Arkham Square

As you read in the last post, during the last seven days I had in Rome two American friends of mine.
I wrote only 'bout the first days, but the other days we had really a funny time (well, at least me, Lyndell seemed more tired than amused....pooooor Bun!): we had a visit 'round in Rome...we visited the most important monuments and places in the Eternal City, and also some of the less famous and known by tourists.
For example we visited the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill and the Colosseo, or San Pietro and the Dome, it was my first time over there....552 steps and Lyndell said that I was tryin' to kill'em! ^____^''' While he was recoverin' his breath, Ruru was lookin' the amazin' view from the top of the Holy See, 100 m above Rome.
Then we visited...mmmh....well, from the Circo Massimo to Ara Pacis: all the main touristic locations in Rome, as the hyper-crowded Fontana di Trevi, Piazza di Spagna, Trinità dei Monti (to me, nicer outside than inside), the Pincio, Piazza del Popolo, Ara Pacis...that day there was also David, with us, my best friend...
On saturday we had a trip at Ostia Antica, the amazin' ancient roman town, the second most important site in Italy after Pompeii: in effect Ostia is something really incredible, it seems really a modern town, I'd be really curious to live a day in ancient Ostia....sigh....
Well, a part this, Ruru tried also italian coffee in a bar: I can't describe to you her face after she drunk it!!! Too funny, she seemed as she was punched in the stomach!!! Poor Ru'!
On monday, the last day, they came to my house for lunch, really a nice time also for my parents, who were really happy to know those americans...and finally a rapid visit to all the most important panoramic terraces in Rome: the Oranges' Gardens, the Gianicolo and the Monte Mario....really amazing!
They left on thursday, early in the mornin' (actually too early...I was really sleepy....)....how sad....they left....well, Lyndell maybe had really homesick...I wonder if Ru resisted 11 hours without cigarettes.........uhuhuhuh....
Well, I hope they had funny and a nice time here in Rome...
The next year, probably I'll go to Benton with David!!! Ghghghghghghgh, I want to see a racoon! and David wants to visit a typical little american town like Benton...we'll see!
In the meanwhile, I trained a little my english....and my dad too...
Ciao a tutti!!!
Greetin' from Rome, Italy!!!!

Greeeeat news!!! Finally Ruru, my dear Y.T. friend, landed in Rome, just this mornin'!!!
Poor them, she and her hubby Lyndell had an eleven hours flight...we can add to this the jet-lag effect (when here it's 11.00 PM, in Benton, Illinois, it's 07.00 AM or something similar), so I found them a little tired!
I went with my dad to take them at the airport in order to accompain them to their hotel near piazzale Clodio, so for the first time I heard my father speakin' in English! O.o it was really strange, he's quite good, only he has the typical italian accent! Well, just to answer to the question "who are them???".
She's Rhonda, a.k.a. Ruru, and he's Lyndell, her hubby: they're from Benton, a little town in Southern Illinois, and this is the first Ruru trip abroad United States (yeah, as first flight she chose a really "short" one! ^____^ ).
So when I knew they'd come to Rome, I said "I can't allow you to have organized guided tours!!! I'll accompain you!"...so today we had the first "little" walk in Rome: San Pietro, Castel Sant'Angelo (only the outside), Palazzaccio, Piazza Navona, Sant'Andrea, San Luigi dei Francesi (they couldn't miss the three Caravaggio's paintings!), Pantheon, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Tor Argentina (Ruru remained 10 minutes to watch the cats lickin' themselves), Ghetto, Isola Tiberina and Trastevere, where we had a dinner...with my dad, my mum, my sister Chiara...they were so curious to know my American friends, and vice versa!
During the dinner me and my sister had also to translate what my mum wanted to tell to Ru or Lyndell, while my dad tried to speak by himself: a really funny evening, we taught them how to eat spaghetti ('cos usually they cut them with the fork, instead of rollin' them on the fork), we tried to understand what was the drink Ru ordered (not the margarita 'cos they couldn't prepare it: out-of-tequila!)....and we spoke 'bout various things...
But since Lyndell was nearly to fall down by sleep (well, I made them walkin' for 8 km, 5 miles, after the flight and all), so we accompained them to the hotel...I'm leavin' them free 'till tomorrow in the afternoon, when we'll visit the Roman Forum area...goooooo night to all!!!
See ya later, alligator!!!!

