Bella Italia!

Life is slower here.  Though animated, people are calmer.  Today I am taking a cue from them and spending the morning and afternoon away from the other 9 folks in the group, deciding to forgo today's trip and instead chill out in Soriano. (see trip options at culturediscovery.com)

My favorite experience this week was hanging with our host, Michael, in his grappa/wine/cheese cellar.  He has been experimenting with making grappa using a copper still and it is bellisimo! He is very passionate about this process and explained it all to us, as well as let us assist in making a batch. I sampled many types he made and it was extraordinary.

This week I visited many small villages all over the Tuscany and Umbria region while based in Soriano nel Cimino.  All are old, built in the Middle Ages, into the sides of hills/mountains, and have twisting and turning cobblestone roads.  

Montepulciano was the most impressive.  It is very steep and the twisty road narrows all the way to the highest point in the town; only small cars navigate through the streets as people move aside to give way.  Michaelangelo lived here for a time while he was building a "mini" Sistine Chapel. He wanted to make sure he mastered his techniques.  The church is unique because it was built outside of the town, so in case it structurally collapsed it would not hurt anyone.

There, I visited the Catina dei Ricci wine cellar, a very old cellar originally owned by the Ricci family.  It is often referred to as the most beautiful wine cellar in the world and I agree!  Its layers wind down underground through the town. It is quite spectacular to say the least.  The wines they make here are Vino Nobile, which are the thinner skinned Sangiovese grape.  The thicker skinned are the Brunelo wines, which I sampled as well at a small family winery, La Piombaia, in a neighboring town called Montalcino. I would have loved more time to explore Montepulciano, especially the famed tourture museum, of which I saw a small traveling exhibition in San Diego last year.

The food our group has been cooking and eating this week is amazing.  Every meal we prepare is better than any Italian cuisine I have ever experienced.  It is my hope that I will be able to recreate it at home for my friends. All the restaurants and people's homes we have eaten at have been very good as well.  Food, wine, and history have been the main focus of this experience.  

Tomorrow is our last meal here.  We will be preparing pizza to cook in the wood-fired oven at the villa.  It is also our cooking teacher Carla's birthday and there is going to be a party with lots of people attending from Soriano.  We will have a great time!

Roma!

Just left Rome after 4 days of sightseeing and it was spectacular.  During college, I was a student of classical and medieval literature and history, mainly Latin language, Greek poetry, history, and Renaissance literature.  I knew that someday this would prove its value and it did, in Rome.

 

What I came to understand first hand this week is Rome stole/copied/borrowed most everything from the Greeks, like architecture and the stories of the mythical gods.  Having the classroom knowledge of Greek history came in handy as I pieced together what I learned on the tours I took in Rome.

Another thing I observed was that the Italian language reminded me of Latin and Spanish mixed together.  To be sure it is more complicated than that, but I was able to understand more than I thought.

I visited all of the usual sights you would assume: the Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish steps, St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, and lots in between and was awed by all of Rome's layers.  What I didn't expect was how beautiful the city is to just walk around and get lost in.  One minute wandering down a cobblestone alley and then turning a corner and being in the most beautiful Piazza Navona.  I will say that without the google map app I would have gotten turned around much more than I did!  This is the first city I have traveled where I never had a sense of which direction I was heading.

One thing I am still trying to wrap my head around is the number of gelato shops in Rome. There is at least one on every block and they are all busy, from morning to night.  I have no idea how the city can support so many, but I think the locals and tourists must eat it at least once a day!

Now I just arrived in the small town of Soriano in the Tuscany/Umbria region to spend a week.  So excited to cook, drink wine, and meet new people!  Below are some pics from Rome.

Vacation Planning Overload

A high class/first world problem to have, believe me, I realize this...

Leaving for Italy next week. 4 nights in Rome, then a week based in Soriano nel Cimino (Tuscany/Umbria region) on a cooking, wine drinking adventure.

In addition, planning back-2-back safaris in Tanzania, as well as a week of sun and fun in Puerto Vallarta.   

 

Numerous vacations each year has always been my norm, but feeling a little overwhelmed by all the logistics and details...

