The Cubicle is empty!!!

Day: Monday, Sept. 5, 2005
Where: Rome, Italy

Well the title said it all!!!

We flew to Minneapolis-St. Paul Saturday night. Everything was fine until reaching the twin cities. A storm was passing thru and we were the last one to land, according to the pilot.

Needless to say, the 15 minute of delay they announced to us turned into an hour and a half. This was a great concern to me as we only had a 50 min transfer time at Schippol Airport. With passport control, we barely had enough time to get to our gate. The flight to A-dam was uneventfull except that I could not go to sleep. The pilot tried to make time as we landed with 20 min. before our planned departure to Rome. We talked to one of the KLM rep that was there and she told us that there was no way that we were going to catch that flight as it was across the terminal. So we went to the transfer station. There is about 6 of these throughout the terminals. We went to 2 and talked to one lady to get us new flights to Rome. When everything was said and done our new flight plan was something we did not expect. We thought KLM would have tons of flight to Rome. But she sent us to Paris with Air France and then at CDG take Ilatalia Airline to Rome and we would land in Rome sometime around 8. The plane was delayed by and hour and a half. The flight to Rome was uneventfull except for the sights of the snowcapped alps from above.

We go a taxi from Leonardo Da Vinci airport to our hotel.

It was a long day. Lasted about 20 hrs from La Crosse to our HOTEL.

We are safe and sound and that is what matters.

I am writing from the hotel internet access that costs 1euro per 30 min and it is about due.

Until next time.

jimbing……..

Wow! only 3 days to go and we’re not half done packing yet. We still need to get the small stuff e.g. batteries, film, digital camera, band-aids, etc. This really takes alot of time.

I also have to coordinate who will collect mail and cut the grass while we’re gone.

But, my biggest worry is the NW Airline strike. I hope our baggage will make it to where we’re arriving. Just in case, I will try to carry-on my backpack. If I can’t, I’ll pack a days clothing in my carry-on just in case the baggage gets lost.

Also, Maria has yet to start thinking about what she’ll be packing. She’s been extremely busy at work and “scheduled” get-together with her friends prior to leaving for the trip. But she’ll be able to finally put some time into the trip the next couple of nights. I hope I’ll have my stuff all packed so I can help her pack. She’s the “right on time gal.” Never too early and never too late. Just good timing. Must be that internal clock that people are talking about. j/k!

I guess I’d better start whittling the checklist.

Arrivederci und Auf Wiedersehen!

Hasta Luego!!!!!!

jimbing……….

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.

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.

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………….

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…………

The tickets are bought and I can’t believe that it’s less than two months to go before the monthlong trip to Europe. This will be the second time Maria and I will be travelling to Europe together. Just for kicks we’re taking her sister Deanna (her first time to Europe) and her parents (Don and Mary) and it will be their second or third time going to the European continent. Should be interesting how all things are going to work. All are rarin’ to go. As the saying goes “So close yet so far!”

Our Itinerary is as follows:

Sept. 3 Leave for Rome (La Crosse/Milwaukee – Minneapolis-Amsterdam-Rome)
Sept. 4 Arrive in Rome. (Vatican, Colosseum, touristy spots)
Sept. 7 Leave Rome for Conegliano (See Jaime’s sister Maria)
(See Venice & Dolomites mountain range)
Sept. 10 Venice to Vienna by train
Sept. 15 Vienna to Salzburg by train
Sept. 18 Salzburg to Fussen, Germany (Neuschwanstein Castle)
Sept. 20 Fussen to Munich (See Don’s relative in Brannenburg, Munich OKTOBERFEST)
Sept. 24 Maria, Deanna, Don & Mary return to the states. Jaime will continue travelling.
(Frankfurt, stay in Bacharach near Rhine River)
Sept. 25 Bacharach/Cologne/Brussells
Sept. 27 Amsterdam
Sept. 28 Jaime’s Birthday
Oct. 2 Jaime return to the states

This itinerary is pretty much set since the hotel reservations have been made. Except for the last week in Jaime’s itinerary. I will just call a day or two ahead to reserve a room at the next destination.

“The gang” are leaving early (6:45 am) on Sat. 9/24, so we need to get a room at a hotel near the airport to arrive there early. This could be tough since OKTOBERFEST will be in full swing.

Don and Mary still need their passports. They have applied for it and should arrive middle of Aug. Hope there’s no problem.

That’s it for now.

best regards to all, jimbing…………

THE CUBICLE IS EMPTY!!!

Hello everyone, I live in mid-western Wisconsin in an area referred to by all as “Gods Country.”

I’ll be travelling with my wife, sister-in-law, parents-in-law for a month in Europe.

I hope to keep this blog entertaining and hopefully update you daily regarding our adventures and misadventures and what nots.

If you have any suggestions, comments and/or thoughts you would like to share that would make this blog more entertaining, please post a comment or e-mail me.

best regards to everyone and here we go!!!!!!

jimbing…………..