Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Siamo a casa (We are Home)
Looks like we made it home just in time -- since today's airport security measures just banned toothpaste on flights.
Wednesday was a long day, flying from London's Heathrow Airport to Chicago O'Hare and then on to Oklahoma City.
Alex said he was "tapped out" of Italian translation work. Ironically, however, when we checked in at the American Airlines counter in Chicago there was an Italian couple having difficulty speaking English to the AA gate agent, and Alex came to their rescue. He had spoken with the couple while standing in line.
"My good friend here will help", the Napoli native said in broken English, pointing to Alex. Alex found out that his Italian speaking abilities can come in handy here in the U.S. as well as on our vacation in Italy.
It's good to be home. Burgers and fries for everyone!
More scenes from across the pond:
Alex sampling vino in Loro Cuffieno, Italy.
Hunter (r) demonstrates the hem lines of Italian skirts seen
in Arrezo, Italy. "That will get her suspended at Alcott," he said.
Hannah poses at the rooftop restaurant in Impruneta in Tuscany.
A little too much vino.
We will post more images from our trip tomorrow.
Wednesday was a long day, flying from London's Heathrow Airport to Chicago O'Hare and then on to Oklahoma City.
Alex said he was "tapped out" of Italian translation work. Ironically, however, when we checked in at the American Airlines counter in Chicago there was an Italian couple having difficulty speaking English to the AA gate agent, and Alex came to their rescue. He had spoken with the couple while standing in line.
"My good friend here will help", the Napoli native said in broken English, pointing to Alex. Alex found out that his Italian speaking abilities can come in handy here in the U.S. as well as on our vacation in Italy.
It's good to be home. Burgers and fries for everyone!
More scenes from across the pond:
Alex sampling vino in Loro Cuffieno, Italy.
Hunter (r) demonstrates the hem lines of Italian skirts seen
in Arrezo, Italy. "That will get her suspended at Alcott," he said.
Hannah poses at the rooftop restaurant in Impruneta in Tuscany.
A little too much vino.
We will post more images from our trip tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Autostrada at 150
We spent the afternoon driving 150 km per hour on the Autostrada. And you ask: is that safe?
There is nothing safe about driving in Italy. One minute we were trying to maneuver through the narrow streets of a medieval village and the next we're battling the driving lanes of a six lane "interstate" with German BMW drivers.
Anyway, we departed Italy this evening for London. Alex says he's out of the translation business for a long long time. But, he's done well. And this afternoon he was a big hit with a couple of Italian ladies who run a little wine and cheese store in Laterino, including a personal tour of their wine cellar.
For whatever reason this blog is having trouble with our uploading of images. But, you can see Mike and Hunter from this morning in a little Italian town here:
http://www.michaelduncanphoto.com/dscn1005.jpg
And these are Hunter's photographs of the Roman Forum from yesterday:
http://www.michaelduncanphoto.com/dscn0822.jpg
These doors of the Saturn temple are more than 1,700 years old:
http://www.michaelduncanphoto.com/dscn0840.jpg
And Hunter captured his little sister Hannah getting water at the only fountain in the ancient part of the city:
http://www.michaelduncanphoto.com/dscn0868.jpg
Nice photography, Hunter!
There is nothing safe about driving in Italy. One minute we were trying to maneuver through the narrow streets of a medieval village and the next we're battling the driving lanes of a six lane "interstate" with German BMW drivers.
Anyway, we departed Italy this evening for London. Alex says he's out of the translation business for a long long time. But, he's done well. And this afternoon he was a big hit with a couple of Italian ladies who run a little wine and cheese store in Laterino, including a personal tour of their wine cellar.
For whatever reason this blog is having trouble with our uploading of images. But, you can see Mike and Hunter from this morning in a little Italian town here:
http://www.michaelduncanphoto.com/dscn1005.jpg
And these are Hunter's photographs of the Roman Forum from yesterday:
http://www.michaelduncanphoto.com/dscn0822.jpg
These doors of the Saturn temple are more than 1,700 years old:
http://www.michaelduncanphoto.com/dscn0840.jpg
And Hunter captured his little sister Hannah getting water at the only fountain in the ancient part of the city:
http://www.michaelduncanphoto.com/dscn0868.jpg
Nice photography, Hunter!
