Japan's High Flying Balloon Bombs of WWII

On May 5, 1945, six Southern Oregon picnickers were killed by one of many balloon bombs indiscriminately launched by Japan.  While it was the only balloon known to have caused injuries in the mainland United States, I decided to share a short post about this event because of a family connection.  At that time, my grandfather, Leo Rand, was serving as a young pastor at the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Wolf Creek, Oregon.  He and my grandmother, Helen Rand, both knew the adult named Elsie Mitchell who lost her life, and they may have likely known others as well.  They certainly knew Rev. Archie Mitchell who witnessed the explosion from a distance. (Wikipedia has a well-researched article on this topic. It's also a good source to visit for alternative resources.)

What prompted me to remember this piece of Oregon history was a very nice video I recently watched by Steve from Sidetrack Adventures.  I invite you to take a look at his journey below to this site situated near the town of Bly.

An Interview of Karl Erickson by His Wife, Kimberly (Repost from 2014)

I first met Karl Erickson in Seattle during a New Testament class at Seattle Pacific University. We were married several years later, and I can still say that I am married to my best friend. Karl Erickson is a writer, husband, father, and employee for the State of Oregon. Since 2005, Karl has written nearly fifty articles—e.g. America, National Catholic Weekly and This Rock--two children’s books (Toupee Mice, and Tristan’s Travels), as well as a new mystery novel, The Blood Cries Out. His Catholic faith seems to come through in whatever he writes, but maybe not in the expected way. For example, his new novel, The Blood Cries Out, comes across as real life. His character, David, faces problems and temptations and deals with everyday life. What makes it different from most mysteries is that David seems to let his steps be guided by God. This is my interview with my husband, Karl Erickson.

1. What inspires you to write?

People and situations catch my interest, and I like to imagine what the backstory is. When I was a kid, I was fascinated with distant lights—especially twinkling lights on the dark ocean. To me, each pinpoint of light represented an untold story. Looking further back, my mother always took time to read good books to me; Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and George MacDonald were some of our favorites. The written word was always highly prized in my home growing up, and this became a fertile soil for stories to take root. 

Strangely enough, sometimes when I find myself spending a lot of time in Catholic churches, I feel like somehow the experience blasts away writer’s block and opens my mind more. It’s not that I’m writing about anything relating to the service itself per se, but there’s a quality of creative freedom that seems to come to me through the act of worship

2. Why do you write?

Usually, I have a passion to write a particular piece or scene. Other times, I feel I should address something by writing about it. If given the choice between speaking and writing, I often would select writing; it just feels more natural to me. The satisfaction of finishing a strong piece is also highly rewarding. When I’m deeply immersed in a passage I’m writing, I lose track of time to such a degree that it can be startling to return to the here and now. There’s not really anything else quite like it. The creative process still remains somewhat mysterious to me, but I am thankful to God for any talent He’s seen fit to give me.

3. Where do your ideas come from?

When I was younger, I had a habit of keeping a little notebook on me to take down character sketches or story ideas. I remember sitting on a city bus, and taking notes on the strange conversations I’d overhear. These days, I’ll sometimes make a voice memo on my iPhone or e-mail a note to myself. The ideas themselves usually come from life observed, but they can also be sparked indirectly by either the writings of others or historical events. In the case of my novel, for example, a poet’s account of finding some old, bloody clothing from Oregon’s Snake River Massacre played an important part. I also enjoy writing the kind of fiction I really love reading myself. There are authors who write styles of fiction they don’t personally enjoy reading, and I think this shows a lack of respect for their audience.

4. How do you go about your writing?

With my fulltime day job and a family, it’s definitely hard to find time to write. Sometimes I may be unable to write for a week or two, but writing is like exercising in that it’s really important to keep at it. If I find myself in a situation like this, I’ll try to make time to write during late evenings or maybe Sunday afternoons. It doesn’t have to be long; any time spent writing often helps me get back into the “creative groove.” I can’t forget music. Having music on helps me concentrate.

5. Do you have any ideas for future books?

I do, but I’m still focusing on promoting The Blood Cries Out right now. If it’s sales continue to improve, I may very well pursue a sequel. I’d like to eventually move the series to the San Juan Islands, but that’s just one option being explored right now.

6. What do you like to do besides writing?

I love hiking and nature photography. Lately, I’ve been enjoying finding patterns in nature to photograph—from water droplets in a mountain waterfall to intertwined tree roots in the forest. One of my favorite recent photographs is the first one showcased on my new Water and Ice page.

7. How do you respond when asked whether, or not, you are a Catholic fiction author?

Well, I am a Catholic writer, but I try to avoid emphasizing this fact too much. Like I heard a Catholic singer recently explain in an interview, I don’t want the Catholic dimension of my authorship to be a significant selling point; I’d like the story to or fall stand on its own merits. Let’s face it, modern Catholic fiction has lost something of its past luster. Too often the story doesn’t come first; the story is just a means to make or illustrate a point, and this betrays a lack of respect for the reader.  I'd like to help change this.  I think it's also critical that Catholic fiction takes into account real life situations.  That is, anyone can be saved in a story where God's power is like a magic wand that heals and saves effortlessly, or where daily life is sanitized.  I want to write fiction that demonstrates how real characters handle trials that are true to life. 

When it comes to fiction for older readers, my pet peeve is sanitizing dialogue or situations for the taste and preferences of the writer or a select group of potential readers. If you have a story, tell it truthfully and with authenticity. As Flannery O'Connor so eloquently put it, “Fiction is about everything human and we are made out of dust, and if you scorn getting yourself dusty, then you shouldn't try to write fiction. It's not a grand enough job for you.”

Not too long ago, I was discussing my novel with some fellow Catholic writers who were very passionately debating their view that profanity had no place in fiction--especially the writing of a Catholic. While I don't agree with this premise at all, it did encourage me to lighten the profanity in The Blood Cries Out just slightly--as a courtesy, you might say. Some might argue that my lightening of the profanity was an unnecessary sacrifice to political correctness or prudishness, but I suggest that realism and truth can be achieved with a lighter touch at times. Finding that balance can be a real challenge, but it's what lies at the heart of writing that matters the most: truth.

8. What can you share about your spiritual journey?

I was raised in Evangelical Protestant churches. In fact, my wife and I were both raised in churches of the Wesleyan tradition: Nazarene and Free Methodist. My grandfather, a retired minister from the Christian Missionary Alliance, helped me understand at an early age that we need to be reverent before God, and avoid transforming our services into mere entertainment. Even though our family was Protestant, my mother placed me in a Catholic school. This turned out to be an important influence in the future.

We never intended to become Catholics, but for the first fifteen years, or so, of our marriage, we were pretty miserable in regards to finding a church home. We visited church after church—from Free Methodist and Lutheran to Episcopal. In looking back, each church we attended seemed to bring us closer and closer to the Catholic Church. The liturgy and the sacraments began to be more fully understood and valued as we journeyed on.

When we began to study Saint Peter, in particular, we were struck with the fact that this first pope of the Church was entrusted by Jesus Himself with the keys to bind and loose. That is, real authority was given to this man (and his successors) by Jesus. 

Christian unitywas also terribly important to us. In particular, we were struck by passages like 1 Corinthians 3:1-23 or John 17:11, which reads...

"I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one."

The writings of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and G.K. Chesterton were also profoundly important in our decision to join the Catholic Church. In Lewis’ essay entitled “The Fern-seed and the Elephant”, for example, it seemed his words were directed straight at us as we debated whether, or not, to leave the Episcopal Church.

It’s impossible for me to read verses like this and not be struck with the vital importance of Christian unity, since we all are members of the mystical body of Christ. I ended an article of mine on unity with the following words. 

"It was Pope John Paul II’s tireless ecumenical work that first caught our attention years ago. Slowly, it dawned on my Protestant family that the pope was indeed right.... Whether Protestant or Catholic, we all follow the same Good Shepherd, and it’s time this separated family came back to the house of their fathers."

For our conversion story, please visit Catholic.com.

New Home for Writing

 

ade f

Because of some special projects on the horizon, I recently decided to upgrade to a new domain website.  You can find most of what was on the previous site here.  Some pages, such as Publications, are still reserved for the original pages.  The old site is planned to remain up as a supplement to the new pages.  The site is managed by Tertulia by Authors.

Today's Gospel Reading (John 4:5-42): A Selection of Homilies

 

Samaritana (Samaritan Woman) by Julio Romero de Torres.

Today's readings, with particular emphasis on John 4:5-42, are particularly worth study and reflection. One aspect that I find fascinating is how Hosea* is fulfilled in Christ's interactions at Jacob's Well. God seeks out a thirsty, lost Judah, as one seeking a lost child or sheep. Even the five husbands of the Samaritan woman serve a dual role, reflecting the captors of the northern kingdom: Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and (present) Rome. Today's post is a collection of homilies on today's Gospel.

*Here are some of the relevant passages from the prophet Hosea.

15And there I will give her her vineyards, and make the Valley of A'chor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt. 16 “And in that day, says the LORD, you will call me, ‘My husband,’ and no longer will you call me, ‘My Ba'al.’ 17For I will remove the names of the Ba'als from her mouth, and they shall be mentioned by name no more. 18And I will make for you g a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground; and I will abolish h the bow, the sword, and war from the land; and I will make you lie down in safety. 19And I will espouse you for ever; I will espouse you in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. 20I will espouse you in faithfulness; and you shall know the LORD. 21“And in that day, says the LORD, I will answer the heavens and they shall answer the earth; 22and the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil, and they shall answer Jezre'el; i 23  and I will sow him j for myself in the land. And I will have pity on Not pitied, and I will say to Not my people, ‘You are my people’; and he shall say ‘You are my God.’ ”

PRESS, IGNATIUS. Ignatius Bible: Revised Standard Version - Burgundy - Second Catholic Edition (pp. 2149-2150). Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition. 

6 “Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn, that he may heal us; he has stricken, and he will bind us up. 2After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. 3Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD; his going forth is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” 4What shall I do with you, O E'phraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away.

PRESS, IGNATIUS. Ignatius Bible: Revised Standard Version - Burgundy - Second Catholic Edition (p. 2155). Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition. 

11For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed. When I would restore the fortunes of my people, 7 when I would heal Israel, the corruption of E'phraim is revealed, and the wicked deeds of Samar'ia; for they deal falsely, the thief breaks in, and the bandits raid without. 2But they do not consider that I remember all their evil works.

PRESS, IGNATIUS. Ignatius Bible: Revised Standard Version - Burgundy - Second Catholic Edition (pp. 2155-2156). Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition. 

Below are several gathered homilies, as well as a few other related selections, on the fourth chapter of John. Even though not a Catholic, I included a short excerpt from a message by Rev. Billy Graham.

(Mother Angelica)

                                      

 (Bishop Baron)

           (Excerpt, Rev Billy Graham)    

  

Queen of Peace, Salem. (Father Carey)

                                               (Bishop Fulton Sheen)

U-2 Lets Us Down Again

 

Now, don't take me wrong.  I began as a U-2 fan, but it's been a while.  Back in the late 1980s, for instance, U-2 songs got me through the hard work and isolation of one summer in particular.  Their music meant quite a bit to me back then, working on Whidbey Island.  Fast forward a few decades, and I even served as a guest DJ of sorts on Sirius XM's U2 channel, where I highlighted songs like Sunday Bloody Sunday, Where the Streets Have No Name (with Amazing Grace segue), and 40.

The remakes of the classic songs were irritating, but I didn't say much about them.  I will say now that they feel like all the power and testosterone have been sucked out of them.  I recall them whining recently about artists being allowed to change their style.  I can understand that as a writer.  I wrote a collection of short stories for a somewhat similar reason.  It remains, however, that artists, musicians, and authors can adopt whichever style they may prefer, but it doesn't mean their audience is locked into supporting their new works.  Frequently, the audiences are not.  When groups like U-2 rewrite classic songs in such a strange, discordant way, it betrays, in my mind, a degree of disrespect toward their original audience.

Add to that, and now Bono is endeavoring to stoke hysteria and anger in the United States concerning certain political issues du jour.  I am seriously tired of being preached to by wealthy, out-of-touch entertainers who embrace whichever cause they think will further their careers.  They preach the dangers of carbon whilst traveling on their private aircraft: hypocrites!  At one point, the band emphasized Christianity and truth before the lie, then, some decades later, they supported the legalization of infanticide in Ireland.  I am getting to the point of being sorely tempted to get rid of their music.  For now, I will remember them as they were and not as they are or have become.  They are such a disappointment.

