Italy | Not Intent on Arriving

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Back to Italy!

I wanted to drop everyone a quick note that I will be AFK (away from keyboard—just learned that one) for the next five weeks or so. I’ll be leading another trip of high schoolers to Italy, and will be leaving later today for training in Brattleboro, Vermont. The company I’ll be working for is called the Experiment in International Living and they are fantastic.

This summer my trip will take the kids on an exploration of gelato— how it’s made, its history, its cultural importance, etc. We’ll begin as we did last summer in Rome and then head up to Treviso for the homestay (Treviso is quite close to Venice). From there, we’ll go to Bologna and Parma for some culinary instruction, then take a week of gelato-making courses in a city called Riccione.

I have ten kids this year (two fewer than last year) and they come from different parts of the country. I’m really excited to meet them and see where the adventure takes us.

I am particularly excited to tell you this on “Not Intent on Arriving” because today is also the one-year anniversary of this blog and chronicling last summer’s trip was the original reason for creating it. Every time I look at the title, I think of the philosophy embodied in those words and I believe them more and more. Life is a journey, but without a destination. If you live your life that way, you’ll see unexpected, incredible sites and be happier for it.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me, in all endeavors. Your support truly means a lot. If possible, I’ll try and drop an occasional line from Italy.

Ciao!

Tags: Bologna, Experiment in International Living, Italia, Italy, Italy 2011, Parma, personal, Riccione, Rome, summer work, Treviso, trip, Venice, World Learning

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Categories Italy, Personal

Italian Bus Driver Uses Two Cell Phones While Driving

13 May

This does not surprise me at all. An Italian bus driver was caught on video using not one, but two, cellphones as he took passengers to Rome’s Ciampino airport. The video shows him speaking on the phone, while trying to work his e-mail on another at the same time. He uses his elbows to steer the bus, while driving at what appears to be a high rate of speed.

At least in theory, driving with a cellphone is against the law in Italy. In my personal experience, drivers do it all the time and the law is rarely enforced. The Italian newspaper, La Repubblica, posted the clip of the driver to their website. A regional transport commissioner said on May 12 that the driver has been suspended, pending the results of further investigation.

Tags: bus, bus driver, cell while driving, Francesco Lollobrigida, Italian bus driver, Italian driver two cell phones, Italy, phone while driving, Roma, Roman bus driver, Rome, two cell phones

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Categories Italy, News, Technology, You Outta Know

Valeriy Tolmachev Attempts Hijacking On Paris-Rome Flight; Demands To Go To Libya

24 Apr

A man attempted to hijack an Alitalia flight from Paris-Rome Sunday night, but was overpowered by other flight attendants. The 48-year-old man, from Kazakhstan originally and later identified as Valeriy Tolmachev from UNESCO, was in a “disturbed” state when he arose and assaulted a flight attendent with what appeared to be a pair of toenail clippers, according to the Corriere Della Sera (article is in Italian). He held the small knife to her throat for several minutes before he was overpowered.

He demanded that the plane be directed towards the Libyan capital of Tripoli. Thankfully, the other flight attendants and several passengers responded quickly and immobilized the man. A doctor on board the plane administered a sedative. The plane landed around 8:00 p.m. local time at the Rome’s airport.

The flight attendant was treated for minor injuries, but there were no other injuries. Tolmachev was arrested by police on the ground and taken away for questioning.

Tags: airplane hijacking, airplanes, alitalia, hijacking, Libya, Paris to Rome, Tripoli, UNESCO, Valeriy Tolmachev

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Categories Italy, News, You Outta Know

Steamy Pictures of Berlusconi’s Bunga Bunga Parties

23 Mar

Famed Italian ~~playboy~~ prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is currently in hot water. He faces a slew of charges against him relating to his playboy lifestyle. Among the charges, the most serious are paying for sex for a girl under the age of 18 and using his power to help secure her release from jail. Now, The Telegraph has obtained some photographs recovered from laptops, cellphones and other devices that the prosecution included in the 20,000 page document against Berlusconi. A couple of them can be seen below.

Bunga Bung

Tags: Berlusconi, Bunga Bunga, Italy, Prime Minister, Sex Crimes, Sexy PIctures, Silvio Berlusconi

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Categories Italy, News, Pictures

Wall Street Journal Gets Story Completely Wrong

10 Mar

Last week, the Wall Street Journal wrote an in-depth feature piece about Manganaro’s, a deli and restaurant in New York City that would finally close after decades of fighting between brothers and endless litigation. The story detailed the fighting between two brothers that drove a wedge into business and resulted in lots of litigation in courtrooms. Entitled “Eatery Closes After Decades-Long Family Spat,” the story seemed really touching.

One problem. The restaurant is not closing. Restaurant owner Seline Dell’Orto told The New York Observer that the family put the 5-story building they own on the market, but had no intention of closing the restaurant. After the admission, the Journal put out a pretty lame statement:

“While not the best [headline] we’ve ever written, it’s meant to convey the process of closing rather than the moment of closure”

Yeah, whatever. Your reporter screwed up. In the original story, the reporter claimed that many customers complained that the owners were not friendly to customers. Ms. Dell’Orto (one of the owners) replied: