Bolzano Impressions

I expected Bolzano to be a small and quaint town... a sleepy village nestled in the foothills of the Dolomites. Upon arriving though, I was completely wrong. It's a bustling place, with people about everywhere. Many on foot, but it is a bicycling town. Bicycles are everywhere; the locals use them to run errands, tourists rent them to see the surrounding areas.

There are a couple plazas that serve as a central gathering areas, but as is the case with Italy, cafes and side streets are just as busy as the main corridors. There are very few cars here in the core of the town. It's a nice respite.

Speaking of Italy, Bolzano doesn't feel like it belongs in this country. German is the predominant language and culture here. They just happen to be located in their southern neighbor. It's been a mental exercise for me to try to switch languages. Not that I speak Italian or German, but I like to at least know how to say basic phrases such as good morning ("Gutten Morgan") and thank you ("Danke"). Most everything else I try to communicate is either English, charades, or the Italian names for coffee drinks ("machiatto").

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Unlike Venice, Florence, and Rome, there are very few Asian tourists here. I'm not sure if I'm being paranoid or sensitive, but I seem to get more looks from the local Bolzano-ians... If this is true, wait 'til the next couple days... It'll be like we're invading the place!

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Although Bolzano is tucked into the Italian Alps, with stores stocked with alpine gear any REI member would be enamored with, the people still dress in stylish, European fashion. Men are dressed smartly in fitted suits or blazers and leather oxfords. The women are in blouses and and trendy jackets.

Additionally, the town (and I guess Italy in general) has really offered me a glimpse of what the States could and would be like if we weren't so... American. People here seem to be trimmer. Maybe it's the biking or walking, but for all the pasta and croissants the Italians consume, they really should be bigger than they are.

Air & Water & Train Travel

On trips like these, I realize how good we have it the Pacific NW. Our water is clean, both is purity and taste, as is our air. However, here in Rome, Norman and I seem to having gotten the "pollution" bug as I call it... it's the same coughing, throat-scratching, chest congestion that occurs when we're in Asia... I think it's all the motor exhaust. I've been on and off with a sore throat (better now, knock on wood), but N isn't feeling great. We're on a train to Bolzano now; I'm hopeful the fresh air in the Dolomites will help with the congestion.

Speaking of train travel, in Italy, traveling by train is way of life. It can be a part of a local commute, or a cheap and quick alternative to get to another location. The other benefit, like riding trains in any country, is the ability to see the beauty that is throughout the region. Once you leave the city limits, concrete and parking lots are replaced with soil and farming plots.

I've been very fortunate to have done this numerous times is a numerous countries. And to be honest, they're very similar. If you were to transport me to any train on any part of the globe, it would be difficult to figure out where I was. But this isn't a bad thing -- there's something I find comforting in it. There is always an appeal to it, and my guess is that there always will be.

As I type this, Down in the Valley came on my iPod... the lyrics seem a bit fitting for what I'm sharing now...

"Down in the valley, whiskey rivers, these are the places that you will find me hiding. These are the places I will always go." - The Head and the Heart

INTERNET ADDICTION

(I wrote this while my parents, cousin, and I were still in Rome. I've since updated from Bolzano).

Never has it been so evident that the four of us are internet dependent. Whenever we had a live wifi signal, the four of us are on our iOS devices... having to go without internet access in our apartment in Rome has been an adjustment. Granted, we've needed it for some important reasons as well, but overall, I think after walking all day with each other, we enjoyed the respite and excuse to withdrawal to our own virtual corner of cyberspace.

*update*

Having booked a hotel in Bolzano, I assumed there would be wifi. Of course I was wrong. No big deal-- I'll find a cafe with wifi signal. Well, I found the cafe, but can't access the wifi. So now all I can depend on is the local internet cafe. It's really the last place I want to be. Hot, stuffy, in the basement level -- at least at a cafe, I can be street side, people watching, enjoying a cappacino and connecting back home all at the same time.

I know that it's probably good for me to unplug for a bit. And usually, I don't have a problem with it. But I suppose I had an expectation that Italy would be wirelessly proficient like the US. What I have come to realize is that if you have a cell phone here, you're fine. But if you don't, then your link/tether/leash/chain to your real life back home is severed significantly.

Disconnected

I've been without wifi access for a few days now, so I have a slight backlog of posts... But I'm going to update them now. Hopefully, I can get them posted before my wifi dies again... Ciao!

The Domes

The view from our rooftop terrace... Best if enjoyed with a beverage and cool breeze. (Originally posted on Facebook.)

The Hype is For Real

DAVID. Yes, his nakedness is apparent. But so are his hands and his head. They're huge.

And his posture. For a man who would become king, who slayed a mighty giant of an enemy, he doesn't stand as a proud, confident warrior. Rather he seems passive, defensive.

But there's something more that draws your eye. Not sure what it is... Perhaps the amazing craftsmanship, the attention to detail and reality... I find what is most striking is his face. His expression. His EYES.

I say all of this as an untrained, unknowing, "gazer" of art. But I understand why this piece of work is so highly treasured. Because it is a treasure indeed.

The Venetian Labyrinth

Venice is a wonderful way to be introduced to Italy. Obviously, with its canals, it's one of the most unique cities in the world. But even more so, because there are no cars or vehicles in Venice, a traveler can be introduced to the intimate setting of Italian life. The buildings are huddled together, with often only narrow alleys two people wide separating them. People chatting over espresso and cigarettes. There's a coziness to the place.

People say to get lost in Venice; you'll see tourists puzzling over their maps. The truth of the matter is that you will, regardless or whether you want to or not. I think my interpretation of their advice is to enjoy getting lost in Venice. It allows you to bond with the city, learning to recognize some of the random turns or canals.

Italian Snippets

I'm trying something new with my travel entries on this trip... Instead of writing epic narratives of each day, I'm going to do shorter snippets of my thoughts and observations. They may fall out of linear order of occurrence or be random musings, but mainly I just want to share some of the experiences of my time in Italia without the length of a novella.