LET'S RUN

I love my team!  What a great group, and the actual name is "Let's Run for Solidarity".  Im not sure what we stand for?  I dont think its political, and there is not a keggar at each race.....I think it's about the smiles!    This Sundays race was in an old village (ok ok they are all old) about 20 minutes from Chieti.

We started from an old church, I think it was built around the year 1000....so yeah!! its old.  The we ran in the rolling foothills, it was warm, a bit humid to me and was 12 or 13 km in distance.  This race was the most scenic yet....very beautiful run.

There were about 500 runners, yes there was more bread and wine and pasta for all the runners and winners.  And there was some music, I love this traditional music where they stand around jamming... playing instruments Ive never seen.

I took some video...hope it turns out.  enjoy the pictures!  I will have my eye on training,  I felt I did well but I was 20th in my age group.  I want to wine some wine and cheese one because it will be fun and two because my girlfriend wont share with me.

Where Is Laturo Italy? I found it with some help and its Fascinating......

Saturday I found myself tagging along with a fun group of people who apparently had a goal of restoring a small abandoned village in the Mountains of Italy Near San Benedetto. The Place was called Laturo and the apparent leader of this group was called Federico, I like to call him Francisco to the annoyance a close friend. 

 First we woke up early again and drove about 90 kilometers up the coast then inland up up up some steep and winding roads. we went from sea level on the Adriatic coast to about 2500 ft in altitude in a very short time. The views were very cool but what strikes you of the view is the pockets and clusters of hilltop villages. 

 I found out that we would hike in about 4k to Laturo then clear trail around the Ghost Village. You can see from the photos the hike in and the state of the abandoned town. Federico and company have restored one small building , and have done an excellent job. I am jonesing to help out and learn some of this stone work. 

 The next big project for preserving and reviving this lost gem in the mountains of Italy was to restore the small one room church. Historically these churches served as an anchor to the villages, towns and cities in Italy. So bringing back the church is key to the soul of the project. We cleared trail with machetes and chainsaws, the work was not difficult and was beautiful and peaceful. we worked our was to "Tony's" place about 5 k away. 

 Tony raises bees and harvest other kind of sustainable and wild fruits, mushrooms and foodstuffs. I like meeting Tony not only because he opened up his mountain work station to us and gave us beer but he was very funny. I am not sure how funny Tony was but every one laughed, even me. We had a great little feast, salamis, breads, fresh raw Fave beans, home made beer and wine....and a lot of talking in Italian which meant a lot of hand waving and increased amplitude of conversation!! very fun to watch!! 

 It poured rain very hard on the way back, everyone got soaked, but it was warm rain....actually felt great! I got ahead of the group thinking of taking picture and lost in the visual orgasm taking place. I took a wrong turn and ended up in the brush cresting the wrong ridge. Sooo, back down I went and up the next ridge back to Laturo where non crisis was averted when some of the party though I may be in danger. there was a lack of understanding of my experience level in wilderness situations and the fact that the area around Laturo poses almost zero danger. Zero deadly snakes, no Grizzlies and low temps above 50, and we are golden!! 

 What a great day! I hope to go back and have the privilege of helping again. 

 enjoy the fotos!!

My First Italian Road Race

I have been accepted into a running club here that Ironically calls itself "Lets Run". I have the official race team shirt and some new friends. I had no clue what was being discussed at the last meeting but I was uplifted when I said goodbye "ciao" and they all laughed.

 well today I got to use my jersey and run in a local 10k. It was fun, the weather held, and my time was decent considering the course and my relaxed effort. 6k down hill then 4k back up....I was 26 minutes down (4.20 pace) and I finished around 52:00. 26 mins back up.

 I went to find Adele and she was at the very end. When I found her she was on the side of the road in the bushes, she saw me first and called for my help. My first thought were that she was sick of injured....but as I neared I could hear the noise of Kittens in the bushes as she told me she was trying to rescue "puppies" yes I know,its a learning english/italian thing...puppies /kittens, whos counting?? So we ran the last 3 kilometers carrying these 2, 3 day old little kittens. As we came to the race end, I could hear the announcer say "Senora Adele...bla bla bla (a bunch of Italian shit i didnt understand) Senora Adele, rescued kittens and ran to the finish with them". Someone had radioed ahead, so there was a curios group waiting and at that point people began to gather and take pictures and look and see. kinda cool! and yes they are sleeping in the chair next to me after a syringe feeding session.

 Enjoy the pictures!!

 PS. there is a picture of a guy in a yellow shirt flipping the camera off!! He sort of startled me with his effervescent attitude , coming up from behind me waving the universal symbol of peace and love. Im thinking fucking great who is telling people I’m American. My Canadian cover is blown, number one rule while traveling. Claim to be Canadien to avoid conflict…they are the most docile milk toast group on the planet. You cant ransom a Canadien!!?? Any how this fellow was not telling me what he thought of my countries politics. He was wanting me to tell a mutual friend Hello...that all! NON crisis averted.
So HELLO Rocco from your buddy in yellow shirt…..

Boca di Valle

Waking up for the Sunrise..........

Enjoy....

Pictures from my run today!! Fox news will make me healthy!! I was wrong it was CNN...watch J Stewart rip them an ASS! LOL

Oh sweet Jesus, Budda and Horus  Inspired by the events in Boston I was watching some news feed...I havent really seen much US news living in Europe.  WHAT the F%^K are these retards doing on the air??? holy shit it was sooo painfull....Is this what Americans listen to??  WOW??   where do these idiots come from??  so I went for a run!!

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Indecision Political Humor,The Daily Show on Facebook

Hiking in Italy...I found an Abandoned Haunted House..