Sophie's...Choice (A Short Review of America's Favorite Pet)

So, I wanted to wait to comment on this contest until our cat Sophie was officially out of the running for the $10k, and that officially happened this morning.  This has been a very odd pet competition.  First of all, there is nothing suspicious here.  From what I have gathered, they really do award the dollars and feature one's pet on their magazine cover.  (PAWS itself has a high rating with Charity Navigator.)  My issue is not so much a potential scam issue as a matter of contest transparency and ethical concerns.  From the start, the organizers try to convey an inflated likelihood that one's pet will win the grand prize.  One way they accomplish this is to divide contestants into numerous small groups.  The contestant may quickly believe he is much higher in the rankings than he actually is.  You may notice the pay-for-vote feature in this contest and not think too much of it at first, but, having given it considerable thought for many weeks now, I have begun to notice an almost poker-like nature to the game for those who used the buy votes/points feature.  

Not only does the contest require daily votes (one can always cast a single vote for free; competitors can't buy votes, but their family can), but it also constantly encourages competitors to take action to improve their animal's ranking.  While the paid votes go towards a non-profit called PAWS, it would be very easy for someone with poor judgment to spend excessively to promote their pet to the top spot.  So, that's criticism number one.  This contest has less to do with the cutest animal and more to do with the votes (purchased or otherwise) that are behind the respective pets.  My second main criticism is that this encourages people to reach out repeatedly.  Even with humor and a tongue-in-cheek approach to my messages, I still had one person comment that I should perhaps avoid entering this contest in the future.  That's also because it drags on week after week.

While two of my books are traditionally published and one is with a hybrid publisher, several of my eBooks are self-published.  The constant request for votes is reminiscent of practices and habits I have witnessed in some parts of the self-publishing industry.  This repetition for the vote request is annoying not only to the contestant but particularly to the prospective voter.  Having to remember to log in daily to vote at about the same time is also a royal pain in the you know what.  Several people also reported difficulties logging in on their phones, and those without a Facebook profile apparently couldn't vote at all.  This raises another interesting criticism: ageism of a sort.

With older prospective voters arguably less adept at navigating the required online submission steps, which appear to require a Facebook account as well, the younger demographic has a slight edge in this category of online contest.  Others have reported privacy concerns with all of the requested information.

So, in summary, while America's Favorite Pet isn't a scam, it falls short on contest clarity, seems to encourage a gambling mindset, and it almost requires repetitive and annoying calls for votes from one's potential pool of friends and family.  It also appears to tilt the vote toward the younger competitors, who are more adept at navigating online requirements and less concerned about associated privacy risks.  If it were truly about the cutest pet, that would be fine.  As it is, it's a cash cow in the guise of a pet contest.

About the Writer

Here is an update on...me.

Over the past two and a half decades, Karl Bjorn Erickson has written more than a hundred articles and essays. His publishing credits include America, The National Catholic Weekly, Catholic Answers' This Rock, Musica Sacra, the Statesman Journal, the Portland Tribune, Seattle Pacific University's Response, Catholic365.com, and many more. His articles explore a wide range of challenging and complex topics, but he especially enjoys writing upon the meeting of the arts and faith.
Karl is also the author of several books: Tristan's Travels, Toupee Mice, and The Blood Cries Out (not a children's book!). He's also fond of experimenting with new eBook formats — e.g., Oregon, My Oregon, A Photographic Journey: The Wallowas. (He describes this series as electronic coffee table books.)

On June 17, 2018, Karl Erickson graduated with honors from Marylhurst University with a BA in English Literature and New Media. Sadly, Marylhurst University closed at the end of 2018. This brings a sad, and arguably avoidable, end to more than a century of a rich educational legacy. More details may be found HERE. OregonLive and OPB have also written widely on the closure and its ramifications. He has also made some observations on his blog, Singing in the Wood.

While Karl is currently reducing his time investment in writing and his podcasts, he looks forward to exciting new projects on the horizon! As of late 2023, a new essay has just been completed, and Karl is looking for a good publishing home. He has also begun compiling about fifty of his best articles and opinion pieces as a Kindle compilation. Stay tuned... In other news, a new work of fiction is nearing completion. He hopes to have it completed by late 2026, which should nicely coincide with his potential retirement the following year.
​
The look and feel of the website has changed. To learn more about what Karl has written, select "Publications."

