Sicily/Rome in April 2013…still as intriguing as the first two times!

Photo taken by and property of NSL-R a.k.a TriniDiva

On this trip to Italy, I went back to two cities I love, Rome and Sicily.   I never get bored there seeing and doing the same things over and over again, especially eating and drinking wine…Mamma mia!  The weather was perfect and the people were just as warm and inviting as they always are and Sicily and Rome welcomed me as they always do.

This time in Sicily, there was some excitement from Mt. Etna.  She (Mt. Etna) put on a show like I’ve never seen before with accompanying visual and audible effects.  Yes, Mt. Etna erupted while I was there.  What a sight!  Something so deadly as red, hot lava looked so beautiful against the night sky.   The lava would shoot up towards the sky and then gracefully flow down the side of the mountain.  This show was enhanced by the patches of snow that were still sitting on top of the mountain.   So many of Mother Nature’s forces coming together in one place.  The eruptions caused the earth to shake, similar to an earthquake.  I should also mention that this eruption was not too big or dramatic, but it was enough to cause the airport in Catania to close. 

Photo taken by and property of NSL-R a.k.a TriniDiva
 

I actually took a trip to Mt. Etna two days before the eruption.  It was a beautiful but very cold day and it was very peaceful because there were not too many other people there.  (On top of the volcano is always about 10-20 degrees cooler than the actual temperature.)   While I was on the mountain, there was no indication that an eruption was eminent, except for later that night when I heard and felt some slight rumbling.



The day after the eruption, Mt. Etna simmered down but she sent enormous plumes of smoke into the air.  This smoke was filled with ash and, which can be blown by the wind many, many kilometers away from the mountain.  The ash is very crunchy when dry and when you step on it, it crumbles into tiny black pellets or sometime into black dust.  These are very difficult to clean up, and the streets, sidewalks yards and balconies of homes are sometimes completely covered with the ash.  Sicilians have learned to deal with this minor inconvenience as the as contains many nutrients that help the agriculture on the island.

Photo taken by and property of NSL-R a.k.a. TriniDiva

The market place in Catania is a glorious fanfare, with fish & meats, fruits & vegetables, cheeses & preserved food vendors all vying for your attention and your euros.  Some of them will sing or yell what they are selling while others offer you samples of their fare.  It’s a beautiful scene.

Taormina is a beautiful old town on a cliff with a long and interesting history.  The small streets are filled with all sorts of vendors, and you are never far away from an amazing view of the ocean or the mountains.   A side trip to Isola Bella was also part of the Taormina agenda.  You can get to this adorable little island from the shore by literally walking across the water during a low tide, since it’s only a short distance away.  It looks as if you are walking on water when you cross over to the island.  It was still cold so swimming was not an option, but it was fun to walk along the shore next to the water.

Photo taken by and property of NSL-R a.k.a. TriniDiva

Rome was also very exciting.  Starting with a trip to St. Peter’s Basilica where Pope (Papa) Francesco and some of the cardinals were having service.  There were thousands of people from all around the world in attendance and the standing room only courtyard of the Basilica had gigantic jumbotrons to make sure that no one missed seeing the beloved Pope.  Papa Francesco did a good job of involving the crowd in the service and egging crowd  participation.  The audience absorbed every minute and second of every word he said during the service.  Each nationality was clearly proud to be in attendance and even more proud to represent their country.  The thousands and thousands all displayed their national flags in the courtyard and other memorabilia they had with them.  Each group also responded to Papa Francesco in their national language.


Photo taken by and property of NSL-R a.k.a TriniDiva

Inside the Basilica is absolutely breathtaking!  I am always wowed beyond imagination by the statues, the commanding structures and other works of art on display.  Whether they are big or small, they are wondrous sights to see.  You can look up, down, left or right and something is sure to capture your attention.

Then it was on to the other monuments, the Pantheon, the Colloseum and the Forum, the Vittorio Emmanuelle, and the many other churches throughout the city.  They were just as impressive as the first time I saw them.  I did a lot of walking in Rome because it’s the best way to make sure you don’t miss anything.  Walking around this sprawling metropolis is fascinating and getting lost only leads to another adventure.

I really believe that I can go back to Italy and Sicily over and over again and never be disappointed!