I decided to use English...I suppose I have more not-italian readers than italian ones....
Well...I wannot annoy anyone tellin' what I did in the last two weeks...
Simply: during the first one I was in Abruzzo (in Navelli, the saffron-capital-village) at 7-Days in Nature, the camp by New Akropolis in which everyone can try to taste the wonderful Abruzzese natural landscape, the traditions and the importance of Earth's envinroment....
In detail: I was busy with kitchen-shift for two days (meeeen, cookin' seafood is really disgusting!), makin' meals for 'bout 120 people... all was good and nobody died by diarrhoea. Me and Alex acted like two madmen, fightin' with giant wooden spoons (scenes better than the ones from Pirates of the Caribbeans!!): I had also my eternal cowboy hat, everytime and everywhere, also durin' the final excursion...
Yeah, the final excursion...I died by heat! We visited the ruins of a medieval castle, San Domenico hermitage, and two cute churces in Pescara's Province: well, although the clouds, the day was terrifyin' hot! Fortunatly I had the hat and I could wave it to refresh me. But the landscape was so great! Mountains remember to me Bavarian Alps...but castles and ruins are less "romantic" than bavarian ones...Abruzzeses are more severe and rugged.
Than....other things? Ah, yeah! I was also at Rocca Calascio, a medieval watch-tower (1500 m. above sea-level), isolated on a peak: I was there to fire-watchin' (in summer pyromaniacs are really active...but luckily not this year!), and between a look and a watching, I did also a little tour for visitors, from every part of the World (there is also someone from New Hampshire, one from Heildelberg, from Poland, from Italy, from England...). I also did the guide in English for a young Polish (or Cezka) tourist...I tried to explain to him the plot of Lady Hawk, the famous movie...but he didn't know it.
Strange: in Italy is famous. Anyway...some scenes of Lady Hawk are set in Rocca Calascio. Just a curiosity.
And in the near Campo Imperatore were set movies like Krull, Conan the Barbarians or spaghetti-westerns...
Well...I knew a lot of new friends, both from the association and other guys, like for example Marco....Andrea had is second archaeological camp, this year! They found an ancient coin at San Pio delle Camere castle during archaeological esercitations.
There is a last notable thing...me and some other friends, Giacomo, Andrea and Samuel, played Y.M.C.A. from Village People! The result was incredibly exilarant, I'm happy we made people havin' fun...it's one of my skills...makin' people havin' fun...
And in fact I did it also in my second week...
This time I was in Sicily, near Syracuse, in another camp from New Akropolis: Operazione Nettuno (Operation: Neptune). This is an useful service for the bathers on the beach: in case they have an accident on beach-rocks or a too near meetin' with a jellyfish, we are ready to help them. Addin' to it, my favourite activity: A.I.B., aka Volunteer Firefighting!
Do you know that arseholes' mother has always diarrhoea? Well, Sicily is full of arseholes who cause 'bout three fires for day! It's a true plague!
So we volunteers work with firemen and other volunteers from other associations in order to limit damages. I had three fires to fight, in one there is also a scared dog tied in a sort of farm...fortunately it was saved...I didn't notice there was also a journalist who made me a photos while firefightin'...I noticed it only the day after when I watch myself on the Sicilia newspaper...gh!
Anyway...I bathed a lot in that wonderful sea! Colorful sea! I love it! Unfortunately this year I rarely bathed with other friends, so I was a little bored, watchin' alone those little fishes, cute cute at first, really bastard when they begin to bite you on your wounds! We have similar fishes in Ostia, but ours don't bite!!! O.o
I knew also a lot of new friends from Sicilian New Akropolis, new and old friends...we had a lot of fun!!!
Well....two weeks...I'm so sorry to leave my friends for a year ('til the next two camps), but...I'm a little happy to be back at home in Rome... my nice water, my nice WC, my nice bed and my nice....works for university!!! Sigh!
After fun, work! Don't be lazy, Andrea! Fight exams, fires are more difficult and scary! (I'm tryin' to convince myself 'bout it!)
Ciao ciao tooooo all!!!!!!!!
Seya later, alligator!!!

