Messner's in Europe: SORRENTO - Monday March 22, 2010

Monday March 22, 2010

Greetings!

Barb left yesterday morning for London (UK). She will spend 2 days there due to the British Airways strike and then onto Calgary via Dallas (again due to the BA strike). The airline strike really messed up her trip home which was supposed to be direct from London to Calgary. Oh well; can’t change it so she’s going to tour London a bit and hopefully get to go by her old house where they lived when she was born. Her Dad was in the RCAF and posted in Middlesex at the time of her birth.

Some of you are wondering about now why Barb is going back. It was planned that way from the beginning as her Brother will be away for a couple of weeks so Barb will go stay with her Mom in Kelowna.

THE PEOPLE

We’ve met so many interesting people I cant remember them all and I will have to skip others for reasons of space.

The other day we stopped at a cafe and met a couple from Connecticut. They were in their 70’s and were having a ball. They must have a few dollars because we discussed their boat that they blue water sail in (way, way out in the ocean) and the power boat that she had before that. She didn’t like the power boat (of considerable size) so sent it down to her nephew in Florida. They love sailing and travel even at their age.

Another one was a lady in a restaurant. We were having lunch on the main square and the waiter sat 5 ladies in their 30’s down beside us. As usual Barb got to chatting with the one next to her who happened to be from Sorrento but was living in New York. She said she was in the “fashion business” and travelled back and forth from New York to MIlan. She went on about how she missed her family so much so she took a side trip back home and that’s why she was here. Sounded like one of those lifestyles young woman dream of for a career; but as reality checks in she was getting tired of it?

Another lady in her mid 60’s was wearing this unreal perfume. I finally got Barb to ask her what it was. As things would have it we both forgot the name she had told us. I had later stopped into a pub at the top of Positano (same town we originally saw her in) and there she was again. I spoke up as I walked behind her and said; “From Britain are we?” she turned around and answered to the affirmative. We talked for a short time. She was there with a lady friend who gives her a place (Condo) to stay in for a few weeks every year. She went on to tell me her and her husband used to travel lots but then he passed away last year…. Reminded me of why we were doing this trip now - “because we can and one never knows?”

Yesterday I heard about another friend who passed away (That’s two now since we left Canada). This one was 63 and the other one was about 50. It brings home the fact that you better do what you can now while you can and enjoy life to it’s fullest as we are not here forever.

In the words of my Dear Mom “The Golden Years aren’t always so golden!”

ISLAND OF CAPRI

They pronounce it Ka - Pri and what a beautiful place it is. We took the boat over one day and it was a day not so long ago (mid week last week) when I noticed a definite influx of tourists. The seasons are changing and now the tourists are starting to come more and more. It will be getting crowded in some of these places soon - I dread the line ups and the price changes!

Waiting for the Boat to Capri - Italian sun and a Marina - Thats the Life!

Capri is about a 30 minute boat ride from Sorrento. It has high cliffs and suffers from views that the rest of the world would die for. There are two little towns Capri and Ana-Capri. In days of old the 2 little towns used to fight and war with each other for some reason. Some of the Roman Emporers were known to make their summer residences here and I can see why. Remants of same are still here - one in particular that I liked is in our pictures and you will see Barb imitating its grandeur.

The Island of Capri - The Marina is on the left side "L" shaped.

We took a bus up to the town and then took a Gondola ride to the very top. I can not describe the views. Mountain tops sticking thru clouds and Naples and Pompeii off in the distance on the other side of the bay. Just a beautiful day and place! The plan from the beginning was to hike back down the mountain so off we went.

Barb on the Gondola - All is good!

On our way down we met a chap by the name of Shamish; and he came just in time! As Barb led us further and further off the path Shamish offered to walk with us. He got us back on the right path (so to speak). In all fairness to Barb they weren’t marked all that well for a city dweller!

Dublin, Ireland is were Shamish hails from and he should be one noted in the “People” section of this Blog because - what a character he was! I loved his accent. He’s almost got us convinced to spend the rest of our lives in Ireland. The land he was born in and hardly ever explores he says! “It’s a beautiful place,” he adds, “I must spend more time there!” I can hear his accent in my head as I write this story.

