Hi everyone and then some... Wow. What a moment in our little lives, eh? Yesterday and today have been jarring for me. I spent last night with a great group of folks and we stayed on top of the news. It was hard to watch, but I felt it necessary. Most of it was from CNN. The footage is unbelievable and eternally upsetting. I want to thank all 25 of you who did get in touch with me. It made me cry, for the fourth time today, to see everyone's face on the screen as I read each of your messages. You can probably imagine how important communication with all of you is right now! This morning my little possee and I had a small Italian breakfast over another dishing of the news, salted with some more tears... and then we split! Two to Germany, one to France and one to who knows... and then, me, in Finale Liguaro, Italy.
The train ride was fine. I got loads of sympathetic looks from all directions.. and they are still coming as I walk around the small resorty,beach town of Finale. The Italians are great! They are just so loving in the way they look at us, knowing without a word that we are American... I am still feeling their compassion. It breaks my heart to see all the news papers in Italian... Attacco all'America, la nueva Guerra.. and the photos! This is not supposed to be our country on the front page, right? Big mistake? I guess that's what we are all thinking right now. It does feel weird, as some of you wondered, to be watching all of this on European tele. It would be great to be home right now, but at the same time, I feel very safe right now. This little town is the perfect place for me... Amidst the sorrowful looks, there are still loads of Italians who are soaking up the rays on the beach and dancing in the cafes to American music as though nothing had even happened. I know they know, but here, life has to go on.
I know I am not in any danger here. It's just a dot on the map, not a target zone at all! I am going to avoid any big cities right now.. no Madrid, Barcelona, Rome... we're advised to steer clear of US Embassies and non-essential employees are recommended on Euro tv to leave Brussels. There was supposedly some concern over potential bomb threats in Frankfurt, but it was a mistake? And.... I don't know. I'll just force myself to stop dwelling and enjoy this gorgeous beach for a day or two, while staying on top of the important details. I can't believe the death toll is so high? I haven't seen the amount written here anywhere, so I don't know.. but one of you told me so....
I can speak more Italian than ever before, but I can't decipher the important stuff in the papers... Oh well. I am just glad that so many of you are ok.. I still want to hear from the rest of you! It's not much fun being on my own right now, but tomorrow I am moving into the hostel which overlooks the town and I should meet some folks there. So far, I haven't seen another American in this town... Hopefully I don't stick out like a sore thumb. I am dressed low key and I'm not in possession of my passport right now.. the hotel is.. so no one can demand it of me... not gonna happen anyway.
On a slightly lighter note, Finale is spectacular. It sits right on the beach, growing higher onto the hill with every street. It is surrounded by Limestone cliffs and supposed classic climbing.. My mission, to find the climbers. It is also overlooked by some13 century castle that I will explore tomorrow. I will be here a couple of days to lay low and see what happens and then maybe on to Figueras, Spain.. north of Barcelona... or... who knows.
Again, peace and love to everyone! Take super care and I'll be doing the same. This is old hat to some people. We may just need a week to adjust and then we'll be back on top. We can keep control and Bush and his forces will do well for us! Ciao babies! love, Rai!!!!
(April 22nd, 2007 SideNote - Can you believe I said that BUSH would do well for us back then?)
The train ride was fine. I got loads of sympathetic looks from all directions.. and they are still coming as I walk around the small resorty,beach town of Finale. The Italians are great! They are just so loving in the way they look at us, knowing without a word that we are American... I am still feeling their compassion. It breaks my heart to see all the news papers in Italian... Attacco all'America, la nueva Guerra.. and the photos! This is not supposed to be our country on the front page, right? Big mistake? I guess that's what we are all thinking right now. It does feel weird, as some of you wondered, to be watching all of this on European tele. It would be great to be home right now, but at the same time, I feel very safe right now. This little town is the perfect place for me... Amidst the sorrowful looks, there are still loads of Italians who are soaking up the rays on the beach and dancing in the cafes to American music as though nothing had even happened. I know they know, but here, life has to go on.
I know I am not in any danger here. It's just a dot on the map, not a target zone at all! I am going to avoid any big cities right now.. no Madrid, Barcelona, Rome... we're advised to steer clear of US Embassies and non-essential employees are recommended on Euro tv to leave Brussels. There was supposedly some concern over potential bomb threats in Frankfurt, but it was a mistake? And.... I don't know. I'll just force myself to stop dwelling and enjoy this gorgeous beach for a day or two, while staying on top of the important details. I can't believe the death toll is so high? I haven't seen the amount written here anywhere, so I don't know.. but one of you told me so....
I can speak more Italian than ever before, but I can't decipher the important stuff in the papers... Oh well. I am just glad that so many of you are ok.. I still want to hear from the rest of you! It's not much fun being on my own right now, but tomorrow I am moving into the hostel which overlooks the town and I should meet some folks there. So far, I haven't seen another American in this town... Hopefully I don't stick out like a sore thumb. I am dressed low key and I'm not in possession of my passport right now.. the hotel is.. so no one can demand it of me... not gonna happen anyway.
On a slightly lighter note, Finale is spectacular. It sits right on the beach, growing higher onto the hill with every street. It is surrounded by Limestone cliffs and supposed classic climbing.. My mission, to find the climbers. It is also overlooked by some13 century castle that I will explore tomorrow. I will be here a couple of days to lay low and see what happens and then maybe on to Figueras, Spain.. north of Barcelona... or... who knows.
Again, peace and love to everyone! Take super care and I'll be doing the same. This is old hat to some people. We may just need a week to adjust and then we'll be back on top. We can keep control and Bush and his forces will do well for us! Ciao babies! love, Rai!!!!
(April 22nd, 2007 SideNote - Can you believe I said that BUSH would do well for us back then?)
No comments:
Post a Comment