Ciao ragazzi!
After nearly a week in Deutschland, I am back on home soil....well, home Italian soil. You know what I mean.
The train ride from Italy to Germany, and back, was fantastic. The mountains (Swiss alps...?) were snow covered and it was really cool making our way through each small town, during which time, other than gazing out the window, I was able to complete a few books....all three recommended! The End of Food (already discussed), Confessions of an Economic Hitman = former economist ("hitman") describes how he greatly contributed to the U.S. "aiding" other countries with large amounts of capital to build infrastructure, only to saddle them with unpayable debt and add another nation to an imperialistic realm. Perkins' claims are debatable, and some may be unreasonable, but, regardless, plenty of food for thought about our political system and foreign relations. Third but not least, Mountains Beyond Mountains, a book my mom left for me in Piemonte, and has asked a few times already if I have read, so, yes, I have...well, not all of it, but so far great! It is about a true hero, a doctor by the name of Paul Farmer, who has dedicated his life to eradicating tuberculosis as well as other harmful diseases, focusing on the geographic regions (at least thus far in the book) of Haiti, Peru and Russia. Anyway, I am not making a compelling case for this one by any means of a vivid description, so you'll just have to trust me....or trust the NY Times Bestseller list...also for Confessions of an Economic Hitman.
But, you are not reading this blog for Oprah's book club recommendations, you are reading it (I hope....) this time because you want to know about my trip to Deustchland! So, in the next few posts, I will break up sections of my trip, for the sanity of all of us, and also to separate the different days and locations visited......
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Über Deutsch
A quick shout out from Deutschland...
I am headed back to Bologna tomorrow and will try and post with some photos before the weekend is out, but for now, you will just have to leave to your imagination all of the beer, kraut, pretzels and apple strudel...also some pretty interesting non-food related stuff in this country, which I will write about a bit later.
Now, I am waiting for the train in an internet cafe in Ingolstadt, not far from where I am staying in Schrobenhausen.
Since this will be one of my last opportunities to type on a German keyboard before returning, I might as well take as much advantage as I can of the standard "ü" and "ß" on the keyboard....not sure how these characters will transfer over blogger, but, they are so great I think we should annex them into the English language.
For example, each time you would normally write a word with a double s, like "class," you could instead write it "claß." Do you have any idea how much time that would save? The poßible benefits to the economy are practically immeasurable.
And for emphasis, as in "über," you could always use the ümlaut instead of just a normal "u." Like when you would normally say "I love you," or "I am really mad at you," instead you could say "I love yoü." Yeah, doesn´t really get the point across in the spoken word, but in writing it could be very poetic.
Okay, I will save the rest of the good stuff about Germany (including the photos) for the next few posts.
Until the, hope that yoü are having a good day and we will talk soon! Ciao!
I am headed back to Bologna tomorrow and will try and post with some photos before the weekend is out, but for now, you will just have to leave to your imagination all of the beer, kraut, pretzels and apple strudel...also some pretty interesting non-food related stuff in this country, which I will write about a bit later.
Now, I am waiting for the train in an internet cafe in Ingolstadt, not far from where I am staying in Schrobenhausen.
Since this will be one of my last opportunities to type on a German keyboard before returning, I might as well take as much advantage as I can of the standard "ü" and "ß" on the keyboard....not sure how these characters will transfer over blogger, but, they are so great I think we should annex them into the English language.
For example, each time you would normally write a word with a double s, like "class," you could instead write it "claß." Do you have any idea how much time that would save? The poßible benefits to the economy are practically immeasurable.
And for emphasis, as in "über," you could always use the ümlaut instead of just a normal "u." Like when you would normally say "I love you," or "I am really mad at you," instead you could say "I love yoü." Yeah, doesn´t really get the point across in the spoken word, but in writing it could be very poetic.
Okay, I will save the rest of the good stuff about Germany (including the photos) for the next few posts.
Until the, hope that yoü are having a good day and we will talk soon! Ciao!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Nach Deutschland!!
Okay, ragazzini, I know, almost another whole week without a single post, so here I am reporting live from West Nile Caffe on Saturday at about 8:30 PM.
Unfortunately, I was a bit under the weather for the first three or four days, and, as a result, did not do too much at all.
Not a ton to report and no interesting photos....did buy a few good books, or at least one is good, called The End of Food. It is one of those apocalyptic reads, so, if you never want to eat again, I highly recommend checking it out.
In all seriousness, the book is well researched and offers tremendous insight into not only the U.S. food system, but that of the entire world.
The central theme is how we are going to feed 9.5 billion people by 2050, when we have a food system now that can barely support 6 billion. There are strong arguments and political reasons for transgenic food (it's not just for transgenders anymore!) and opposing positions for sustainable agriculture.
