Tea for Flu and Flu for Tea

My mildly sore throat has turned into a pesky flu. "Sick Days" just aren't as much fun when you are actually sick. But they are a good excuse to wear your most unattractive ensemble (today's includes mis-matched slouch socks, spandex pants and a side ponytail).

I just had a breakfast of champions-- Advil, Sudafed and hot tea. For lunch I might treat myself to some pasta with a side of Benadryl and and for dessert, some eucalyptus cough droups.

I'm not the only one who's down for the count. Lots of the kids are coughing and sneezing and, admitedly, I've been lazy about applying my Purell Hand Sanitizer, much to my Nana's disapproval.

Fellow American expat and teacher, Stephanie, is

also battling a sore throat. On Saturday we threw ourselves a pity party, complete with lentil soup, fair trade tea with honey and a feel good screening of Under the Tuscan Sun (it was between that and The Notebook, but we opted for the more uplifting of the two, seeing as neither of us have a "Noah" to speak of). We were both asleep before Diane Lane had even made her way across the Atlantic...

Major motivation to get well is is Friday's arrival of my two best friends from the U.S.! Yippee!

Life in Treviso: Is it anything like NYC?

My mal di gola (sore throat) has me cooped up in bed with lots of spare time on my hands. And so instead of the usual day-trip to Venice, I spent this Saturday afternoon comparing my old life in New York City with my new life in Treviso. Not surprisingly, I have a long list of differences. I'll summarize as I know it's nearing the hour of cena (dinner) and I wouldn't want to you to miss out on the antipasti!

In New York I...

• Drank Starbucks iced coffee or Chai


• Spoke only English


• Rode the Subway


• Worked in a fast-paced, high-rise office in Times Square


• Saw celebrities and an occasional crime scene on my morning commute


• Lived in a small but lively apartment in the heart of Greenwich Village with an R&B singer and budding fashion designer


• Feared pasta


• Did yoga and was a faithful gym-goer


• Visited my family on the weekends (who I dearly miss)


• Was surrounded by diversity and open-mindedness

In Treviso I...

• Drink ONLY italian coffee. I wonder if I'll ever be able to stomach the "dirty water" again
  
• Speak mostly Italian, some English, and some Itaglish...if you are an expat in Italy you know what I mean. Some of the most common Italglish phrases are: and stop (basta), it's the same (è uguale) and as you prefer (come vuoi)


• Ride a bright yellow mountain bike


• Work in, on average, five different schools a week with Italian children ranging from age 5-20


• See white bunnies, billy goats, old villas and grandmas riding bicycles on my morning commute
  
• Live in a 7-bedroom family-owned flat with 2 doctors, 1 Spanish opera singer, and 3 other mid-20's Italians.


• Cook pasta


• Rely on bike riding and a busy lifestyle to stay fit (so far so good)


• Visit Venice, Verona, Asolo, Padova and soon Barcelona on the weekends


• marvel at the signs of racism that still linger in the minds of the local people. But there is hope: http://www.trevisocittaperta.net/

So to answer my own question, Treviso is NOTHING like New York City. I've pretty much done a complete 180° lifestyle change. Perhaps that's why I am so satsfied? I'm totally out of my element, seeing and learning something new every day. And you'd be amazed what little white bunnies and bike-riding grannies do for the soul.

Yo Ho Yo Ho...A Pirate's Life For Me

I voyaged across Venice's savage seas one glistening afternoon in search of some rare pirate's booty - Murano's hand-blow glass.

The bow of the ship was packed with other treasure hunters, but I lucky snagged a seat on the stern, across from these two jolly mates. They seemed like old childhood friends and they had such playful banter, as many Italians do. I was captivated by them and kept staring at the one in the shrunken yellow beanie. It was as if I already knew him. Was he from Treviso? Was he the same man that I crashed into with my bike? And then it hit me...

He's Mr. Smee, Captain Hook's lovable right-hand man in Disney's Peter Pan! Of course! A real pirate only 20 minutes from home. Who would have thought?

Play on Words

WE INTERRUPT MY REGULARLY SCHEDULE RAMBLINGS TO BRING YOU BREAKING NEWS FROM THE STATES.




A dear friend and old Vh1 chum, Catherine, recieved a most creative wedding proposal by her long time boyfriend and funny man, Ian.




The proposal arrived in a big black box, parading as a "late birthday present." Inside was the ONYX edition of SCRABBLE (the only game Ian and Catherine play together) and written with tiles in the center of the board was, "Catherine, will you marry me?"

Of course, she said "YES!"

In my humble opinion, it's one of the best proposals I've ever seen. Anything but ordinary, not over-the-top cheesy, and perfectly thoughtful.

Bravo, Ian. Bravissimo!

Martedi Grasso (Fat Tuesday)

Staying true to my promise, I docked another 18 consecutive hours of feste in Venice, again, all with journalistic intent.

On "Fat Tuesday" morning my partner in crime, Steph, was still feeling the burn from our Saturday evening festivities so I was faced with a choice. Skip the biggest party at Carnival or take on Venice...ALONE! Of course, anyone who knows me knows my choice. I put on my black riding boots, loaded my pockets with the essentials (camera, mobile, and some Euros) and set out on what ended up being an 18-hour adventure that could only happen at Carnevale. Now, for the recap:

Top 8 Blog-Worthy Moments - Fat Tuesday, Venezia 2008

8. Playing hide and seek with le maschere around the columns of the Palazzo Ducale...

7. Drumming in excess...

6. Men in drag! The first I've seen since leaving New York City. Hubba Hubba!

5. Meeting Americans and gladly reverting back to American English!! Which, like, means like, saying "like" alot.

4. Drinking Vin Brulè for 2 Euro on the Rialto Bridge

3. Salsa dancing with men who actually know how to move their hips (not Americans)




2. Pitura Freska concert in Piazza San Marco...sung entirely in Venetian dialect. (my video won't upload so I pulled this from YouTube)...




1. The Nutella Fairy who left a snack pack on the seat next to me while I slept on the train! Truly magic!

This is Carnevale

I felt it my necessary duty as a travel blogger to dock as many hours as possible at Carnevale. Strictly for research purposes, of course. So after a serious 12-hour run this Saturday, I am now posed with the challenge of describing Carnevale in words. Almost impossible, but here is my best shot.

Close your eyes and imagine Halloween, Winter Music Conference, New Year's Eve, Mardi Gras Cirque du Soleil, and an 18th Century masquerade ball. Now roll them all into one big party and paint Venice as your backdrop. Add thousands of people all pulsing to the same drum beat as they dance through the narrow alleys and spill out into grand squares. Add endless bottles of red wine. Feel the mist of a light rain and hear dozens of foreign languages around you.
Open your eyes. This is Carnevale.

More serious journalistic reporting to come from Fat Tuesday. Stay tuned.