Una Casa Abruzzese, and Two Aussies - Last Events

6 Jul to 31 Aug, 2022 - Bomba (and surrounds), Pacentro - (Italy)



So, it comes to our final weeks in Abruzzo, this time anyway. Running around and trying to do final catch ups with our friends has worn us out, and we have both come down with chest infections. Not a great way to finish, but the price paid for doing too much, I think.

We apologise to those we had to cancel, and we are so appreciative of the time we got to spend with those that we did squeeze in.

The deal is, we are heading back to Australia for our next season. Our home in Bomba is to be rented out, to a wonderful lady called Minna. She is beginning a new season in her life, and we feel so confident that she and our house are a perfect match. However, this is not the status quo. We will return to Bomba in due course, maybe spending our lives part and part, or something like that. We'll work it out.

This week, though, sees us heading on an adventure. We will travel for some weeks, en route back to the Land Down Under. Please stay tuned as our blog really kicks off again.

In the meantime, here are a few pics of us filling in July and August. Bomba was like a sponge in this period. First it swelled to bursting as holiday makers, as well as family of residents, moved in to most of the homes in town. Parking became near impossible, and reservations were required for the tables in the piazza. Events were organised, the highlight being the gastronomic stalls and bands. We ate stupid quantities of food with friends and neighbours, old and new. Many toasts were proposed, and tears were shed at the thought of saying goodbye. And again, just like a sponge drying out, slowly things returned to how they were. Locals breathed a big sigh at the realisation of a returning Bomba normality.

We could have tried to put up some gathering pictures, but how many pages of us with friends and food could we risk? You know what the scenes look like. Tables spread with copious quantities of plates and bottles, surronded by smiling people you've never seen before raising a glass to the camera.

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Clambering on Art
Buonanotte is an abandoned village near our home. A number of art installations are dotted around the village. With Jax and Steve.


Pumping Wine from a Bowser
When you need a good amount of wine, by the litre, drop in to the local Cantina and bring your own container.


Caparezza, Live, Pescara, 2022


Caparezza Raps to the Crowd

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Jo joins the Audience Going Big for Caparezza
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Jo joins the Audience Going Big for Caparezza
The best thing about the concert was how much the crowd got into it. The atmosphere was amazing.



Our Ceiling Gets the Michelangelo Touch
Our upstairs room received a new paint job, and new colour scheme. Jo had plans for the ceiling, and through a friend, we were introduced to a local artist who came and did an amazing "flourish" in each corner. We love the result.


Bomba Gastronomic Event
There were 14 or so stalls, scattered through the old town of Bomba. All sorts of food and drink choices, and thousands of people. An amazing feeling to find Bomba full, bustling, so alive. The traditional events are returning.


And Bands Played
Even if we had wanted to go home early, it would have been a challenge. Walking through the centro storico on my way to get some food, I came to our house to find musicians set up on the steps.


Jo's Ready to Go
I don't know if she was using us as a distraction to what was about to happen, but she looks like she's having fun.


Jo Descending Past Pacentro
The start was gentle enough, and it meant there was time to take in what was happening. Enjoy the view, and relish the ride.

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Setting Off Down the Line
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Bring it on!


Bottom of the Zipline, Coming in past Pacentro


The Fearless Six
Myself, Tim, Jo, Kate, Katie, and Paul


Wandering Pacentro
Post zipline, exploring the delightful town of Pacentro.


Neighbours, August
So, Bomba filled up for August with all sorts of Randoms. This household was a combination of some with holiday homes here, and some extended family. Smelling a barbecue on, I peered over our terrace to sticky-beak. I was spotted, conversed with, and minutes later, we were invited in for a drink. Which became a few, some bruschetta, a glass or three of wine, spaghetti ragout, and grappa to chase it all down. We brought some home made chocolate icecream. A memorable dinner indeed... although I do struggle to remember the exact manner in which it wrapped up!

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Una Casa Abruzzese, and Two Aussies - Crossing Borders

1 to 9 Apr, 2022 - Bari, Budapest, Szentendre - (Italy, Hungary)



The stories are generally captured with the photos. With my birthday coming, we decided to head for a foreign celebration. Caught a train down to Bari, for one night, before flying out the following day.

