It doesn’t seem possible to me that the Spring Quarter is coming to an end and that this is my final blog on Italy.  Three months ago, I had little experience even reading blogs, much less writing one.  It’s been a great experience, but it hasn’t been enough time to truly cover the subject matter the way it deserves.  Despite the many cities and sites left to talk about, I will stick with my original plan and blog about Venice.

Venice is situated in north east Italy approximately 340 miles from Rome, on the south west, and about a 5 ½ hour cross country drive.  It is actually an island city…one of over 100 small islands that make up the Venetian lagoon.  (Murano, world renowned for its beautiful glass making, is also a part of this cluster of islands.)  And, while its difficult to pin-point exactly when Venice was built, popular opinion seems to mark the date around 425AD.

Trumped only by Paris (blogger’s opinion), Venice is undoubtedly the second most romantic city in the world.  Miles of watery streets beckon to the young, and young at heart, to cuddle closer aboard one of the many gondolas.   Imagine the gondolier pushing your boat, with ease and grace along the Grand Canal in the moonlight.  Heck, he’ll even sing for you….for a small fee, of course.

And, if the speed of the gondolas is too slow, you might consider moving about on a motorboat bus, called a vaporetti.  There’s also the cabled-operated mass transit tram, called the Venice People Mover (which was obviously named by a government employee with about as much imagination as a pork rind).

I’ve already mentioned the Grand Canal.  It is the major thoroughfare, running the entire length of Venice, and sports the beautiful Rialto Bridge, which is not to be missed….and, likely is too big to be missed anyway.  While there, other must see sites include the Bell Tower, the Clock Tower, the church at St. Mark’s Square (where Titian is buried), and the School of St. Roch, which was decorated inside by Tintoretto in 1564.

The cafes and restaurants of Venice are too numerous to mention, but if you can make a reservation, and if you want a table you must, check out Antico Martini.  It is definitely one of Italy’s finest restaurants.  And, take plenty of cash or thick plastic…it’s expensive.

Until the next quarter, I bid you a fond farewell.  Ciao!

A resident walks in front of the collapsed San Martino church, in Buonacompra, near Cento, northern Italy, Sunday, May 20. 2012. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

6.0 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Bologna, Italy

This week’s blog was to be about the lovely city of Venice; however, it seems more appropriate to give you the latest update on this terrible natural disaster. 

Citizens of Bologna, located approximately 80 miles east of Florence, were awakened at 4AM on Sunday, May 20^th.  The quake, of 6.0 magnitude, could be felt from Milan to Venice, approximately 140 and 100 miles, respectively, away.  Thus far, seven people have been killed, and dozens more injured.  One of dead was a 106 year-old woman, killed in her bed by a falling roof beam.

The quake hit hardest the Romagna region of the Po river valley, an area known for its production of Parmigiana and Grana cheeses. 

Premier Mario Monti, who is attending the G8 NATO summit in Chicago, is returning to Italy immediately.

Welcome back to my blog on Italy.  It’s time to talk about Vatican City.  I must admit, that of all the attractions Italy has to offer, I did not think the Vatican would be very interesting to anyone who wasn’t a devout Catholic.  But, I was wrong.  The history is pretty fascinating.  Let’s begin with some minor, but important facts, shall we?

First, the Vatican is not only a city; it is a complete small state, and indeed a whole (but tiny) country in its own right within the boundaries of Italy.  It became such in 1929 when the Lateran Treaty was signed granting it separation from the policies and workings of Mussolini’s Italy.  It has its own flag, army, budget, labor force, railway, post office, and radio station.  There are about 1,500 residents.  The governor, for lack of a better word, is called the Supreme Pontiff and is Pope Benedict XVI.  The Secretary of State is Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

The Vatican City is built on the site where it is believed the tomb of St. Peter was buried some 2,000 years ago.  Many Popes have made residence here and some of their reigns have not been without controversy.  There are many stories that would even seem to belie the spirituality of this holy place – some ancient, some more modern day.  One notably persistent story (some say is a myth only) is that a female posing as a male priest rose within the ranks to be appointed Pope John Anglicus.  The deception was not uncovered until Pope Joan, as she became to be known, delivered a baby on a narrow road during a procession from St. Peter’s Basilica.  Once her identity was relieved, she was killed and buried on that same road.  It is also commonly know that many Popes fathered children.  Christopher Columbus was thought to be the illegitimate son of Pope Innocence VIII who supposedly fathered at least eight children.

The Vatican is protected, still to this day, by the Swiss Guard.  They are still all male, all Catholic, and all Swiss. Their job is to keep the peace within the Vatican and to guard the Pope.

