The Things That I Have Learned...

I love the book "All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten."

Alas, I  never attended kindergarten!

And so I shall spend the rest of my life learning.

Not in that book, but in one of Robert Fulghum's writings, 

a quote goes something like this,

There's a difference between a lump in the oatmeal, 

a lump in the throat,

and a lump in the breast.

We need to learn to know the difference.

The beauty and excitement of Italian design find themselves

equal to the lump in the oatmeal.

Today, I cannot focus on insignificant lumps.

The design blogs will have to wait.  

They will come but they will have to wait.

I have learned harsher realities this week.

#1 Never underestimate the value of insurance.

Yes, horror stories abound related to insurance.

Like most things in life, we don't know how to appreciate them

until we do not have them.

With travel insurance at a cost of under $500,  
my friend Sandy could find herself

on a private jet being flown to her home country.

That jet could fly at lower elevations as necessary for her condition and deliver her to the hospital of her choice.

Accessories would include room for a passenger, two registered nurses, a ventilator and an array of potentially needed drugs.

Cost:  $120,000 - $125,000

We never, never plan to need insurance.

But life does happen, not always to other people.

Sandy lies 24 hours a day in ICU in Bari, Italy with
'multiple, massive pulmonary embolisms in both arteries.'
Today words cannot describe my gratitude that Sandy breathed until she arrived into good care at a Universitario hospital
swarming with kind, handsome interns 
who love a chance to practice English.

Speaking of appreciation, I think most ICU rooms in the US are now private due to HIPAA regulations.  In privacy we enjoy company in the ultimate sterilized surroundings.
Here they allow one person at a time, one hour a day.
Yesterday, they crowded another bed into the once eight bed unit.  The had moved another patient out to make room for Sandy.
She still wears the shirt that she wore upon arrival Wednesday - no gowns - and has not had a cloth to wash her face.
Someone delivers a litre of bottled water each day at noon.
She arrived in the evening so we had to go buy her water!

We learned after a twelve hour visit to the emergency room that Italy has not given birth to HIPAA.
  One woman being stored for a few hours, two other ladies in a room for breathing treatment.  One rated a very well worn and taped up wheel chair.

This lady received a footrest for her wheelchair.
Note the rubber tubing tied to each side.

Apparently they could not find a storage area for
this poor, extremely miserable man.
The white filmy stuff separates him from germs left behind by hundreds of previous users.
Warm hospital blankets?  Do you think hospitals are rich?

I do believe that Sandy receives good care, especially due to the facility being a university hospital.
The director told us apologetically that Italy has 
good doctors but very poor infrastructure.


#2 While lamenting the poor hospital conditions, I googled to learn that the life expectancy in Italy is FOUR years LONGER
than that of sanitary Americans!


#3  Socialized medicine will amaze its highest proponents.
We shall rue its arrival.
The stories that I heard from the three Londoners who visited
continue to haunt me.


#4  Italy grows delicious pears.
They taste like a pear with a slightly different flavor than ours.
Mediterranean soil?  
Sandy will come home smelling like a pear!
She has enjoyed more than a few.

#5  Life at best is fragile.
An ancient scholar wrote Latin words with this meaning:

We think we are learning how to live when really, we live 
learning how to die.

#6  Listen and live by your intuition.
Everyone has that sixth sense, given to us to help us in our journey through life.
Develop it.

Everything about this trip fell into my hands.  I could not prevent it from happening.  I do not know all of the reasons.
Original plans and wants did not work, would not work.
Leaving that plan behind, I began to search in the Puglia area where we stay.  My first choice, this perfect location by the sea, was sold to us at a greatly reduced rate.

Had our first try succeeded, we'd have known no one and had no good medical facilities nearby.

Here, we have formed wonderful friendships.
Cristina has stayed at our side to translate throughout the goings on while Marco watched the children at home.
Anna Maria walks half an hour to the hospital daily.
She and Concentina have begged me stay in the city with them.
Instead I offer her a ride home, get very lost and take her on a 
real, Amerian wild goose chase!

What experiences it takes to appreciate our blessings
as Americans!

Domesticity

The name will assure you that you won't find a long post here.

Domestic chores hardly bear noting - certainly not my forte!

But I thought you would want to know that Mr. Murphy lives on

and has even accompanied me to Italy!

Such a sticky pest that man lives to be.

Remember my window cleaning adventure on such a sparkling sunny day last week?

The following day provided a different kind of a photo op:

Just another proof that domestics chores waste one's time.

While I'm on such a mundane subject, I want to assure you that Europe offers Americans a valuable lesson.

Let us appreciate our materialistic devices.

I promise to never take for granted three things when I return:

I have yet to acquire a piece of toast without burning a digit.

This one is so funky it's almost fun!

It boasts two burners all right.  But that doesn't mean that you can fit two pans of any type on them at the same time.

Do you consider your clothes dryer a luxury?

Remember these?

It's called a drying rack.  It permanently maintains 

wrinkles and leaves towels really crispy!

Repeat after me, many times:  I love my dryer, I love my dryer.

Even domestics can appreciate a good sunset at the end of day.

You will find tomorrow's post so exciting that I don't know how you will get any sleep tonight.

Forget nature and its beauty.  On to Italian design!

I hyperventilated so you may want some oxygen ready at hand.

Common Days...

I made plans to stay in Italy long enough to 'just live' the Italian lifestyle, not planning to live the tourist life.

But of course there's been so much to divert my attention!

Not being very good at pacing myself, I also crash

for a few days at intervals.

Today I rose from a good crash, no plans awaited, the sun made outdoors almost hot and I got to 'just live.'

Lunched at one of our favorite little places where they treat us well.  No one there speaks Inglese so when we walk in, 

they type up the varying menu in Google Translate.  
Creative guys!

My vocabulary served me to learn that the croissant contained cheese and salami.  That sounded good and the fresh zucchini salad looked appealing.  No Google needed today!

I've mentioned that one of the best things about Italian food is that it's real - fresh and healthy.

Imagine finding fresh zucchini salad to replace greasy French fries!  It tasted even better than it looked.

Cooked to perfection, lots of buono olio d'oliva and just the right amount of their strong sea salt.

Then I wandered the coastline on a day that filled every requirement of 'gorgeous.'

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

                I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

             To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;

The sea calls from a primitive place deep within me.

Coming from dry land, land locked farming country,

its call remains a mystery.  Do all Aquarians feel its pull?

This one certainly does!

What calls?  The vastness?

The crystal, pristine quality?

Its rhythm?

Its beauty?

Its serendipity?

The walk and the outdoor air made the gelato shop enticing!

As I walked, I realized I am feeling at home in this foreign, Italian-tongued city.  Home beckons just above the white car, on the upper floor.

And then home for the reality of 'just living.'  The recent storm salted us.  With company coming tomorrow, the weather declared that the time had arrived to clear the windows.

Balsamic vinegar worked just fine for washing windows!

As dusk crept in, I pondered that I could amost be in San Diego.

Except I wouldn't hear church bells jangling at random intervals,
nor overlook a castle,

nor look down upon a car driving over a sidewalk to head down a narrow, cobblestone street,

nor look up from a balcony to this sight.

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.

John Masefield

Doors

I could write a book about doors.

Front doors give the first impression of what lies beyond.

It very simply describes who we are.

Think about your front door.

What does it say about you?

My blank slab doors that follow me from house to house 

relate plain and solid, don't expect frills here.

The paint must have substantial hue to it because 

life has so much color to offer.  

I had a large hole cut into the current one to allow

more light to enter.  Maybe that speaks too?

Many books attest that I'm not alone with my

door fascination.

But I have personally witnessed these doors,

they have spoken to me.

And so I add to the pile of door pictures!

This first one is a gate, a teaser to the artist that I've promised to tell you more about some time.

Doesn't it declare plainly that art lies within?

I took it at night - it's always open during the day.
The construction is rusted metal, beautifully made by Peppino's artistic friend.

Lace and a well-maintained hedge offer

an elegant invitation.

Quite the opposite here.
This makes quite a final statement.
It might be called 'Death's Door'?

The whimsy and charm of this one make me want to knock!
Vibrant color, organic shapes, a touch of gold.
I daresay that this casa has a cheerful occupant.

Laura gives you an idea of this door's height!
Gnomes, elves?
It did look like you take an immediate downward 
step upon entering.
Might want to bend a bit too!

In spite of the door's stature, 

it boasts a pretty,

 dainty knocker

 complete with wedding ring.

A lot of hierarchy,

well placed plants,

boldly declared name and address

lead to an understated door at this home.

Double doors with metal fanwork, 

sturdy stonework above.

Am I led to believe it's the door or the occupant

that's important?

Oh, the ugliness of bureaucracy.

Thought went into maintaining the ancient stonework when the 

rest of the building got its facelift.

I love that the ironwork blends with the stonework

but adds a layer of depth and texture to its welcome.

Is this overstatement or hypocrisy at its best?

A standard door provides entrance through 

what appears to be a massive door.

The picture can hardly give the perspective of the size of the

keyhole, proportionate to the mass of the overall door.  The little dot above it is the regular keyhole that does the work!

It would take a small wheelbarrow to carry the key

made for the original lock work.

At the end of the day, would we all agree that the most important door in our lives is that one that the key in our hand opens?

The key may change according to where the globe finds me, but the sound and feel of that key holds the promise of respite and home.

Mahogany has always held a favorite spot in my heart.

How appropriately this beautiful door opens to my key at each

return to Via Volpe 11.

Polignano by Night

A few days ago I posted pictures of the picturesque village of Polignano.  It lies just a short ten miles south of us and has captured my heart.  Good things have happened with every visit.

While we had Londoners, we made the trip at night.  Having noticed quite a few night lighting appliances along the cliff, we anticipated more good scenery.

Polignano hasn't disappointed us yet!
A stone walkway and steps lend a spectacular view of the bridge.

As we reach the bottom, the night time scenes to our left and right captivate us.

On the main street through Polignano, this duomo watches guard over the piazza.  We follow along parallel to the sea until we find an overlook.

From the overlook, we look down to see the window where we had just had dinner.  You will note that our table has already been filled - it's the best in the house, but too dark for pictures.

This is the restaurant that I noted before, called Fly.

Remember?  Domenico Modugno, Volaré?

We were delighted that it was open during the winter and everyone followed as I trotted straight for the door!

And just as delighted to meet the owner - Andrea, who attended law school but then decided that she'd rather work twice as hard for half the money in this little ristorante. During the summer they serve their rowdy, American guests until 4 am.
She spoke good English.  What a vivacious person.
We told her to surprise us with food and she did not let us down.

I love her logo and the color.  
And her!

Andrea graciously - and enthusiastically - gave us a tour.  Through the side door we came into a grotto area that the help uses for a break room.  And there is the blue locker.

Everyone smiled and enjoyed themselves.
The one on the right is a great dancer - she moved through the playing of Volaré with nimble steps.  I thought I had videoed it to share with you.
Alas, the red square means that it's stopped, not running.  Or vice versa.  I got lots of footage of the floor, ceiling and odd bits, but none of the fancy footwork.

Having a few grotti right out your back door provides great storage areas!

This was also the night that everyone shuddered as I walked into a dark alley feeling place because I saw interesting lights.
We hadn't anticipated meeting the reknowned artist,
Peppino Campanella.
But he's worth another blog.
Fascinating, cordial, open hearted - and talented.
And humble.  We only got his first name and a business card out of him.  It was pretty clear that this man was not just another starving artist as I admired his work.
I came home and googled him.  How right I was.
Definitely worth another visit and blog.

Did I say that Polignano never disappoints?!

Happy Birthday to Me!

As I sit here listening to Italian music, the sun rising over the Adriatic, a few fishermen heading out for a day's work, I ponder a birthday to remember.  Eight years ago it didn't look like birthdays were in my future.

My blessings include the advances of modern medicine.  'Procedures' replace surgeries, injections slow tumor growth.

And so I celebrated another memorable birthday.

The day began with a very special e-card card from my mother.

As long as we have a mother, we will always have a cheerleader in life!  I count her a great blessing.

She shakes her head at her eldest, a vagabond who rarely bothers to store away the suitcase.  

But it really is Mom's fault.  Though her favorite trek takes her as far as her garden, it was she who nurtured a love of reading and far away places.

The best celebrations in life center around the people we want in our lives.  2014 holds no exceptions.

But you're not here to read sappy words, are you?!  You want pictures to feed the wanderlust in you!

The journey to today's celebration started with the friend who delivered me to the aeroporto on a cold winter day in December.

Was that really just a month ago?

Because a few months earlier, I suggested to Laura that we meet in Italy while she spent four months in London.  We have never traveled together.  What a jolly good time we have had!

She was given a heart on her way to the airport.  Some wear their heart on their sleeve, some just hang it right out front.

Here's a lady who throws away clothes to make room in her bag for pasta, orchiette and fusilli, to be precise.  Who could deny her friendship?!

Friends made my birthday and her sendoff stupedous.

Marco and Cristiana did lunch.  Roberto sleeps in the background while his sister Aurora plays at his side.

The table covered by the cloth is that really cool table that you see in the video going around on Facebook in the 400 square foot apartment in New York City.

And that silver cylinder with the handle on the table is part of a Bimby - Thermofix in the States.  Have you seen one?  An amazing appliance that takes the place of 12 appliances!  She prepared the heart shaped bread loaf in it and a wonderful sorbetto made with two lemons picked from their tree.

Marco's parents live on the property. What a kind, hospitable couple.

And a couple of gentle hearted sisters standing in front of another lemon tree.  Nothing sour about these ladies - as you see by the sparkle in their eyes!

And so a new year begins with old and new friends.

Oh!  A sunset? Of course, the sun did set.