Monday, August 07, 2006
We conquered Rome
ROME -- Six Americans purportedly from Oklahoma conquered Rome today when a little two year said "why?" so many times the Italians capitulated and promised to let her rule a new Roman Empire. Film at 11.
Our internet connection hasn't been that good the last couple of days, so we haven't posted anything in a while (and can't upload pics just right at the momento). But, we're all alive and feasting well on pasta and pizza. In fact, we're heading for a pizzaria right now in San Guistino Valdarno.
Hannah: (She said she liked rocks in Rome and brought one back from the Roman forum) (Don't tell the Carbinari, please).
Hunter: "The colloseum (liked the best). Rome rocks!"
Alex: "Rome is always cool. I'm hungry".
Eric: "Our tour guide was interesting." (Hunter: "We are about to die!", she said.)
Elizabeth: "I liked the water fountain I could rinse my feet with and drink out of at the same time (in the Roman forum); and when Hannah started walking on her own and I didn't feel like I had a 30 pound "rock" on my hip."
Mike: "Rome is an example of good urban planning. Unfortunately, that empire thing just didn't work out. Hear that Mr. Bush?"
OK....we're going to the pizzaria.
Our internet connection hasn't been that good the last couple of days, so we haven't posted anything in a while (and can't upload pics just right at the momento). But, we're all alive and feasting well on pasta and pizza. In fact, we're heading for a pizzaria right now in San Guistino Valdarno.
Hannah: (She said she liked rocks in Rome and brought one back from the Roman forum) (Don't tell the Carbinari, please).
Hunter: "The colloseum (liked the best). Rome rocks!"
Alex: "Rome is always cool. I'm hungry".
Eric: "Our tour guide was interesting." (Hunter: "We are about to die!", she said.)
Elizabeth: "I liked the water fountain I could rinse my feet with and drink out of at the same time (in the Roman forum); and when Hannah started walking on her own and I didn't feel like I had a 30 pound "rock" on my hip."
Mike: "Rome is an example of good urban planning. Unfortunately, that empire thing just didn't work out. Hear that Mr. Bush?"
OK....we're going to the pizzaria.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Our day in Milan
Spent today in Milano, then traveled by traino to Firenze (that's Florence to you newbies). And yeah, we heard about Bomar...the dumb butt. Bad news travels far. We'll figure it all out when we get back.
Tonight we arrived in the little village of Impruneta, which is kind of a Cinema Paradiso town. The locals are all sitting on benches in the main piazza (Garibaldi Piazza) which is right outside our hotel. The kids are playing; the teen-agers are doing whatever teen-agers do. And there's some loud technomusic coming from somewhere. Welcome to small town Italy!
Some scenes from today in Milano:
MD at the Vittoria Emmanuelle "mall" in Milano (l), and Hannah and Elizabeth try out the public drinking fountains (r).
Tonight we arrived in the little village of Impruneta, which is kind of a Cinema Paradiso town. The locals are all sitting on benches in the main piazza (Garibaldi Piazza) which is right outside our hotel. The kids are playing; the teen-agers are doing whatever teen-agers do. And there's some loud technomusic coming from somewhere. Welcome to small town Italy!
Some scenes from today in Milano:
MD at the Vittoria Emmanuelle "mall" in Milano (l), and Hannah and Elizabeth try out the public drinking fountains (r).
In Milan, Hunter on the prowl
It is a pleasant and beautiful, but rainy morning in Milan, after an incredibly long 30 hour day yesterday jetting across the North Atlantic. The hotel here is nice, nestled in a busy business and residential area about a mile west of downtown, and along the main Milan shopping areas.
Last night Hunter decided to go sleep walking. We did not know he was gone from the room in the middle of the night until there was a knock and a beautiful blonde showed up with Hunter. She said he was very nice, but was downstairs in the lobby seemingly scared. He had no clue he was walking in his sleep.
So, Hunter was first to pick up the Italian chicks. Or maybe the other way around.
Last night Hunter decided to go sleep walking. We did not know he was gone from the room in the middle of the night until there was a knock and a beautiful blonde showed up with Hunter. She said he was very nice, but was downstairs in the lobby seemingly scared. He had no clue he was walking in his sleep.
So, Hunter was first to pick up the Italian chicks. Or maybe the other way around.
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