Shamish of Dublin

As we went on; Shamish told us of of his travels. I would put him at most mid 30’s, he’s a Sales Rep for an Engineering company and with the financial crisis his Boss has no trouble giving him time off work to travel. Let me tell you he has he travelled! The sad part and I wondered why is that he went all alone it seemed? Maybe he liked it that way or maybe the right lil Lassie never came along? I don’t know but I do know he should be writing guide books of Europe. Then again he doesn’t like the tourists either and he likes the peace and quiet of the back country and thats why he hikes so much. During this hike I remember thinking - I can see why.

After we got back down from our trek; Shamish was off again to hike another part of the island. One day he’ll come to Canada he says; I told him to spend time in BC and the Rocky Mountains as I thought that would interest him especially for his first trip.

THE MEDITERRANEAN

I haven’t spent much time talking about the ocean or lifestyle in this area so I’ll spend a bit of time here. The ocean here is beautiful and with its varied views and topography of the coast it never offers a dull moment. I challenge you to query it on Google under pictures and see what we didn’t cover.

The climate here for the most part (Santa Ponsa & Palma de Mallorca included) is much like Victoria on the west coast of Canada. I wouldn’t say that its the exact same. Here in Sorrento the Lemons, Oranges and Grapefruit grow in the winter and I don’t think that happens in Canada! Although temperatures can be quite similar to Victoria there’s something a little different in the air here. I think perhaps that when its not cloudy or raining the bare sun will be a little bit warmer on your skin and that my friends maybe what will grow the fruit - just a little!

Our Back Yard from Our Deck - Lemons, Oranges & Grapefruit Mostly.

When it gets cold here it really does get cold even though it doesn’t read so low. One morning we woke up and outside on the ground were all the dead Bees. It got a little too cold that night. Locals all wear winter coats and I quickly understood why! The air hear when its cold can cut right through you. I spent many a day with an extra sweater and a coat on and sometimes was still cold unless we were walking at a quick pace.

I confirmed one thing; that a hat is important when trying to keep heat in your body and rain off your “solar panel.” So before we left I bought a “Tilley” hat, did you know they are part of the uniform issue for the Canadian Armed Forces? Well; it does keep my panel dry when I need it!

The other thing I learned was about scarves. Now some of you men in North America don’t like scarves and I was one of them. After all its a “style thing” I thought and I don’t have much of that! Well it seems there is something about one’s neck that European’s know about that we don’t! A scarf can make a big difference in staying warm. In fact I think a scarf with a lighter jacket might be a good idea some days. No; I still haven’t bought one; remember what I said above - I don’t have any!

All in all; its nothing to complain about. When it snows in these parts you only see it way up on top of the mountains but nothing down here. Im sure that there are parts inland where perhaps the snow comes down to lower altitudes. Not here though and hence our decision to stay near the sea until we are sure the cold weather is over for the year and then we will start to head a little more north. Tuscany and over to France likely?

The beaches around the coast line (here and what we saw in Spain) are rarely sandy nor white. They are scenic whether rock pebbles or sand. Many a movie has been filmed here and just a few miles south of where I’m sitting starts the famed “Amalfi Coast.” This coastline starts just before one gets to the town of Positano.

I didn’t realize how long its been since I wrote in this Blog so after checking we will cover Positano now.

POSITANO

This is a town worth writing about. You have never seen anything like it in your life (most of us). Its located on the side of a mountain all the way down to the shore. Many of the homes and buildings are built right into the sides of the cliffs. Its amazing the engineering; (of nothing I know much about) is very curious! It’s a long fall to the bottom!

Positano, Italy

The bus ride down here was worth every cent on its own. I think it was $7E each way and there is no room for mistakes, not one! People complain about the highway at Golden BC, it was and is nothing compared to this!

IN the summer tourist seasons this highway has Police at all the winding corners. They spend the day there slowing traffic down for the corners and folding in their mirrors for them! The roads are so narrow its a mystery to me still how 2 buses can pass!

I still wonder at times and this makes me think of it - why the Italians do not have more drivers in the Formula One racing series? They drive these winding roads like they’ve done it all their lives and likely many of them have! The roads are a thrill a minute and some minutes well; you are better off not to watch!

If you are heading south you must sit on the right side at the front (we did!) and if your heading north; well you guessed it! This is the best carnival ride I have ever been on! On the way back the bus was so full I stood most of the way and what a work out that was! Holding on; using each other to hold one’s self upright; and using your legs like your in an “Olympic Mogul Race” running for the Gold is the only way to describe it!

