The gift of meeting new faces...

A couple of nights ago, I had the pleasure of finally meeting a virtual friend whom I have known for a year. Online, he portrayed himself as an intellectual, well travelled, well read and somewhat adventurous, thinking outside of the box.
We had "met" online on a dating site and due to our wide geographic location, we didn't pursue it any further, other than a friendship.

Thanks to his Facebook status, I noticed he was going to travel to San Diego around the time I was visiting with relatives. We both agreed to meet face to face, one afternoon when my cousin was kind enough to entertain my boys for the evening.

I was so pleasantly surprised to meet my virtual friend. He looked like his pics, he spoke like his virtual online voice,and the evening went by quite naturally. Reason I am surprised is, that often we are told to be weary of who lurks online. People are fakes, they exude a different personna and create a mirage for the virtual friend.
I am happy to report that my virtual friend was real, his pics were true, his demeanour to be similar to his online activity. So not all virtual friends are a mirage, is my point.

My friend from St-Louis was pleased to see that I too was true to my exchanges...I looked like my pics and my personality was authentic too.
We spent the better part of the afternoon sharing a drink, discovering Torrey Pines Reserve State Park, me in my white Birkies and skirt hiking the trails. It was a sight indeed. We then shared a great meal and this is the part where I had an AHA moment.

Every person that walks into your life brings a gift to your existence. My virtual friend brought me a new sense of adventure. He has this uncanny way of ordering his meal at a restaurant. He empowers the chef to choose his meal for him and surprise him with a feast to grace his eyes and palate.
My virtual friend went on to tell me about his most recent need to experiment life in surprising ways, doing things he would not have necessarily done before...He has eaten a brain stew, zip lined, and is now looking forward to jumping off a plane.

What I took from his tales....leave your heart open to try things on this planet, plan less, experiment more, try new thngs everyday, surprise your instincts as much as you can....LIVE life!

Thank you My Virtual Friend from St-Louis!!!
It was great meeting you face to face.
I have learned a great deal.

facing fears...for some, in California!

My relationship with San Diego goes as far back to when I was fourteen. My dad, had decided he wanted to go visit his brother who lived on the sunny coast...and so we began our crazy, intense road trip to California. To this day, that first trip strengthened my ties to my cousins.

I began going back for my sixteenth birthday and continued on every few years to see them. Communication with them is free flowing; ties are tight; we are there for each other, for things that matter, for special events and for difficult times too.

Since my split, I had stopped going partly because of my mobility issue. Unlike other cities in the States, San Diego has no subway system, has some semblance of a tram, some buses; cabs are expensive and many renegade cabs (meter-less) take full advantage of the situation. Hence the use of a car is a must. Here lies my problem.

Up until this trip, I had never driven out of my comfort zone. Montreal, Vermont area, up North was as far as I would go. Funny thing is I have no issues roaming the streets less travelled around the world, but driving did become an issue in my head.

And so I faced my demons this summer. I rented a car and thought to myself: get over this fear...you love it in San Diego and you need to get past the idea that the X was your means of transport while there!

I am proud to report that I feel empowered and thrilled to drive the highways of San Diego! My boys have noticed the transition from fear, to nervous, to "OMG she's back to her road rage attitude"...Music 90.3 with a Rihanna and Usher, blasting while I meander my way around.

Moral of the story: Face your fears...you will feel overjoyed and elated!

Some people leave you with a lasting impression...

I was sifting through the vast collection of music on YouTube and I came across a clip by Colin Hay. Some of you may remember the Scottish/Aussie lead singer from an 80s Australian band called Men At Work.

On a more personal level, one of his songs hit home. There are some people who enter your life, for a short period of time, yet manage to leave a whopping imprint on your existence. You cherish those moments you once shared together; you find yourself daydreaming, wondering what became of them and you question if you had that same magical appeal on their lives. You find yourself smiling at a moment's notice remembering magnetic exchanges...sitting back and relishing those special sparks.

The following clip from Colin Hay talks about those tender moments once shared with that special someone, with the full knowledge that life does go on...but "don't think I'll ever get over you..."

My thoughts on Italy...

Having had the pleasure of visiting South of Italy (namely Rome, Naples, Sorento, Amalfi, Capri, Anacapri and Positano)three years ago, versus this trip in the Northern part of Italy, I have come to realise that my temperament matches the southern part more.

This trip, as a general rule, was scenic, architecturally invigorating, and culturally eye opening. The locals were not as playful, friendly and flirtatious as the Southern part. Along the Amalfi Coast, also a tourist attraction, the locals are inviting and helpful beyond words. Their motto is to leave you with a lasting impression.

Here in Venice and Florence, they are also mulled by too many tourists coming through, but the local temperament and their rules of hospitality are harsh and less "serviable", less catering-to. They were also "surprised" by solo female travellers. To them, folks like me were aliens, a puzzle. If you travelled alone, you were more likely to be offered "a date with benefits". My favorite line of all from a male Fiorentini, who didn't understand why I roamed alone on holiday, was "but why?"
Puts things into perspective, doesn't it?

These places have a lot to offer. The sites alone are charming to any foreigner coming through. With a tiny bit of added charm, care to please attitude and a dash of sex appeal, this place could be magical.



Just my two cents worth.

Ciao, Ciao Italia!

This trip wouldn't be complete without voicing my thoughts on Amerigo Vespucci Aeroporto. OMG!!!! OMG!!!! In simple terms, the Dominican Republic Airport is more impressive than this tiny, run down, poor excuse of a fly zone.

An hour and a half before the flight, the check-in attendants are nowhere to be found. There is a line-up from here to there, some odd workers that seemed to have been responsible for unlocking the main doors to this joint.

Then the trail of lovely blue suits arrive, slowly, oh so slowly to tend to their desks. This was Italian time at its best. Boarding is also interesting...does not matter if you have kids and strollers, are in Executive or First Class seating, back rows first...the name of the game is push and shove at 6am!

Arrivederci Italia!

A Casanova and a thief...all at McDonald's?

So I decided to stop by McDonald's for a salad?
I know, who goes to McDonald's for a salad...but I was too tired at that hour and wanted a quick grab, swallow and head to my room.

At this restaurant location, they have the McCafe too. I sat in that zone, as it was quieter and cleaner. I am having issues with cleanliness. I guess my OCD is rearing its ugly head and maybe that's a sign, am ready for the comforts of my home, sweet home. I digress.

There I am, after a long day....sweaty, sticky but in my pretty white dress with some grey hues and pretty white sandals chomping away at my salad. I was so concerned about my purse, and those who know me well will know I am rarely concerned about that...in fact, most times, I just leave it lying around.

I noticed I was being watched.
An older man, most likely older than my father.
Every bite I took, he would smile.
The first few times, I wasn't amused.
By the time the tenth bite occured, I figured "oh what's the matter with you, he's being friendly...get over yourself".

At that time, this young man walks in and begins to eye my purse. I figured I overstayed my welcome at this place and should call it a day and grab my tram to the hotel. As am about to hop off my stool, the old man comes over and says in Italian, care to join me for a coffee? I smiled and thanked him for his kindness but kindly declined. He goes on to say but you are "Bellissima"...Meantime, he grabs my tray and clears it for me. I smile, thank him and walk away. I think he survived the experience. I will give him this, many a MEN I have met in recent times don't have the cajones to step up to the plate like this gentleman did. It's too bad!

So I begin to make my way toward the tram...and you will recall that young man and MY PURSE. Well he suddenly appears on the escalator right next to me. I turned toward him and gave him a stern look. He hopped off and went a different direction.
I continue walking along the sidewalk and crossed the street....now the man is standing right behind me waiting at the tram stop.

I figured it's now or never...a lot of people are standing right beside me, so I went for it in a loud shreak "any reason why you are following me since McDOnald's?"
He ran away into the train station. Creepy but handled.

Pizza for lunch, followed by Pisa, the bell tower.

This afternoon, I joined a tour bus that head to the town of Pisa. Pisa is known more than for its leaning bell tower. Today, the city of Pisa has close to 90,000 inhabitants, many churches, a university that dates back to the 11th century. The Italians do recognise the positive changes brought on during Napoleonic Empire, as the schooling followed the French system.

The site of the leaning bell tower is marvellous. Funny, all these years, I would see images of this place and I was never able to imagine the size of this bell tower, the baptistery nearby and the church.
The bell tower was closed for almost ten years, but they recently have decided to re-open it to the public. For 15 Euros and 280 some odd stairs, you can climb the tower in this steam bath of a weather. Can you tell I didn't do it?

Instead, I joined the myriad of other retarded tourists trying to take pictures "pushing", "kicking" or "carrying" the tower. It's today, when I had hoped to travel with a professional photographer to take some "retarded" touristy shots of me and the tower. Alas, I tried grabbing passerbys and asked them to help me place my hand or foot in the right spot...instead, I have plenty of shots with me "giving up" the search for that typical, tourist pose! Ho hum....

Some interesting facts about this location:
-There are no records of the creator of this blessed leaning tower...after all who would want to have their name on this leaning structure? Wouldn't look so good on their portfolios, no?

-The church and the Baptistery are also leaning. The soil is too wet for such big structures, as Pisa is very close to the Mediterranean sea.

-They have beautiful grass sprawled all over the square. But they have hired POLICE BRGADE to keep tourists off from the green growth. So lying on your back, looking at the sky and admiring the intricate details of the architecture is a NO NO.

There you have it...The Pisa review.
Btw, am all Pizza-ed out!

Ciao, ciao!