An Odyssey in Europe
Sorry I haven't blogged for a while. I know I'm supposed to keep things updated so as to keep the readship interested, but I haven't had an recent inspirations I wanted to share with the world (or the five people in it that read this blog) in the last few weeks. That said, you'll have to settle for the following.
Since my last blog from Bangkok, I've been to France, Italy and Greece. The flight to Paris was pleasantly uneventful. I was quite happy that nothing disasterous occured, given that morning's ominous omen. In Paris, of course, I hung out with my brother, Todd, and his friend, Todd (2). I also saw my friend Vincent, who I'm happy to report has a healthy love for the OC. This in turn triggered my own renewed interest in the show, giving something to do when I return to Tucson that requires neither determination nor planning - I'm going to rent whatever I can get and veg out for as many days as it takes to watch it. Paris was, as is to be expected, wonderful, and I still want to live there someday.
Post-Paris I went down to Marseille to check out the city and see my friend, Ellen, who is a splendid hookah-loving American living there. While Marseille is a bit torn around the edges, it's a "real" city with a diverse population and lots of yummy things to eat, namely enough Arabic, Chinese, and Indian food to keep me busy for months.
From there I went to my dear old Roma, which wasn't the same without my dear old (speaking of) Fizzy Rose, and the rest of the Roma crew. How I long to smoke hookah with Sune and watch Thea meander drunkenly around the cobblestone streets. I think Tyler's days of explosive bus rides are over (thankfully), but I'd still love to organize a reunion someday if any are interested. In any case, it being impossible to make Roma what it was, I hightailed it to Bari, where I was going to go straight to Greece, but on a last minute impulse changed my mind; I love having the luxury to do that. (Europass - you've got to get one.) Instead, I took the night train up to Milan and spend a day visiting the little lake town of Como. I've been told George Cloony has a villa there. It's nice enough, aside from pesky Italian men named Carlo, but nowhere near as beautiful as...
Siena. If you're looking for a nice, romantic-type place to hang for a few days, Siena is it. I don't know what it's like in the high tourist season, but I had an absolutely wonderful time there in April. Obviously it's in Tucsany (beautiful), but it's also worth seeing for it's intriguing walled town (a pain in the ass to find your way into on foot without a map), and for the incredible duomo. Apparently back in the day it's political clout used to rival that of Florence. Because one of its former denizens became pope (I can't remember his name...Paul III, Pius IV, something like that), the duomo is immense - one of the best churches I've ever seen. The floor is inlaid (not built in) with some impressive artwork. It's not really a mosaic, but - well, I've forgotten exactly what it's called. You'll have to go see for yourself someday.
After Siena I figured it was about time to get down to Greece, so I took a very crowded night train from Rome to Bari, getting no sleep but not regretting that at all. Bari was much nicer than I expected it to be (never have expectations about places - they always ruin it for you). Even cooler, I got there on Good Friday so I got to watch the Italians parade an image of Jesus on the Cross into a church, and later Jesus on the Cross, Mary, and some other people I don't know because I'm not Catholic down the main street to another church. The music they played sounded like the Godfather, and in general, it was hao kan (good to see).
The ferry to Greece introduced me to a disgruntled law student, and two wonderfully amusing men - David and Mitchel - with whom I spent the majority of the voyage. Mitchell is an artist who does pretty awesome portraits by painting without brushes. He paints with knifes and random stuff, then carves out the paint with knifes and random stuff. I was impressed (http://www.mitchelllonas.com). David restores old houses, and was in general, a cool guy. Unfortunately, I think they live in North Carolina, which is I suppose why it was necessary for them to go on vacation. We had to separate rather quickly in Corith, so I wish them bon voyage and bonne chance if they happen to read this post.
Now, while I should write something about Greece (where I'm currently located), I think I'll wait a bit; this post is already long enough. There's not enough of a theme, I know, but really, I've got little in terms of themes to share. Since leaving Asia life has been comparatively easy: no rats, no lightning, no gut-wrenching sickness, no anniversary parties, no sleeping with spiders or in a hut ot anything. It's blissfully uneventful. This week is Orthodox Easter, however, so we'll see what happens. Something in me thinks this is just the calm before the impending storm.