The other book is Confessions of an Economic Hitman, which I have heard is great, will let you know.
I will have plenty of time for reading tomorrow on my seven hour train ride to Munich! Yep, Oktoberfest is over for the tourists, so now it's my turn to enjoy some beer and pretzels since I felt I was not getting enough carbs over here ;)
From Sunday through Friday, I will be staying in the town of Schrobenhausen, in the heart of Bavaria, about 70 km from Munich. I will stay at my friend Kathrin's (from the language class)house, and make trips during the day. I plan to go to Dachau, which should be worthwhile, and while it doesn't sound right to say "I am looking forward to it," I am glad that I will have an opportunity to make the visit.
Fortunately I am over my cold in time for travel, and, I will arrive back in Bologna next Friday just in time for a Halloween party, though I need to figure out a costume......open to any suggestions you might have.
For now, enjoy the rest of the weekend and I will report from Deutschland! Ciao!
Unfortunately, I was a bit under the weather for the first three or four days, and, as a result, did not do too much at all.
Not a ton to report and no interesting photos....did buy a few good books, or at least one is good, called The End of Food. It is one of those apocalyptic reads, so, if you never want to eat again, I highly recommend checking it out.
In all seriousness, the book is well researched and offers tremendous insight into not only the U.S. food system, but that of the entire world.
The central theme is how we are going to feed 9.5 billion people by 2050, when we have a food system now that can barely support 6 billion. There are strong arguments and political reasons for transgenic food (it's not just for transgenders anymore!) and opposing positions for sustainable agriculture.
The other book is Confessions of an Economic Hitman, which I have heard is great, will let you know.
I will have plenty of time for reading tomorrow on my seven hour train ride to Munich! Yep, Oktoberfest is over for the tourists, so now it's my turn to enjoy some beer and pretzels since I felt I was not getting enough carbs over here ;)
From Sunday through Friday, I will be staying in the town of Schrobenhausen, in the heart of Bavaria, about 70 km from Munich. I will stay at my friend Kathrin's (from the language class)house, and make trips during the day. I plan to go to Dachau, which should be worthwhile, and while it doesn't sound right to say "I am looking forward to it," I am glad that I will have an opportunity to make the visit.
Fortunately I am over my cold in time for travel, and, I will arrive back in Bologna next Friday just in time for a Halloween party, though I need to figure out a costume......open to any suggestions you might have.
For now, enjoy the rest of the weekend and I will report from Deutschland! Ciao!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Gavi di Gavi
Ciao ragazzi!
There are a bunch of posts below, in which I describe the events of the last week here in Italy.
I had a wonderful visit from Adam, Robin and my mom, and I am so glad they made it out.
Below is a photo of the Ostelliere, our home base for a little less than one week. The albergo (hotel) is located in the foothills of the Piemonte region in a small town called Gavi.
Not too dissimilar from the Napa Valley, there are plenty of golf courses and wineries. However, I must say that we have to chalk one up for California in the food department, as the culinary delicacies of the mountainous region were several strokes over par (remember, high score = not good).
If it is Sunday and you are reading these posts, get outside and enjoy the warm weather. If it is Monday, put off sending out those client e-mails and take fifteen minutes to sip your coffee and get up to date.
Either way, have an excellent week and I will be in touch....ciao ciao!
There are a bunch of posts below, in which I describe the events of the last week here in Italy.
I had a wonderful visit from Adam, Robin and my mom, and I am so glad they made it out.
Below is a photo of the Ostelliere, our home base for a little less than one week. The albergo (hotel) is located in the foothills of the Piemonte region in a small town called Gavi.
Not too dissimilar from the Napa Valley, there are plenty of golf courses and wineries. However, I must say that we have to chalk one up for California in the food department, as the culinary delicacies of the mountainous region were several strokes over par (remember, high score = not good).
If it is Sunday and you are reading these posts, get outside and enjoy the warm weather. If it is Monday, put off sending out those client e-mails and take fifteen minutes to sip your coffee and get up to date.
Either way, have an excellent week and I will be in touch....ciao ciao!
Robbie and the chocolate factory
Thank goodness for GPS, otherwise our 1.5 hour drive to the chocolate factory in the hills of Piemonte might have taken even longer (even though it was allegedly only 20 minutes from the hotel).
Though the debate is still open as to whether it really counts as a "factory" since they are importing the chocolate from Belgium, I would personally contend that there was enough confectionery assemblage taking place to warrant the title.
You can see how scrumptious the hazlenut bars look, and I almost had my mom fooled that you really are allowed to dip your fingers in the pot to sample the melted chocolate.
