Travel on Marco's Blog

4 Days of Driving for 4 Days of Snowboarding Mt Bachelor

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Last year’s Great Canada Snowboarding Adventure was the last great trip I had planned linking ski resorts together in a chain. It was by far the most resorts, the longest drive, and the most fun I’ve had on all snowboarding winter adventures, so far, but it also marked an end. There just weren’t that many resorts left I hadn’t visited, and the lost one were isolated, far, and not on any pass system.

The Great Annular Eclipse of 2023

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

I am still remembering the Great American Eclipse of 2017 with fondness and surprise. Even to a trained physicist like me, the sudden disappearance of the sun for a few minutes in the middle of the day was surprising, even startling. It’s probably my fondest memory of a natural event, together with the sight of lava falls on Hawai’i, the Big Island of the state.

But there was a much more convenient eclipse happening in 2023. It happened in October, in the middle of Colorado’s Mud Season, and on a Saturday. The weather was forecast to be absolutely perfect, warmish and sunny and with no clouds in sight. Still, was it not going to be a letdown after the Great Total Eclipse? I mean, we all had heard the song, Total Eclipse of My Heart. Had anyone written anything about the Annular Eclipse of the Heart?

Snowboarding Trips

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 10:30:48 -0700

The Great Canada Snowboarding Adventure

The Grand Tour of the North

Steamboat During the Bomb Cyclone

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 16:40:41 +0000

It was (and still is) an amazing snow season, one of those you can tell tall stories about to your grandkids surrounding the fireplace. But the crown of the worst storm of the many definitely goes to the one that dropped a blanket of white from Aspen to Chicago. It marked the lowest barometric pressure ever recorded in Colorado, with some of the worst winter winds recorded.

What a better day to do a road trip? I collected my friends in Vail Valley, from which you can drive directly to Steamboat without going over the famously finicky Rabbit’s Ear’s Pass, and we decided to have a good time in the blizzard. To be fair to us, it wasn’t exactly that we planned to be in a blizzard: we simply had heard there was a storm system coming, the season was ending, and we wanted to all go to Steamboat. Changing the day invariably meant the trip was going to fall apart, so Bomb Cyclone it was.

Rocky Mountain National Park / First Open Week!

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 21:20:10 +0000

Colorado is justly famous for its mountains. The Rockies rise up in the middle of the continent like a wall meant to stop colonization and make the place rugged, remote, and scenic.

Alas, humanity is really good at beating down nature, and the Rockies were no match for our relentless pursuit of wealth and suburbs. By now, there are homes everywhere in the state, except where Federal land ownership prevents construction. But the mountains are still there, marvelous in their beauty and isolation.

GTotN: Conclusion

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 15:18:45 +0000

It is Presidents’ Day 2016 as I write this. The sun has come out and it’s going to be a warm day in San Diego. The yellow jacket is staring at me on a chair opposite this computer, while the board and gear are still firmly lodged on the living room floor. It’s a mess, a glorious mess.

This adventure was amazing. I saw places I would remember forever, had more fun than I thought I could have, was less stressed out than I thought I would by the constant need to move, move, move.

GTotN Day 6/7: Holiday Inn Boise Airport and flight home

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 15:01:38 +0000

To the West, the airport, to the right the Holiday Inn. I was happy about that, because I really didn’t want to deal with any kind of traffic in the morning.

Location for the Holiday Inn is perfect, and the rooms are really nice. In fact, this was probably the nicest room I’ve stayed at during the entire trip. The only downside: I got a Hotwire room. Some hotels have the nasty habit of giving guests the crappiest rooms just because you ordered it with a discount.

GTotN Day 7: The long way home

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 14:48:34 +0000

One thing I failed to mention in my write-up of the snowboarding day in Big Sky is that it was “unseasonably warm.” It was mid-February, when temperatures should have ranged from 15 to 38 (low high). Instead, it was 38 to 50. Locals told me it felt like May.

I had checked the weather before going up the mountain and made the right (if scary) call: only the Tesla base layer and a cotton sweater on top. That my usual uniform for spring skiing, and it was way too much for the day. I wish I had brought the convertible jacket (the one where you can separate the shell from the inner lining and wear it as a full protection jacket, a shell only, or a light jacket with not shell).