Since my last blog from Bangkok, I've been to France, Italy and Greece. The flight to Paris was pleasantly uneventful. I was quite happy that nothing disasterous occured, given that morning's ominous omen. In Paris, of course, I hung out with my brother, Todd, and his friend, Todd (2). I also saw my friend Vincent, who I'm happy to report has a healthy love for the OC. This in turn triggered my own renewed interest in the show, giving something to do when I return to Tucson that requires neither determination nor planning - I'm going to rent whatever I can get and veg out for as many days as it takes to watch it. Paris was, as is to be expected, wonderful, and I still want to live there someday.
Post-Paris I went down to Marseille to check out the city and see my friend, Ellen, who is a splendid hookah-loving American living there. While Marseille is a bit torn around the edges, it's a "real" city with a diverse population and lots of yummy things to eat, namely enough Arabic, Chinese, and Indian food to keep me busy for months.
From there I went to my dear old Roma, which wasn't the same without my dear old (speaking of) Fizzy Rose, and the rest of the Roma crew. How I long to smoke hookah with Sune and watch Thea meander drunkenly around the cobblestone streets. I think Tyler's days of explosive bus rides are over (thankfully), but I'd still love to organize a reunion someday if any are interested. In any case, it being impossible to make Roma what it was, I hightailed it to Bari, where I was going to go straight to Greece, but on a last minute impulse changed my mind; I love having the luxury to do that. (Europass - you've got to get one.) Instead, I took the night train up to Milan and spend a day visiting the little lake town of Como. I've been told George Cloony has a villa there. It's nice enough, aside from pesky Italian men named Carlo, but nowhere near as beautiful as...
Siena. If you're looking for a nice, romantic-type place to hang for a few days, Siena is it. I don't know what it's like in the high tourist season, but I had an absolutely wonderful time there in April. Obviously it's in Tucsany (beautiful), but it's also worth seeing for it's intriguing walled town (a pain in the ass to find your way into on foot without a map), and for the incredible duomo. Apparently back in the day it's political clout used to rival that of Florence. Because one of its former denizens became pope (I can't remember his name...Paul III, Pius IV, something like that), the duomo is immense - one of the best churches I've ever seen. The floor is inlaid (not built in) with some impressive artwork. It's not really a mosaic, but - well, I've forgotten exactly what it's called. You'll have to go see for yourself someday.
After Siena I figured it was about time to get down to Greece, so I took a very crowded night train from Rome to Bari, getting no sleep but not regretting that at all. Bari was much nicer than I expected it to be (never have expectations about places - they always ruin it for you). Even cooler, I got there on Good Friday so I got to watch the Italians parade an image of Jesus on the Cross into a church, and later Jesus on the Cross, Mary, and some other people I don't know because I'm not Catholic down the main street to another church. The music they played sounded like the Godfather, and in general, it was hao kan (good to see).
The ferry to Greece introduced me to a disgruntled law student, and two wonderfully amusing men - David and Mitchel - with whom I spent the majority of the voyage. Mitchell is an artist who does pretty awesome portraits by painting without brushes. He paints with knifes and random stuff, then carves out the paint with knifes and random stuff. I was impressed (http://www.mitchelllonas.com). David restores old houses, and was in general, a cool guy. Unfortunately, I think they live in North Carolina, which is I suppose why it was necessary for them to go on vacation. We had to separate rather quickly in Corith, so I wish them bon voyage and bonne chance if they happen to read this post.
Now, while I should write something about Greece (where I'm currently located), I think I'll wait a bit; this post is already long enough. There's not enough of a theme, I know, but really, I've got little in terms of themes to share. Since leaving Asia life has been comparatively easy: no rats, no lightning, no gut-wrenching sickness, no anniversary parties, no sleeping with spiders or in a hut ot anything. It's blissfully uneventful. This week is Orthodox Easter, however, so we'll see what happens. Something in me thinks this is just the calm before the impending storm.
posted by bethany at 11:57
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