taxi bus donkey

The heatwave that has swamped this part of Italy continues unabated, it gets to about 40 on most days but the humidity and the breezelessness of it all make it hard to deal with.

I have managed to do more wandering but as the days passed this has become rather aimless. There has been some interesting indulging in the food and bevvy departments however.The highlights were, a simple gnocci gorgonzola, with walnuts, a single layer of home made gnocci coated with a thick gorgonzola sauce covering 2 thirds of a large plate with a sprinkling of parsley and basil scattering the portion of the plate closest to its consumer, marvellous,.. followed this up with salsicce grilliata, which translats as grilled snags,.. but these were magic, char grilled and hefty. (more…)

The heat wave continues but the desire to feast upon the local food and bevvy is still strong. The other day i wandered into the bizzarely named ”nu lounge bar’ which is right up there with the strange english names for businesses, My other favourite in this category is the ”PIZZA UP!” in Urbania but the winnder has to be Italian mobile phone company called ”WIND” thats wind like the breeze not like the clock, they have large banners around the place which simply say ”avete wind?” translating, without need for massaging into ” do you have wind?”At the nu i dined on carpaccio with carciofi and rucola, its the second time i have had carpacio here and both times its more like a slab of raw meat that gets delivered to you rather than the thin shavings i had become accustomed to in australia, but accompanied by the local oil and cheese it went down an sbolute treat, knocked down a couple of glasses of (gasp) semillon and one of the local semifreddo with chocolate specialties and i was anyones. (more…)

Venice is not the city to head for if you are on your own and the type of person that enjoys the company of members of the opposite sex but is unable to acquire said company at the drop of a gondolier… however, it is a pretty place so for those out there who plan to spend some time here, learn from my finite but poignant wisdom (more…)

On saturday morning i packed my worldly possessions into the old fairydown and headed off for more adventures,.. i was kind of looking forward to leaving the sactuary that urbania had become, although there was still much to experience and we had put together a nice little posse the sands of time theory was always going to win and i whisked myself away while the stranieri slept in their uncomfotable beds.

The last time i was in Pesaro was the weekend before the course began, so i was familiar with the layout of the town, the bars near the station etc… and now i had a bit of italian wih me as well… the experience was much more appealing.. i bounced up to the ticket ounter at the station,.. booked my ticket for venice got snappy when the girl behind the counter told me i would have to go to another counter for a seat reservation… went to the bar and ordered coffee, mineral water and yeah why not a focaccia and i could sweat the girl had the gee he doesnt look italian look on her face. (more…)

OK so i am going to owe a lot of favors for this trip, and the karma meter i have been talking about is now so far in the red that i understand a small committee has been formed some place to try and find the most efficient way that my debt can be repayed and the just order of the universe restored. (more…)

Tonight several of us dined at the local osteria la cuco, this is a tiny place big enough to fit bench tables along 2 side walls allowing just enough space for the waitress to serve the tables without bumping into you too often. (more…)

In rome, watched an impromptu latin jazz ensemble perform at a piazza along side the tiber in trastevere, they played for an hour on the steps of a fountain, there were at least 15 of them, just the old classics but each had their go at a solo which was special… and no hat being passed around either… they were probably famous.

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Getting into the morning equals school - afternoon equals rest routine. God bless these crazy Europeans and the afternoon siesta, why the heck should people do anything between 12:30 and 3:00 anyway? What could you do during that time that cant wait until 3:30 or the next day, may it live forever I say. (more…)

My mum didn’t pack me a lunch and I didn’t cry when i was standing at the front door of the school waiting for the first day to begin, but the place has a bell that rings between classes,.. so i guess it’s flash back time. (more…)

Some journeys seem to take longer the closer you get to your destination.I left Roma’s beautiful (cough) Termini Station early on Satuday morning, having secured my ticket the day prior and even remembered to reserve a seat.

A 3 hour train ride to Ancona Falconara on the Adriatic coast was the first leg.

At Termini station I was that guy that always gets those looks from yourg girls or older ladies who are having or are anticipating having trouble freeing up a baggage trolley… and being the all round nice guy (read sucker) that I am … I helped out when I could, even with a rather large backpack strapped to me, … and to answer the question… no,.. not all the ladies I offerred assistance to were good looking… some of them were great looking, I think one of them may have been a model, although for what who could say, but there was at least one who was rather plain. maybe… (more…)