Wow!

Old men and ladies have been doing this for years along with the hills they walk - I must hand it to them their legs must be in fantastic shape!

On the way down to Positano we were involved in two small MVA’s (Motor Vehicle Accidents). One was when we got to one of the treacherous corners. (with no Policeman - Off season!) As it turned out we couldn’t get by the car coming at us and we were both at a standstill. Finally the Driver of our Bus inched forward and like the sound of a thousand dollar bill in a shredder! I heard the two vehicles grinding together.

The next one was a lot simpler. Our Driver was being coached by another man on the Bus (off duty driver perhaps?) . When this happened again our Bus Driver finally backed up a bit to make room for the other car. I’m quite sure we hit the cement wall (barrier for the 2000 foot drop) but it could have been the car behind us too?

Neither time did anyone get out of their vehicle. They look at each other in side view mirrors, say a few words in Italiano and move on! Thats it!

Note to self: Rent Scooter maybe? In Italy; Do not rent a car!).

A quick and funny story from Santa Ponsa, Spain. We were about to rent a car and our friend who lives there said; Make sure to get insurance for the “Hubcaps.” Now being the retired you know what - I thought man they steal that many hubcaps around here? What it was really for was the high curbs! The sidewalks are so high that when you parallel park your chances of hitting or scraping a hubcap are high so with rental cars they will charge you for the damage! Remember that! Hub-Cap Insurance!

Back to Positano; So we got off the bus and I quickly realized we hadn’t eaten. We were kindly directed down to the beach were the best cafes were and off we went. I quickly realized as nice a town and scenic that it is; How will we get back up?

After all I’m over 50 (I think) and this could be cause for a trip to a Cardiologist in a helicopter! Barb kept re-assuring me and we finally made it all the way down. Now; you must refer to the pictures on this one. If you have seen the movie “Under the Tuscan Sun” when the female star goes to the Italian coast to find her lover - (this is where he is) and she finds him but he’s with another woman. What a beautiful location this is!

After another great Italian meal we walked around the beach and collected some beach glass (see Barb’s collection soon to be displayed at home I’m sure). After which we took some photos. Sadly it was time to head back home. One issue; “where do we get the bus?” We finally found out where to get onto the Sorrento bus and away we went and so did the sun!

There are so many things to see and do its quite hard to write about them all especially when like me your not used to telling or writing stories.

SORRENTO

Sorrento has become our home for a while. As noted earlier we rented a “Flat” (apartment) in an Italian home (all self contained with separate entrance etc) and the hardest part here is to wonder how many oranges to eat. The Landlord’s are very nIce people and they keep bringing us fruit off their trees in the yard and home made wine that Papa makes for our meals.

This kind of accommodations are way cheaper than a hotel or even the hostel we were at earlier and it makes it feel more like a home especially when you are in one place for so long. We both wanted to find places where we could try to blend in with the community and be part of it rather than just another tourist - we don’t like them much! (Tourist’s that is!). Now people are starting to see us and Barb even got a free onion (we needed just one for cooking sauce) from the local store the other day as he gets to know her/us more.

So most every day we make a run to the grocery store and get dinner and whatever else we need. The hard part is some of the labels!

One day when we needed shampoo Barb brought home Conditioner. I found out in the shower. Then try reading the milk bottles - they don’t say 2% or 1% anywhere but they do have different kinds? We just don’t know what kinds?

Cookies; Sorry I don’t like their cookies! They rarely have cookies like ours. The closest thing to an Oreo is called a Ringo! Then the very worst part is they don’t have Dad’s cookies either! Their deserts are mostly boring dry things in a package unless you go to the privately owned Bakeries then you get the good stuff but you pay for it too. Get this the banana’s in the stores are wrapped in plastic on a plate - they’ve been weighed already I’m told? The isles for Pasta - They never end!

I have given up on sea food. I used to love it and even say I could live on it.

LESSON 124: I’m learning as much about myself on this trip (like the trip to Malaysia) as I am about others!

LESSON 125: I can-not eat sea food after having it look me in the eye!

All the sea food here is displayed this way. I’m North American - I can not eat a fish when it looks like a fish! Help me please! Eye-balls, heads and…. they cook them complete so they still look alive while you look back at it with your knife and fork in your hand ready to eat! Stick a tomato in its mouth or something? What kinda fish is that anyhow? Yeech…. Sorry people; I can-not do this. I’m off of seafood for a while!

