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

 

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 the transportation, lodging, and museum reservations, while not micro-managing everything about our days in Rome and Florence.  I was looking for freedom to spontaneously do some things on our own when time permitted.  While the fatigue element of traveling has a way of denting 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 and 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 exactly 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?

 

I think the most enjoyable parts of the trip included the first day in Rome as well as 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 well.  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, I think the most important thing is having to 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'd have not taken the T-Mobile advice on my particular phone plan working in Italy; it didn't.  Our phones were basically expensive paperweights until I managed to upgrade my plan while staying in Florence.  This ended-up creating a lot of unnecessary stress for us--particularly when circumstances separated the two us for brief periods of time.

Second, ensure that my secondary e-mail was not going to suddenly stop working when I arrived 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 difficult, 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, there needed to be a little more time spent 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 seem to 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 out of the country 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 don't generally stop for pedestrians, and taxi drivers would likely be arrested for reckless driving if 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, there is 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 main 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 if you may offer a tip before doing so.  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 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 on the buildings.  If you take a photo of the sign for later reference, you may still may not end up where you wish if you convey the location identified on the sign to the driver as opposed to the street.  Speaking of streets, don't expect them to follow 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 checking 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 even keeping a window open at night such as continuous balconies.  (See below.)

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

18.  Take it from me, Italian is a hard language to learn.  If possible, though, don't assume everyone you meet has English fluency.  Greet them politely in Italian and ask in Italian if they speak English.  Don't unconsciously speak more loudly!  This is common courtesy.

19.  Bathroom etiquette in Italy is a little different than 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 a bad name to other US tourists; be respectful.

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

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Russia and Ukraine

I am no expert on geopolitical matters, but it seems to me we are upon the precipice in terms of the mantra “never again.”  After the destruction and bloodshed inflicted upon the millions of innocents by the Nazis in particular (there have certainly been many others), most civilized members of Western Nations vowed never again.  Today on CNN, an old Ukrainian woman, identified as a survivor of the Nazis, said this was the worst thing she has ever experienced in her lifetime.  Let that sink in for a moment.  History is repeating in a sense, and we are either sitting on our hands, or our president seems to be telegraphing our pain thresholds to our enemies.  

 

I suggest it’s time to stop reacting to Putin’s War, and start turning the tables on the warmonger instead, changing the environment, while maintaining Russia’s “golden bridge” (Sun Tzu used less colorful phrasing in The Art of War).  We need to lay down a maximum battle duration that will be allowed for this conflict to continue—e.g. two more weeks—along with a prohibition against any associated escalations or resorting to chemical, biological, or radiological weapons with severe consequences.  It needs to be declared that the rest of the world has a say in the what transpires; the moral and economic impacts of his atrocities are too great to be allowed to continue.  We understand that there are environmental webs that interconnect everything, well, there are other connections, connections of humanity that are even more real, connections also between mankind and God.  Accountability awaits.

 

Give him a way out, but make it clear that the majority of industrialized nations on the planet oppose Russia’s barbarous actions.  It may also be worth pointing out the lack of any semblance of any coherent plan on their part other than just killing and destruction.  They are like senseless waves of orcs, without thought or reason.  Their military has become a meat grinder for those young men, all to appease the madman in the Kremlin.  

 

Give them a black and white deadline that the fighting must draw down; it must end.  Give them time to do so.  If it does not end, we as the civilized nations must stand up and fight.  Otherwise, Russia will obliterate every man, woman, and child within the smoking borders of that nation.  In the darkness of a wicked night of July 1918, the Bolsheviks shot and bayoneted to death the entire Romanov family in a bloody basement of Yekaterinburg.  With the murder of good Czar Nicholas II and family, the Soviet Union stirred in its mother’s womb.  Perhaps the Russian Federation is not so far removed from its parent.

