When visiting foreign countries we
are more or less forced to communicate with the natives. If we are real clever,
we speak the local tongues fluently or we do what most of us do, wobble to an
understanding using the universal hand, finger and body-language method –
either way makes no difference; we communicate. Sure it can be a bit awkward
asking for directions to the cattedrale and we get a foot-massage
instead, if we need one or not. It’s just part of traveling - something I like to
do a lot; incidental foot-massages included, of course…
This summer I spent 10 days in Italy
with my wife and one of my wonderful sister-in-laws; we are great
travel-companions. We started out in Florence or Firenze as the locals call it,
for three nights of eating and three days of Renaissance stuff, as in: ‘a lot
of culture’… very cool indeed.
Michelangelo's 17 foot (5.17 m – for
you foreigners) tall statue of a nude David was a lot more impressive in
person than I had ever imagined. It took Mike about three years of chiseling, from
1501 to 1503. Considering the history of this statute and all the work he did,
it is just so awesome; and remember that ‘power tools’ had yet to be invented.
I asked one of the Italian guides if Michelangelo had also chiseled all the
small David statues for sale in the souvenir shops, because if
that was true, he would have been utterly busy. The guide laughed loud and long
(in Italian), which I took as a NO. Actually the Italian word for ‘no’ is ‘no’;
go figure...
Florence is a chaotic, busy, and at
times smelly and a seemingly disorganized city, but so utterly charming and so,
well Italian. The Italians can seem distant, unfriendly and in a hurry when
they race by you in the street, but the moment we approached any of them,
asking for directions and other tourist lack-of-knowledge issues, they smiled
and were extremely eager to help out. I’m sure some of them would even consider
supplying that foot-massage thing...
Vespas all over the place
Sure there were a few million other
tourists visiting at the same time we were there, but I’m really fine with that
because I'm an avid people-watcher (not in a perverted way, just avid - there is a
difference, you know). I am also an avid photographer (took over 900 photos
during this summer’s travels to Italy, Denmark and Sweden). Some of the
pictures I take are of people taking pictures of other people - okay so perhaps
a tiny bit perverted; never-the-less it’s a lot of fun for me, at least… See
for yourself.
I was a bit sad as we left Florence
in a small Alfa Romeo, barely room for the three of us and luggage. We had
walked so many miles in this exciting place and inhaled it all. If you ever
make it to Italy, Florence is a big must see/experience…
We headed south and reached Greve in
Chianti which is in Tuscany, within an hour. The hotel we stayed in was on a big
piazza, lined with shops and restaurants – very Italian and just so exciting
and wonderful.
David, not looking like the statue
at all, but one of the owners of the hotel and I got into a verbal exchange
right away in the middle of the lobby. I can’t remember how the heck we reached
this decision, but we both agreed that Benito (Mussolini) and Fascism should be
re-instated, so the trains could depart and arrive on time again. Several
people laughed out loud – I assume they agreed, which would be scary – perhaps
they had no clue who this Benito dude was…that might explain a lot.
We spent 3 days in Greve as the
center for our day-trips. We visited Sienna, Volterra (inhabited since the 8.
Century) and several other grand places. The weather was weird; humid and sunny
days, with thunderous and heavy rainy nights – but not a problem; just added to
the list of great experiences.
One of the days we visited an old
winery (everything seemed to be “old”) to taste some of their products. It was
up a steep hill off the main road. I navigated the Alfa around a lot of holes
on this long gravel-filled driveway. After the wine-tasting we headed down the
hill very carefully, but all of a sudden we heard a nasty noise from the
front-end of the car.
I stopped at once and decided to
back up a bit very carefully and try again. Now remember that Alfa Romeo’s sit
very low to the ground, so this was not a perfect surface to drive on at all.
As I backed up, we heard another noise that was even noisier and then we saw
some weird black piece of something on the ground in front of the car; it was
as big as a small Italian cow. I said a few choice words (so happy my Mother
was not there), got out of the car and ‘inspected’ the cow-sized part that now
rested on the ground – seemingly very dead.
Not a real Italian cow
I found out that it was part of the
wheel-well – I think it’s called. I lifted it up and placed it in the trunk and
off we went. A few kilometers later I saw a big trash-bin and quickly got rid
of the evidence; I succeeded looking very innocent the rest of the trip, and
smiled charmingly to any ‘agente di polizia’ we saw on the way (we were fully
insured, by the way); it was more so the perhaps illegal dumping of something as big as
a small Italian cow that I was concerned about.
We took a train back toward Bedonia
where we were staying with friends, after a day’s visit to the glorious coastal
towns of Cinque
Terre (north-west Italy and a MUST see and experience).
The three of us were chatting away while the train stopped at several stations.
I thought it stopped at one station longer than usual, so I looked into some of
the other cars and acknowledged that we were the only passengers left. Then I looked
out the door and saw the conductors walking away. So we figured that the train
was not going any further – nobody had told us. And that was also a charm,
really – we did make it all the way back (so you can relax).
Anybody here?
I like traveling – a lot. I have been fortunate to travel
as much as I have and still do – and I have never taken that for granted,
thereby enjoyed it even more. It had been about 40 years since I visited Italy
last and of course images lingered from those visits back then. This summer I
experienced a wonderful country with just as wonderful people. Italy is not for
Italians only, based on the way we were welcomed and treated; the energy of
Florence, the absolutely beautiful country-side of Tuscany and our visit with
good friends in Bedonia – what a treat.
I like traveling – a lot, but I also like getting
home again – I really do. To me that makes a good package. The many photos kick
up memories and situations, smiles and laughter and no matter how you
communicate with the natives, you realize that it all worked out – and so much
better and more fun as you ever thought it would – yet again.
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