Stay tuned for all my antics in Italy next week!

#grateful

Thoughts while on my way to China

China is a country I decided years ago I would boycott and never visit because of my sympathetic alliance and fondness of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. In 1951, China invaded the small peaceful country of Tibet.  In 1959, the Dalai Lama, fearing for his life in the wake of a revolt, fled over the Himalaya mountains to Dharamsala, India, which is still his current home.  Since then, there has been many threats from the Chinese government against the Dalai Lama and those who are his allies.  

Well, the boycott had ended and I am traveling to China on business.  I have really mixed feelings and am conflicted about this, but in the end have succumbed in order to meet with work colleagues.  I realize it is the Chinese government, and not my work colleagues, who invaded Tibet, but my heart aches for what happened to the Tibetan people.

Gritty City Kind of Girl

This was an observation made by an ex boyfriend of mine.  He said I liked, and even thrived, in what he called gritty places...he was absolutely right!

We traveled quite a bit together.  He always choose the extravagant, lavish, posh destinations, and I mostly picked the more "grittier""real" places.  I didn't feel the need to play on the same remote island beaches or stay at the same hotels as the uber wealthy.  That impressed me for a quick moment, but did not inspire me.  Throw me in a small far away town in Central America, Europe, or the Himalayan mountains and I feel right at home.

So now I find myself in Singapore...not my kind of place.  My kind of place is where unpretentious people live life, where egregious wealth is not on full display, where accumulating masses of possessions is not valued. I'd rather be where all people, locals and travelers alike, come together and share in the same experiences.  I guess in order to know that about myself I have been fortunate enough to experience many situations, cultures and places and am proud to be labeled a gritty city girl!

Impressions of Tokyo

What an impressive city.  I have never visited a place where everything is always on time including trains, busses and people.  It is beyond my comprehension how this can happen in a city with a population of 9 million.  I can only guess that people's time is highly valued here.

 

The underground metro system is complex but well organized and I had no problem getting around to the places I wanted to see.  It was helpful, though, that my friend Brian who travels here 4 times a year loaned me his metro card and loaded it up so I didn't have that to think about! I found it interesting that most of my work colleagues commute by metro at least one hour each way to get to the office; the cost of living here is higher than I thought.

All the people I interacted with, from the lady at the post office with her poodle, to an expat waiting for a train, to my work colleagues, and everyone in between, were genuinely friendly, respectful, polite, and calm.  I did not encounter one stressed out person.  Also, the city is very safe.  People are out at all hours and no one locks up their bikes.  Lots of people ride bikes, many leave them at an area near metro stations, and there is no fear of theft! 

The food was amazing.  I got to eat all kinds of traditional foods like sashimi, uni (sea urchin), tempura, miso soup, noodles in broth, and many things that I didn't even question!  Everything was fresh and beautifully presented.  My work colleagues were surprised I chose to fumble my way through meals using chopsticks and didn't ask for silverware!  Also, salad is served at breakfast, which was awesome since I have to admit I was missing my kale and chia seed drink! 

If you like good food, friendly people, a sense of order, large cities, are not intimidated by a language you probably can't read or speak, I highly recommend Tokyo.

Spring…please hurry!

I have been neglecting my blog lately, and instead, lobbing rapid random half thoughts on twitter. Since my trip to Bangkok and Bhutan in October, I haven’t traveled very much…a few 3-4 day trips here and there, but nothing truly amazing to report.  Honestly, I have been hibernating this winter, but today I feel like the beast is awakening and ready for some adventure!  I have been researching and planning lots of trips for this year.  Some will happen, others may not.  For sure I will be going to New Orleans, in April and am so ready for all the hedonistic shenanigans that will ensue!  Most of May will be spent traveling in Asia on business, but if you know me there will be plenty of fun and exploring thrown in: Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Zhuhai, Pudong, Shanghai, oh my!  Looking into going to Africa, feeling pulled to see Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zanzibar.  I would also like to catch some metal festivals in Germany this summer.  Lots to see and experience on this glorious planet!  Cheers to everyone in my part of the world who are pushing aside the winter doldrums and looking forward to warm weather and great adventures!