GTotN Day 6: Big Sky Resort

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 14:10:43 +0000

The shuttles come only once an hour and I wanted to be on the mountain early. To make sure I wouldn’t miss it, I was out and about around 8, for a departure at 8:35. I thought I was going to freeze my heini off, but it was actually temperate.

The bus arrived and I boarded with a small bunch of people. The driver then left at the appointed time and we started winding our way up Lone Mountain Road, the main road towards the lifts.

GTotN Day 6: River Rock Lodge and Big Sky, MT

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 05:07:12 +0000

Big Sky is an odd resort. I occupies a wide valley that ascends until it hits a capping mountain, Lone Mountain. There are several villages, each with its own character. The main base area is called Mountain Village, and actually has a whole mountain below itself. There is a village called Moonlight Basin, which is new. There is a Hidden Valley. Just below that one is Town Square. There is a Golf Course. There is a Meadow Village. There is a crossing and a Canyon Village.

GTotN Day 5: Jackson to Big Sky

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 04:38:09 +0000

i was a little apprehensive at first. The final part of the drive from Sun Valley to Jackson Hole, the Tetons, had been steep and fraught with danger. What would the drive to Big Sky look like? I knew there was a canyon involved, but how steep would it be?

The weather was nice, and as I point out in the previous post, I felt Confident. First, the crossing of the Tetons. Not a problem, except for this lady in the Forester ahead of me that slowed down to a crawl (20 mph) whenever there was water on the road or a turn. Given that it was 37 and we were crossing the mountains, there were lots of turns and lots of water!

GTotN Day 4/5: Jackson Hole

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 04:27:47 +0000

Sometimes, you experience something as wonderful and you realize it might not be as good next time around. You were euphoric with the excitement of the discoverer, and there is no way next time you’ll have as good a time.

Turns out that may be true in general, but not in this case. I remembered Jackson Hole as a wonderful, amazing place. The second time around, it was the same thing, but better.

GTotN Day 4: Lexington Inn and Jackson, WY

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 04:05:31 +0000

As the brochures ask, is it called Jackson, Jackson Hole, or Teton Village?

The answer, my friend, is blowing in the Arctic wind. Jackson, WY is the town. A very nice town, indeed. The low-lying valley of the Snake river around the Tetons is called Jackson Hole. So Jackson (the city) is located in Jackson Hole the area. Teton Village is the name of the base area of the ski resort, which is named after the area, Jackson Hole.

GTotN Day 3: Sun Valley to Jackson Hole

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 03:46:25 +0000

The drive from Sun Valley to Jackson Hole was 4.5 hours planned. Leaving the first resort at closing time would have gotten me into Jackson after 8, which is something I didn’t want, since the last part of the drive involved crossing the Tetons.

I left early (sue me), after lunch. As usual, I had packed the car and checked out, and since the lot was so close to the hotel, I just moved everything to the lot.

GTotN Day 2: Sun Valley Resort

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 03:33:54 +0000

From the hotel to the entrance to River Run Lodge I had a 9 minute walk. In fact, getting from the Lodge to the parking lot was shorter than from the end of the lot to the resort.

Sun Valley is incredibly friendly. It advertises it won “Best of” awards in a number of categories, like speed of the lifts, kid friendliness, etc. None of them are technical wins. There is no, “Best lift” award, or “Most difficult terrain.” Sun Valley wins the heart, not the muscles.

GTotN Day 2: Best Western Tyrolean Lodge and Ketchum, ID

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 03:08:54 +0000

I didn’t really get a chance to connect to the place when I checked in. I just picked up the room keys and walked up the stairs, then dropped dead tired into bed.

It was in the morning that I activated my snow sense. I got the coffee maker out and started my day by brewing a 12 cup batch and checking email. The hotel WiFi was pretty crappy, and the LTE gizmo turned out to be on AT&T, not Verizon as I wished.

GTotN Day 1: San Diego to Sun Valley

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 02:57:29 +0000

The Alaska flight to Boise leaves San Diego at 3:40p from Terminal 1. It was a Sunday, so the late afternoon was a perfect time to go. What do you know, it was also the first day of a heating trend and I found myself leaving town with the first long stretch of beach weather arriving. It’s been a cold winter, this year, with barely a day making it to average temperature.

GTotN: Planning

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 02:03:25 +0000

Why did I pick the three resorts on the list? Why Sun Valley, Jackson Hole, and Big Sky?

