Final Thoughts

                                         Our Final Days and Other Random Thoughts

       May 12 was my 65th birthday. Lynda and I had planned to spend it in Le Marche, Italy. Since we have been going there every year for the last 10 years we have made several friends but the best ones were our two dear friends Michael and Liliana. We have spent many a day at their beautiful house in the Sarnano area but last year they moved closer to the coast where they have an equally nice house.

Michael and Liliana's House (typical restoration)

They invited us to lunch on Sunday, not only my birthday, but also the 'giorno della Mamas' in Italy as it is in the USA and Canada.
     Michael is one of the most innovative and creative people I have ever met. Being an ex- gifted and talented teacher I respect that. He is not only an accomplished artist, one who has taught art in San Francisco and Siena and given shows in Italy, England and Turkey to name a few places. He is also a creativity 'life' coach as well as many other hats he wears.

Lynda and Michael in His Art Studio

       Liliana was an chef from Venice(responsible for my pasta making ability), a realtor and an instructor in 'life' fitness among other things. We went to their new house that had the most beautiful views from their front door and from the back. From their house you could see two of those small walled towns camped on the top of green-covered hills.

A View from their House

       That day a friend of theirs was doing a book signing at an old 6th century Abbey and Michael wanted me to meet her as we both have published books. She had written a book based on blog journaling so we shared the ups and downs of publishing.


The Book Signing

       It was a birthday I wouldn't forget. There are many things I wouldn't forget about this trip. One is driving in Italy. When you return your car in Italy you thank God that you haven't wrecked or crumpled a fender. The Italians are wonderful drivers but yet wild and impatient. They travel at warp speeds on the autostradas and you learn to get out of their way as they creep up behind you at 150 KPH and sit on your back bumper and flash their lights at you. It is time to move over. Then when you are on the smaller state highways there are the dreaded roundabouts where you learn very quickly to pick your desired exit from the plethora of choices available and always to look left at the yields in the roundabouts. If you miss the exit then just stay on the roundabout and try again.


Small Trucks

One Way Street



Narrow Streets

Heading Into a Roundabout

The other thing is the 'senso unico', or one way street that is plentiful in the small towns. In a way they are Godsends since no one should be coming down the narrow street. Lynda especially likes these as she doesn't have to grip the door rest as hard. When there are two way streets you soon learn to stay right or quickly back up. It is an experience you will never forget but it makes you a better driver for doing so.
       Italians are nice people and I love to just sit and watch them My command of the Italian language is always enhanced when we are there. I learn to experience the things I would never see here in North America. The two choice flush toilets, bidets and small showers make bathrooms an experience.

A Circular Shower



A Bidet

Left for #2, right for #1

Also old people riding bikes, multi-generational strolls that families take, tiny trucks and cars(though I own a Smart car here), a huge percentage of smokers who haven't got the message that it kills and gelato shops on every corner are hard to forget.


Grandpa(nonno) on bike with grandson!

Smokers Galore

Small but smart cars(mileage good for $8.00 a gal. gas)

Multi-generational Walk

 Lynda especially loves the gelato shops, especially ciacolatta and nocciola.

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Makes His Own Gelato in His Basement

     All in all it was a great adventure. Hopefully when my body is reconstructed and Lynda's ankles get better we can experience new places and wonders that travel like this beckons us to .
       We are home now. Jet lag has reared it's ugly head as we were wide awake at five am. We've already got our Mexican breakfast we were craving. It is time to start on my surgeries and lose the ten pounds I added in Europe. And by the way our luggage was lost. American Airlines call this morning reassured us that they haven't tracked it yet. As I said in my first post on this blog: 'experienced traveler: an oxymoron'.     
       See you in the next blog. Who knows, some of these places and characters I have met just might appear in  an upcoming book. Thanks for letting me share with you.