First impressions of Italy...August 29, 2009

Ahhh....the Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge, my first day in Italy



Here goes...transcribed from journals....

My backpack and I have landed in Italy. After a crowded flight from Boston to Rome with only two hours of sleep, I'm now waiting to board a flight to Venice.

The Rome International airport is a sprawling facility, complete with the standard European mall just after you clear the initial customs area. The security check was probably one of the most chaotic I've experienced. The late passport control was a first - at the last minute before entering the domestic terminal.

I still can't believe I'm in Italy. I kept my eyes glued to the window as we landed this morning. I was thinking about all the early morning European landings I've made - 8 to be exact - and this probably the sunniest and the warmest. Traveling in the shoulder and off-season is usually less expensive but tends to be chillier or even down right cold since I've been to Europe three times in the winter!

I remember the first time I came to Europe, landing in Brussels being in awe of the hot towels distributed just before landing. The Brussels airport is huge and I had a six hour layovers, so Shannon and I traveled into the city - lounging in the Grand Place and eating Belgian waffles with Nutella. We continued on to Heathrow where I had to produce my return plane ticket to passport control to prove I actually was going to France to study in 10 days. Hard to believe I was 19 and so naive, wearing my flannel shirt and Mom-like Levi's - how things have changed.

It's a sunny, warm morning and as I gaze out the window, I see Alitalia planes, too numerous to count. I'll be getting on another one soon to continue my journey. This will be one of the first times I've landed in another country, where I don't speak the language and I will navigate on my own to Raegan's hotel. Flying long distances by yourself is lonely, the worst was going to Australia, but this has the added challenge or a language barrier. Should be entertaining.

Random observations:
***It's really funny that whenever I hear a foreign language I revert to French!!! Even in Italy when I'm not even remotely speaking French. (This happened after buying a croissant at an airport snack bar...)

***It's really surreal to be sitting in an airport in Italy and watching news updates from Ted Kennedy's funeral. I had no idea of the importance of his death outside of the United States.

Ahhh...Italy....dispatches from last summer

So, I went to Italy last summer for the first time, and had an amazing time with my friend and travel buddy Raegan (my roommate in Boston for 7 years). Though I haven't published in a while, I haven't been totally silent. I blogged old school while in Italy. I hurried into the Borders Express at Logan right before boarding my flight to Rome...and searched...and searched...and searched some more before finally finding a set of notebooks. Maybe a little fancier than I would have preferred, but still I was feeling the need to write...so I did. About Venice, about Florence, about trains, my gut instinct to respond in French no matter what language is posed to me. And finally, here are the results...

Summer 2009: lots of traveling with the green backpack

So this summer, my backpack accompanied me to Austin, Texas for a few days in August, and then to Italy: Venice and Florence for a week in late August-early September. Since nothing has been posted since my Amstel obsession of July 2009: here's proof that it really did travel this summer. This was taken when I was packed up in Florence, ready to train it back to Venice. So...more to come...just been a slacker since I got back two weeks ago...

Amstel Light obsession...

There are a bunch of new Amstel Light billboards all over Allston and Brighton. I pass one of them on my way to work every morning. "Dam Good Bier" the billboard proclaims with dimly light Amsterdam canal houses in the background. It works. I see the billboard...remember my time in Amsterdam...and want an Amstel Light. Unfortunately, it's usually at 8:42 AM when I'm on the bus, crushed between commuters.

The billboards hardly measure up to this Amstel ads which highlight the city, and its beer. When I get nostalgic for Amsterdam, I usually just give it a play. Not to mention I've loved the Fratellis for quite some time:

the countdown begins...

3 months from today my backpack and I are off to Italy. Venice, Florence, and wherever else the journey takes us for the week before Labor Day. Can't wait to go. The tickets are booked, just the hotels, trains, and activities left...lots of ideas, but so little time. still can't believe I'm finally going...

I love it when Rick Steves name checks places my backpack and I have visited! Especially when it's the Tassenmuseum Hendrikje (Museum of Bags and Purses)
Check it out: Rick wrote about Amsterdam, as in this story on CNN.com.

a month ago today...

Amsterdam...sunset. Just a month ago. This was taken at the end of day spent riding trams, subway cars, and commuter rail tains as we crammed as much as we could into our last full day in the Netherlands.

• The morning was spent finding the one souvenir I wanted from Amsterdam: an Ajax sweatshirt. Marco van Basten was my fave footballer growing up. Well, maybe the only player I followed. I had a Diadora poster in my room, and he was one of six European players on it...and the only name I ever remembered. He played for the Ajax in the 80s and then AC Milan later, and now is the coach of the Ajax. We visited the Amsterdam ArenA, via subway on the outskirts of the city, and I found a hoodie in the Fanshop. AND when we went outside, the team was practicing, and I got to see MVB from way, far away, but still it was a sighting. Jesse has much better pictures than me.

• In the afternoon, we traveled to Haarlem via commuter rail train (20 mins. or so), just to get out of the city. If I'm spending a vacation in one city, I love to just get out of its confines, even if it's just for an hour (like our jaunt to Haarlem). We got off the train, walked to the Grote Markt, home to St. Bevo Cathedral, and the largest pipe organ in Europe (played by Handel and Mozart); and literally turned around and went back to Amsterdam. We took the 3 pm train to Haarlem, and we were back in Amsterdam by 4:15.

We finished off the day with Dutch pancakes (or pannekoeks), and Heineken and Genever at our favorite bar across from our hotel...

Despite the outstanding, savory pancakes I had for dinner, the Belgian fries from the Manneken Pis Belgian fry stand on the Damrak was the best food I had that day. Piping hot and covered with mayo...my mouth is watering just remembering....Best fries in Amsterdam...we stopped twice.