Written by Screenname TriniDiva (a.k.a. NSL-R) on 6/8/13. All photos taken by and are property of TriniDiva (a.k.a. NSL-R)

China, My Far East Experience in Otober 2012



Great Wall of China (Photo by TriniDiva a/k/a NSL-R)

To enjoy a visit to Beijing, China you must be willing to accept and submit to the assault this city will be sure to have on all of your senses.  Don’t fight it…just give in! The sights will astound you, the sounds will excite you and the smells…well the smells can best be compared to the shock of an ice cold shower when you first awaken.  All of this before you even leave the airport.  You must also be willing to accept these elements very quickly or else you will be left in a head-spinning, tailwind going nowhere.   To understand China a little more, you must also be willing to put aside a lot of what you’ve become accustomed to in the West, and be open to the experience you’ll be sure find severely different in far East.  If you have the opportunity to go to China, especially Beijing, go with an open mind.  I went there not expecting anything and left with a new-found awareness for the Chinese culture.

Emperor's Silk Robe (Photo by TriniDiva a/k/a NSL-R)

Being alone in such a megatropolis is one of the most intimidating situations to be in.  You become lost the moment you step into the bustling crowds.  If you don’t know a few key survival words, you’ll be lost.  Be sure to learn some if you plan on visiting.

My Beijing experience begins with a tour of the Ming Tombs.  I visited Chang Ling (where the first Emperor Yongle in Beijing and his Empress Xu are buried).  The tombs themselves are not open for public viewing, but the museum and monument to the Emperor are quite fascinating.  There is an impressive statue of the Emperor in the middle of the museum.  You can’t miss it!



Emperor Yongle (Photo by TriniDiva a/k/a NSL-R)

My excitement was uncontainable as the next experience was the Great Wall  of China.   Did you hear me?  I visited the Great Wall of China!  The Wall (1,700 years old) at Badaling (this section is from the Ming Dynasty), is the most famous and best-preserved section of the Wall.  The moment you see the first sighting of the Wall, it’s breathtaking!   Once you are one the Wall, it’s one of the most surreal experiences you can have.  Nothing can prepare you for the feeling you get once you are there.  There are expansive views that go on as far as the eye can see through the mountains.   I tried hard to block out the hoardes of tourists who were climbing the Wall and tried to envision it in its purest serenity.  I could just have stared at the Wall for days and still not believed where I was.  The Wall is approximately 6,000 miles long, but only a mere faction (one mile) of that distance is open to tourists.  During building, it is reported that about one million people died and are buried in the Wall.

After the excitement of the Great Wall, I saw a Chinese acrobatic show.  The Chinese take this craft very seriously.  The show was fascinating.

Next day was a city tour beginning in Tian’anmen Square.  The 1989 incident, which I had only seen on TV and read in the news, was amplified by the expansive area that is Tian’anmen Square.   Right next door is Chairman Mao’s mausoleum.   Experiencing this with hundreds of thousands of other people was mind-boggling.  No one can speak freely of the “incident” that happened in the Square, but being there and knowing the history took me back to the time when the event happened.

Nine Dragon Screen (Photo by TriniDiva a/k/a NSL-R)

The Forbidden City...wow!  Where to begin is exactly the feeling when you start exploring this area.   It is an endless expanse of temples, gardens, land and more gardens and land.  As I wandered around the compound, I was taken back to my childhood days growing up in Trinidad, running around with no shoes.  The temples stand impressively as you approach them, and they invite you to peek in and see what stories they tell about events that happened hundreds of years ago.  The Summer Palace (largest imperial garden) also known in China as a museum of gardens.  The Temple of Heaven is also a sight to behold.  The Nine Dragon Screen of the Place Museum is a display of nine dragons each painted with a different color.



Jade Chinese Cabbage (Photo by TriniDiva a/k/a NSL-R)

I visited a jade factory (government-owned and operated, of course) and learned how to tell the difference between real and fake jade.  Jade is a living organism and needs water or moisture at all times.  There were many exotic creations at the Jade Factory which were made on-site.   The pieces were very creative and represented many of the things that the Chinese people believe.  For example, the color green means good luck, a Chinese cabbage is supposed to bring you good luck, etc.

Visiting the silk factory was also amazing.  I saw how silk thread is turned into the most beautiful pieces of fabric used for linen and clothing.  The work to turn the threads in fabric is cumbersome and much patience is needed.

Driving is pretty intense on the highway.  In most countries, the shoulder of the road is reserved for emergencies and the like, but in China, the shoulder apparently serves the purpose of a passing lane.  On any given day, there are hundreds of fender benders in China.  I witnessed several dozen during the National Day holiday on my way to the Great Wall.  There are so many cars on the street, and the streets are so congested that this is not so surprising there are not many, many more accidents.

I visited a traditional Chinese medicine shop (which was one that used to provide herbs and medicine to the last emperor of China) where a Chinese doctor took my pulse and was able to tell me a couple of things that were going on in my body.  He was exactly on point with his diagnosis.

