I'm going to Italy and I'm going to miss the authenticity of Olive Garden

[vixengrl]

while I'm away. :evilgrin: (Will that get responses?)

Actually, I seriously am going to visit Reggio Calabria for three weeks starting mid-September, and I'm looking forward to eating tons of sardines and zucchini-flower fritters and frittata and baked zucchini and peas and pork and lots of rib-stickin' good Southern Italian food. And homemade wine and grappa--which is Italian for moonshine. I was there four years ago. Olive Garden--it's probably been ten years since I've been there. Never-ending salad, bread, pasta--my ass--

They (Olive Garden chain stores) are making you full on the cheap food and then you buy an entree you won't even eat, you take home, and then after it has been refrigerated and nuked, you still won't eat. Now, Southern Italy--you are going to eat!

I'm also looking forward to getting reacquainted with my husband's family, now that I probably understand a little more Italian. I still don't really speak it, but I think I can follow a conversation better since I have more words. I'll probably have to be reintroduced to everybody since I suck with names and everyone's four years older, but I think I'll have fun. I want to swim in the Mediterranean again--it's not Atlantic City beaches and the grey-green Atlantic. No--it's blue and dark like wine. And when I went then, it was the Sirrocco, and there were little snotty brown Medusas all over the place. Maybe I can swim without jellyfish this time.

It's funny, I look forward to going, even though I don't really speak the language and have to be led like a child, and it isn't like Rome or Venice, where it's touristy and there's stuff to see, and I'm not going to have air conditioning or screens, and I'm a target for mosquitos and a redhead so I burn like all-get-out.

But it's also home--because I met my other family there, and they were so cool, and I look forward to getting back in touch with them all, even if I don't always get what they're saying. They love me because I am my husband's wife and I make him happy and I try to talk, and if I get things wrong, they understand. I'm learning.

But I won't have computer access. Oh noes--no DU--no bloggage.

(Last time I went, Reagan died. I truly believe not having access to American tv at that time kept my head from exploding. Wish me luck!)

[QueenOfCalifornia]

1. Please....

do not breast feed in public is all I have to say....

(guess you would have had to be here for that.)

[The Doctor.]

2. Unless....

It's a kitten and you're a biker with booze.... or is it boobs?

[QueenOfCalifornia]

3. I was

tasing a pitbull.

[Kali]

4. oh man that sounds so wonderfull

that is the kind of travel I really prefer. The big city "must see" things are way down on my list. Staying with locals - especially in a rural area and becoming a part of village life - heaven!

And the Mediterranean really IS a different color isn't it? I haven't ever been to the Atlantic, but many places on the Pacific and of course Baja California - the Mediterranean is BLUE.

Have a great trip - I am sure you will!

[vixengrl]

8. I used to think when poets talked about the Mediterranean

as "wine-dark" or "Inky", they were exaggerating. Well, they aren't--it sure doesn't look like the Atlantic Ocean. Although the beaches are rocky--not nice clean, tourist-friendly sand like Ocean City has. I had to wrap my head around the idea of swimming in shoes

[NewJeffCT]

5. I think my parents are headed to Italy in September or October

as well. First trip to Europe for them ever. They're going on a tour for at least part of the trip, though.

[hippywife]

6. What a lovely trip you have

to look forward to. My great-grandparents came from there. I'll never get to see it, tho, so I am very jealous. Please soak up as much of it as you can for both of us. :hug:

[Redstone]

7. Though I have no Olive Garden animosity, I'm jealous. You're going to eat very well,

and I hope you enjoy not only the food part of your trip, but all the other parts as well.

Redstone