Wednesday, October 15, 2008
I am jealous of myself
In all seriousness, the last two days have been so great, I think I am jealous of myself. I am borrowing my host's computer (he is watching the Italia-Monte Negro game), so this will be brief. I am staying in a 16th century farmhouse with a view of the sea. My host is an amazing chef. There are three other worker/visitors here (French, Costa Rican, and American). They are great fun. Today we chopped wood (it is so great, even chopping wood can't ruin things). Yesterday I learned to make fig preserves and Tiramisu. Tomorrow we are collecting chestnuts. I may never leave.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Olives
I am leaving Rome today by train and headed down near Sorrento. I will be working on a farm during the olive harvest. We had a great time last night -- went out for dinner and then hung out on a friends terrace talking until fairly late. Everyone was enjoying their final night here. Wonderful friends to spend time with in Rome. My two remaining roommates left in the wee hours of the morning. They both said good bye in the middle of the night (I was pretty groggy) and when I woke up I was by myself.... now the solo travels begin. I have to catch my train soon, so this is rushed. I can already tell there will be 9million things I want to write about in my blog and I fear but a small number of them will actually ever get written..... Ciao!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
When in Rome...
Just a note to say I am in Rome. I arrived Tuesday morning at 7am local time (that's Monday night/Tuesday morning at 1am EST). We are staying in an apartment on a cobblestone alley (a street really, but the size of what we consider an alley) about two minutes walking from Saint Peter's and Vatican City. From our open window, we have heard musicians playing the accordion, scooters whizzing by, and friends calling for us to answer the door. I've wandered all over the city, we visted the Vatican, and we've eaten very well: pizza, pasta, and gelato. Lots of gelato. Flavors so far: pear, cinnamon & chocolate; giandula, mora & lampone (anybody know what these are?); limone and more mora; and finally chocolate ai chilli, caffe, and coconut. Seriously, this is the life.
Bright Lights, Big City
I'd forgotten how much I love New York City. It didn't take long to remember. I'm in Rome now, but still thinking of NYC. Some highlights:
Playing Wii Fit: I'm not a video game person, but I enjoy the Wii (I only play it in New York-- that's another whole story). The Wii Fit brought a new awareness to my balance and weight distribution. Practicing yoga, I've spent a lot of time trying to evenly distribute my weight between the four corner of my feet. The Wii Fit gave me actual feedback as to how I was doing.
Start Trekkin: An improv group run by a few of my friends. Their shows are now at a theater in Times Square. They are brilliant and hilarious. If you've ever seen improv, you've probably seen short-form improv: when the troupe plays games (like on Whose Line is it Anyway?). Start Trekkin does long-form: the entire show is one storyline (still based on audience suggestions). Those of you in New York should check them out. More info here: http://www.start-trekkin.com/ and here: http://www.myspace.com/starttrekkinny )
Brooklyn Bridge: We walked over the Brooklyn Bridge on the way to dinner Saturday night. Actually, I walked over it twice (once each way) right at dusk. What a skyline.
Perfect Day: Sunday was one of those perfect NY days. Some rough plans but nothing too rigid. Plenty of room for unexpected joys. It started with Evelyn and Dinesh's wedding ceremony (technically a reaffirmation, as they were married in India earlier this summer) at Trinity Church (The Trinity Church on Wall Street). Then a cupcake reception. Then a private sneak peek tour of the bell tower (Trinity Church was dedicated in 1846, the original was built even earlier, and I think I read a plaque saying it was the first bell tower in the US with 12 bells, but I can't find a citation to confirm this). We climbed 98 steps up a tiny spiral staircase. Then off to one of my favorite museums, the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, to see the special exhibit of sacred art from Bhutan (this was incredible, but I am too tired to give it justice. more details later. maybe). Then to one of my favorite bookstores, Strand (not a planned trip, but we happened to wander by... I had to stop). Then a superb dinner at a cozy restaurant at the end of a cobblestone alley lit by tiny white lights.
So much to tell, but I've had enough of staring at a computer.
Perfect Day:
Playing Wii Fit: I'm not a video game person, but I enjoy the Wii (I only play it in New York-- that's another whole story). The Wii Fit brought a new awareness to my balance and weight distribution. Practicing yoga, I've spent a lot of time trying to evenly distribute my weight between the four corner of my feet. The Wii Fit gave me actual feedback as to how I was doing.
Start Trekkin: An improv group run by a few of my friends. Their shows are now at a theater in Times Square. They are brilliant and hilarious. If you've ever seen improv, you've probably seen short-form improv: when the troupe plays games (like on Whose Line is it Anyway?). Start Trekkin does long-form: the entire show is one storyline (still based on audience suggestions). Those of you in New York should check them out. More info here: http://www.start-trekkin.com/ and here: http://www.myspace.com/starttrekkinny )
Brooklyn Bridge: We walked over the Brooklyn Bridge on the way to dinner Saturday night. Actually, I walked over it twice (once each way) right at dusk. What a skyline.
Perfect Day: Sunday was one of those perfect NY days. Some rough plans but nothing too rigid. Plenty of room for unexpected joys. It started with Evelyn and Dinesh's wedding ceremony (technically a reaffirmation, as they were married in India earlier this summer) at Trinity Church (The Trinity Church on Wall Street). Then a cupcake reception. Then a private sneak peek tour of the bell tower (Trinity Church was dedicated in 1846, the original was built even earlier, and I think I read a plaque saying it was the first bell tower in the US with 12 bells, but I can't find a citation to confirm this). We climbed 98 steps up a tiny spiral staircase. Then off to one of my favorite museums, the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, to see the special exhibit of sacred art from Bhutan (this was incredible, but I am too tired to give it justice. more details later. maybe). Then to one of my favorite bookstores, Strand (not a planned trip, but we happened to wander by... I had to stop). Then a superb dinner at a cozy restaurant at the end of a cobblestone alley lit by tiny white lights.
So much to tell, but I've had enough of staring at a computer.
Perfect Day:
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