Mountain Collective had added Sun Valley this year, with Lake Louise and Thredbo. I dreamed of going to Lake Louise, but an international trip comes with its complications: if you rent a car, you cannot cross borders. You need to bring your passport, and that makes things a lot more complicated in case stuff (including the passport) is lost or stolen.

The Big Island

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 18:03:42 +0000

{moszoomimglink:Waipi’o – tiny Hi’ilawe falls} I am writing this fresh from a one week vacation to Kona, spent mostly exploring and marveling at the miracles of this biggest of the Hawaiian islands. It is so big, indeed, that it would easily fit all other islands combined.

{moszoomimglink:All of Mauna Loa} Like all other islands in the chain, Hawai’i is formed by volcanoes that rise up all the way from the bottom of the sea. While underwater, the lava cools very quickly, generating a mountain that is very steep. Once the ocean surface is passed, the lava turns out to be very fluid, so that the aerial part of the islands is quite flat. Don’t expect the volcanoes to look like Mount St. Helens or Vesuvius: they are gentle in slope, and the only really steep grade is where erosion has eaten away a chunk of mountain.

Kauai

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 18:03:06 +0000

Oh, what a surprise! You won’t know what you missed in life until you got to Kauai.

{moszoomimglink:Wailua falls}The Northernmost major island of the chain, Kauai is the one that gets the most water. It is the oldest, too, so that the flanks of the volcano that makes up the bulk of its mass are eroded into deep valleys with sharp razor-edged mountain ridges to separate them. There is, as usual, a wet side and a dry side to it. The wet side is so wet, it is famous for being the wettest spot on Earth. Mount Waialeale is not the highest point on Kauai, but surely the wettest. I am positive that Waialeale must be Hawaiian for “watch out, it’s slippery!”

Maui

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 18:02:18 +0000

{moszoomimglink:A stream falling into a pool}Maui-no-ka-oi, Maui is the best! That’s the motto of the island, and funny enough, it seems consistently not to be true. Maui is always second best at whatever it is good. It is the second-largest island; it is the second densest in population; it is the second highest; it is the second most urban; it has the second-best nightlife and the second best shopping; nature is second best, as is the diversity of the people.

The East Coast

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 18:01:44 +0000

I confess, after Hanauma Bay everything else is a bit ‘so-what?’ You leave the parking lot, look again at the cinder cone and drive on to a long sandy beach. Here I noticed for the first time how quickly the climate changes: you start out in green and lush Honolulu, and here all of a sudden the scenery turns arid, grey, inhospitable. The beach is beautiful and the views of nearby Molokai can be impressive, but you feel like on a desert island.

South-East Oahu

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 18:01:04 +0000

Once you leave town to the East, things become quickly suburban. Evidently, the more affluent side of society resides here. Some beautiful mansions and houses are built around Diamond Head, then urban complexes like the ones you’d find in Southern California.

{moszoomimglink:Hanauma Bay}Once you cross the artificial lagoon of Hawaii Kai, with its huge number of New Homes with New Home Smell, you’ll start seeing what most people want to see when they fly to Hawaii: unspoiled land. Actually, one of the first attractions on your way is one of the most astonishing ones: Hanauma Bay.

Honolulu

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 18:00:19 +0000

The urban heart of the islands is something that you want to avoid if you are traveling to Hawai’i because of the islands. If you are flying in from L.A. or N.Y., N.Y., then you’d be likely to die outside of an urban environment and Honolulu is close enough to carry you over the one week vacation.

{moszoomimglink:From Queen’s beach}Honolulu has most trappings of modern cities, including a vast array of shopping malls and stores. There are beautiful museums and galleries and universities, but none of that really compares with the corresponding institutions and businesses on the mainland. At the same time, you have to search really hard to find a real place, a Hawaiian place.

What Did I See?

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 17:59:40 +0000

No point in telling you what to do, since that’s covered in an impressive array of guide books. Let me just tell you what I saw and how I liked it, and you can then match up my opinionated and subjective views with the glorious details of the professionals.

