Captain's Log, Stardate 54324.5:
Starfleet Command has directed the Enterprise to do a preliminary exploration of the territory, known to locals as "Italy" -- in advance of a full research team. Sensors report the atmosphere to be breathable, but are receiving confusing readings with regard to life forms. I am beaming down to the surface to personally undertake the advanced evaluation.
Captain's Log, Stardate 54324.8:
*crackle, crackle* pizza and *crackle, crackle* poor Welshy, he never stood *crackle, fizz, crackle* pizza, gelato, some crazy *crackle, crackle* they have a plan *hiss, crackle*
Captain's Log, Stardate 54324.9:
Command will be pleased to learn that we have successfully brought home the bacon. We're going to require some extra body bags however, as we ran into some serious "tribble."
A new nerdy high for me? Only time shall tell.
In other news, within the city of Florence, I was able to visit works by each and every TMNT. Being constantly warned about long queues (we all know how I loooove queues), I was careful in choosing what to visit. That being said, not one minute in Florence was spent waiting in line, for any reason whatsoever (woop woop). Spending less time sightseeing (which I still did a lot of), I spent extra energy trying to find the best pizza/gelato in town. I’m fairly certain I’ve found the best gelato in the world (a self selected combination of hazel nut, coffee, and dark chocolate), but the champion pizza has so far eluded me.
As far as sights go, Florence had the most impressive cathedral (Piaza del Duomo) exterior seen by my eyes to date. The adjacent Cupola (ummmm… large tower thing) next to the Duomo was decorated in the same fashion, which was mostly red/green/white marble stone. I climbed the Cupola, but not the Duomo, and was amused by all the fellow climbers around my age, who were swiftly defeated by the 400ish stairs (pfffft, I could climb 400 stairs in my sleep). Being completely spoiled by St.Peter’s Basilica in Rome, it has become very hard for a cathedral to impress me. The Duomo may look spectacular from the outside, but there was very little visual stimulation within its walls, save the large Pantheon-style painted dome.
One of my favorite sights in Florence was Ponte Vecchio, which is the only pre-war bridge still standing. The neat thing about the Vecchio is how it is completely covered in gold smith and gold jewelry shops (to the point where I couldn’t even tell whether or not I was on the bridge at all, until I had crossed it). Just north was a massive, medieval style castle/museum, with an external display of sculptures depicting gruesome beheadings, beatings, and general killings of the sort. It’s O.K. though, Medusa had it coming.
A day trip from Florence took me to Pisa, where I obviously took in the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and surrounding area (which was extremely impressive visually, yet unheard of). I didn’t climb the tower (that’s a first), because I don’t appreciate being ripped off. I justified my decision given how the only sight in Pisa was the tower; so climbing it would only give me a fantastic view of—nothing. That, and I’m getting poorer by the day. It’s kind of like life that way. I consume money slowly, day by day. When my day comes, and there is no more money, I simply perish. That being said, my current life plan is to live forever—so far so good.
The next day found me in Naples, which is a dirty dirty city. Not only that, but next to my (spectacularly well located) hostel was remains of what appeared to be an exploded/incinerated car. Welcome to Mafia town! I didn’t spend ANY time in downtown Naples, but what I did do was partake in a day trip to nearby Pompeii, with some people from the hostel (Andrea-AUS, Shannon-AUS, Adam-CAN), who were hilarious. The ruins of Pompeii were incredibly vast, and it took us nearly six hours to see the majority of the highlights. Most of the area was ruins, but there were a few semi preserved houses, and the occasional cast replica of a once-covered-in-lava-person. The nearby Mt. Vesuvious is the only volcano I can recall seeing in my lifetime (I was too young to remember the others), and is a scary sight. Pompeii was an old Roman city, and is/was well preserved for nearly 2000 years, at the expense of poor (oh so very poor) crispy humans. Of all the ways to die, I think being consumed by melted rock would be high on the “this sucks” rating chart.
Oh, and something completely random that made me laugh.
So true, so true.
Kyle-captain'ing-out
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4 comments:
Hello.
I hope the flood waters have receeded from St Mark's square.
I really wanted to go to Pompeii in 1972, but I had very little time (30 days for all of Europe - which is approximately the time you have left). I had to decide between Pompeii and Venice and Venice won out.
I really enjoyed it except for the rude people climbing out of the sewer grates.
As I recall, Pompeii was first covered with ash. Being smothered in scorching ash would also be near the bottom of my "Preferred Ways to Die" list.
No Gelato weather here. Plenty of iciness right out the door.
I'm heading on the road tomorrow to Leask, so I'm sure you're envious of me. After that is the 3 day Children's Expo where I will be photographing endless preschoolers in my On the Farm scene(for free). I know you'll be green with envy!
Better head home. Loverne, Wendy and I are heading out at 6:45am. (Yes, there is a 6:45AM! Please try to control your jealousy.
Love, Mom
I would REALLY like to mock you for being a super nerd, but considering I have actually debated whether Data from Next Gen or the Hologram Doctor from Voyager was a better character, I just don't feel it is right.
I am sooooooooooooo jealous. I want to go to Pompeii!!!!
And you couldn't have found the best gelato in the world because I already found it. It is in some random coridor in Venice that you can only find while lost and then will never find again. Sigh.
Ok well keep writing. I need distraction.
Your Data-is-SO-much-better-than-the-hologram-doctor-sister, Laurena
Nerdy kids make me happy.
Love, your Geeky Mom
Holy Canon, Batman! Every shot looks like a postcard!
That's one hard working little camera, so give it a pat on the back - it's doing a great job (especially the zoom lens).
I love all your new shots. It must have taken a whole day to get them all loaded and comments added. I had a quick look, and will soon go home, make a nice pot of tea and have another, slower, look.
My Thursday in Leask was fine, except for the 6:45 departure thing. On Wednesday night Ryan asked to borrow my van to go out for coffee. At 6:30 the next morning I went out to start it up, and my van wasn't there. It had all my equipment in it, Loverne and Wendy were going to be arriving momentarily, and my blood pressure was going throught the roof. If he wasn't lying dead in a morgue somewhere, I WOULD KILL HIM!! Fortunately, he did arrive about 5 minutes later, preventing a lot of bloodshed. I was wide awake by this time and hardly needed the Timmies stop on the way out - but did anyway.
Got back around 7ish, unloaded the van and started preparing for the Family Expo. Next morning dad, MaryAnn and I headed off to Prairieland Park to set up my display. In addition to the usual mountain of stuff, I also set up a complete "On the Farm" studio set -bales, fence, horsie, cowboy hats and every stuffed animal I own. Just got done in time to start shooting 5 - 9.
Today, Saturday, I was at the Expo 10 - 4 and then came to the studio to shoot families, 4:30 - 9.
Tomorrow, I start the day with Mr Urmson and the Lietenant Governor. There is a brunch for recipients of Corrections Canada Service Awards, and then I am taking pictures of everyone receiving their awards, plus a group photo. This will be my weekend break, because when I'm finished I'm back with the kids until 5. Then pack up and unload. I was hoping to watch the Academy Awards, but I might sleep through them.
So Adios, Pardner
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