First Day!
Hallo! I'm just in Munich, Bayern! I'm freeloading Martin's internet connection, while he's rolling on the sofa inside one of that german things which seem futon, and he's watching a sort of bavarian MTV...
Well, quickly: my leaving was perfect, except for the check-in, where they made me undressing to pass through the metal detector (my belt and my cowboy boots made it sounding)...my flight was wonderful, I saw a lot of things...Orbetello, Elba Isle, Florence, Pisa, the Po river, Bologna, Verona, the Lago di Garda, the Alps...tooooo moving!!!
And then, my landing in Munich! A surreal scenery: great and clean spaces, like in Fiumicino, but...here there was a freezing silence and there weren't very few people! Probably I arrived in the only day in which Munich Airport wasn't the second busiest one in Germany!!! Anyway, Martin really came from London dressed with the typical bavarian Lederhosen!!!! So  cute!!!
Well...here I'm good, it isn't hot and since I was arrived, a shy sun (the weather seems the one there is in Rome in January!) came out from clouds: this evening Martin asked me if I wanted to go with him for a "little" walk in Munich...a little anticipation of my tour of tomorrow...the Rathaus, the Maximilianeum, the Cathedral, the Hofbrau....cooooool!
Munich is so nice and pitoresque....
Servus to all!!!!

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Second Day!!!
Today Martin showed me a lot of Munich places!
We started at Maximilianeum, the Bavarian Parliament, a really great building, build by King Maximilian, who made also the urbanistic plan of Nineteenth Century Munich: then, passed the double bridge over the Isar river, we went to the British Gardens, probably one of the biggest park in the World after Central Park and Hyde Park. British Gardens are famous (or infamous) 'cos people usually sunbathin' here completely naked! (it isn't illegal, in Bayern, I suppose)...in the (vaste) area there are also Japanese tea house, the Chinese pagoda and the Monopteros, a little circular temple with a typical italo-bavarian wedding fest inclused! Uff, Italians are everywhere, like rats!!!
Then we saw the Pillar of the Peace, Villa Stock with a replica of roman Capitoline Shewolf (without Romolo and Remo)...
We continued visiting other interesting buildings, for example the only one which wasn't bom...
>> A little precisation: in Munich, between 1939 and 1945, absolutely nothing happened...they're all on vacation...so nobody can understand why Munich buildings felt down so suddendly! ^_____^ Martin explained me that the few things linked with that event-that-actually-never-existed are quite hidden from tourists and sometime also from Munichans!
Well, the explanation is simple....Bavarians are really proud people, and they didn't want the Nazism imposed by a certain German dwarf with little mustaches...(no, not Berlusconi...he hasn't mustaches!). <<
Anyway, after the sightseeing of the reconstruction of government palace and the temple of Diana and the Royal Palace, me and Martin walked through other streets and squares of Munich, the Triumph Arc, the University (where Martin and Steff study), the Starbucks where Steff live half of his days, the Bavarian University Library, where only D.O.C. Bavarians are allowed to access...churches, XIX Century replicas of Florence's buildings (Loggia de' Lanzi and Palazzo Pitti)....the pity and unlucky Opera (which was rebuild a lot of times)...and then, we had lunch in the brewery...AT 10:45!!! At that time usually I have breakfast!!!! ghghghghghgh...
Well, we ate at the Hofbrau Haus, the most famous brewery in Munich! I drunk my first beer (lace with lemonada) in Munich and I saw a very cute Bavarian girl who was selling delicious breznels (I love them).
In Munich there are a lot of fountains, but with "undrinkable" water...sigh...what a waste! In Rome we have a lot of fountains which thirsty people can use! Anyway, I was so desperate that I drunk from a fountain in the market square: Martin was laughing disgusted, 'cos people around were lookin' at me really shocked!!!
Then we visited the crazy Funf Hofe, the great and wonderful Neue Rathaus, Saint Michael, Bavarian Kings' tombs, the Cathedral, the gigantic place where they're organizin' the Oktober Fest, the Monument to Bavaria (the goddess): I entered in her head, like for Miss Liberty, but she's smaller, so I died by heat and small spaces.. and fortunately I'm not claustrophobic!!! ghghghghgh
Other two neo-greek museums in Kronig-Platz, a pinacoteke...and finally at home!!!
Well, not for so much time: just a little rest and I went alone in the city center to find the main centre in Germany of the association New Akropolis, of which I'm member...so, a long walk to find the street, the underground, the stupid 19 tram which changed its route suddendly...
Uhuhuhuh, a really fuuuuuuuuull day!!!!