​​
Update: I am happy to announce a photography profile page on SAALL Digital! I've been ordering prints and photo calendars from SAAL for years now, and I am delighted to be able to use them to fulfill your orders for my new photography company, PNW Photography. (This is my sole proprietorship's as-yet-unregistered DBA.) I hope you can stop by and take a look around!

If you have any questions or photo requests, don't hesitate to drop me a note.

Your Privacy and Google

 Because of its importance to all of us, I dedicated a new page on the blog to the matter of online privacy.  In addition, I would draw your attention to Google's resources for diving deeper into this thorny topic.  To learn even more about why Google collects the data it does, you may visit here.  UK residents may want to stop by the following page dedicated to the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

To read a BBC article critical of Google's "fingerprinting" technique, follow the link.

If you ever need to reach out to the blogger behind the blog, you may email me at karl@karlerickson.com .

Refining Singing in the Wood

 As I prepare this blog for years more of use, I've become a little annoyed with my consumer protection posts.  Granted, this has been the year that most of our home appliances crashed and burned, and a rental car company tried to scam us, but that doesn't make this the perfect venue for venting.  While I would like to write more about planned obsolescence and its potential relation to some environmental and sustainability regulations, that may come down the road--and in a different venue altogether.  As I try to tailor this blog for the future and maintain its theme integrity, the time has come to heave a few things off the side.

For now, the three articles below will be moved to a new Blog (Overflow) page on my website.  The Facebook article will remain up.  

The following articles can now be found now on the new page.

Hertz...Hurts

Avoid Samsung; No, Really.

Appliances Gone Wild

So, You's Wanna Be A Writer?

(a re-post from a few years ago) 

I completed a short video presentation (below) concerning the art of writing, and it occurred to me that it might be nice to have a post directed at writers, or those considering writing professionally.

British Library with Study Abroad Group

To that end, I will include the collected links and resources here for people to explore as they see fit.

 RelatedVideos

(poetry reading)

(London and Rome)

Blog Posts

Writing Quality Fiction

On Plagiarism

What I Learned from Meeting Brian Jacques

Sense of Place

Reflections on the Promotion of The Blood Cries Out

An Interview of Karl Erickson

An Analysis of The Blood Cries Out  

An Office Interview 

Don't Forget the Editor!

Staying in the "Creative Groove"

What Not to Write

Art, Music, and the Church

A Writing Tip or Two

Beginning at the Middle

Published Articles on Writing *

"Art, and the Christian Gospel"

* It looks like some of my favorite articles on writing are no longer available online.  Guess it's time to write some more!

Exploring Commonplace Books

(re-post)

My Early Modern Literature and Culture course (aka Shakespeare's Sister) at Marylhurst University introduced me to commonplace books this term.  These books have been around for centuries, and they may be a great choice for you to record important passages from books, personal reflections, or observations, or the occasional sketch or two.  Thinking back to the diaries of family members that I remember coming across as a child, I suspect I've seen these before without recognizing them for what they were.


I love the idea of the commonplace book, and I will certainly recommend the practice.  In fact, people often ask me how to become a better writer, and this may become one of the tools I talk about in the future--e.g. reading, writing, and living.  For years, I used to carry a writer's notebook.  I remember taking mental notes of characters or dialogue from public places, and these daily snapshots would usually end up in my trusty notebook.  (When I considered a law enforcement career in the late 1980s and early 1990s, pocket notebooks took on a whole different kind of purpose in recording notes on techniques and...people.)  Today, I rely on my camera to remind me of important scenes or landscapes.  Conveying a strong, sharp sense of place in my fiction is tremendously important to me, and this method works well.  When recording dialogue, I usually take notes on electronic devices, but I do occasionally use old-fashioned notebooks or journals.  The digital audio recorder can also be helpful.