Ok it only felt haunted....it made the hiking a lot more fun!

I discovered Hippies in Italy!!! and a weird toilet??

Spring Fever?  I can't say I have it yet! but, something is lulling me away from the work I should be doing, which is reading and writing a little more.  I have the guilty pleasure of feeling tranquil and at peace, I guess it is not that bad. 

I had an experience that I felt would be fun to share from this week end.  I went to what was described to me as an alternative energy event/fair.  Adele was part of organizing it, so of course I would go and participate and even help out if I could.  My help was not needed but the event was fun and had a crowd of really interesting people.  It was more crafts and food than featuring sustainable living or energy.  

I got to chat with some very kind, intelligent and well traveled people.  It is impressive to have a dialogue with Italians about world events, politics and such.  And it feels like most can speak at least 2 languages if not 3,4, or 5.   I took some pictures that give you a feel of the nice event by the sea, but my favorite is the one I took of myself in the Bathroom...it is a safe picture, I just had never encountered a toilet situation like this, and thanks to my goPro camera I was able to get a nice shot that shows the interesting layout!!

Beach and Snow...all in one day!

The Easter festivities here in Italy are finally over.  So it is back to my normal work with a few new interesting projects.  I am trying to recall what is interesting about living here in Abruzzo, some things stand out in an obvious way and others are just small details.  

First, I will describe my situation here a bit, as so much of life is measure contextually.  I am staying with my Friend Adele and her two dogs, Eva and Camilla.  There are also 4 cats which she calls them all by the name Cipolla (I think it means onion in Italian).  Cipollas 1,2,3 and 4 are cute and sweet but are curious and get into everything, they also play very rough, very entertaining.  I have woken in the nite more than once with this gang of 4 cats purring loudly nestled about my head and chest.

Adele lives in an old building that seems like it was converted into condos, she said it was an old palace.  It is situated at the top of this hill or small mountain that the town is built upon. The tiny streets that go through the town are all one way and are more like quaint alley ways from a movie.  At the bottom of the steep stone paved road we are on is some kind of old brick castle tower turret thingy, she claims was used in times of old to protect the village, I told her I want to live in it, she just laughs.  It is nice to have her to show me around and explain things, Adele is a local girl and she drives us around these streets in her little Fiat very fast, sometimes it feels like an amusement park ride.  I am always on edge slightly when riding along because they seem to like to follow the car in front of them from about 16 or 18 inches (ok I exaggerate a bit), it feels.

Yesterday we went around and did errands, bought bread (awesome and fantastic...YUM), fresh produce, hardware store, etc.,etc.,  I feel so at home.  Everywhere we go Adele introduces me as her American friend, she adds,  "he speaks very little Italian"......I smile, they smile and ask?  "when is he leaving?"  Just like visiting family! I think it was just a translation thing??   at least I hope!

Speaking of translation she told me Monday that we will take the guests that stayed downstairs and we will all go in the machine to the mountains.  I'm thinking "machine?"  but as I learned that is what they call Cars and automobiles here, machines (macchina).  

Monday was a very sunny nice day a holiday here when the family gets together and enjoys the out of doors.  They have a traditional Bbq of lamb "mutton" that is unique to the region.  They cook the meat on little skewers like kebobs on this weird contraption of a BBQ grill, the likes of which I have never seen.  Tasty!

We went out last week to a restaurant to eat, in Pescara the largest city of the Abruzzo region, with about 120k people.  The restaurant was on the beach and nice, the food (pizza) was awesome.  Adele explained to me the "rules" of making pizza, I dont remember them now but I get the impression they take the food and cooking very serious.  There are clearly some do's and dont's to follow.  The most novel aspect of dinner were the beverages.  Of course I wanted to try the beer,  but they bring it and serve it like they do a good wine. Even with the chill bucket, the way it is poured and the first sampling.  (and the price, about $18)

Adele is a great cook, she is a vegetarian so all our meals are creative, healthy, and have a traditional flare.  Impressed I am at the efficiency she can put together a complete fantastic meal, from scratch.  I have never seen anything like it.  I try to learn but I am often scolded for trying to help, mostly because I slow down the process.  The cooking for Adele at least doesn't feel like a chore or something done out of domestic drudgery, there is a high level of pride, skill and quality involved.   Something I rarely have seen in the US.  But, then again I was stuck living  the past 6 years in helicopter mom land where microwaving hot pockets for diner was considered a culinary delight and a nutritional success.

Adele explained to me that although the process seems fast it is not...that you cant rush the food,  it is more about efficiency.  And, she is right, she always has something being prepared a day or two ahead.  For example last nite she began the pizza making process, she was preparing what she called the "mother", it was the dough.  I asked her why she called it the mother and she explained that this was where the pizza begins, it is the start, its the mother.  She finished and put the mother to bed, covered next to the heater.  This morning as I woke up, she was preparing the sauce and some eggplant  while reading email and eating her own breakfast.

The area here in Abruzzo is so interesting to me, I have had a lot of time to myself, it is quiet and beautiful.  About every five miles is a tiny compact town or village situated on top of a hill or a small mountain, with the tell tale church tower standing above the rest.  In between are small vineyards and orchards (mostly olives), that create this quasi random like , organic feeling checkerboard effect that covers the hillsides and rolling terrain.  And behind it all about 40 kilometers to the west are snow covered mountains.  We visited the top of one on Monday with Paolo and Gabriel.  We were running on the sunny beach in the morning and playing in the snow in the afternoon.  The view from up top was amazing, I think I could see Croatia.

Enjoy the pictures