Subject:   [adventure!] Correzione

Date:   3/11/2004 10:31:52 AM

 

 

 

Hello everyone,

 

It's raining in Florence. This morning I went to the Duomo. Tomorrow

morning I'll wait in the not-too-long line to see the statue of David (of

'David and Goliath' fame) which is, ironically, huge (434 cms tall).

Perhaps I should read something about art appreciation before I go in

thinking something cynical.

 

I haven't written in a couple of weeks, partly because the internet is so

bloody expensive in France (and not much better in Italy) and partly because

my travels of late have included far less adventure and more beaches. Spent

4 pefect days in Nice. Visited a crazy artist squat on the advice of a

wonderful French girl who laughed and laughed when I explained that it is

illegal in Canada for women to go topless at the beach[1]. Not so in

France. Don't get too excited though guys. It's March here and the only

topless beachgoers are the people who clearly have been sunbathing topless

for a very long time.

 

I also tried to 'gamble' (donate) 40 euros in Montecarlo, but the fancy

casino charged 10 euros to get in and the slightly less fancy one wouldn't

let me coat-check my giant backpack[2]. But I did get to see some

fantastically rich (though not recognizable) people get out of their cars

and I took a picture of a 17000 euro ugly watch and an ad for a 3 bedroom

apartment for only 8500 euros per month! Thought about staying, but I'm

still using all the organs I would need to sell for rent money.

 

Before Florence I was in a place called CinqueTerre, which is a collection

of 5 towns on the coast connected by beautiful hiking trails. It's a

wonderful place where you can spend lots of money if you want, or stay in a

great hostel and eat crazy salads cheap cheap. There are actual signs there

with a picture of high heeled shoes with a line through it. Seems a little

excessive to actually warn people against wearing high heels, until you pass

your first fur-coated rich woman clippity-clopping along in stilettos. Oh,

those Italians got style.

 

And speaking of Italian style. The other day I sat down with a couple of

other travellers to have a capuccino and the guy asked if we wanted a little

'correzione', which is a careful correction of the apparently slightly

imperfect coffee, usually by adding whiskey or brandy. At home, my Italian

neighbour Sam Galli has his coffee with a correzione of sambucca. I thought

that was just his expression, but now that I know it is a common expression

here, I have started ordering all my capuccinos with a correzione of

sambucca. I will return to Canada a jittery, micro-alcoholic coffee snob.

 

Finally, I should add that although the adventures of the past few weeks

have been somewhat less silly (indeed, verging on the standardly luxurious)

I pledge to you, dear reader, to continue my search for the ridiculous with

renewed vigor.

 

Potential near-future destinations include, but are not limited to:

Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Iran, India, Nepal, Romania,

Hungary. Weather, solar flares, readings, emails, and the availability of

sambuca will play a role in this decision process. Language, common sense

and the available of hostels will not.

 

Thoughts? Advice? Recipes?

 

Ciao,

jay

 

 

[1] Though I don't know about this anymore, didn't that change in Ontario a

few years ago?

 

[2] When I came into the coat check area I was greeted by the first and only

rude French person that I encountered in France, who simply and firmly said

'no' (well, "non") to me immediately as I walked through the door and then

repeated the word a few more times as I walked away laughing.