This month’s picture of the Trevi Fountain
made me remember a funny episode that happened during my europe trip last May. On our second day in Rome
we decided to wake up really early so we could beat the crowds to the Trevi Fountain.
Unfortunately for us this was to be the very same day that the City empties the fountain in order to collect the coins
and give the fountain a cleaning.
To kill time
waiting, me and my friend started to notice the young good looking Italian Al Pacino like stud muffins who were busy
cleaning the fountain. We started to talk about which ones we thought were cute. She and I have very different tastes
in men and we disagreed on who was the cutest. Then as the guy who I had a slight
crush on came closer my friend started to tease me. In half English she was saying
here comes Kathy's Amore’. 
I was embarrassed
and told her shhhhhh. She said don’t worry no one can hear me I’m speaking softly
(Yeah right!) She asked in her same “whispering” voice “I wonder how long it
will be?” A voice answered back –it’ll only be another possible 20 minutes. The Italian woman next to me answered my friend's question. When I turned towards her, she had this big smile as if to say . . . gotcha! I smiled and said Grazie' . . . then shot a look over to my friend to say … I told
you people could hear. She just smiled as if to say . . . “le oops!” I was so embarrassed. Anyway, here’s a close – up of mi Amore’ - - nothing else more to say but ooo La
La . . . and thank god for ZOOM lens!
Last week, my friends told me that
they have a financial commitment next year and therefore my Machu Picchu hike has been postponed. After a few seconds of disappointment, I was over it and got very excited at the possibility of planning
my first completely solo trip in a very very long time.
I have been doing a lot of research and
have decided that I will split my European adventure into possibly two trips in the next couple of years. I want to visit Prague and possibly another Eastern
European City like Berlin (to see where the "Wall" used to be).
Secondly, I learned about a gorgeous
part of Italy called Asti,
Piemonte and Saluzzo. It’s in the Torino region
and will be the focus for the 2006 winter Olympics. I’m so stoked!
I just love Italy so much it's going to be hard to pick any other destination. However, I feel that Eastern Europe can
be a fascinating place to visit and one which not yet many Westerners have gone. I would like to be among the first
wave of people to have discovered it's wonders.
I’ve got a couple of possible lodging recommendations
for both trips thanks to the ST message board. I’ve been reading a lot of materials
that say that Prague is the gateway to Eastern Europe and
is a City that is filled with a lot of excitement these days.
I’m thinking a Fall trip would be nice. A sort of Birthday gift to myself. I
guess I’ll first have to decide which of the two trips I want to take this year. Once
I make that my decision on where I want to go first, I can then start to figure out the logistics. This is so exciting!
I knew at a very early age that I was destined to travel when I told my kindergarten teacher that I wanted to fly to
the moon! These days I still want to travel to far off and exciting locations . . . just not too . . . too far!
Today, is the first day of 2006 and now that all the parties and hoopla are over and done with, I am so ready to start
planning my next international Trip. Last year I did a group tour then went on an independent trip to Tuscany,
Cinque Terre, Rome and Pompeii. For my next trip I want to do a completely independent trip and concentrate in one area.
I want to be able to completely immerse myself in the culture. This will be quite different and it will be a great
challenge for me to plan.
Here are my goals for 2006: At the end of the year I have my Grand Canyon hike to look forward to. I want
to complete my photography class, plan and make at least one international trip and lastly get in shape and start planning
for my first International Marathon.
It seems like a lot of things to accomplish, but it is absolutely doable and I'm very excited to get started on
it.
For my international trip, I have narrowed the field to somewhere old (London) and somewhere new (Prague). Is there
a possibility of doing both in two weeks? Don't know much about Prague other than I really want to go. I've got
a lot of reading up to do on this one.
Well, today it's pretty cold and wet and the same is predicted for Monday as well. So now I have two full days
of planning and research time.
I'm getting excited again! Okay, its time for the "Happy Dance!" The year is off to a great start - I
can feel it!
Stay tuned folks. It's going to be a great ride!