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Seafood Dinner, Bari
Not quite warm enough to dine sans layers. But a nice evening in Bari. Check that octopus!


Fresh Produce Stall, Bari
Fruit and veg for sale in the old town of Bari.

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A solid week in Budapest, for my birthday. Marina and Akos, who cat-sat for us in Richmond a number of times in years gone by, very generously housed us in their apartment, taking time where possible to show us one hell of a good Hungarian time. (Note: reference to hell not entirely random - keep an eye out for their palinka, soon to be available in Australia, marketed under the name of "Pergatory".)

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Morning One in Budapest
Arriving in Budapest, we were graciously hosted in the apartment of Marina and Akos. They said snow was in the forecast, and we woke to the fresh layer. This will probably be our last snowfall for this winter.


Wood-fired Stove on an Old Train
Marina and Akos planned a wonderful Sunday for us. The cold and snow only added to the atmosphere and overall enjoyment. - We walked from their apartment to a point where we caught the children's railway - a train service staffed by children, who rotate in teams to keep the system running. Finding a lit stove in our carriage was a nice bonus.


Young Ticket Inspectors
The children come through, performing their duties of checking and punching our tickets. In broken English, and using Marina and Akos to translate the rest, we learn about the duties they perform as volunteers on the railway. How often they work, and how much they enjoy being involved in the gyermekvasut. Truly, this was a memorable ride.


Striking Out for our Walk
Fresh snow about, Richard and Akos, heading through suburban streets, to get to the walking trails through the forest.


Jo and Marina, Busy with a Selfie


At the Fisherman's Bastion
The Danube river, and Budapest Parliament, from Fisherman's Bastion, Buda.


Akos Brought Us to One of His Lunch Haunts
Meat, pickles, bread. Cheap and easy. What more do you need for lunch?


Wine Bar
Not what you might expect, when using the name wine bar. The majority of wines here cost a pittance, and are ladled from pots into jugs for easier pouring. The barman is also the chef, and has been running the establishment for many years. Akos used to come here in his university days.


Posh Coffee Stop
Our third time in Budapest, and our third visit to Café Gerbeaud. Full of style and character that spans scores of decades, it is a highlight treat to stop in.


Inside the Budapest Opera Building
Akos still has friends working with the recently renovated opera house, and through those connections, we were given tickets to see Mefistofele. Second row, centre, in a magnificent world renowned venue. Amazing.


Foyer, Budapest Opera House


Statues in Hero's Square
The rear part of Hero's Square is lined with statues of notable Kings, and plaques depicting memorable acts they are remembered for. Acts of service or benevolence, or power and strength, but all seen as contributions to what Hungary is today.


Vajdahunyad Castle, Budapest
Housing a couple of museums, an interesting castle to visit and walk around.


Church Entry in Vajdahunyad Castle


Inside Parliament Building, Budapest
We can't believe that we did not do a tour of this building until this trip. It was a worthwhile visit indeed, despite needing to do it in Spanish. The Italian tour was full, and the English ones were at inconvenient times.


Assembly Hall, Budapest Parliament


Brunch - So Good, We Thought We were in Melbourne
A Budapest birthday brunch. We have been missing this sort of morning dining experience, and so, for my birthday, jumped at the opportunity to have a mid morning slap up.


Leaving the Rudas Baths Complex
We visited the Rudas baths (Rudas Gyógyfürdő és Uszoda) for a few hours of relaxing and soaking at various temperatures. In most of the historic bath area it is forbidden to take photos, so a memory photo as we left will have to do;


Dinner at Stand25
Dinner at the Michelin restaurant, Stand25, for my birthday. A fantastic modern take on traditional Hungarian cuisine.

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We squeezed in one day trip out of Budapest.

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View Over Szentendre, Hungary
Not far from Budapest, and easily reached by train, Szentendre made a great day trip.


Play Time
The school was facing on this area outside the church, and we can only assume that it was play time. The kids kicked balls, and enjoyed games of "chasie", and a couple of weary looking adults, presumably teachers, watched on.


