Like many I am still searching for the perfect way to spend New Year’s Eve. I’ve never been huge NYE celebrating type of person so it’s no biggie if I don’t find some spectacular fireworks display, but at the same time it’s always kind of nice. Last year I stayed nestled inside my apartment and the previous year I believe I was sitting on a beach in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica wishing I were somewhere else (long story). Well the Miami Herald offers a small sampling of what’s available across the states and even as far down and out as Australia, Italy and Costa Rica. Go figure. Nothing listed for Chicago so I’ll be moving onto the next list, but for those partying domestically in Key West, NYC, ATL or even Alabama check out their notes.
All Roads Lead to Rome
Czech couple from northeast of Prague, near Mlada Boleslav (home of the famed Skoda auto), decided they’d go for a walk…to Rome. The couple just reached their destination, completing the 1500 km (932 mile) trip entirely on foot.
The couple, the Koziskas, have three adult children, and the husband, an avid travel book reader, got the idea reading the story of a similar trek by Moravian priests last decade. Mrs. Koziskova, who works at the Skoda plant, suffers from back pain and wasn’t quite sure she’d make it. Further, they were forced to sleep outside a few times along the way, coming in close contact with some foraging wild boar and even a curious badger.
However, now she says, she “can’t imagine spending [their] next holiday lazing around.” Nothing like good travel writing to inspire a trip!
Word for the Travel Wise (11/26/06)
I’m going to continue riding on the idea that many of you went shopping this weekend and had a grand old time doing so. Perhaps some of you are overseas and found many good gifts to wrap and ship back home. I don’t know what your story is, but if you’re broke and out of cash then this phrase may also be for you…
Today’s word is an Italian word used in Italy:
sono al verde – I’m in the green. I’m broke.
Seeing how popular the language is there isn’t much difficulty finding learning resources on the web. I’m a little unsure about what’s going on with this June29 site, but they have three very simple lessons to get your learning motors going. You might find the BBC your one stop shop in handling your needs. Dictionaries, lessons, audio, and slang are all included. Distance learning is always recommended in my book. Check out some of these programs abroad where you can study in various cities across the country and even Lugano, Switzerland. A few links to study abroad are as follows: Amerispan, World Link Education, and ILUSS. Head over to this Italian Book Store for suggested text.
Past Italian words: qualcosa, dov’é, congratulazioni, un riccone/una riccona, sono strafelice
Skiing Three Countries in One Day
Should you ever feel the need to impress your friends with the number of places you have skied in your life (and not go bankrupt as a result of it) head over to Slovenia. If you settle in the town of Bovec, home of Kanin, the highest ski center in the Slovenian Alps, you can venture out to nearby ski resorts in the neighboring countries: Sella Nevea and Tarvisio in Italy, and at the Arnoldstein in Austria. If you get the 7-day pass, you get two free coupons for skiing in Italy and Austria. The altitude stretches above 2000 meters (6000 feet) and a day pass will set you back less than $20.
Of course, you can ski three countries in one day in Chamonix if you are lucky, too, but it is a lot more expensive (closer to $50/day) and a lot more pretentious.
Cruise Wedding to Destroy Quaint Town
“The place where Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes got married.”
By the end of today, this will be the way the small Italian town of Bracciano and its 15th-century Odescalchi Castle, will be forever described. If the townsfolk think otherwise, if they think they will ever maintain a reputation for anything else, they are sadly mistaken.
Hordes of tourists will now seek out their quaint, medieval gem, just an hour outside of Rome, and pay homage to this very strange matrimony. Traditional handicrafts will be replaced by Cruise memorabilia and tourists will lap up the stuff like parched dogs. Every store in town will claim that the Cruises visited and numerous restaurants will name dishes after the couple–Tom and Katie Risotto is already on the menu at one local eatery.
The townsfolk will initially love the increase in tourism and the subsequent revenue it will generate, but they will quickly learn to hate it. Tourists will continue arrive by the busloads and pester locals long after the couple is divorced–which, in my opinion, will be about six months from now.