I saw a traditional Peking Opera at Liyuan Theatre.  Honestly, it took a lot of effort to sit through this opera.  To Westerners, this show would be unbearable because of the tones used by the performers, but the Peking Opera has a very long history and played a very serious role in entertaining the Emperors.  The performers take their craft seriously and are very meticulous in applying their makeup and getting dressed, before the performance begins.  The Chinese language is very tonal, and these tones carry over into the performance of the actors.  They are not tones that a Westerner has ever heard nor is accustomed to.

Sleeping Panda at Beijing Zoo (Photo by TriniDiva a/k/a NSL-R)

We all know that a visit to China without going to a panda house, would be a unheard of.  Seeing the Pandas in the Panda House at the Beijing Zoo was thrilling.  Even though they were mostly sleeping or just lazing around, it was exciting to see them in China in their original habitat.  The Chinese are very proud of their pandas.

At the Yonghe Lama Monk Temple (Tibetian style Buddhist temple) the strong smell of incense reminds you of where you are.  The fires burning in the huge pits give you a chance to make an offering to Buddha.  Don’t forget to rub the laughing Buddha’s belly for good luck (another Chinese ism).  There is a commanding 18 meter Buddha statue inside the Temple that is a sight to see.

Visiting old Beijing and riding in rickshaws in lanes where only the rickshaws and pedestrian traffic is allowed was very relaxing on the Hutong tour.  These were not traditional rickshaws where the driver is on foot, these rickshaws were attached to bicycles.



Temple/Forbidden City (Photo by TriniDiva a/k/a NSL-R)

I also visited a Tea House and learned how to pour tea from a teapot and how to hold a tea cup to drink tea.  The most important part of making tea is the temperature of the water.  The Chinese use a “pee pee” boy (a gadget) to test the water temperature.  When drinking tea, a woman should point her fingers one way and a man should point his fingers another way.   I saw tea that was 50 years old, which is an acquired taste, but the health benefits are said to be superior.

Water Cube (Aquatic Center) is spectacular on the outside.  I did not go inside, but heard it is the same on the inside.  There is a kaleidoscope of colors on the outside of the cube.



Dragon Boat/Summer Palace (Photo by TriniDiva a/k/a NSL-R)

The Bird’s Nest (Beijing 2008 Olympic Stadium) is now a tourist attraction, but is an amazing and commanding sight from the outside.  It truly looks like a birds’ nest for a teradactyl.  The location of the Bird’s Nest is expansive and you can check out the inside for a fee.

Pedestrians cross anywhere in China.  Crosswalks would be useless there.  Personal space is at a minimum, almost non-existent.  You will get bumped and bruised when you are out and about, but don’t expect an “excuse me.”  This is just the way things are and is quite normal.

Very apparent is the age of China’s workforce, which is very young.  When shopping in stores in China sales people are pushy, eager and will try to sell you something you did not even know you wanted.  They approach you when you’ve barely entered the store and are all over you before you’ve had a chance to look at anything.

This blog has not even scratched the surface of my experience in China, but it captures enough of what I experienced while I was there.

Written by Screenname TriniDiva (a.k.a. NSL-R) on 2/1/13. All photos taken by and are property of TriniDiva (a.k.a. NSL-R)

Cycling, boating, eating in Bavaria! May 2012

5/25/12 – my non-English speaking in-laws picked me up at the airport in Munich.  Neither one of them speaks any English, so needless to say, the ride from the airport was quite interesting.  This was a very exciting event for them as they don’t typically venture too far away from home.  Airport road trip!

5/26/12 - today was a very enjoyable day.  I had the most fun I've had in a long time.  I went cycling in a small town near our apartment in Reichertshofen.  The scenery was great and the ride itself was invigorating.  I had not been on a bicycle in many years and was a little apprehensive about going for ride.  But I did not regret my decision.  I rode for about 16 kilometers (roughly 10 miles) along a scenic route and stopped for lunch at Hexen Haeusl (witch's house) but alas the witch was not home, so I continued on my journey.  Stopped for bad Chinese food afterwards and regretted it. 

 5/27/12 today was another great day.  Had a traditional Bavarian breakfast (brezen,rolls, marmelade, tee/coffee).  Went to the city of Alt Meuthal (located in the mountains) for the afternoon.  Did a fabulous riverboat ride, where I saw old castle ruins and the longest wooden bridge in Europe.  I also went to a Kristall Museum (very interesting) and then had a walk through the gardens, which will was filled with flowers, ponds and little waterfalls.  While I was there, I also learned that you can tell what the weather is going to be by the condition of a donkey's tail.  For example, if the donkey's tail is wet, it's probably going to rain; if the donkey’s tail it white, it’s probably going to snow; if the donkey’s tail falls off, there’s probably going to be an earthquake, etc. Well, it was very entertaining anyway!  My trip there was short but sweet. 

