Journeys Viaggio

A few years ago I read a delightful book by Dianne Hales called La Bella Lingua: My Love Affair with Italian, the World’s Most Enchanting Language.  Recently I came across what Dianne thought was the briefest list of required Italian for anyone visiting Italy.  I thought it was worth sharing since many of my blog readers are clients whose Italian journeys I help plan.

• Greetings. Know how to say “buongiorno” (bwohn-JOR-noh) for “Good morning” or “Good Day”; “buona sera” (BWOH-nah-SAY-ra) for “Good evening”; and “arrivederci” (ah-ree-vay-DEHR-chee) for goodbye (obligatory when you leave a shop or restaurant).
• Disclosure. Say up front, “Non parlo italiano” (nohn PAR-loh ee-tah-leeAH-non) for “I don’t speak Italian.” A good follow-up question: Parla inglese? (PAR-lah een-GLAY-zay) Do you speak English?
• Courtesy. Please, thank you, and you’re welcome are the most important phrases in any language. The Italian phrases are “per favore” (pehr fah-VOH-ray); grazie (GRAHT-zee-ay) and prego (PRAY-goh).
• Personal preferences. Wherever you go, someone will ask, “Va bene?” (VAH BAY-ne): “Is it going well? Is everything okay?” If it is, you can reply “Si, bene!” (see BEHN-nay) for yes, all is well. “Mi piace” (mee pee-AH-chay) means “I like”; non mi piace, “I don’t like it.”
• Prices. Bottom line, you’re going to be buying food, tickets, souvenirs and other irresistible things. Before you do, you’ll want to know, “Quanto costa?” (KWAHN-toh KOH-sta): How much does it cost?

Buon Viaggio My Friends !

On a recent visit to Seattle, the highlight was my morning at the 105 year old Pike Place Market, home to more than 200 year-around businesses, as many arts and crafts booths, and 100 farmers who rent table space to sell their produce and flowers.  The Pike Place Fish vendors are popular not just for their abundant fresh seafood, but their comic and theatrical antics for their patrons !  The setting is on the edge of a steep hill overlooking Elliott Bay,  home to the new Big Wheel, the ferry terminal, and the cruise ship docks.   At the corner of Pike Place under the “Public Market Center” sign, sits Rachel, the unofficial market’s mascot.  This bronze cast 550 pound piggy bank  receives $6000-$9000 annually, which is used to fund the market’s social services.

Seeing Rachel reminded me of Florence’s Mercato Nuovo, a.k.a. the ‘Straw Market’ which dates back to the 11th century.  Most Florentines actually call it the Mercato del Porcellino, or “Market of the Little Pig” after the bronze statue of a wild boar (very common in Tuscany).

Do you recall when Sir Richard Branson unveiled SpaceShipOne…the world’s first private spaceship which flew high-altitude flights in 2004?  And that was followed in late 2009 by SpaceShipTwo.  And more recently, during the 2012 Farnborough International Air Show, Virgin Galactic announced LauncherOne, a new air-launched rocket specifically designed to deliver small satellites into orbit.  The company plans to offer commercial flights by 2016.

For more information on Space Tourism, click link below.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/09/09/travel/space-tourism-is-here-wealthy-adventurers-wanted.html?ref=travel&_r=0

I still have quite a few journeys to take on earth yet, so you will not find me in the  queue for a space trip any time soon.  How about you?

Vancouver, British Columbia is a pedestrian’s dream city.  Walkers, joggers, cyclists, roller skaters  all share the extensive well paved trails throughout this coastal city. The beautiful Stanley Park  consists of 1000 acres of trees, beaches, play and picnic areas, a huge seaside swimming pool and a 5.5 mile walk-or-bike seawall path with mountain, water, and city vistas.

On my recent 3 day weekend visit we started each morning out with a brisk walk on the Stanley Park seawall.  Sea lions bobbed in the water, pleasure boats and freighters dotted the seascape, while the heavily wooded park on the interior of the seawall, offered facilities for outdoor pleasures. A visit to Granville Island  (via water taxi or bridge) is a must, to enjoy the bustling Public Market, where local food vendors and artisans peddle their wares.   Granville Island is also home to an array of arts-and-crafts studios and galleries dedicated to local and regional work….’the broom’ shop was rather unique I thought, as was the ‘ wooden boat maker’s’ shop, just to mention a few. Continue reading →