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Third Day!!!!
We got up early, tomorrow...(like the other days...)...to run like our butts on fire to catch the train ro Regensburg!!!
Well, it's uncorrect: first of all we went to the Walhalla!!! No, I'm not drunk! I really visited the Walhalla!!! I know, at first I said "no, I'm too young to see the Walhalla!" but then I found that this strange monument it's a romantic (so "kitsch") neo-greek temple build by the King of Bayern and filled of busts of important germanic people: Gutemberg, Einstein, that Radetzky who fought against Italians during the Independence Wars, Hayd, Wagner, Keppler, and so on...
The Walhalla is so kitsch as nice! The scenery and the panorama is really wonderful, but the temple was in restoring, so I don't have so much photos... Martin took a lot of photos of the statue of Maximilian I....mah..Bavarians really love their kings...
Then, after the Walhalla, Regensburg! In Regensburg actually nothing happened during the...ehm...SeconCOUGH COUGH World COFF COFFwar, 'cos it was one of the few cities to be unbombed, so it maintains its ancient good look.
In effetti Regensburg it's a really nice city, with a wonderful gothic cathedral in french style, too nice to be real! I adore gothic! Unfortunately for Martinc, 'cos I remained inside the church for a long time, to take photos and videos!!!
I discovered that Martin was really pissed off that day! Well...so he looks simply like the other days!!!! ghghghghghgh
But I don't want to discuss 'bout the coldness of Bavarians (which sometimes scared me really!)...
Anyway, a little walk in town and then at the commercial center of Regensburg train station, where there was the Kaufland!!!! sigh, how many memories...when I was in Tubingen...the best experience in my life!....well....back to Regensburg...leaving to Munich: I slept as in the outward journey, so Steffan was mad with me 'cos I didn't see the Bavarian countryside...ooooh, men! I missed the Bavarian countryside!!! what a shame!!! anyway...when one is so sleepy, have to sleep!!! unfortunately I snored....stupid asthma!
Anyway, I changed my dress at Munich station (changing them completely: lenses, shirt, boots...) to be ready for the concert!
But after that, a visit to the neeeew BMW Welt! It was unbelievable, I can't describe the building, it's so wonderful!!! I'll post some photos...
Then, finally, Martin abandoned me (probably he couldn't stand me anymore!) at the concert...he had another concert to see, so I went alone through the amazing Olympic Park, to the Party Stage....it was incredible! Cowboys and cowgirls everywhere! The Boss Hoss were too cooooooool!!!! I love their music and their exaggerated style!!!!
Unfortunately, I was alone....sigh...what a shame....a couple, hubby and wife, took a liking to me, so he asked me if I was American...when he knew I'm Italian he was happy...well, to Munichans if you're American or Italian (or an Italian cowboy), you're the top! How cute....if you aren't Italian or American, you can also die and nobody help you! How funny, eh?....
Anyway...after the concert, the fireworks show! 40 MINUTES OF FIREWORKS, LASERS, MUSIC, FLAMES AND EMOTIONS!!! Unbelievable! Too fantastic!!! Too wonderful!! I want to go once again the next year!!! I want to see them another time!!!!
Well, now...go to sleep, tomorrow we'll go to Schloss Neuschwanstein!!!

