We’re at almost half a year of continuous travel, with one backpack and one computer bag each. Someone asked me what was inside those bags. What kind of clothing could possibly stand up to twenty-four weeks of wearing, washing, rolling, packing, unpacking, and folding? Underwear: 7 pairs each B has 3 types of underwear, 2 of…
I may have disliked Rome, but I am a big fan of the Amalfi coast. We’re staying in a small town on the Tyrrhenian Sea called Maiori, and the people here are amazing. A few stories to show what I mean: Yesterday, we decided to go hiking (a story for another day). Without a map, we found ourselves…
It is a very good thing that this is our second trip to Italy and not our first, or I might never come back. Now hear me out. I spent six weeks in Paris in 2001, five months in Lyon in 2004, three months in Los Angeles in 2005, two years in Manhattan in 2007, and 17…
Neighborhood: Trastevere Also called: N/A Pros: Not in the heart of the tourist area, so the throngs aren’t as bad People are out at all times of night, so it’s fairly safe (though that’s true of much of Rome) Lots of transportation options: various buses and trams Cons: I thought most of the food in the neighborhood was…
Take Sushi Ristorante Giapponese [Trastevere]: We might have gone a little overboard, after having very little lunch on the train to Rome. So, B got gyoza dumplings and seaweed salad and a salmon/avocado roll. I ordered an oshinko (pickled radish) roll, and sea bass, salmon and scallop nigiri. We also split a spicy tuna roll, which was…
We were in Venice for 3.5 days. Boat Ride: Part of the tour of Venice that my dad arranged for us all was a boat ride around the canals. It was a spiffed-up motor boat, somewhat like the one on which we spent entire summers when I was a kid. Our driver, Marino, was a quiet man who operated…
Many people dislike mosquitoes, and I am certainly no exception. However, I do tend to be exceptionally affected by the little critters. Specifically, if I am somewhere with another person, I will always get bitten more – even if I am wearing more bug spray, longer sleeves, and an anti-mosquito bracelet. The other night, mosquitoes bit my hand,…
Today, B and I went to several churches in Rome. They varied in architecture, in denomination, in decoration, and in location, but they all had one thing in common: people disrespecting their primary rule. Some allow photography and some don’t, some ask you not to go into specific portions or chapels, but all have a…
I love trivia. I’m not quite sure why: it’s not the competitive element, and I’m certainly not particularly good at it. But I love it. I’ve gone to bar trivia everywhere from NYC and Columbus to San Francisco and Milwaukee. Sometimes, I won’t go to bed before doing just one more Sporcle quiz (you’re welcome). And for…
There are infinity tourists. They all insist on taking photos on every bridge, though I’m not sure what of. ‘Here’s me with bridge #1 of 409. And here’s me with bridge #14 of 409…’ (Venice is made of 117 islands connected by 409 bridges.) There are no cars, buses, motorbikes, or even regular bikes in Venice.…