Beware the False Identities Roaming the Metaverse

Sharing this little episode in case it's of interest.  This kind of thing can also be called "catfishing," but usually that term seems saved for online connections of a more tawdry nature.  Anyway, I am not easily taken, but this person had me quite confused for a week, or so.  Don't get me wrong, I always enjoy a good mystery.  (Heck, I'm a mystery writer.). This person who connected with me on Facebook seemed to share an interest in desalination.  Being from Singapore, it seemed an interesting thing to text about from time to time.  When the texts started to occur nightly, though, the ol' alarm bells began to sound. 

Having worked in the compliance enforcement field for almost a quarter century, I'm usually pretty good at looking people up and deep diving into their particulars in my free time.  In her case, however, the slate was entirely blank.  I'm not going to detail all the steps I explored here, except that they included BeenVerified, which usually is somewhat helpful in returning information on people being reviewed--just not in this case.  Nada.  Zilch.  Neither her e-mail address nor her cell phone number returned any reverse information either.  Her Facebook account showed check-ins in both Singapore and China.  The latter check-ins made me a bit uneasy, particularly as she seemed really interested in using my connection to launch connections to my friends (some of whom are also in government). 

As she repeatedly referred to herself as a business owner of two different companies, I finally decided to reach out to the leadership of both.  Whether she was legitimate, or not, there was something disturbing about her behavior, and I was curious to learn what her game was.  I received a response back pretty quickly from the media company situated in Singapore of which she claimed to be a president.  

Hi Karl, interesting. No she doesn’t work for us. And I’ve never met her. Clearly just randomly found our company and decided to pretend she works for us.

A short time later, I also received some interesting observations from an online friend who is fairly familiar with the Japanese language in particular.

Both Nakamura and Hoshino are surnames in Japanese. Nakamura is a very common name, Hoshino less so, but Wikipedia lists a couple of dozen noted people name Hoshino. 

I never have come across a Japanese who used a surname as a given name. That alone would make me suspicious.

Nakamura Hoshino remains a mystery, but now at least, she's blocked. 

Clear Vision in a Murky World

COVID has been enlightening in shining a spotlight on the darkness and disorder within our own minds.  It shouldn’t be a surprise that the relative madness of these days seemingly demands simple explanations: a black and white answer for what troubles us and why.  In this age of social distancing, closed places of learning, and, ultimately, fear itself, why not turn to unusual sources of information for answers; traditional sources certainly haven’t offered a great deal of wisdom or thoughtfulness in the present age of darkness.

 

In fact, many public channels of communication concerning COVID in particular seem condescending and virtue-signaling to many of us on the conservative side of the political spectrum.  Rather than invite dialogue or suggest reflection, they cement our biases or perspectives from the outset.  If state and federal governments really want to create inroads with this demographic, they should put all of their chips on the table and engage in authentic, meaningful communication.  For instance, what potential impact might be made if a state leader were to invite skeptics along for a tour of a hospital’s COVID ward?  Yes, there are HIPPA issues to address, but that shouldn’t present an insurmountable barrier.  Go outside your bubble and meet them.

 

Those who take the bait of the conspiracy theory are certainly not engaging in anything new.  These wild stories first came up on my radar when I ran for the Oregon House of Representatives almost a decade ago, but conspiracy stories have been around in one way or the other since the earliest days of modern civilization.  The anti-Jewish conspiracies of the Middle Ages after all paved the way for modern genocide.  (CNN did a recent story on this topic, and it can be accessed HERE.)  At their core, conspiracy theories seem particularly sinful for the Christian, given it’s taking the worst of gossip and melding it with characteristics of false witness, then running one’s view of the world through this inherently defective (subjective) lens. We shouldn’t cling to information that is beyond our reasonable knowing. Matthew 7:5 comes to mind here.

