Apologies for the lull in Boggs Blog action. As much of my constituency already knows, Kelly and I are in the midst of a 17 day jaunt through Italy.
Because I'm paying 2.7 Euros per hour here, I'll keep it quick and list some of the highlights:
- Jet lag worked in our favor on our first morning. Both Kelly and I awoke at the crack of down and decided to just start our day at 6AM local time. We took the metro to Vatican City and enjoyed a fairly empty St. Peter's square and Basillica. Lots of good photos.
The place was PACKED a few hours later.
- Our 2nd night in Rome, we walked up on a barricaded street. One of the many nuns wandering around the street that evening told Kelly that the Holy Father would soon make his way up the street as a part of the Corpus Christi tradition.
Sure enough - 30 minutes or so later, the massive papal procession rolls up with the Pope bringing up the rear, riding on a platform built into the bed of what looked like a 70s model Chevrolet pick up truck. (Not joking.) He rolled by about 10 feet in front of Kelly and me.
Sadly - he wasn't wearing a funny hat.
- 3 days in the Cinque Terre. Google Image Search results will have to suffice until I can post my photos. Best scenery and best food of the trip so far.
- On our first night in Florence, Kelly and I stumbled upon the BeBop Music Club for America Rock Tribute night. Good times - no cover, decent beer, and the surreal experience of watching a band of 5 Italianos blast GNR and Bon Jovi covers. "You give low-ve a bad name." and "Reminds me of childhood mammaries." were a few of the lyrics hilariously lost in translation. Interestingly, the song lyrics and our conversation with Giovanni, one of the managers, were the only words I heard spoken in English the entire night.
- Unlike the US, cheap wine it Italy is actually pretty good - especially when consumed heavily, with cheese, in public squares or scenic vistas.
- I've grown an Italian beard and both Kelly and I have tried to dress so as to blend in. (No fanny packs, tennis shoes, or baseball caps here.) As such, locals have greeted us speaking Italian on numerous occassions - at the train station, in shops, etc. We're so cool!
Sadly - we quickly blow our cover when we just smile politely and say "Non parlo Italiano."
That'll have to do for now. We're in Florence for 3 more days - including day trips to Pisa and Siena (via rental car) and a tour of the Uffizzi Gallery. Then we're off to Venice and then back to Rome to wrap up our trip.
Ciao!
Eric
Because I'm paying 2.7 Euros per hour here, I'll keep it quick and list some of the highlights:
- Jet lag worked in our favor on our first morning. Both Kelly and I awoke at the crack of down and decided to just start our day at 6AM local time. We took the metro to Vatican City and enjoyed a fairly empty St. Peter's square and Basillica. Lots of good photos.
The place was PACKED a few hours later.
- Our 2nd night in Rome, we walked up on a barricaded street. One of the many nuns wandering around the street that evening told Kelly that the Holy Father would soon make his way up the street as a part of the Corpus Christi tradition.
Sure enough - 30 minutes or so later, the massive papal procession rolls up with the Pope bringing up the rear, riding on a platform built into the bed of what looked like a 70s model Chevrolet pick up truck. (Not joking.) He rolled by about 10 feet in front of Kelly and me.
Sadly - he wasn't wearing a funny hat.
- 3 days in the Cinque Terre. Google Image Search results will have to suffice until I can post my photos. Best scenery and best food of the trip so far.
- On our first night in Florence, Kelly and I stumbled upon the BeBop Music Club for America Rock Tribute night. Good times - no cover, decent beer, and the surreal experience of watching a band of 5 Italianos blast GNR and Bon Jovi covers. "You give low-ve a bad name." and "Reminds me of childhood mammaries." were a few of the lyrics hilariously lost in translation. Interestingly, the song lyrics and our conversation with Giovanni, one of the managers, were the only words I heard spoken in English the entire night.
- Unlike the US, cheap wine it Italy is actually pretty good - especially when consumed heavily, with cheese, in public squares or scenic vistas.
- I've grown an Italian beard and both Kelly and I have tried to dress so as to blend in. (No fanny packs, tennis shoes, or baseball caps here.) As such, locals have greeted us speaking Italian on numerous occassions - at the train station, in shops, etc. We're so cool!
Sadly - we quickly blow our cover when we just smile politely and say "Non parlo Italiano."
That'll have to do for now. We're in Florence for 3 more days - including day trips to Pisa and Siena (via rental car) and a tour of the Uffizzi Gallery. Then we're off to Venice and then back to Rome to wrap up our trip.
Ciao!
Eric