Someone please give me a can of Tuna or has that been outlawed now?

TELEVISION

Ha! TV right, sure! The last time we had decent TV was at Julie and Tony’s place in Santa Ponsa. I have learned to become a soccer fan but know little about the game (football) because its all in another language. My favorite is Manchester United cause my Grampa was from there and would have cheered them.

I have learned lots about the local news but nothing about what was actually said or done as I don’t understand it either! My blood pressure is probably better for it!

But low and behold everywhere we’ve been we do seem to get the BBC News channel! Its almost as boring as CNN.

So as of last night I have figured out how to watch TV and movies on my Lap Top for those nights that I have nothing else to do or to read.

Especially now that Barb is gone; I have actually quit listening to myself talk!

POLITICS

This is a topic I wont spend much time on. But it is around and the people in most parts of Europe are very passionate about everything including their politics. Not like us Canadians who complain form the couch and then drop the subject! I would love to be in politics here!

As a matter of fact something else I noticed and just recalled; Most people think we are Americans then when they find out we are from Canada they think we are French?

Why is that? I can’t speak French any better than I can Italian? Maybe I should take a night course?

Greece is not having a good time right now. They are going broke in a hurry and the government is clamping down on spending and cutting back in a big way. So the people are protesting and now rioting which could affect our trip over there. I’m not sure that I want to go over there now if thats the way its going to be? It didn’t take us long to find our first protest in Rome if you recall (our first night) so its likely to happen again in Athens! (hahaha).

Italy’s Boss (I mean President or Prime Minister or….) is in hot water too.
He’s in front of the courts charged with a bunch of frauds. The latest is; that he just passed a law so he can’t be found guilty! (You gotta love it!). So the trial is continuing and the elections are looming! In-fact yesterday (Sunday) all day I could hear people screaming on loudspeakers from home here so I imagine the election rallies are beginning. At least I hope thats what it was - Rallies? I just heard them again here now this (Monday) morning too?

Speaking of Italy; a good book to read (I just finished it) is called “The Commarah, Italy’s Other Mafia.” It scared the pants (I mean socks) off Barb! She wanted to go to France after reading it!

It’s all about the local Mafia here in the Napoli area. It’s a must-read if you like that sort of stuff but I recommend you read it after your trips to Italy, not before! The Author is a local who grew up here and worked with them; he is now under Police protection.

So that brings up Sicily! I would like to see Sicily or just part of it. I don’t think it’s very high on Barb’s list as she keeps telling me to go down for a few days (while she is home in Canada). I think I might - depending on the weather.

Another must see and will be reported on later is Pompeii and Herculeum.
These 2 towns are just north of where we are in Sorrento in between here and Napoli. Napoli is directly across the bay from us. Mount Vesuvius is something we can see here too and its still an active Volcano. I’m not sure if I’ll take the tour up the mountain or not but I do want to see Herculeum (Hercules Birthplace) as it is supposed to have better ruins and displays than Pompeii.

To the left is the Bay of Napoli

Last night I watched the move “Gladiator.” I had to see it just to give myself some better background as to what we saw in Rome. It was very good and if you haven’t seen it then rent it before you read the book on the Mafia (above). My next movie will be “Chariots of Fire” or something? I love the history and I will tell you these people were very intelligent - even 2000+ years ago!

Unlike yesterday which was nice, warm and sunny its started to sprinkle here and I think I’ll have to close the door as its getting cool. That will give me a chance to quit writing and you a chance to recover from my stories.

I can say this; we have been gone since January 13th. which is a little over two months. We have around 4 months left if we continue on and I suspect we will at this point.

I will certainly recommend southern Italy. The people of Italy are so helpful and friendly. It was like that in Spain too. I love the cultures and the food. I love the scenery and almost everything I’ve seen so far.

It’s all really teaching me things; Our culture is so new; our communities are so new and some of our ways are new. I would not say that our ways are better or worse but I love the fact that we are all a little different.

Having said that just reminded me of the fact I wish we could all just get along so we could travel to other countries that are currently not safe right now. I wish people would drop their greed and drop their egotistical power trips and learn to live life the way it was meant to be.

Some of these leaders and people need to read the book “Who Moved My Cheese!”

I wont go on; but I will say this; The more I see the more I want to travel the world.