 

Many years ago, I wrote a short story entitled “Clear Vision.”  It was likely encouraged by too much reading of Hemmingway and not enough of finer literature, but the goal of the story remains valid enough.  While it can be argued that there is no truly objective reality, this is likely a construct of minds content to swallow the lie of moral relativism.  As people of faith, we should recognize that there likely is a true reality or perspective of the present day.  This clearer vision can begin to be understood through careful reading and studying of current events and their context or place within the complex tapestry of history.  Using this and our faith, we can create a lens that brings the murkiness of current events into somewhat sharper clarity.  We can see where we are sailing and perhaps avoid the rocky shoal.  There are no shortcuts here, though.  It takes effort to even begin to understand the complexities of the modern world.  If you look for it to be handed to you on a silver platter, you’re surrendering your intellectual independence to manipulators and charlatans.  If they're people in religious authority...Dante's vision of the heretics comes to mind.

 

I’ll share something here that I’ve not mentioned many times before.  A few days before September 11, 2001, I had a troubling dream featuring steel and glass towers burning above my head.  I remember trying to make the way through the smoke and flames before the dream ended as quickly as it had begun.  Truth be known, I believe we probably are in end times, but we’ve been here for quite some time.  No one knows the day or the hour of Christ’s return, so I suggest we should strive to live as intelligent and discerning people of Christ within a world that is quickly passing away around us.   

 

One important dimension of this awareness is not to attribute contrived motivations to people we don’t personally know.  Yes, misguided organizations such as the World Economic Forum and our own president seem to cry out for it sometimes…but we have to be stronger than that.  We have to face the irrational with the rational.   We need to accept that COVID is not part of a one-world conspiracy and that Trump did indeed lose the election last year.  In short, we need to grow up a bit and realize the world needs deep thinkers more than it needs loud and screeching voices creating a false panic.

 

Additional Resources (more to be added/no particular order):

 

Ethics of the vaccines for Catholics (from Vatican)

 

Pope urges vaccination.

 

Jimmy Akins talks about COVID vaccines here and here.

Conservative radio hosts die of COVID..

 

Business Insider reports on COVID deaths of conservative hosts.

 

Regretful radio host

Father Tim Mockaitis Presentation

A Modest Proposal (Desalination for Oregon)

 

Unlike Jonathan Swift's work of the same name, today's post is aimed squarely at the topic of clean water management and creation in Oregon: just some food for thought, or...water for drink, if you like.  Let's begin by acknowledging that we may indeed have a problem here.  Between the wildfires of this year and last as well as the water wars of Southern Oregon's Klamath Basin, and this year's deadly heat wave, change seems to be afoot in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.  Consistent water reserves may be turning into a luxury of the past.  While I am no alarmist, and I remain somewhat skeptical of Global Warming as a process created by human beings' industrialization and development, I think it may be prudent at this time to point out some strategies or approaches that could facilitate improved clean water distribution throughout our drying state.

There's nothing quite like waking up to a morning view like this (summer 2020) to get you asking yourself some tough questions.  I lived through Mt. Saint Helens' eruption on May 18, 1980 in my hometown of Yakima, Washington; this was the closest thing I've experienced since that frightening day from my childhood.  While there is certainly a lot of blame to go around--e.g. lack of comprehensive forest management--let's focus on one particular option that might offer a degree of hope.

Desalination is something that everyone has heard of, but people may not understand the degree to which it is being successfully utilized now through cutting edge technology offered by companies such as IDE Technologies and sharp researchers such as Oregon State University's Bahman Abassi .  There have been some phenomenal minds working on this, and the technology is ready to go.  Already, desalination of seawater is being used successfully all around the world--from Israel to Carlsbad.  As far as Oregon's geography and culture, however, I'd suggest that two central obstacles remain--not counting the price tag.

First, Oregonians care deeply about their amazing environment.  Constructing a large industrial facility on the Oregon Coast is going to take some persuasion, and legitimate concerns need to be considered before any shovel ready project can begin.  Environmental concerns on an Oregon desalination project would include site placement, water quality impact, wildlife impact (including whales, sea lions, salmon, etc.), and perhaps even electricity drain on local systems.  I propose using the term sustainable desalination, because it seems that is what is truly within reach.  

