrsr-ZdCbBjBj4YxFWzOiNIeLm4A-XJ_9UhyyOvRq4IH0R0p3Uh-PMW4NBFXmqB9Wra5p/s1600/IMG_6294.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXlZx4EzXo9yrlqRrmYRQuZ5KUBatBD7wXAoUaefBLZUKvr4_PSCEaZzIqiUA8ENSrsr-ZdCbBjBj4YxFWzOiNIeLm4A-XJ_9UhyyOvRq4IH0R0p3Uh-PMW4NBFXmqB9Wra5p/s320/IMG_6294.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463062557566295778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBdNCUherQFblgjLFhq0ESDGbK7fuDEfTSQNhpbjb8XBJr-Xq7NlIAO23-ja7b-RcUMsdM0az-ytz3SKlGy6yySv6PyKnbxUiPHeSwD6piR2y4pHrfAMeE9-cwcX6Gtkt73z8/s1600/IMG_6325.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBdNCUherQFblgjLFhq0ESDGbK7fuDEfTSQNhpbjb8XBJr-Xq7NlIAO23-ja7b-RcUMsdM0az-ytz3SKlGy6yySv6PyKnbxUiPHeSwD6piR2y4pHrfAMeE9-cwcX6Gtkt73z8/s320/IMG_6325.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463062545410436914" border="0" /></a>More to come.... soon.....Jeff Gromenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01530344350867265303noreply@blogger.com1