Cowcycle

Spotted in Pordenone city center.

Shopping

Last night we went shopping in Pordenone. Marie bought me my Christmas present - a brown wool coat/overcoat with a removable vest. I love it.

I took some pics of storefronts, for those of you who enjoy fashion.


We also bought some chocolate at Peratoner, which is recognized by Slow Food.


This is one display window - all made of chocolate.


Another display window - a nativity in candy.


Some of their pastries.

Sorry,

but I'm taking 2 classes right now, along with work, sport, wife, and house.

Shopping

Saturday we went to Udine for some Christmas shopping. It's so much nicer to walk around the historic center, enjoying the beauty of the buildings and buying mulled wine and roasted chestnuts from street vendors, than to walk around a sterile, souless mall.

We came across a small gourmet shop with homemade cingale (wild boar) and rucola e ricotta (rocket and ricotta) fresh pastas. We bought some and I hope it's good, since 2 portions of each was €14.

Kaki

Kaki, or persimmons, were the first fruit to really take me by suprise in northern Italy. You see them, hanging on the leafless tree in the middle of winter, like some mutant orange.

The reason they hang ther far into winter is not through laziness. Kaki are divided into 2 types, Astringent and nonastringent. Astrigent types have high levels of tannins and must stay on the tree through several mild frosts in order to develop their flavor and edibility. This process is known as bletting.

As we have has several nights in the 20's over the last few nights, the kaki are ready. Earlier in the week my friend Fabbio asked me if I would like some. Little did I know he'd bring by an entire box of the fruit.

They still need to mature a little, then I can make some jam.

Victory

A Democratic Congress.

Rumsfeld gone.

Let's just hope some true, lasting change comes out of this.

American retail

During my trip to the States, people kept asking me about the cost of living in Europe. Apparently there are a lot of missconceptions about the differences. Here's what I noticed while shopping for clothes:

1) Clothes generally cost more in Italy, sometimes significantly. In general, I would say 30 to 40% more for seemingly (but not really) equivelent items.

2) Most boutique clothing sold in Italy is made in Italy. Almost everything in America is made in Asia.

3) Quality of these asian manufactured items is much, much, much lower. It is difficult to find natural fabrics, while Europeans mainly use cotton, wool and silk.

4) When you can find upscale boutiques in the States, costs are generally around 50 to 100% higher than the same items in Italy (and sometimes more).

5) Global name brand sports clothing and footwear cost 50% more in Italy. Period.

6) Italy is 1 year ahead of the rest of Europe in fashion. It is 2 to 3 years ahead of the States.

I like the Italian system more, especially considering the trade deficit with China.

Winter

Winter has finally arrived, with a low last night of 23° F (the temp shown is in Celsius).

It's nice to have a fire going, and the dry weather is forecast to last a while.

Friday, Nov 3
Partly sunny; chilly
High: 46° F
Low: 23° F
Saturday, Nov 4
Several hours of sunshine
High: 45° F
Low: 28° F
Sunday, Nov 5
Mainly cloudy
High: 51° F
Low: 37° F
Monday, Nov 6
Periods of clouds and sunshine
High: 53° F
Low: 36° F
Tuesday, Nov 7
Sunshine and patchy clouds
High: 57° F
Low: 35° F
Wednesday, Nov 8
Mostly sunny and pleasant
High: 60° F
Low: 39° F
Thursday, Nov 9
Partly sunny
High: 58° F
Low: 37° F
Friday, Nov 10
Mostly cloudy
High: 55° F
Low: 40° F
Saturday, Nov 11
Partly sunny
High: 49° F
Low: 42° F
Sunday, Nov 12
Sunshine
High: 52° F
Low: 37° F
Monday, Nov 13
Sunshine
High: 51° F
Low: 33° F
Tuesday, Nov 14
Mostly sunny
High: 53° F
Low: 29° F
Wednesday, Nov 15
Mostly sunny
High: 59° F
Low: 31° F
Thursday, Nov 16
Sunny
High: 55° F
Low: 32° F
Friday, Nov 17
Partly sunny
High: 52° F
Low: 38° F

Louisiana

My parents are selling their land and moving onto a golf course. It's best, considering the work required to maintain large acreage. Dad is cutting cypress off the property and having beams sawn for the new house. I was lucky enough to help him fall a few.

Zapps potato chips - the best in the world! Because they're packaged at sea level, the pressure change in an airplane will make the bag blow up.

Marie loved the crabs from Tony's seafood in Baton Rouge.

Truly one of a kind, Tony's offers all kinds of seafood, raw and cooked. When you order raw catfish they reach into the tank and grab a fish, knock its head on the counter, clean it and filet it.

Back

"It was wonderful to find America, but it would have been more wonderful to miss it"
- Mark Twain

The weather was amazing during our return flight, unlimited visibility. The French and Italian coasts were spectacular. St Tropez, Nice, and Monte Carlo gleamed in the sun. Next the Italian jewels of Genoa and Portofino. Turning inland, we crossed the northern tip of the Appennino mountains with their sprinkling of villages and entered the Po river valley. Soon we were over Ferrara, with the volcanic outcroppings of Montegrotto Terme visible to the north. Continuing East we looped around Venice before turning and starting our descent.

This is the point I realize just how much this place has become part of me. The Dolomiti Sinistri stand like a wall in front of us, and as we turn to the north I understand the barrier they truly are. Piancavallo and Zoncolan regain their mythic status, and I want to take the bike and climb them. Not tomorrow, or the next day, but NOW. Leave the terminal, dump the bags on the floor, and grab the bike. I know she misses me.

Now you can make out the cities and villages fringing the foothills, and I start naming them off to Marie like an excited child. Vittoria Veneto! Sarmede! The little borgi nesseled under Cansiglio! Caneva! Polcenigo! Mezzamonte! Budoia! And then we're on the ground.

Home.