I think I gained weight!

If I thought I ate a LOT when AMY was here I must say I have eaten the BEST here with Angel and Eric. Not only did they prepare two wonderful meals in my apartment but we also seemed to find some of the best (local) food in Rome. This includes a new place for the Jewish/Roman Artichokes I so love...

A & E were a lot of fun and they enjoyed exploring on their own; they get the award for mastering key elements of the transit systems (making up to Orvieto one day, then out to the Appia Antica another day (no Archeobus for them!), and finally out to Ostia (beach) and Ostia Antica.

They left his AM and I already miss them (although we had a little "issue" getting them a shuttle to the airport and ended up putting them in a cab) but I take comfort knowing that Kater and Chris arrive Monday AM and we're in for a whirlwind. Doing Laundry and sweeping up the inevitable dust balls which accumulate in the apartment because I have the windows open 24/7.

Classes are going very well; 14 very bright students, but they are different from each other and that has worked well in class discussions. They finish up this coming week (final quiz Monday and the final portion of their projects due Wednesday).

Also had lunch with the Dean and with Aldo at Aldo's home in San Lorenzo out near Station Tibertina last week (I need to go back and explore that neighborhood more) and enjoyed checking in with Aldo.

Three nephews have birthday's this wee: Happy 22nd Birthday to Nick Griffiths, Happy 21st (really?) Birthday to Bob Walter, and Happy 6th Birthday to hip-hip Harry Conran! Miss you all. Love

Half-way (that's sounds negative but it's not meant to be)

I was officially in Rome for 1/2 my time on the 18th (I arrive 5/18 and leave 7/18) but I do feel settled in and comfortable.

Angel and Eric arrived Thursday AM and we have had a lovely visit; they are a laid back set of travelers so not a whole lot of hustle (although we did do the Vatican Museum - by night - THE ONLY WAY TO GO - and the Basilica - even climbing the 320 steps to the top of the cupola!) but very enjoyable.

Angel and I made a couple visits to Campo Dei Fiori and then Angel and Eric made the BEST RISOTTO ever along with a Grouper (in honor of Eric's Dad) for dinner Sat Night. Eric does love his gelato and his favorite saying is "in an emergency I say 'due gelato per favore' - right?". Wonderful guests and great visitors.

Back to school and a lovely lunch with Dean Strommen and Prof Aldo Patania; a great way to catch up on things. Angel and Eric are in Orvieto to day so will head home to do laundry (blue Monday) and catch up on some grading.

A & E leave Friday AM and Kate and Chris arrive Monday so will be busy. Joanne Packer has booked a visit from the 8th till when I leave on the 18th so I may hike Cinque Terre yet (although I think she'd like to do a night or two on Capri too)!

People on the bus!

I consider myself pretty open-minded and flexible; up for an adventure. Amy and I had few on the buses (she commented that people smelled differently). My adventures are that I seem to get about the STINKIEST people sit next to me or some old man standing next to me while I sit (and he keeps bumping into me)! Queenie Folks knows all my stories about adventures on the philly trains and transit system...seems these have followed me here. She once offered to buy me a fake spilled McDonald's milkshake to put on the seat beside me...I should have taken her up on it. Oh well- part of the experience (at least that is what I told Amy). Angel and Eric arrive tomorrow!

A nice weekend

Did some work (finishing up a position paper for a Sept conference) and (finally) went up to Ravenna on Saturday- the trip was pricey but worth it. I believe the Roman children are getting ready to be out of school - they were jumping in all the fountains on Friday. Angel and Eric arrive this week.

Missing Amy

Amy left this AM and I already miss her terribly, I may have put on 5 pounds because that girl can EAT and loves to go out to eat. To her credit - she did quit smoking a few weeks ago and EVERYONE Here in Rome seems to smoke. Really, we had a wonderful visit and now I will prepare for Angel and Eric who arrive the 16th. All is well here.

Enjoying Rome with Amy

Well, I really don't see Amy after 930-10PM; her friends from San Diego are in town and she has enjoyed spending time with them but the big news is - we thought today (Monday) was her last full day in town - we kept saying she leaves Tuesday, June 8th but the 8th is Wednesday! We got in our tour of the Appian Way (Quo Vadis?) and had a great dinner (in the rain) up at the Colosseum - what a treat to see it at night.

School is going well; I think most of the students are used to me by now and learning to work with me on an interactive learning model with a heavy reliance on discussion. They have the first part (and the most work) of their semester projects due tomorrow. They are building a country Notebook wherein they are profiling an EU country and providing all the vital statistics and relevant historical, geographic and economic background. In part II of the project the students choose a company operating in that country and profile their operations; in Part II they make a set of strategic recommendations to this company for enhancing/improving operations based on their critical analysis. I'm still getting some questions like "how long does it have to be?" and when I answer "as long as it needs to be to answer my critical questions but about 5-7 pages" they ask - "what if we're over/under?" Students are students all over.

Amy has kept me busy!

From her early arrival Monday AM (which went well despite the fear of the havoc caused by a daylong transit strike) to Saturday afternoon where we were finally able to nap - Amy has kept me busy.

We, of course, did the typical stops on Monday (Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Navonna, Campo-dei-fiori even dinner on the Via Veneto with, of course, gelato!). Tuesday AM, while I went to school, Amy explored Castle St Angelo and then went shopping - doing a good job of retracing our steps of the previous day to shop on the Corso. We then went to the Vatican Museum and the Colosseum and more sight-seeing - even a visit to the Colosseum at NIGHT.

Wed AM - she went out exploring and we came back and tried to go to the Cappuchin Crypt - but her shorts were too short! So we went to the museum of musical instruments instead - a delight. Thursday we went to Florence for the day - saw David as well as Michaelangelo's home! We toured around selections of the Pitti Palace and Boboli and also visited the pharmacy museum. Home again and then off to Sorrento and then Capri on Friday - hot, hot, hot but we survived and ate very well.

Today we started slowly, back to the Crypt (where the woman "guarding" the entrance invited "blondie" back in) and then a leisurely walk through the Borghese gardens then home for laundry and a nap - after a nice lunch of course.

So-she's kept me busy, likes to eat-n-shop - but doesn't like to wear old-lady shoes - as a result - her feet look so sore! I'm having a lot of fun with Amy and even finding new gems in Rome as a result of her curiosity and willingness to try something different.