Evidently, the oompa loompas were showing their solidarity with the railway workers' union by joining in a not so uncommon "sciopero" (strike), so we had to settle for meeting the owner and his small crew of chocolate assembly people.
This last photo is of Robin and my mom (in the mirror), in the small town of Novi Ligure (just a few miles from Gavi), in her quest for a pair of stivali (boots). I personally liked the Kate Middleton (remember, Prince William's gal?) look of the ones below, but, evidently my opinion did not prevail and her search for Italian leather may end up coming to a conclusion at South Coast Plaza.
Though the debate is still open as to whether it really counts as a "factory" since they are importing the chocolate from Belgium, I would personally contend that there was enough confectionery assemblage taking place to warrant the title.
You can see how scrumptious the hazlenut bars look, and I almost had my mom fooled that you really are allowed to dip your fingers in the pot to sample the melted chocolate.
Evidently, the oompa loompas were showing their solidarity with the railway workers' union by joining in a not so uncommon "sciopero" (strike), so we had to settle for meeting the owner and his small crew of chocolate assembly people.
This last photo is of Robin and my mom (in the mirror), in the small town of Novi Ligure (just a few miles from Gavi), in her quest for a pair of stivali (boots). I personally liked the Kate Middleton (remember, Prince William's gal?) look of the ones below, but, evidently my opinion did not prevail and her search for Italian leather may end up coming to a conclusion at South Coast Plaza.
Not for the faint of heart......
For my 32nd birthday dinner, the four of us headed to a charming restaurant in the hills of Piemonte. The name of the restaurant was Girasole, or, sunflower, and, such was the theme, as the interior was complete with sunflower paintings including a faux Van Gogh and other such decorations.
I had a really good feeling about this place, and (before eating) Robin even said she could picture me proposing to my future wife in such a locale.
But, if so, I had better do so before the main course, or shortly thereafter before indigestion sits in, because our meal at Girasole, in spite of the kindly host who explained each dish in great detail, was....well, let's just say that its only hope of attaining a Michelin star would be due to the fact that the meat resembles used tires.
Though my mom appeared to be content posing with this plate of salume, the rest of the culinary experience did not match up.
Robin's ramen like spaghetti was not worthy of a photo, but if for nothing more than a few colorful snapshots, here are some photos of what Adam and I consumed. I'm pretty sure that Adam's main course was a full plate of head cheese, and mine, although it looks a bit like chicken tikka masala (or maybe lamb rogan josh?), was actually cinghiale (wild boar) with polenta. The boar itself was gamey and the polenta with pinenuts was like a lead weight.
Fortunately, in the small town of Gavi, we were able to find the lone gelateria that was still open, to help make my 32nd birthday one with a sweet finish!
The road to Hana....I mean Portofino
The drive from Gavi (small town in the mountains of Piemonte) to Portofino (small town by the oceanside of Liguria) should have only taken an hour and a half, but, after a few minor detours, the mandatory bathroom stop(s) at the Autogrill (think Hwy 5 truck stop but with panini and espresso), a police escort and 20 kilometers of crawling through a Lombardesque roadway that could barely fit our minivan but also managed to simultaneously accommodate a transit bus, our little afternoon drive to the seaside turned into a half day adventure just to arrive.
Rather than show you some photos of my mom as she hyperventilated into a paper bag, I will post a few snapshots of this lovely little oceanside town.
The views alone made it worth it, even though my birthday lunch at Delfino (shame on you Frommer's) turned out to be nothing more than an overpriced tourist trap.
Again though, you go to Portofino so you can snap a few photos and say, "Hey, look where I was, wasn't it absolutely beautiful and aren't you jealous of me?"
So ragazzi, by reading this blog and looking at these photos, I have saved you a trip to Portofino. I may get some major pushback on this, but would say the same for Cinque Terre....just buy the postcard instead.
And since this post is mainly about the photos, I will leave you with a nice one of the four of us....Robin and my mom were focused on another camera at the time, but I think it's a keeper all the same.
Rather than show you some photos of my mom as she hyperventilated into a paper bag, I will post a few snapshots of this lovely little oceanside town.
The views alone made it worth it, even though my birthday lunch at Delfino (shame on you Frommer's) turned out to be nothing more than an overpriced tourist trap.
Again though, you go to Portofino so you can snap a few photos and say, "Hey, look where I was, wasn't it absolutely beautiful and aren't you jealous of me?"
So ragazzi, by reading this blog and looking at these photos, I have saved you a trip to Portofino. I may get some major pushback on this, but would say the same for Cinque Terre....just buy the postcard instead.
And since this post is mainly about the photos, I will leave you with a nice one of the four of us....Robin and my mom were focused on another camera at the time, but I think it's a keeper all the same.
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