For instance, the leftover water and solids routinely returned to the ocean may have a negative impact on the salinity levels of the water for local wildlife.  This can, at least partially, be offset by selling the sea salt on the retail market, potentially also defraying the startup costs.  Think of it, you could cook with Oregon sea salt, thereby helping to support a worthwhile venture for your home state.  As I believe there are already companies in Oregon that create sea salt from our Pacific waters, perhaps mutually beneficial arrangements could be created between the concerned parties: take and sell the resulting salt for a fee that would go towards supporting the project's continuing costs and particularly its required startup investment in machinery, equipment, property, and construction.

Sustainable to me could also include a solar array that creates electrical independence for the desalination facility.  Granted, we'd want to ensure these arrays aren't zapping shore birds flying above, but it's at least one additional option to consider.  Electric self-sufficiency should be within the realm of possibility either now or soon, and it might prove particularly helpful in diminishing the environmental impact of the desalination facility, and helping make it more appealing to its neighbors.

Second, where to build the facility raises some interesting challenges.  If you constructed it between Florence and Newport, you could potentially utilize the Willamette River's own headwaters to facilitate the transport of the freshwater north to the Willamette Valley, since this river flows from south to north.  (I like the idea of using a river rather than pipes when feasible to do so.). Of course, the greatest water need is going to be further south in the state, so perhaps construction between Brookings and Port Orford might offer the best opportunity for transporting the freshwater east to the parched Klamath Basin.  Wherever it's situated, I don't believe it would be required that it sit particularly close to our picturesque coastline.  As in other parts of the world, large pipes could be laid carefully deep into the ocean to draw the seawater in far out at sea where the intake would pose the least risk.

In conclusion, I'll offer a tiny digression here.  For a variety of reasons, I am not a huge fan of the marijuana industry.  Whether it's the legal or illegal markets, it's not my thing.  I've seen the harm it causes people and their families, and I've seen the trouble the grow operations frequently bring to smaller, rural communities.  You may wonder what in the world does this have to do with desalination?  Well, admittedly, it's a tenuous connection, but hear me out.  As detailed in numerous news reports, this industry is particularly hard on community water systems, and illegal operations can cause damage to the water table, as I understand.  In short, there are many other temporary or emergency solutions that a state might consider in times of serious drought.  Curtailment of grow operations, along with actions such as using treated wastewater on agricultural crops, might go a long way in helping bridge the water gap for a time.  We need to all brainstorm and consider ways in which we can salvage our arid farmland and save ranchers from losing their livelihoods.  In the United States, after all, fresh water should be the least of our concerns.

As I told an inquiring college student recently, I am no scientist, nor do I play one on television...  No, I'm just a guy who wanted to share one option for potentially helping to begin to address the water crisis--before it gets even worse.  More than anything, I wished to share this idea with you all for greater discussion.  Let's talk about it and see if it makes sense to pursue.  I don't know what the next step should be, but I feel like we need to move quickly in addressing the water problem before it gets impossible to be a farmer or a rancher in Klamath County--and an ever-growing arid swath.

Lake Pamelia Hike (Updated from 2012)

A Day Hike to Lake Pamelia

Wild Rhododendrons in bloom around the lake.

Trying to get in better shape and break the daily routine a bit, I first ventured to Lake Pamelia around the summer of 2012.  It didn't disappoint.  Pamelia Lake is situated in Oregon's beautiful Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Area.  These hikes are (almost) always a lot of fun, and I thought I'd offer some quick notes to readers (and reminders for myself) who may be interested in trying it in the future.

The first thing to bear in mind is that this is a limited access area.  This means that a special wilderness use permit must be acquired first online.  You will also need a parking permit for the trailhead.  See the Cascades Wilderness Permit  and the NW Forest Pass.  Here is a link to the annual NW Forest Pass.

The Pamelia Lake Road, leading to the trail head, is located about fourteen miles east of the ranger station off of Highway 22.  It's paved most of the way, but it is a single lane.  Use caution also due to the irregular road surface which can cause underside damage if you try to go to fast.  (No comment on how I know this.)  

