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Why do we travel?

Thursday, August 25th, 2005

It certainly is a loaded question, for sure. But, I suppose everyone has their own reasons. Whether it is to see loved ones, relaxation, see historical sites, learn another language or understand another culture, it is dependent on our experiences and what type of people we are as individual.

For me, I travel foremost to see loved ones as my family is spread out between Wisconsin, Texas, Georgia, California, Hawaii, Italy and Philippines. But, I also travel for experiences that I normally don’t experience at “home.” People that know me, knows I like to eat. I will try most things once just for the experience. If I like it, I’ll probably have it again. We won’t know what we like unless we try. Everything in moderation though, with deprivation and over indulgence in between to gauge our moderation. I also like to learn other cultures and see historical sites and really understand why it was built or why did it happen here. I still yet have to master the art of starting a conversation with locals. My foreign language skills is very poor. That’s why it will be interesting when I will travel by myselt if I can really “survive” using another language. I guess I have to stop using the “do you speak english” excuse. I think I will have a better travel experience and connect more with the locals if I try the local language. Easier said than done though.

Deanna knows German. She minored in German in College. So, she’ll most likely do the speaking in Austria and Germany. I will have to observe her and learn as much since I’ll be in Germany for 2 or 3 extra days by myself. No clue what Belgians speak. But I understand that they speak predominantly French there. So I’ll have to practice how to be a snotty French. Oui Oui! Netherlands, no clue what Dutch is all about. But the Hollanders are fluent in English and German also, so there is more flexibility to communicate in Netherlands than in France wannabe Belgium.

I guess the reason I want to stop in Brussels are to try Brussells sprouts, Belgian style. Try Brussells mussells. Try Belgian Fries with Mayo! that’s right Mayo. With Ketchup would just be so un-French.

Maybe if we test their Mayo, we’ll actually find out that it’s kechup without the food coloring! Sacre Cour!!! Then we’ll headline USA Today with “Belgian Mayo is actually French Kechup!” For those of you wondering what the heck is Boado talking about see the Lance Armstrong EPO saga.

Anyway check these picks out from our last trip to Le Francais and Italia.

fountain

We were heading to a restaurant in Cinalunga (located in eastern Tuscany region) and saw this fountain that was built in 1520. Pretty funny moment that Alesandro will probably be told endlessly by his Uncle.

dogs

The pic above I took in Florence. There was a protest march going on at the time we were there. So alot of the side streets were blocked by these protestors. But I saw these “revolutionary dogs” by the Medici square. They were also panhandlling for their owner. Note the thank you note on the box. (barely visible) I thought it was cute and funny at the same time. Just one of those things I guess that you’d never see in LaX.

Just thought I share some thoughts this Wed. night. Checking packing list is really just a bore.

Hasta Luego, jimbing………….

Old Passport

Wednesday, August 24th, 2005

It’s been a while since I last blogged. A lot has been going on and that is an understatement.

For some reason, I could’nt log in to the blog site to post because the brother-in-law (Bob) cleaned the viruses in the home computer and probably took with it some of the downloaded files for blogging. I don’t know for sure if the cleaning did that or not but I’m sticking to my story. I contacted Bootsnall after a week or two and It took them a few days to lick the problem and I’m back on now, which is the most important thing. Thanks to Chris from BnA for checking and clearing the problem.

Also, Mamang (grandmother) has been sick lately and has been in the hospital this last 2 weeks battling pneumonia. She’s recovering very slowly as she had a tracheatomy (sp?) procedure done this last Monday. We’re hoping that this will help her relieve of some of the ailments that she has suffered due to the pneumonia and will recover very soon.

Mamang was the one that introduced me to travelling as I traveled with her when I was young to various places when her work required her to travel. I remembered we would either go by plane or by boat or both on the same trip. I’m sure mom and dad would remember some of those trips. But as a young boy, I enjoyed them immensely.

Anyway, It’s been bittersweet this last couple of weeks as I pray for Mamang to get better and yet still have to prepare for this trip. But we’ll take it one day at a time. We’ll hope for the best and prepare for the worst. I’m just glad that Maria has been very supportive in this very tough time. I don’t know how she does it, but I’m glad that she’s able to be there for me.

The trip is 1-1/2 wk. away. We’ve assembled some of the things that needs to be packed and have crossed a third of the checklist. But we’re going to Madison this weekend to visit Mamang at the hospital before we go. Needless to say, next week will be very busy.

While getting our documents in order, I found my old passport from the PI. It’s very interesting to look at. I had it when we immigrated to the states in ’76. I was 11 yrs old. Don’t laugh to much at the picture.

The last two picks shows the stamps leaving PI and arriving in the US.

Where has time gone? I look so damn young and scared!

Until next time. Jimbing…………