For taking notes on passages of writing that are personally important, I use many different approaches daily.  Much to my mother's disappointment, I tend to highlight essential passages in traditional books.  I also enjoy using the "highlighting" feature found in eBooks.  For a writer, even published articles can be a way to remember favorite quotes, as this article is a single example.  Applications such as Evernote are also a great way to record important information along these lines.  (You can even record You Tube videos!)  In short, then, I won't be changing how I take notes insofar as this experience is concerned, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a valuable experience.  I would add that the commonplace exercise helps enhance attention to detail within works. It also offers fascinating insights into how my note-taking methods could be improved and strengthened.

So, when it comes to commonplace books, these are great tools for the present, and they have the potential of providing glimpses and insights of the "hidden transcripts" of those who lived before us.  Are they something I will personally continue?  Probably not, but the fault lies with me alone. I really can't stand my own handwriting.  If this doesn't present a challenge for you personally, go for it!  

(Here are some additional examples of commonplace books from Pinterest.)

From the Tiber to Arno: A Trip Review with Top 20 List

  (a re-post)

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company? (Zicasso / Cultural Italy)

 

This is my second trip to Italy, and my wife's first.  I was looking for a service that would help facilitate transportation, lodging, and museum reservations, without micro-managing every detail of our days in Rome and Florence.  I was looking for the freedom to spontaneously do some things on our own when time permitted.  While the fatigue of travel can dent one's free time, we really couldn't have asked for better support.  (There was only one occasion where we were unable to make a connection to a hotel shuttle at the Rome airport, but Cultural Italy ended up reimbursing us for a taxi.)

The benefit of Cultural Italy was so much more than simply a collection of practical services, though.  Most of the museum guides we had were one-on-one, and their knowledge was extensive.  For Rome's Castel San Angelo and the Pantheon, for instance, my wife and I were paired with a lifelong resident of Rome, fluent in English, who was in the process of earning a doctorate in Roman history (or related field).  His knowledge and expertise made the walking tour so fascinating.  He even took a question from me on the mysterious disappearance of the Ninth Roman Legion beyond Hadrian's Wall in Roman Britain. He was able to share new and exciting historical evidence on the matter.  It was more than a cultural or sightseeing experience; it was truly a learning experience.  This is precisely what we were looking for as well.

While one of the hotels was less than perfect--e.g. almost no hot water--by and large the accommodations were a delight.  The breakfast at Hotel Dei Mellini was truly astonishing, greatly exceeding our expectations.  We were also pleasantly surprised that this same hotel's neighborhood within downtown Rome was so quiet after nightfall.  The local knowledge that connected us with this establishment in particular was greatly appreciated.

 

What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?

 

The most enjoyable parts of the trip included the first day in Rome and our days in Florence.  Perhaps the most memorable moment for me was taking my wife on a horse and carriage ride in Florence.  This was something she had mentioned wanting to do in the past--such as Kansas City--but it never really worked out until Florence.  To see how delighted she was made me all the more glad that we made the journey.  Touring the Vatican with my wife would also have to be high on the memorable list.  As new Catholics, this part of the journey felt a bit like a pilgrimage for us.  (I even brought fellow Knights of Columbus members' prayers with me to offer in Saint Peter's.)

All in all, the most important thing is having had the opportunity to introduce my wife to the stunning beauty of Italy's art, architecture, landscapes, and (not to be forgotten) people.

 

If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently?

 

First, I wouldn't have taken T-Mobile's advice on my particular phone plan working in Italy; it didn't.  Our phones were expensive paperweights until I upgraded my plan while staying in Florence.  This ended up creating a lot of unnecessary stress for us--particularly when circumstances separated us for brief periods of time.

Second, ensure that my secondary e-mail is not going to suddenly stop working when I arrive in Italy.  This almost created a snag in getting COVID pre-flight test results forwarded from Abbott.  (Automatic forwarding means that I don't directly access this particular account regularly.)

Less important items...  I'd have reached out straightaway about the lack of hot water and poor ventilation at the Hotel Duomo in Florence.  It made the time there a little tricky, and I didn't know at the time whether or not hot water was a legitimate expectation.  (The cut hot dogs as breakfast meat were not too appealing here either.)

For the 12-hour bus tour of Tuscany, more time was needed to ensure adequate restroom access.  It was a tad...difficult at the start of the day.  

