All around the world

Leggi in italiano qui.

A friend suggested I make a list of all the places I’ve been so far in my life. I thought it might be interesting, so here goes.

Another friend suggested uploading a map to show where I am/have been/am going – I’d love to do that but I lack the technical know-how (or the time to gain it) to do it. So if anyone wants to help me with that, please let me know!

 

Italy – country of my birth where I spent the first 18/19 years of my life.

UK – the country I call home. Mainly London, with jaunts in Scotland, the West Country and Leicester. Never been to Wales, can you believe that?!?!? I must rectify this ASAP.

USA – This was the first time I went abroad, ever, at age 16. New York had been my dream for years and years, so much so that going there felt like being in a movie… I have been back many times since, more than I can count. I have been to the East coast and the West coast, a little bit in the “midwest” (hello Ohio!) but it is such a big place that I feel like I’m only now scratching the surface. More trips needed. Plus some of my dearest friends ever live there so…

Ireland – if you live in the UK you MUST go to Ireland. Having said that I’ve only really visited Dublin… still… I checked “drinking a Guinness in Dublin”  off my bucket list. The Irish remind me a lot of the Italians, btw.

Portugal – only Lisbon and surrounding areas. Beautiful sunny weekend. Highly recommend it.

Spain – Madrid (cool) and Lanzarote in the Canaries (which tbh it’s like another country, however officially it IS in Spain). Loved, loved, loved the Canaries, I will definitely be back, especially in Lanzarote, due to its volcanic landscape and the amazing architecture of Cesar Manrique.

France – Paris (many times, both for work and pleasure) and the Aveyron region. Need to do more. This wish is tempered by my innate dislike of French speakers and by the fact that I never fell in love with Paris, which many people seem to do. But thumbs up for some (only some) of the food.

Switzerland – in my old days of working for an airline, we got taken to Zurich for the day. Not much else to say.

Austria – Only really crossed into it while skiing in the Alps.

Germany – I’ve only been to Munich. Beautiful city, and I visited Dachau, which was very emotional. Berlin is beckoning me and I will need to go very soon.

Greece – Had a fab holiday there with a very good friend. Athens is beautiful but also crazy. And Greek food was a big disappointment. But I’m willing to give it another try! Some things of Greece remind me too much of Italy…

Belgium – Ah Belgium, one of my first loves. Being totally crazy for the bands dEUS and Zita Swoon, and having become friends with some of their members eons ago, I made my way to the lovely Antwerp for secret gigs and general shenanigans. I liked it so much I went back 10 times in the space of a couple of years. I could live there if I were happy to become an alcoholic… 🙂 The people of Antwerp are amongst the nicest I have ever encountered in my life, and their chocolate truffles are second to none! Cherry beer also rocked, and photography museums. I must go back, soon. On the other hand, Brussels left me underwhelmed. I guess I need a good guide.

Netherlands – The rain. Oh, the rain in July! But the people are so nice! Wageningen was interesting. Amsterdam more so. It’s on the slate as one of the other (very few) places where I *think* I might live if I ever decided to leave London. Food for thought. Also, my lovely co-writer is from the Netherlands, and I think that says a lot. And how can I forget that it is one of the countries with the tallest people on earth? I feel right at home!

Norway – I’ve only been to Stavanger to visit friends. Liked it. But prices for everything are just astronomical so further exploration is hampered (for now).

Sweden – I went to Stockholm with the sistah last year. We had great weather, a crazy Airbnb host, and a blast. Sistah now lives there, so I will need to return sooner rather than later. I really liked it, it has a great vibe.

Former Yugoslavia – Apparently my parents took me there before I was even one – this was in Croatia, for a beach holiday. I would have thought this would signal a series of foreign holidays with the family, but that was the first and only time abroad. Sadface. No wonder I’ve been trying to make up for it ever since.

Morocco – My friend A. and I wanted to see what Marrakech was like to then maybe return and do more Morocco. She flew from Italy and I from London, and we met at a lovely riad. We loved Marrakech, the men’s attentions a bit less. Jardins Majorelle was my favourite location. Beautiful (I seem to fall in love with these outstanding homes around the world – strange, huh?). I definitely want to do more.

Egypt – Only flew through it, so doesn’t really count.

