Fun in the Sun

Trip Start Aug 21, 2006

Trip End Dec 18, 2006

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Flag of Italy Monterroso, Italy
Tuesday, September 19, 2006

I arrived in Monterroso this afternoon. The train ride from Florence took me to Pisa where I changed trains to the Cinque Terre. Saw beautiful countryside with clouds settling against the bordering hills and mountains. Did not go into Pisa to see the leaning tower...you can only do so much eh? The train went through the mountains into and out of dark tunnels with glimpses of clear blue ocean here and there. The five mountain-coastal towns of the Cinque Terre are lovely and located close together so we quickly passed through the first four and then I disembarked at my destination. My hotel room wasn't ready so I headed out to enjoy some wine and bruschetta at the nearby outdoor restaurant. Lots of Americans, Germans and other European tourists here. The locals don't seem to speak quite as much English. I am attempting to speak more Italian or as I am calling it Spitalian (Spanish-Italian). The local fishing boats were bobbing in the ocean and there were a number of people enjoying the water and the beaches

01-View of the beach

. There are private as well as public beaches here. If you pay a few Euros, you get a chair and an umbrella. I will probably go that route tomorrow. After writing in my journal a bit, I headed back to the hotel to enjoy a short nap. I turned on the TV and found breaking news that there had been a coup attempt in Bangkok, Thailand! Between the current events in Bangkok and Sri Lanka I may be altering my itinerary...

Reading a very interesting book called the Orientalist about a Jewish author who passes himself off as a Muslim during the world war (please excuse my simplistic description, the book is actually much more complex). It boggles my mind how complex the history of the world is. There is a lot of talk about the Bolsheviks in Russia and the overthrow of the Czar. Having studied very little world history, it is difficult to follow all of the historical nuances presented. I am inspired to read more of Essad Bey's works and to better understand the history of the Middle East. There is reference to the Caucauses in the book which reminds me of a line by Chris Rock or a similar comedian...about the term caucasian and where it comes from. He jokes about how there isn't a country called 'Caucasia' so why are white people called Caucasians...well, perhaps there is a historical context to the terminolgy that escapes him...

02-On the way to the beach

The extreme response of the Islamic community over the Pope's quote is quite disappointing although not unexpected. Where are the moderate voices now when we need them? Also, in America, I hope that the voices of moderation will prevail and that we will not retreat to religious extremism. It is what makes our country great and what allows an incredibly diverse cultural and religious mix of people to live together in relative peace.

Anyway, I have decided so far on my travels the importance of moderation and the freedom to conduct your life and hold your ideals on your own terms...I wonder what that makes me - how would I be categorized within a historical context?

Well, back to my Italian gelatto and vino. Ciao!