{moszoomimglink:Heliconia}

Aloha the Concept

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 17:59:05 +0000

{moszoomimglink:Marco and his mahu lei}Hawai’i does a lot to a person, but little is more profoundly life-changing than aloha. You’ll hear this word uttered mainly as a greeting or a good-bye, but it actually means ‘love’. You might think that a people that throws the word love at anyone they see is a bit careless and insincere, but you and I would be wrong. When Hawaiians throw love around, they do so with abandon and inclusion, and their aloha is meant as a real concept.

Aloha the Word

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 17:58:34 +0000

When you’ll land, you’ll notice that words are suddenly all different. Outside of Honolulu, most places and towns have names that are incredibly long and difficult to pronouce, and you wonder why anyone would choose such tonge-breaking complexities at all. Of course, if you spoke the language of Hawai’i, you wouldn’t think the names odd.

{moszoomimglink:Sun setting from the lanai}Take the name of the channel between Maui and the small island of Kahoolawe, called Kealaikahiki. That’s one mouthful or two for you. Yet once someone, say Michener, tells you how to break it up, you’ll have a hard time forgetting it. In this case, the breakup is: ke-ala-i-kahiki. That doesn’t tell you much, right?

Geography Lessons on the Fly

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 17:58:03 +0000

There is nothing as inconsistent as a flight from San Francisco to Honolulu. You’ll start miring at the beauty of the City by the Bay — look at Point Reyes, see the city wrapping around its famed hills, catch the East Bay towns with a glimpse of an eye. Then, all of a sudden, the endless ocean begins, and for hours and hours there will be nothing to see. If you are lucky, a lonely cloud will say hello and unerringly pass by. Sometimes you’ll catch the airplane rainbow hunting the shadow of the plane. But most of the time you’ll be forced to watch the omnibus movie.

Discovering Aloha

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 17:57:20 +0000

Ever since, I have tried to visit Hawai’i as often as I could. It is a short hop from San Francisco, a mere six or five hours (depending on the direction) and here everything is so expensive that a vacation in Hawai’i is really not out of the question.

{moszoomimglink:Hula in front of the falls} I have gone back four times. Three times visiting Maui, once Kauai. And every time I think of the islands, the hardships of my life in the States becomes acceptable. Each island has its own flair, but all of them speak the same language of aloha, and in their collective love they engulf me, who is a bit lonely now.

Aftermath

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 17:56:43 +0000

I sat on the plane, and somehow I knew I would be back soon. Every single fiber of my body wanted to come back and see the islands again. And yet, little did I know of them.

Aunts were very happy about the trip. So much so that they ordered a second batch, this time with my little brother (back then still unmarried) and myself. He threw a fit of hissy because I was invited a second time, and my elder brother wasn’t at all; but then again, I spent tons of time with my aunts and the other brother barely knew their names, so it was a done deal.

We got there

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 17:56:05 +0000

The flight was uneventful. We stopped in Dallas, where the winter was not as clement as I now know it to be. A clear day, a cold day, and we were not prepared. The next flight was on time, more peanuts served, more desserts shoved over the seats back to me, unable to sleep for excitement.

It was night when we landed. And nothing distinguishes Frankfurt from Honolulu at night. The Germans even have a saying that goes: “At night all cats are grey.” Smart people, aren’t they?

How Did I Get There?

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 17:54:01 +0000

{moszoomimglink:Gisela und Marco, nettes Bild} It all began in 1992. I was finishing up my Master’s Thesis in Physics at the University of Aachen, and got a phone call from Southern Germany. My two aunts had decided they wanted to visit their friend Doris and needed a … well … guide and translator and caretaker and entertainer.

Since I was too busy to visit them during the year, they would use my services only for one week, and stay themselves for two. All expenses paid, though, and the trip would start in the middle of the dreadful German winter, lifting me away from snow and cold and dreary skies and catapult me into what I hoped would be a tropical paradise.

And If I Get Sick?

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 13:55:10 +0000

Nobody ever wants to get sick, and for sure not on vacation. But if you are in trouble, you will want to have read what to expect in advance.

Western Europe, to which Italy belongs, is highly civilized. This means the medical system is very well established, with the usual structure of first aid services, local hospitals and major health centers that we know from the States.

Treatment is usually quite good, although nurses are severely underpaid and traditionally rely on the families of patients to pitch in with the assistance. Rarely will you find anything that doesn’t look right or feel right. And if you do, try to get out of the place and get into the next one.

