Journeys Far and Wide: See More of Italy

Friday, February 13, 2009

See More of Italy

I will be seeing more of Italy during the President’s Day holiday weekend. I am headed tomorrow, Saturday, to Bologna for a visit and will be there until Tuesday. Bologna is located in the north-central of the country. Why Bologna? I have never been there, RyanAir (the low fare airline) flies there, and the weather is bound to be warmer that Wiesbaden. Weather in Wiesbaden continues to be cold. This past week, we had a few days of snow and blustery winds.

The airfare was only 40 euros and a cheap hotel near the city center was booked for 80 euros total for three nights. You can’t beat that for an extended weekend getaway. Bologna is a university town renowned for its gastronomy, and a bastion of socialism and communism, perhaps like Berkeley with a culinary tradition. If possible, we will try to venture out and take a day trip to a nearby town. I will fill you in with details after I get back.

To get back to the original premise of this blog to share pictures of family and past travels, I provide the following:

With Grace, Mia, Janice, Joyce, and Jason taken early January 2009 at the home of Grace & Jason. Joyce wins the smiling contest. (Click on photo to get entire picture.)

I would guess that the next picture was taken between 1985 -1986. Note the stylish hair styles of Leah and Glen; and the missing upper front teeth of Ed.

For fair play, I offer a late 70’s/early 80’s hairstyle of my own – the frizzy perm. Yes, that is me with the white sweater ready to join a hard rock or a metal band.

I know everyone already knows the negative effects of drinking, but the two following photos should make it outright clear to stay away from alcohol.

But seriously, this coming 16 February would have been Inna’s 87^th b-day. I refer you to my post of last year: http://notesfromelvin.blogspot.com/2008/02/b-days-innas-legacy-and-long-weekend-in.html

1 comment:

Anonymous18 February, 2009 19:24
YAY! i win the smiling contest! i'm not sure what qualifies me for winning the smiling contest...BUT i know i was definitely happy to be with you guys! that's probably why there's such a big grin on my face! :)
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WELCOME

"A man travels the world in search of what he needs and returns home to find it." -- George Moore.

I have always enjoyed traveling – seeing new places and meeting new people. Some have said that travel broadens the mind. I sometime think that during my journeys, I will uncover something deep and profound. I am again back overseas, in Germany, after 14 months in Seattle from March 2011 thru May 2012. I had been away from Seattle from February 2005 to March 2011 – in Iraq for one year, in Bosnia for 18 months, in Germany for 2 1/2+ years, and one year in Abu Dhabi, UAE. I was born in the Philippines, and have lived in Seattle, WA; Washington DC; Southern California; and Portland, Oregon. I have traveled in the US, Canada, Europe, and the Philippines. I have spent most of my life in Seattle.

Seattle is my home. It is where most of my family and friends live. My visits back home,when I am overseas, always invigorate me. I have discovered that it is in Seattle, my home, where I will find what I need. I don’t know how much longer this journey will continue; I do know that it will finish in Seattle.

Places Where I Have Lived

*** I decided to list all the places that I have lived at. I can't believe the number of times I have moved. My true nomadic spirit becomes especially apparent by the number of times I have changed residence. ***
Tagtagumbao, Cuyapo, Philippines - My place of birth; located in the province of Nueva Ecija. Tagtagumbao, a small rural village, will always hold a special place in my heart. It's the type of place where everyone knows each other. The are not many places like that anymore.
Bainbridge Island, WA - The first place I lived at after moving to the US. I lived there for two years, plus the countless summers spent there helping out at my sister's strawberry and raspberry farm.
Seattle, WA - I have lived there for almost twenty years total. I call this town my home.
Chevy Chase, MD - Just outside Washington, D.C. I spent six months there late 1984 thru early 1985 while I interned at US Nuclear Regulatory Agency.
Seattle, WA - Moved back to Seattle in 1985. Finished school at UW.
Pomona, California - After college, I moved there for work in 1988. It was close to my workplace, but I did not realize it was in the middle of gang country. The apartment was nice and new, but...
Rancho Cucamonga, CA - After six months in Pomona, this is where I moved to. Formerly, the town consisted mostly of vineyards. It was a growing community when I moved there. It's located in the foothills of San Gabriel mountains. I lived there for more than 6 years (1988 thru 1995).
Gresham, OR - A suburb of Portland. I lived there for about 5 years (1995 thru 1999). Portland is similar to Seattle, but without the congestion. It still has the small town feel. I enjoyed my time in the Portland area.
Seattle, WA - Moved back to Seattle in 1999 to live with my father after my mother passed away.
Green Zone, Baghdad, Iraq - I lived in the confines of the Green Zone my first two months in Iraq (Feb-Mar 2005). It was located in the heart of the city, where most of the former Iraqi regime's palaces and government buildings were located.
Camp Taji, Iraq - Located northwest of Baghdad, just outside the city. My Resident Office was located inside the base. The Resident Office served as the work area for 7-9 people. It also served as our living quarters. I was there for 9 months. (Apr 2005 - Dec 2005)
Eagle Base, Tuzla, Bosnia - Spent 18 memorable months in Bosnia (Jan 2006 - Jun 2007). I enjoyed my work and stay over there.
Wiesbaden, Germany - I was in Germany from Jul 2007 thru Feb 2010. I had a ball here. I took advantage of my stay here by exploring other parts of Germany and the rest of Europe every chance I got.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Moved here for a new job in mid-March 2010. I moved back to the US in March 2011.
Seattle, WA - Moved back to Seattle in March 2011.
Wiesbaden, Germany - Back again in Deutschland, in early May 2012