The museums and chapels are must sees.  But, be sure you allow ample time to enjoy the few you can get into.  There are so many paintings within the museum walls that (it is said) if you were to take only one minute to admire each one it would take you over four years to view them all.  The altar wall and ceiling of the Sistine Chapel were painted by Michelangelo from 1508-1518.  The artist painted six days a week, for more than eight hours a day, either standing up or lying on his back on scaffolding he built himself…in the sweltering heat of the un-air-conditioned sanctuary.

While you’re there, stay at the Hotel Alimandi Vaticano…it’s near the museums so you can get a head start on the other tourist.  Or, consider Excel Rome St. Peter; expensive, but only 550 meters from St. Peter’s Square.  Both places are known for their friendly staff and generous breakfast buffets. 

Until next week….Arrivederci!

QUALCOSA MANGIAMO L'ITALIANO!  (LET'S EAT SOMETHING ITALIAN!)

It's late and I'm hungry...and doesn't talking about Italian food sound more interesting than talking about Vatican City?  Yeah, I thought so too.

It's important to start the conversation about Italian food with a little advice...don't plan to go to Italy and eat nothing but pasta and pizza.  You'd be missing out on some early great foods.  Coastal areas  have wonderfully fresh seafood and luscious wines.  Nuts, eggplant, and Barolo (one of Italy's most acclaimed wines) are specialities of the Piedmont region. Central Italy is know for fabulous vegtables and olives.  And, Italians love a good meat dish, especially veal.

Looking for something sweet?  Order up a cannoli with rich, sweet creme-cheese filling.  Or, what about a soft, moist piece of fresh tiramisu?  Oh my goodness....yes!  Let's make some right now!

Tiramisu   

Ingredients

• 1 container(s) (8-ounce) coffee low-fat yogurt
• 1 container(s) (8-ounce) vanilla low-fat yogurt
• 1/2 container(s) (2 ounces) whipped cream cheese
• 1/3 cup(s) confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoon(s) confectioners' sugar
• 1 package(s) (3-ounce to 4 1/2-ounce ) sponge-type ladyfingers
• 2 tablespoon(s) coffee-flavor liqueur, optional
• 2 teaspoon(s) instant espresso-coffee powder
• 3/4 cup(s) coarsely crushed amoretti cookies
• 1 1/2 cup(s) thawed frozen light whipped topping
• Unsweetened cocoa , for garnish

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Directions

1. In small bowl, with rubber spatula, mix coffee and vanilla yogurts. Place large paper coffee filter in small metal strainer set over small bowl. Spoon yogurt mixture into coffee filter; place in refrigerator. Let yogurt mixture stand 2 hours (whey will drip into bowl and yogurt will be slightly thickened).
2. Remove yogurt mixture from refrigerator and discard liquid in bowl. Spoon yogurt mixture into bowl; stir in whipped cream cheese and 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar until well blended. Set aside.
3. Separate ladyfingers into halves. Cut each half crosswise in half and place in jelly-roll pan. In small bowl, stir together coffee-flavor liqueur, instant espresso-coffee powder, 1/4 cup hot tap water, and 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar (if not using coffee-flavor liqueur, increase hot tap water to 1/3 cup and espresso-coffee powder to 1 tablespoon). Brush ladyfingers on both sides with espresso mixture.
4. In each of six 8-ounce parfait glasses, layer 4 pieces of ladyfinger, 1 scant tablespoon crushed amoretti cookies, 2 tablespoons yogurt mixture, and 1 heaping tablespoon whipped topping. Repeat layering one more time. Sprinkle with cocoa if you like. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or until ready to serve.

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If you make this tonight, bring me a piece!  Yum-O!

Greetings.

Over the last couple of weeks we looked at both cultural and ‘touristy’ reasons for going to Italy.  We talked about some customs it might be helpful to know and we wrestled with some ideas that might get in the way of our selecting Italy as our destination.   With those things out of the way, we can now start focusing on some of Italy’s major cities.  Cominciamo con Roma!  (Let’s start with Rome!)

Not only is Rome the capital of Italy, at one time it was considered the capital of the world.  While it may not still be considered such, it still is a magnificent, laid back piece of history, architecture, and cuisine that will play with your senses and forbid you to release its memory.  There is an air about the city that suggests to today’s traveler that it’s time to slow down and relax for a while. I can think of no better place to sit and people-watch…to appreciate the aromas coming from the sidewalk café while enjoying a long lunch; to listen to the sound of the people chatting and the traffic buzzing by.  In Rome you feel ‘cool’ just for being there.

Don’t spend all you time at the cafés though.  The attractions in Rome are numerous and not to be missed.  For example, The Colosseum, the ancient stadium that is surely one of the most recognizable pieces of architecture on the planet.  Back in the day, Christians and gladiators literally fought to the death here, sadly to say, for the entertainment of others.  The ruins are a breathtaking sight to behold both day and night.  Along these same lines is The Forum, once the heart of the Roman Empire.