Jordan – Intoxicatingly beautiful and with lovely, warm people. I felt (and apparently looked!) at home there. Petra is probably the most amazing place I have ever been. Hurry up, the wind is eroding it!

Israel – Land of some very good friends. Beautiful, with amazing food. Strangely welcoming in some respects, and the opposite of that in others. Life in Tel Aviv is good and you almost forget you’re in a country that is permanently “at war”. Jerusalem is incredible and every place, every name evokes something dormant in my “non-catholic raised in a catholic land” brain.

Dubai – The only place in the world where I had a few bad experiences. I decided to visit for a few days en route to Thailand once. Let’s just say that for a woman alone and without a car, Dubai is not really welcoming… go with someone, in a group or hire a car, then you will be safe.

Malaysia – Interesting, weird place. Very westernised (they love their Christmas decorations and Starbucks!) but also deeply Muslim. Racial discrimination also is quite odd. The place drips with history and names from long-forgotten children’s adventure stories. I enjoyed Penang most of all.

Thailand – I left a piece of my heart in this amazingly beautiful country. My dream is now to build an eco house on a Thai island and spend half my time there. Maybe I will make it one day! I am in love with the nature, the food, the people… for now I choose to disregard the political and human rights situation, but knowing me I would not be able to do so for long. But expat life in Thailand is second to none. Also home of one of my favourite places ever: Jim Thompson’s house. Can I pretty please move in there?

Singapore – Asia lite. My first ever taste of Asia. Probably the best food I’ve ever had. That’s it.

Cambodia – Gorgeous, shocking, amazing, maddening. Went to Angkor Wat for 2 days and ended up staying for 7. The most beautiful smiles you’ll ever see. The most awful living and physical reminder you’ll see of hell on earth – the effects of the Khmer Rouge regime. Sobering.

Vietnam – I always say the Vietnamese are the Neapolitans of Asia – but only Italians will understand this comment. A chaotic, febrile country where nearly all the past has been wiped away (most of them can’t even remember the war or don’t know what it was about) in a mad rush for what appears to be “progress” but it’s something I can’t define. Food is out of this world, including their coffee and cakes (only place in SE Asia where this stuff is good – I guess a big thank you to the French!).

Canada – I’ve only been twice for very short breaks. I like Canadians and their spirit, but I think to find out more I need to visit outside the cities. In any case, Toronto over Montreal any day!

Argentina – My first time in South America. As readers of this blog will know, I did not have the best of times in Buenos Aires, including being robbed at gunpoint. Too much of Argentina reminds me of the bad things of Italy. I won’t be back in a hurry, however I do want to see the country as opposed to Buenos Aires… but this time with a group of friends.

Uruguay – My only other foray into South America. It was a quick trip from Buenos Aires, just to go somewhere by the sea and chill out for a few days. Interesting place. I will definitely need to return at some point.

 

The sad thing is that writing this list only makes me want to go to those places I haven’t yet visited!

As for new places on the horizon, I am hoping both Burma/Myanmar and Australia will be happening soon in 2016. See you around the world.

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Ich bin ein Vermonter (IT)

(con sentite scuse agli amici che parlano tedesco)


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Read in English here

L’estate nel Vermont significa umidità (come altro pensavate che quei grandi e numerosi alberi potessero germogliare così tante foglie, eh?), e umidità significa una cosa sola: insetti.

Per qualche strano motivo, gli insetti che pungono e mordono sono i miei stalker personali. Non importa che tipo di spray io usi, né quanti (spesso vari in contemporanea), quei bastardi continuano sempre a pungermi. Certe volte è talmente brutto che mi vengono infezioni e cicatrici. Alcune cicatrici che ho sulle caviglie sono di due anni fa… fate voi.

E, ovviamente, la natura nel Vermont è sconfinata, non si limita agli insetti. Ci sono cervi, alci, gufi, orsi (sì, orsi), chipmunk, scoiattoli e sicuramente molti altri animali che non ho ancora incontrato.