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ARGH, my feet-blisters are unbearable painful!!! I had to walk slowly, all these days....(and Martin always runned as he'd be alone!!!)
Fortunately, during the trip to Schloss Neuschwanstein, I felt less pain, but I sweated a lot....too hot and wet!!! It seemed to be in a laundry!!!
Well, the castle was so wonderful! It was build by that crazy (but with style) Ludwig II of Bayern, in the 1880's: it's the most kitsch thing I ever saw, it's really the castle of fairy-tales!!! And the scenery is sooooooo suggestive!!!
I made a video of the roadtrip through Bavarian delicious countryside...the link is   http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=hPKJaeZwSY8
I can't tell so much things, 'cos it'd be as describin' a picture! Too boring...
Tomorrow I'll leave to Rome....so Martin will be free!

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Well, I'm writin' this post while I'm waitin' to board on the plane to Rome...sigh, I'm so sad...it's normal...leavin' a place in which you stay good is always sad...
Anyway, in the mornin' I had the last walk in Munich....I had my cowboy boots (and my hat), so my blisters left me relatively free...and in fact I was able to walk near Martin (and not behind him!).
Steffan though that I was disappointed 'cos I drunk only a beer with lemonade at HB...both he and Martin were afraid I could be shocked, 'cos I'm not a great beer-drinker....but actually the day of the concert I drunk a good Paulaner, so....
Anyway, I drunk my third beer, a Schneider Weisse, darker and stronger than a Paulaner....
The last visit at Saint Peter and at the gigantic mechanic clock of the Rathaus, with a lot of moving puppets...for the joy of the tourists!
While Martin was accompanyin' me to the airport, he made a detour to the new university of Munich...a wonderful and modern place in the nowhere, full of gardens, open spaces, lakes, alleys...similar to a kindergarten!!!! Our university in Rome are more spartan! There are only rooms and classes, you come in at 8 AM and go away at 8 PM....while the professors whip you 'cos "you're nothin' than a toad's shit!!! A number!!!"....woah!!! It's cool! ghghghghgh
And we don't have soooo much holidays...we have holydays! holy 'cos we have only a months or less of vacation....the restant part of year....lessons and exams...
Anyway, we went to airport...and...sigh....I hate farewells, so I told him I'd be come to Munich another time the next year....I dunno if he though it was a promise or a threat!!! Poor Martin, he had to stand me all the time...well...I hadn't problems...a part runnin' behind him jodellin' 'cos my blisters hurting like hell! I was more worry for the Bavarians attitude to other people...it's so...well....cold...unfriendly....mah....maybe I'm too Roman...I suppose the problem is mine!!! ghghghghgh!!!
Well...it's time to return to Rome, sigh!!!! Chaos, traffic, smog, tourists, noise....exactly as in Munich!!! ^_____^ but here is incredibly hotter! Argh...I can't breathe!!! Sigh
Auf wiedersehen to all!!!

Ps. I dunno how could I thank Martin ('cos he stand me and guested me) and Steff (who convinced me to have the trip to Munich...and he cured all my tour...)
DANKE SCHON TO YOU!!!

Sto a Roma e si sente...fa un caldo bestiale: quando sono uscito dall'aeroporto, ieri sera, mi è mancato il respiro! Sembrava di stare in sauna!!! Sono arrivato alla stazione dei treni sudato come un suino!
Comunque....sto riordinando le mie cosine...i miei "souvenir" (cioè la roba che ho raccattato in giro per Monaco: depliant, sottobicchieri, mappe...)....la lacrimuccia.....uff, so' stato veramente bene!
Ora mi concentro sulla produzione dei video promessi!!!

Oggi siamo stati a Schloss Neuschwanstein, credo il castello più famoso del mondo!
Costruito da quel pazzo (ma con stile) di Ludwig, re di Baviera, negli anni '80 del 1800, è credo la cosa più kitsch e bella che si possa vedere in un paesaggio così suggestivo! E' veramente il castello delle fiabe....
Purtroppo non ho molto da dire, perchè sarebbe come descrivere un dipinto...sarebbe veramente noioso! Vedrete le foto, non vi preoccupate!!!
Domani si torna a Roma!!!
Così libero Martin!!! ^_____^