 5/28/12 today I left Deutschland. ):  Alas another aufwiedersehen (goodbye).   They get harder each time.  The typical routine is to check me in, then get something to eat.  Today I had fries and currywurst.  Typical Bavarian fare, I kid you not and yes I said "curry."  Go figure!  Then it was the usual kiss kiss, miss you, icy liebe dich, bis morgen call me when you get home!  The flight back home was uneventful except for the swervy landing which the captain totally played off with his lackluster humour.  Where to next? Stay tuned!

Written by Screenname TriniDiva (a.k.a. NSL-R) on 6/2/12.  All photos taken by and are property of TriniDiva (a.k.a. NSL-R)

Germany/Sicily. Mama mia! - April 2012

Just got back from Germany and a few days in Sicily too.  So awesome!  The short time in Sicily was hardly enough to be teased, but I made the best of it! Sicily has so much to offer that I could hardly keep up. So much energy, so much life, so much zeal, so much wine!

Mt. Etna was a commanding presence from up in the air and she gave a show while I was there. She was not to be outshined by any other attraction and her performance was enough to grab my attention. She was spewing lava for a couple of hours at night! Red, hot lava! What a sight to see (from far enough away of course…mamma mia!) while sipping on some of Sicily’s finest wines!

I visited Taormina and watched and listened to the waves at night, checked out the open market  and Elephant Piazza in downtown Catania, drove a good way up Mt. Etna to some of her snowy peaks, and walked through ash from Mt. Etna on the sidewalks of Acireale!  

While I was in Sicily, it was Italy’s Liberation Day holiday.  Some newly found friends planned a day outing at the base of Mt. Etna. They prepared food in the true spirit of an Italian family! There was so much to eat and I got so caught up in the moment that I accidently ate horsemeat!  (No need to re-read, I said I ate horsemeat.)  Yikes!  Then, I intentionally ate horsemeat.  Yes, don’t ask.

One morning I had pastries drenched in some type of alcohol and canoles for breakfast, drank more wine than the actual time I spent on the island, and tried some of the best pasta I’ve ever had.  I got hooted at on the streets of Acireale (I still got it…hubby was happy to hear this), stared at a magnificent ocean early in morning and had the best family time.  It was really good big fun!

I would go back to Sicily tomorrow!

Written by Screenname TriniDiva (a.k.a. NSL-R) on 5/6/12 All photos taken by and are property of TriniDiva (a.k.a. NSL-R)

SNOW TUBING...FIRST TIME EVER!

I recently went snow tubing at Round Top Mountain resort in Pennsylvania for the first time. I was immediately a little intimated by the size of the hill I would have to conquer, even though a six year old was ferociously excited about it. (Whatever…youthful innocence!) (: I grabbed my tube (an orange one) and headed for the top of the hill. The long and arduous escalator ride did not help to relax me for what lay ahead. Once at the top, I reluctantly positioned myself inside the tube and asked for a push off the ledge! (What the heck!) However, I held on tightly to the fingers of the two guys who were helping me and started to panic at the last moment. (OK…”held on” is not quite accurate, it’s more like I put the jaws of life grip on their hands! Yikes! What was I thinking?) There was a perfectly warm lodge nearby serving hot chocolate and tea, but instead, I was considering being pushed off the ledge of a snowy hill at night. There was even a bonfire nearby, but I was in the compromising of potentially crashing in to another snow tuber because all that separate the lanes was a barely “one foot” snow bank! (Really?) Anyway, I eventually freed my mind of the grip that fear had on me, and gracefully maneuvered the tube down the hill. (OK, wrong again, I hollered like a banchee as I was pushed off the ledge and slid down the hill, legs in the air and all!) LOL! Once I got the bottom, I thanked God for keeping me safe along the long and treacherous journey I had just taken, spinning, bumping into the banks that separated the lanes, going backwards and not knowing what lay ahead, going over small bumps, going airborne a couple of times, then a big dip and not know whether or not I would survive the journey. (OK, the whole ride took about 30 seconds, but it FELT like 30 minutes! LOL!) Then I did it about four or five more times! It was exhilarating and I had a blast! I did have hot chocolate and am looking forward to snow tubing again!

Written by Screenname TriniDiva (a.k.a. NSL-R) on 2/5/12 All photos taken by and property of NSL-R.