Talking With Your Hands

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 13:54:12 +0000

Or: A Primer On Non-Verbal Communication

You’ve all heard that Italians talk with their hand. Now if that’s not a tourist-friendly way of communicating! Just learn to do as Italians do, and the language barrier is something for the myths of community college courses.

As any old culture, Italy has its very own style of communication. You will have a much better experience if you know what the little tell-tale signs are (gestures and actions), especially if you are not an extrovert person to begin with. I have had friends coming back telling me that they hadn’t met anyone in Italy, as much as they tried. But it turned out that they just had not known how to approach Italians.

On the Road

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 13:53:12 +0000

Or: Traveling in Italy.

Personally, my favorite way of experiencing Italy is by bike. You can travel leisurely, purposefully and get a workout at the same time. And the distances are not too daunting: you can do the Milan to Rome race in just two weeks.

Ok, that was a nice joke, wasn’t it? Cars, let’s start with cars. Sincerely, you have to be quite an aggressive driver here in the States to like the traffic in Italy. Cars zip around ignoring speed limits, rushing boldly into each other at intersections. Soon you won’t wonder any more why so many cars are dented all over. My advice: stay away from the cities, but take a car whenever you need to visit the countryside. Car rental companies abound, and you’ll get decent prices if you book ahead of time. If you just show up at the airport counter, it is going to be a real pain for your bank account.

A Little Activity

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 13:52:19 +0000

Oh, what fun it is to play beach volleyball in Rimini! Especially as a possibly blond(e) American! The crowd will be in awe of the foreigners, the americani, and will lift them to the skies win or lose.

Sporting activities in Italy are like everywhere else. There are fewer golf courses and tennis courts, and they are quite expensive. But if you want to bike – what better place than the hills of Tuscany (ask you legs after two weeks, and they’ll tell you a hundred better places!)? If you want to swim – aren’t the waters of the Mediterranean too invitin to resists?

Enough Already! Where Is the Boutique?

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 13:51:35 +0000

Well, where is it? Italy is one of those places where the shopper has only a few things in mind: clothes, cars, shoes and leather in general, food.

Bad news: most food is off-limits and most cars are too heavy for the overhead compartment. I have seen desperate men eating entire salami on their way back, since fresh food is taboo. And I have seen helpless men roam around at their hometown DMV, trying to get their imported Ferraris through inspection.

Let's Talk About Art

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 13:50:44 +0000

Now that our stomachs are full, let’s stroll to the best art in town… And where would that be?

Too much art can be. And surely you’ll understand that once an enthusiastic travel companion drags you through all the sites in you guide book. Don’t let that happen to you: focus on something you particularly enjoy, and let the other stuff to the other guys.

And still, there are some jewels you just can’t do without. Let me enumerate what my ignorant self remembers, and do help me with more – email link on the homepage, anyone?

What Can Go Wrong?

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 13:49:44 +0000

Italians love guests, just like most peoples in the Mediterranean. And guest is whoever is not a regular and is invited. Hence, you will be guests as you enter Italy.

Now, guests are supposed to know how to behave, and if you won’t know the rules, you won’t be a guest for long. So watch yourself and make sure you avoid at least these easily spotted pitfalls.

First, avoid tourist traps. No matter how hungry you are, no matter how uncomfortable it seems to order in Italian – avoid the restaurant in front of the Vatican that shouts on large billboards: “English Spoken”. If you do, you’ll deserve the lousy food and the exhorbitant prices. Rule of thumb: if you see Italians, hear Italian, then you are allowed to go in.

Pizza and the Rest of the Day

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 13:48:54 +0000

Afternoon is reserved for the merenda, yet another snack. By now, you should wonder how those Italians manage to stay fit and good-looking. I don’t know either, it seems to be all about food, all the time. Merenda, in any case, is a Latin words that literally means: that has to be earned. So it’s customary for parents to give their children a snack in the afternoon if they have been behaving and doing their homework. Schooling is very important in a country with high unemployment and more art and architecture than anywhere else.

Eating At a Restaurant

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 13:48:12 +0000

You stroll around, and you start getting hungry. Around you, nobody else is. Typical, isn’t it? Italians start eating lunch around 1:30 PM, and you won’t find many restaurants that open much earlier than 12:30PM. And then you find one that is open, and the you’ll finally know why it’s called a waiter. You’ll wait.

