Michael and I just returned from a 10 day trip to Italy. Here are some highlights of our adventure in the land of fabulous food, wine and art…
Sun 11/2:
Arrived in Roma, Jumped on the EuroStar high speed to Firenze.
WE LOVED FIRENZE! Rained off-and-on 3 of our days there, but that was a nice change for us warm & dry weather folks. Our days there included: Duomo, Medici Chapel, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia (said hi to David), street strolling/people watching, and the best food & vino of the trip. They have not changed much of this city, no high rises or newer looking architecture. Very pristine, narrow cobble stone streets and alleys, traffic galore (teeny-tiny cars everywhere!) Lots of 'SMART CARS' and Vespas whizzing around Italy.
Thurs 11/6:
Back on the EuroStar south to Sorrento (Almalfi Coast). Enjoyed relaxing in Sorrento and also took a day trip to Pompeii and jumped the Hydrofoil to Napoli another day. Pompeii was amazing and the Archaeological Museum in Napoli where all the art that they recovered is so incredible. Check out the mosaic portrait and the pooch we uncovered. Napoli is real in-your-face kinda city. Cool grafitti and the ABSOLUTE BEST PIZZA you will ever eat. Yes, more anchovies per favore!
Mon 11/10: Commuter trains on strike that morning, so we hired a cab to Napoli to catch yet another EuroStar back up to Roma. Mad dash around Rome in 1.5 days (phew!)…that was intense. Vatican Museum, (breezed through to see the Sistine Chapel), and of course St Peter's Bascilica. Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Colliseum, Spanish Steps, stepped into every church we stumbled across.
The churches are the treasures of Italy. Amazing architectural structures covered with fabulous painting, frescos, mosaics, gold, marble…you name it. It is truly mind-boggling what was created so beautifully— without machinery!
Departed Roma 11/12: After a four hour delay we were lucky our flight even got off the ground due to a pilot labor dispute. LONG, ARDUOUS trip home which was an experience all in itself.
Como se dice, "please shut your kid up!" en Italiano?
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Halloween costume
This was Grant's costume this year for Halloween. Magic carpet genie. Very cool. Photo provided by Grant Urie.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Phil goes to China
Just got back from 11 or so days in China (on business with some pleasure tucked in there). First time for me. Shanghai and Hong Kong mainly. Some of you have been there I'm sure. A few quick thoughts from a first timer:
-12-15 hours from LA to Hong Kong. The seats where you can lay down are totally worth it.
-Shanghai/HK are both very accommodating to westerners.
-HK seems to have NYC vibe without the crime.
-Shanghai seems more European.
-I was told that the locals can be punished/fined if they're caught being rude to westerners in Shanghai.
-A lot of our government/business restrictions/regulations don't exist here (yet).
-People in the factories work their butts off.
-Read where 13 billion booked @ the big business convention in Donggaun (city in a huge industrial/biz area 2 hours outside of HK) compared to 24 billion last year.
-There was a candle light vigil (normally reserved for nat'l tragedies) in HK while I was there by the people who got screwed by the Lehman/Wall Street fiasco.
-From what I observed, there's very little of what we would term a middle class here yet.
-In Shanghai and Dongguang, you share the road with mopeds, bicycles and people just kind of standing in the road. And I mean share--lanes, turning lanes, intersections, U turns out of the blue--it's really best not to look (unless you're driving)LOL
-Fish heads--not that bad. Chicken knuckles--not so much.
-Thai or Thailand style massage (as recommended by my chiropractor) is totally worth it.
I attached a few photos. Also, here's a very well link to the worlds tallest building (for now) in Shanghai. If you want to want to take a clear look and catch some views of the modern part of the city:http://www.swfc-observatory.com/en/
Here is the excitement I am dealing with in Atlanta (at the senior center)-we had a Thanksgiving luncheon yesterday and fed over 350 seniors--we had a special guest: Ms. Annie Nixon Cooper...the 106 year old lady who Barak Obama gave the national shout-out to--man, what a delight!!!--106 and she is still beautiful AND sharp as a tack!--Here I am in "official capacity" as facility manager--giving her roses--WAY COOL--(and look at me in "corporate drag") ;-) Comments by Jean Bean.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Jean Bean and Bev
News from me is that we (my husband Ed and I) went to Atlanta last weekend and met up with Jean Bean. She showed us around Little Five Points and other parts of Atlanta. It was a fun time and I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed this year of reconnecting to people from CCAD. It was good to see Jean and to look at photos (I brought a bunch from the reunion to show her) and getting reacquainted - it was as if only a few years had gone by - not 27!
Attached are a couple of pictures for the blog. Thanks for keeping that up as well too. Comments and photo by Bev West
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Illustration Class
Doug Sapp (seated) Ray Denison (on crutches) Ray used to work at Hallmark. Photo provided by Bob Brocke.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Beach Dudes
This was taken in Daytona, Springbreak 1979. Rick Cowdrey, Bob Haddad, Paul Heinrich, Dennis Zimmerman, Grant was also there, but I think he was back at the hotel. Jim Theodore took pic.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Bob's Big Adventure in L.A.
Finally home and back to normal. Went to California 3 days before I started working, and spent them with Bob Brocke, Mark Kaufman and Geri, Marks' beautiful,articulate and hospitable girlfriend. Oh, and Mandy, Max and Morgan, thier dogs. Mark and Geri live in Costa Mesa, a mile from Newport Beach. We spent our time biking the boulevard, eating at area restaurants,drinking, bar-hopping, laughing, reminescing and playing with Marks dogs. Saturday night, Phil Foster drove up from San Diego and the 4 boys went out for a night of fun. Wow. Barhopping in Newport Beach, we wound up closing a pool hall at 2:30.
It was great to spend time with them, and then off to LA I went, to Paramount Studios and the Rockerfeller Hotel. Once again I worked the Pre-VMA Red Carpet Show. Once again I was the Assistant to the staging Manager, Aaron Chawla. Super great guy. Loved every minute of it. I actually got some airtime. You can barely see me, but about halfway thru, the Preshow-when rapper T-Pain rides in on an elephant, if you look behind the elephants but , you can see me directing limos.
I'm sending you the clip I made. Had an awesome time. Letter by Bob Horvath
It was great to spend time with them, and then off to LA I went, to Paramount Studios and the Rockerfeller Hotel. Once again I worked the Pre-VMA Red Carpet Show. Once again I was the Assistant to the staging Manager, Aaron Chawla. Super great guy. Loved every minute of it. I actually got some airtime. You can barely see me, but about halfway thru, the Preshow-when rapper T-Pain rides in on an elephant, if you look behind the elephants but , you can see me directing limos.
I'm sending you the clip I made. Had an awesome time. Letter by Bob Horvath
Bob's Big Adventure in L. A.
Bob Brocke, Bob Horvath and Phil Foster...You guys look like you're enjoying yourselves!!!!
Monday, August 18, 2008
another old photo
Cindy Baun helping me do my hair. Those stupid caps pulled your hair out! Photo by Cindy Ross.
More old photos
I found some old slides...my t-shirt says "I can be very friendly" Funny, I don't look too friendly. I think the photo was taken at a party we had sophomore year. Photo by Cindy Ross.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Kansas City Reunion
Rob Hatem, Dan Foster, Dave Pjecha, Kim Pjecha, Lisa Kolar, John Rusick, Jon Swindell, Bob Kolar.
Kansas City Reunion
We all moved outside so we could hear each other....Jim Theodore, Becky Kelly John Rusick, Dan Foster (it was Dan's birthday also!) Lisa Kolar, Kim Pjecha, Dave Pjecha, Bob Kolar.
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