The Pantheon, not to be confused with Greece’s Parthenon as I once did on one of Mr. Gray’s tests, is a wonderfully preserved Roman building from the second century A.D.  It is a domed structure whose size is only exceed by Florence’s Duomo which was built some 13 centuries later.

Then there’s the Vatican City.  Not just a city, it is a tiny little nation of its own right in Rome.  We’ll discuss it in depth in a later blog.

If you’re looking for something romantic, as you must while in Rome, get to the Trevi Fountain and toss in some coins.  Toss one and legend says you’ll be sure to return.  Toss two and you’re sure to fall in love with an Italian.  (As far as I know you can return multiply times…for insurance.)

Oh, speaking of insurance: don’t forget to buy some for your trip…$85 to $115 for normal stuff, but certain risky behaviors will have you paying a little more for add-ons.

Così desiderare per ora.  (So long for now.)

Che la bella sera di progettare una vacanza italiana!  (What a beautiful evening to be planning an Italian vacation!)  Can you believe another week has passed and it’s time to talk about Italy again?  This time we’ll talk about a couple of things that go hand-in-hand:

      1.       Factors that motivate travelers to pick Italy as their vacation destination
        2.       Possible fears and misgivings/misconceptions that might tend to unmotivated them

Let’s consider the more motivating assets of an Italy excursion first.  Within Europe, you really can’t find a country with a more ancient background.  Cave drawings have been found dating back to 8,000BC.  Old castles, cathedrals, and villas dot the countryside making the landscape panoramic splendor.  Then there’s the food…Ooo-La-La…just thinking about the pasta, pizza, and wine makes the mouth water.

If you’re on a religious quest, and you happen to be catholic, Italy is considered the mecca for Christian pilgrimages.  And the art: the beauty and history of the paintings that reside there, such as Bernini sculptures, works by Michelangelo, and so many more, are unsurpassed. 

There’s the Italian Rivera in the south with its great beaches and snow skiing in the winter in the north.  There’s unbelievable shopping.  Italian leather and jewelry are world renown.  Some of the finest resorts can be found in Italy.  And who knows, maybe you can look up your long-lost cousin Guido as many Americans can trace their roots back to Italy.

After all that, who could have misgivings about heading off to somewhere Italian?  Well, some travelers do have concerns, but most are unfounded or are just outdated notions.  For example:  some think there’s a lot of crime; but most are small time things and you can protect yourself by taking normal precautions.  Some think it’s too hot; not in the autumn and spring.  Some say, “The drivers in major cities are crazy.”  Don’t drive. In Italy, you will be the crazy driver.  Public transportation is very good and accessible.

And lastly, some people worry that it’s too expensive.  Hellllooooo…it’s Italy!  Of course it’s expensive but it’s so worth it.  Pre-planned group tours and selected cruises can bring the cost down some.  But, it’s important to remember that vacationing in Italy can be the experience of a lifetime.  As for me, I say, “Go big or stay home!” 

Arrivederci per ora.  (Goodbye for now.)

Ciao, i miei amici!  (Hello, my friends!)

As we’re preparing to anticipate traveling in Italy, I thought I would start with some general information; some ‘no-frills data’, if you will, for the next couple of blogs.  Before we get to the real ‘meat & potatoes’ of big cities and their attractions.  Let’s look at some “Cultural Patterns of Italy”:

·         As you’re traveling from the north to the south, one thing that will be important to remember is that the pace of daily life in northern Italy is faster than it is in the southern portion of the country.  So, don’t be frustrated when suddenly no one seems to be in a hurry to do and/or get anywhere.

·         Don’t hurry your meals…in any part of Italy.  And, try always to eat everything you are served.  At dinner, you’ll have plenty of time to do just that as dinners are much longer than in the United States, and are really more social events than meals.  Lunches are the biggest meal of the day and they too are spaced out accordingly.

·         If you’ll be attending to any business on your trip, ‘dress for success’.  Wear your best clothes.  Italians consider it a matter of great personal pride to wear their finest clothing when conducting business.

·         If you’re lucky enough to be invited to an Italian home, take the host or hostess a small gift to show your appreciation.

·         And, here’s a funky little tidbit to note: Should you raise your index finger to a bartender intending to imply you’d like another drink, you’ll likely get two more.  In North America that gesture might mean one, but in Italy it means two.  The thumb is always counted as one.

·         Remember to add a little extra gratuity to your bill for the waiter even though there may be a service charge already included.  And, tips for most service-related jobs  are expected.

Next time we’ll cover some motivating factors for visiting Italy…and address some common concerns among travelers.  Fino ad allora, arrivederci.  (Until then, good-bye.)