Remember, nobody is in a hurry here. And if they were, they would eat at a fast-food joint (I forbid you from doing the same!). You’ll have to catch the waiter’s attention and start ordering. Remember, you are supposed to eat at least two courses, so choose wisely!

And If You Don't Care About Art?

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 13:47:18 +0000

I am sure half of you couldn’t wait to get to this section… Food is definitely one of the better reasons to visit Italy, and nobody (in Italy) would think there’s anything odd about traveling across the ocean just to eat some real pasta. After all, we used to drive hundred miles just to get fresh water for the coffee!

Regions: The late unification of Italy has allowed the country to develop a set of regional cuisines that are very distinctive and disjunct. What you’d eat in the North would not stir attention in the South, and vice versa. After almost a sesquicentennial, Italy is starting to homogenize and regions assimilate foods from outside. Yet, when you go to a restaurant, always seek the local specialty over the common.

Cities to Visit

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 13:46:12 +0000

If you consider that Italy has only about sixty million inhabitants, a quarter of the population of the United States, it seems odd there would be that many cities worth visiting. Sadly, though, that is the case, and even to get a cursory glance at the most important cities, you’ll have to travel to lots of different places.

One thing helps you: every city except for Rome had one particular moment in time when it flourished and then faded, freezing the city mostly in a particular architectural stage. You can safely skip certain cities, say, if you are not interested in medieval architecture (but then, why would you not?).

The Best Landscapes

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 13:44:11 +0000

Frankly, if you have seen the natural beauty of the States, you won’t be taken aback by anything you’ll see in Europe. America is a huge, diverse continent and has everything to offer to the curious traveler. If you wish to see unique landscapes, stay home and enjoy. I have traveled Europe, I have traveled America – ain’t no valley more beautiful than Yosemite, ain’t no beach more stunning than the Oregon beaches, and you won’t find anything even remotely close to Yellowstone/Grand Teton.

For the Sun Worshipper

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 13:43:17 +0000

You usually fly out to the Florida keys in the winter? Or is Hawai”i your usual Christmas destination? Well, then Italy has plenty to offer!

First thing to learn is that the North-East Coast of Italy is different than the rest. It boasts flat, wide ribbons of sand on calm seas, just like you know from Miami Beach. With the flat and the wide comes a very unnerving Italian custom: the rows and rows and rows of beach umbrellas, rented for good money from a bagnino, a life-guard cum barista. Rimini is the hot-spot of the ribbon, with a nightlife that is worth a trip from Milan, four hours away, judging by the accident frequency on summer weekends.

Where Should You Go?

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 12:38:46 +0000

Would you believe there is a country the size of Italy where there is no place without sights worthy of your visit close-by?

Italy is so rich in art that the Sovrintendenza ai Beni Artistici, the powerful Ministry of Arts, just can’t keep up. Every year some masterpiece gets lost or stolen because nothing the government does is ever able to protect a country that is full to the brim with its past and its desire to impress.

When Should You Go?

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 12:37:08 +0000

Italy isn’t too large: it is under thousand miles long, so that you can, if you want, drive from one end to the other in one, very long, day. Accordingly, the climate varies only mildly from the “cold” North in Milano to the warmth of Sicilia. The winters will be cool and wet anywhere you go, but you”ll see no snow in Messina. The summers will always be hot. What changes is the onset of the warm season – february has wonderful days in Sicily, while it can still be cold in Milan” may.

Hawaii

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 12:17:40 +0000

Marco’s Hawai’i

You all know Hawai’i, have heard of Hawai’i, and maybe already love Hawai’i. I am not going to bore you with things you’ll find elsewhere. I am going to bore you with the things I have found on Hawai’i, and I am going to explain to you and myself why I love those islands so much. {moscontentlink:How did i get there?|(more…)}

{moszoomimglink:The welcoming band at the falls}

Italy

marco@mrgazz.com (Marco) — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 12:15:24 +0000

A lot of people, eager to see more than just Baedeker country, have kindly asked me what they should strive to see on their first trip to Italy. Over the years, I ended up giving enough advice that I should have made me an expert, so here you are with my thoughts.

What’s Italy all about?

Each country has its own ideal of its reason for being. The United States of America, say, calls itself the Land of the Free; Japan ended up being the Land of the Morning Sun. Italians call their home “the Beautiful Country”.