Today, Leslie and I leave for a 10-day trip to Italy and Sicily. I will be attempting to post daily travel blogs, but there will be fewer postings during this trip. We will start with three days in Rome followed by six days in Sicily and then one final day in Rome. I will be visiting the village of both of my grandparents Josephine and Dominick Piazza (I am half Irish and half Sicilian). The village of Cianciana is located about two hours from Palermo. We will also be staying at Syracuse and Catania in Sicily. Not since the likes of Hannibal and Garibaldi has a force in the field attempted such an ambitious campaign.
I hope to post every day but that depends on my connectivity and my sobriety. I have been to Italy before but this is the first time that I will be visiting Cianciana, which both of my grandparents told me about as a child.
I hope to have some good stories and good pictures to share. Keep in mind that there is a six hour difference so there may be a delay in posting. The weekend bloggers will be posting as usual on the weekend.
In my absence, I have asked Darren to keep an eye on the blog. He has graciously agreed and will have full authority to enforce our civility rule, including the ability to suspend commenters who continue to refuse to comply with the rule in my absence. I would appreciate our commenters making his voluntary stint as easy and uneventful as possible.
Until then, arrivederci!
Groty, I’m an old Royals fan. Lived there 1975-82 and saw some great baseball. Still have many friends there and am having vicarious joy. We went to every playoff game during those Royal/Yanks years and I went to Philly to visit a friend and see the first 2 games of the 1980 World Series. We were in Madison for the great 1985 season. Are you old enough to remember the last great teams from the 70’s-80’s?
Happy Trails.
I had “Enjoy the trip” at the end but I accidently deleted it when I hastily added the P.S. message.
Enjoy and be safe!
Good timing for the trip.
My crystal ball – which is nicked up with a crack and a couple of scratch marks so take it for what it’s worth – predicts that by the time you get back the Nats will have clinched the NLCS after beating the Cards in five games. The Nats will be trying in vain to create a strategy to beat those scrappy underdog Royals which the crystal ball says will beat the Orioles in the ALCS. You’ll get back just in time to watch the Royals take the World Series in seven games. Or so says my nicked up, scratched up crystal ball.
(P.S., I live in K.C., so in addition to being nicked up and scratched up, my crystal ball may be biased.)
Karen, My old man drilled into me an important credo, “Never make the same mistake twice.” When we went to northern Italy last December we mostly took trains. I rented a car but to travel through rural Tuscany. Retuning the car in Genoa was a pain, but not like Rome! The further south in Italy, the crazier the drivers.
One thing about this thread, not so sure I agree with publicly conveying your absence out of the country.
Nick – the scooters drive like they’re out of Star Wars, darting in and out of traffic. No way would I drive in Roma!
Have fun!
Italy was my favorite vacation. And the cuisine and wines are absolutely fabulous!
What a wonderful trip. The history, the beauty, the wine, the FOOD!!
Relax and let Darren herd the cats for a while.
Darren, I am committed to not being a problem for you in JT’s absence.
When in Rome call it Roma. When in Milan call it Milano. Florence is Firenza. Sicily is the only part of Italy where they did not let the Brits rename the cities to comport with the Brit version of English. Watch out for kids on bikes. They will take your handbag.
Tom, I drove in Rome. I’ve been shot @ and had a shotgun pointed @ my head by an angry man. Driving in Rome was only a bit less traumatic. Rented a car near the Termini train station and drove to Sorrento w/ a stop in my grandma’s birthplace, Naples. This was before GPS. Getting out of Rome was impossible. I ended up on the Appian Way!! Somehow, it must have been a Guardian Angel, probably my old man, the highway I needed just appeared! more than anything about driving in Rome, it’s the F@CKING SCOOTERS!!
We hired a personal tour guide for the Vatican Museum tour. She was an art historian from NYC who has lived and studied in Rome for 20 years. She paid for her high fee when she helped us cut in the line that was blocks long. Saved us @ least 2 hours. But, this comment is not about the tour. It is about food!
After the tour I suggested we take our rather large tour guide to a nice meal. She was a Jew and we talked about a place in the famous Jewish Ghetto. But, we had mentioned we were going to the Pantheon and she said, “Well, then it’s La Campana, the BEST restaurant in Rome, it’s a block from the Pantheon.” This restaurant has been open since the 1500’s!! It is near City Hall and our tour guide was pointing out local politicians to us as we ate. It was the best meal I ever ate. You’re a good husband taking your bride on a trip. You’ll be thinking about your kids, because you’re a family man. But, there will be so many distractions. Viaggio sicuro.
-Paul. Wow! Driving in Italy is even worse driving in Idaho. I’ll be avoiding both of those foreign countries.
Tom Nash – had a friend of mine pulled over on a round about in Rome. The fine was determined by the amount of cash he was carrying.
I hope your update blogs on your travels can get through cyber space to us, so that we can enjoy the trip along with you and your wife.
Enjoy the trip.
Professor what about Perugia site of the Amanda Knox travesty?
Paul- Are the Italian police brave enough to pull that on a Sicilian? And a Sicilian constitutional scholar, at that?
Tom Nash – the Italian police take no prisoners. Read some of the court trials they are involved in. Paying the fine is really worth it.
Bring plenty of cash. You have to bribe the Italian police when you are arrest for driving while American.
Only three days in ROME? Hope you are fit enough to RUN through things.