Practical Notes for the US Citizen Traveling to Italy

1.  Upgrade cell phone plan if necessary to ensure coverage.  "Pay as you Go" plans--e.g. T-Mobile--won't necessarily provide you the level of communication you need to feel safe and secure,  

2.  Be sure to bring enough cash (Euros).  You may want to spend it at the airport at the end rather than bring it back to exchange again due to associated fees.

3.  Don't depend on a single credit card.  Bring several.  American Express, for example, is accepted at only about 50-60%of Italian establishments.  Taxi drivers prefer cash.  If you ask for a receipt, ensure that they have not inflated the fare as a "favor."  Be aware of foreign transaction fees and try to avoid them.  Using debit cards abroad is not recommended.

4.  Don't expect courteous drivers.  Whether you're attempting to cross a busy street or taking a cab, be prepared for the unexpected.  Drivers generally don't stop for pedestrians, and taxi drivers would likely be arrested for reckless driving in the United States.  (We particularly enjoyed one taxi driver using the wrong lane to drive in for a block or two just outside the Vatican's wall.)

5. Public bathrooms are not only a rarity in much of Italy, but there is also often a charge of a pound to use them.  Even American companies like McDonalds, are picking up this bad habit. Bring coins!  In a related vein, watch where you step just off of central streets in cities like Rome.  The homeless don't appear to have enough facilities.

6.  Hotels use a keycard to activate power and lights for individual rooms.  You'll be groping in the dark until you find the card slot.  (See below.)

7.  Hotels often only offer half showers.  This just means that there is no curtain or glass all the way.  It can make for colder showers and wet, slippery floors.  Don't slip!

8.  Tipping is often considered rude.  Whatever you do, don't leave the tip on the table or add to your final bill as you do in the USA.  It's best to ask first before offering a tip.  It's generally fine for drivers and tour guides.  Be courteous and respectful.

9.  Bring a map with you!

10.  If you're not using a tour company, be sure to buy admission tickets before you depart for Italy.

11.  Ensure that you consistently carry your passport and any applicable medical documentation that is required.  Different areas within the same country may have very different requirements.

12.  Be aware that street signs often show destinations rather than actual street names--which may be situated above the buildings.  If you take a photo of the sign for later reference, you may not end up where you wish if you convey the location on the sign to the driver rather than the street.  Speaking of streets, don't expect them to follow a north-south or east-west orientation.  

13.  Expect to wash your clothes by hand in the hotel room.

14.  Remember to bring power adapters, so that you can charge your devices in your room, etc.  (I strongly recommend this brand.)

15.  It's helpful not to check your bags going into Italy, but check one or two only on your way back home.  Keep in mind that you'll be doing a lot of walking, and that you will become very personally acquainted with your luggage over time.

16.  Be constantly aware of your surroundings and potential dangers.  Sometimes, even very nice hotels may have serious security gaps that prevent you from keeping a window open at night, such as balconies that are open on both sides.  (See below.)

17.  Italians in the know will suggest that you barter in the markets and shops.  If you're comfortable doing this, do it politely and respectfully. If you don't know what you're doing, it's best to avoid doing this too much.  It tends to make you look like a dumb, stereotypical tourist flailing.  For most of us, US citizens traveling abroad, we can pay a little more to help support the local economy we're visiting.

18.  Take it from me, Italian is a complex language to learn.  If possible, don't assume everyone you meet is fluent in English.  Greet them politely in Italian, then ask in Italian whether they speak English.  Don't unconsciously speak more loudly!  This is common courtesy.

19. Bathroom etiquette in Italy is a little different from that in the United States.  You'll have women and men frequently in the same restrooms (or passing closely by).  The differences are subtle, but don't be upset to see someone of the opposite sex waiting outside your stall.

20.  If you decide to visit an Italian cathedral for Mass, it's tacky and discourteous to leave in the middle of the service; it's distracting to others.  Don't give other US tourists a bad name; be respectful.

21.  Lastly...  Don't miss our trip video!

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A Legacy of the Arts (Colliers)

 (a re-post) 

John Collier's The Annunciation

I invite you to drop by and visit the new Legacy of the arts page created and dedicated to three generations of my wife's family (and my wife): Carroll Collier, John Carroll Collier & Mildred Collier, and Kimberly Erickson.  

A Legacy of the Arts