Langos
Essentially, Langos is fried bread topped with sour cream, garlic, and cheese.


Chimney Cake
Imagine a light dough, wrapped layer by layer in a long spiral on a fat piece of wood, cooked over charcoal, and sprinkled with cinnamon and icing sugar. There you have it, chimney cake.

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Una Casa Abruzzese, and Two Aussies - Time Apart

28 Nov to 13 Dec, 2021 - Manchester Center, Bennington, North Adams, Hartford, Norwalk, New Haven, New York City - (United States of America)



With the USA opening its borders in November, the opportunity arose for me to visit Vermont and Connecticut, for work. I spent two weeks at two customer sites, but got to see a little of both states, as well as some of Massachusetts while driving through, and a few days in New York City on my way out.

When planning the trip from JFK airport to my first site, in Manchester Center, Vermont, I had been looking at Maps so I could arrange a check in with the Bed and Breakfast. Given the arrival time, and the amount of distance to be covered, I made a forecast in my head that had me at my accommodation by 20:30 or thereabouts. Events were to conspire against this. None of the forecasting had taken in to account that it was the end of the Thanksgiving break. Chaos reigned through the airport, particularly in the rental car pick up, where I had to wait over 45 minutes for my vehicle to be ready. Yes, it was booked, and yes, I was on time for when it was booked for. The chaos continued, on the roads, gripped in traffic snarls, where it took me an hour and a half to drive the first 15 kilometres away from the airport. By this time, it was apparent that my Italian phone roaming was not going to activate, so coupled with the lack of any map in the car, I was now on the way north, driving from complete memory.

When it became clear that 20:30 was not going to be achieved and my arrival was going to be in the order of 23:30, I pulled in to a couple of service centres, in the hope of finding a phone so I could call them. This failed twice, and I was becoming concerned about spending more time looking for a phone than covering ground. So, I figured I would have to wing it on arrival. Driving in the dark, with snow falling, not even 100% sure I was on the right roads, I must confess I was becoming concerned I would not find the accommodation until the next day. So, it was a significant relief when I saw a turn off to Manchester Center, and drove in to the carpark of my residence for the first week.

The adventure was not quite over. The owners had sent me an email with details about my room and check-in, but sans data, I had obviously not received this critical data. I wandered through a couple of the buildings in the complex, and I eventually found a room with a key in the door. I felt this was the best I could do, so upon establishing the room was indeed vacant, I moved myself in. You have probably already guessed, the next morning I found out that I was in the wrong room. Thankfully, not a big issue, given the low number of guests, but both the management and myself appeared to show equal amounts of embarrassment.

The first week was all in Vermont. Working Monday to Friday, in Manchester Center mainly, but I got up to Middlebury one day to visit the operation up there. On Saturday, I drove down to Connecticut, stopping in Massachusetts on the way, and visiting Mark Twains house in Hartford before getting to my hotel in Norwalk.

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Morning 1, Looking Out
Vermont, Day 1. Waking up and walking around pre-breakfast, taking in just how "stereo typical" New England it all felt.


Along the Road, Vermont


A Vermont Covered Bridge


Driving Through Massachusetts


House of Mark Twain
Coming through Connecticut, I diverted to Hartford to visit one of the homes of Mark Twain.


Art Gallery, Yale Univesity

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Week two had me travelling to a number of locations through Connecticut.

Friday and Saturday night were spent in New York City before my Sunday flight.

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NYC Skyline, from Hunters Point


New York City Ice Skating
Ice Skating at the Rockefeller Center seems so iconic for New York in winter.


Skyscrapers Disappearing
Cloud engulfs the higher parts of skyscrapers around Central Park.


911 Ground Zero
Memorial pool (South Tower) where the World Trade Center Twin Towers stood.


Inside the Oculus, Westfield World Trade Center


American Utopia
David Byrne's (of Talking Heads fame) Broadway show. American Utopia.


TWA Hotel, JFK Airport
A pre-flight drink at the very retro hotel, TWA. The bar on the Constellation was, unfortunately, closed - possibly due to covid?

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