Il mio primo incontro con l’adorabile chipmunk è stato un pomeriggio in cui lavoravo sull’assolato portico/pedana di fuori, sotto all’ombrellone. S e M, le bellezze che mi ospitano qui, hanno due gatte bianche gemelle, che durante il giorno sono libere di girare per l’area circostante e cacciare. Io me ne stavo lì, picchiettando al mio computer, quando improvvisamente ho sentito il tonfo-tonfo-tonfo di un gatto che correva sul portico, accompagnato da un clic-clic-clic più veloce: è stato tutto rapidissimo. Il chipmunk scappava inseguito dal gatto, e nel panico della fuga si è arrampicato sulla mia gamba come se fosse il tronco di un albero. Poi all’altezza del ginocchio si deve essere reso conto che si trattava di un albero della specie umana e quindi è saltato via, proprio mentre io stessa balzavo in piedi spaventata. È scattato verso la casa e si è arrampicato sulla porta a zanzariera, dove il gatto l’ha raggiunto. Il chipmunk stava appeso lì per salvarsi, sopra al gatto, che già si leccava le labbra. Siamo intervenute, abbiamo messo la gatta dentro casa e abbiamo lasciato scappare il chipmunk.

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Ma sono cose di tutti i giorni. Dobbiamo stare in guardia che le gatte non portino dentro casa qualcosa dentro la bocca (come hanno già fatto – un giorno abbiamo trovato tutte interiora intorno alla loro ciotola). È divertente perché S pensa che loro facciano così per “addestrarmi” alla caccia, dato che sono l’ultima arrivata. Come molti di voi sapranno, il mio rapporto con i gatti è quantomeno difficile. Ma queste due signorine si stanno impegnando molto a farsi piacere. La sera, quando guardiamo la TV, una di loro due mi si accoccola in grembo per ore (io me ne sto seduta lì un po’ rigida!). O mentre lavoro cercano di distrarmi, chiedono da mangiare, vogliono uscire o semplicemente giocare… birichine.

Il Vermont è uno stato con pochi abitanti… guidare per un’ora semplicemente per incontrarsi con un amico è considerato normale. È vero che in città sprechiamo un sacco di tempo in transito, ma in genere questo è dato dal fatto che siamo a piedi e ci sono molte altre persone in movimento. Qui, un’ora di guida significa UNA VERA ORA, niente traffico o coincidenze di treni.

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Quasi tutti qui sembrano essere artisti o comunque creativi. La casa è piena di bellissime ceramiche fatte da amiche, creazioni di falegnameria di M (compresi coltelli!) e i negozi sfoggiano creazioni di tutti i tipi. La gente ha l’orto, e passa l’estate a preparare conserve e a essiccare i cibi per l’inverno che verrà. Per molti versi è una vita idilliaca, così vicina alla natura. Ma sono anche cosciente del duro lavoro necessario per condurla (tornare a casa dopo una lunga giornata di lavoro e poi doversi occupare dell’orto per ore – che magari nel frattempo è stato attaccato dai cervi – oppure affettare ed essiccare pomodori) e che l’inverno è sicuramente molto diverso: quando la neve alta non ti consente di uscire di casa e le ore di luce sono brevi e preziose, si va in letargo. Quindi mi godo questa vita per qualche breve settimana, godendomi la compagnia delle mie amate amiche sapendo che, almeno per ora, questa situazione non è la mia. In fondo sono sempre una donna di città, mi servono stimoli regolari del tipo non naturale. Ma come le persone che vivono qui nel bel Vermont, non molti di noi riescono a vivere unicamente in uno di questi “mondi”. Abbiamo tutti bisogno di stimoli diversi. A modo mio ho trovato il modo di partecipare a queste esperienze diverse e di non essere solo una “cittadina”. Vorrei solo che le altre persone potessero farlo di più, in entrambe le direzioni.

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S e M sono due ospiti (e amiche) veramente fantastiche. Il momento più bello è quando una di loro due chiede “che desideri hai per la cena?” e poi tutto è possibile Mangiare verdure e aromi appena colti è grandioso, e il Vermont ha un’ottima produzione di cibo biologico. La COOP della zona è un tripudio di cibo fantastico.

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Sul portico di casa c’è anche una vasca idromassaggio. Un paio di sere ci siamo immerse nell’acqua calda (riscaldata a energia solare) a guardare le stelle, con le lucciole che ci giravano intorno. Magia pura. S e M mi fanno sentire a casa, e felice. E a modo loro credo che anche le gatte lo facciano 🙂

Dovrò tornare d’inverno…