The hike itself is not that difficult, but it's probably not fair to call it easy either.  Moderate difficulty is probably the most accurate description.  Make sure that you bring more food and water than you think you'll need, and remember that weather conditions can change rapidly, so bring appropriate clothes (and sunscreen).  The pleasant sound of Pamelia Creek accompanies the hiker for much of the way--a good reminder to stay hydrated!

About three miles of hiking uphill, the winding trail deposits the hiker on the lake's west side with impressive views of Mt. Jefferson to the northeast and wild rhododendrons gracing the lake's shoreline in early summer.  It's a great place to sit and relax for a while.

The only last suggestion I'd offer is to watch your way carefully. There are a number of poorly marked and intersecting trails on the lake's western side.  It's easy to get a little turned around and find yourself going in a circle--not exactly filling the hiker with wonderful feelings of accomplishment.  If you get confused or lost, it's best to return to the lake to regain your bearings.  


I hope the reader finds this information of some value.  It's a great little hike for those of us in the beautiful Willamette Valley.  


(Here is one more link that may prove useful!  Particularly good explanation of the trails in this area.)

New:  You may also enjoy "Injured and Alone."  

The Ripples of Emotional Abuse

 

I’ve never really written about emotional abuse before, but I thought I’d pen a few paragraphs on this dark topic tonight.  My wife and I know of a couple where the domineering female half of the couple has made life increasingly difficult for the man, whom we will call Germaine.  Every time we have a suspicion, it seems that something odd happens that somehow verifies the accuracy of our instincts.  Earlier in the relationship, the female half, for instance, somehow managed to accidentally dial us in the middle of a terrible (verbal) fight.  If you heard it, you’d understand the destructive nature of emotional abuse—whether it’s a man or woman on the receiving end.  She was screaming awful things at the top of her lungs—completely unaware of the open line being recorded on our voicemail.  Shortly after, the male half attempted to leave her.

 

For a while, we were thankful that the man began to finally have an opportunity to heal and speak again to family members—particularly his daughters of whom she harbors a deep and baffling jealousy.  He confirmed much of what had been previously suspected.  Germaine verified that she held his phone and screened his calls and texts.  This has led to injured relationships with family members and old friends, missed opportunities, and a general lack of connection with family and friends with whom she doesn't wish to connect.  She took away the television they had out of fears of him being drawn away by another woman he might catch sight of on the screen.  Her narcistic tendencies also had a devastating effect upon his livelihood, but further details here can’t be shared at this time.  As we feared, though, he decided in the end to return to the isolation and pain of abuse.  It felt like a gut punch to those who love Germaine.

 

Most recently, she impersonated him on a long and viscous series of texts to one of his daughters in particular.  When the truth of her deception came to light, it was shared with Germaine; sadly, he seemed less surprised than simply deeply grieved by this broken trust.  To those whom she does not see as a threat, she’s as sweet as pie.  Germaine’s own brothers don’t appear to have the slightest idea at the degree of emotional abuse he’s suffering daily.  Going home for Germaine is less a retreat than it is a war zone filled now with her hoarded belongings.  But, he said yes: for better or worse.

 

An interesting thing about emotional abuse is the people it hits beyond its initial victim; both daughters are greatly suffering.  One of them in particular is dealing with incredibly painful fibromyalgia, which seems to be linked to the stress and pain of the lost relationship with her father.  Having lost her mother some years back, she now feels essentially that she’s lost her father too.  She has to try to back away from the relationship to safeguard her own mental and physical health.  

So…if you’re considering returning to an abusive relationship, understand that yours is not the only life that will be darkened by this evil.  It's like a cancer that races out from a starting point with a desire to infect and corrupt.  

 

Enough is enough.  

Resources:

Help for Men Being Abused 

National Domestic Abuse Hotline 

Help for Battered Men

USCCB