Darren McGavin who played the part of Ralphie’s “Old Man” in A Christmas Story died of natural causes this week at the age of 83.

For those of you who don’t know, this is by far my favorite Christmas movie ever. I can recite the lines vebatum… anoying all those in the room.

John Byars has inspired me to write a food post on the eatings in Italy, and Europe.

In the comming days, I’ll try to photograph some of the cuisine from across the pond.

Some things you should know… and I didn’t:

You have to pay for ketchup at McDonald’s… per pack.

Meals are expensive. Can you say: £2.99 ($5.50) Pepsi in London? €6.00 ($7.25) McNugget Value Meal at McDonald’s?

However, the bottled water is about the same. But, Rome has hundreds of amazing natural drinking fountains throughout the city.

Refills are not free. Asking for a drink refill is like asking for a meal refill. They look at you like you just asked if you could do jumping-jacks on their face.

They really do have pizza places on every corner of cities in Italy. In my three-block-walk from my hostel to the Rome train station, I have the option of 15 pizza diners.

Gelato (Italian ice cream) is fast approaching the level of love I currently only have for good ‘ole southern homemade ice cream. Your life is never the same after you’ve had classic, Italian gelato.

You don’t have to tip your waiter/waitress in Italy.

As I get more info as I travel, I’ll let you know.

Words cannot describe the soccer match I sat through last night. I have a video of about 10 seconds from the start of the game, Italian laws force me to have to post it later.

Let’s just put it this way:

Rome has two major soccer teams. You live and die for one team or the other.

Take one part Alabama vs. Auburn.

Throw in some road flares.

Add a few miniature bombs (not joking).

Invite a few hundred (500) armed policemen with shields, sticks, and helmets.

Then, see a few fights brew, every 10-15 minutes, to which cops stand-by, and let the brawl take care of itself.

It. Was. Awesome.

Oh yeah, there was a soccer game too.

A quick wrap-up from Day 1 (Sunday) in Rome.

Visited Vatican City

Attended Mass at St. Peter’s Bascilia

Saw the Pope, heard him speak.

Visited the Pantheon

Walked through the Colliseum

Visited Capitol Hill

Again, I’m sure I missed something, but oh well.

By the way, I have some nice shots of the Pope. When I can find an Internet Cafe with a “USB Pass” I’ll let you see ‘em.

When you use any computer in Italy, you must first submit your passport t be “approved” to use the Internet.

Also, you must get a “USB Pass” in order to hook up and upload material to the net.

Therefore, I can’t upload any videos or pictures for a few days… sorry.

I’m in Rome. I’m exhausted.

Let me start off by saying that the random side-trip to Torino was one of the best decisions I have ever made. However, I spent 36 hours in the same clothes, walked through the most amazing porticos I’ve ever seen, and attempted to sleep in the train station but actually sat in the corner and watched some Pakistani man sleep with his eyes half-open. Weird.

A brief synopsis of the last 48 hours:

Went to the Today Show. Got on TV. Got thisclose to Katy, Matt, and Al.

Visited Olympic Stadium/saw the flame (It is huuuge).

Tried to negotiate for a ticket to the Norway vs. Russia hockey game. The most I talked anyone down to was €140.00 (about $180.00) which was downfrom €240.00 ($300.00).

Visited the Sponsor Villiage (booooring).

Saw some famous Italian singer.

Braved the crowds at the one-and-only Olympic Store. They were out of everything good… so I got a cowbell.

Tried to carry on a conversation with some Italian teenagers about said singer.

Met some awesome undergrads from Geogia on a bus, and had a mutual friend from MC with one of them.

“Slept” in the Torino train station. I honestly got all of 15 minutes… no joking here.

Hopped on a train at 6:35 AM this morning.

Went to Pisa. Saw/went up the Leaning Tower.

Arrived in Rome, wasn’t paying attention, got off at the wrong station, had to wait 20 minutes for another train.

So, as you can tell by the crummy writing, I’m a little pooped, and a little ticked cause I know I don’t need to go walk around Rome tonight, but I want to so badly. Oh well.

Tomorrow I’ll be attending Sunday Mass at Vatican City. MC alum Courtney Church will be joining me for a day of fun on Monday.

Alright, I’m about to fall asleep. G’night.

I am pretty sure I got on NBC’s Today Show at least 3 times in Torino.

I made it into Torino about 7:00 AM Eastern Time. I hung around Al Rocher (sp?) as much as possible. However, around 7:30 Alabama time… the camera panned through the people at the front of the fence, and for some strange reason I gave a thumbs-up and stuck my tounge out.

Some let me know, cause it was wet, cold, and some stupid American who collects pins would not quit hitting on Emily Hughes.

It is weird to think that I have only been gone for 11 days… I still have 27 to go. I am gonna be so broke.

London - 3 days
Paris - 2.5 days
Bern - 1.5 days
Florence - 1.5 days
*Torino - 1 day
*Pisa - 0.5 day
*Rome - 2.5 days

*Will happen over the next two days.

So, I am hanging out in my hostel in Florence, Italy. It is around 10:00 PM, things are winding down, and the Italian version of Deal or No Deal just ended.

The owner of the Hostel is flipping though the channels, when what do we stumble across?

LAGUNA BEACH!!! In Italian!!!

It was the episode where Casey gets caught talking about the “hygene problems” Alex is rumored to have.

Too classic. I knew I loved Italy.

I think the reason I love this picture so much is that it embodies the entire attitude of he citizens of Bern.

The people in that city have not a care in the world. Strolling along the streets during work hours. Walking to work, window shopping along the way. Standing on the edge of the bridge as if they have never seen their town before.

I caught these two love-birds catching-up on some sleep at a park overlooking the river.

Seriously…how sweet do they look?

It is with a heavy, heavy heart that John Byars tipped me to the news today that Johnny Madison, long-time Jasper Judge, commited sucide on Monday.

Just one month ago, I was in court for a traffic violation when Judge Madison spotted me in the court room. Before I could present the ticket to the traffic judge, Johnny rushed to the bench, and two minutes later the ticket was no more.

“Call me if you ever need anything Landon.” said Mr. Madison. It was the last time we ever talked.

I never sent him a thank you note for what he did that day, and it turns my stomach to realize that right now.

Lynne, Brad, Adam, and Eric… our thoughts and prayers are with you.

It has been noted to me that I might wanna ellaborate on my beer comment from the other day.

As I stated before, I am not a big fan of beer. The taste of it, the image it has, and the harm it does to lives of people we know.

That said, I do not, nor have a ever supported the comsumption of any alchoholic beverage of an individual who is under the age of 21. Nor do I support the excessive consumption of alchohol for anyone 21 years of age and above.

I think most of you know that, but I just wanted to point it out.

I rarely, if ever drink.

Remember, I am the guy who turned 21 while in New Orleans on Bourbon Street… and all I had was a Coke. (I was not into my Diet Coke phase then… if I had been, I would have gotten a Diet Coke.)

The main reason I got it is simple. Anyone who has been to Europe can tell you: Europeans hate ice. Nothing is ever cold, nor does it come with ice. I ordered the beer so that I could A) Experience some local flavor, and B) I wanted something cold to drink, and they did not have bottled water.

Anyway, it is not a big deal.

I am headed to Milan tomorrow. I will possibly be making a side-trip the day after… but I am not quite sure if it is going to work out yet.

If it happens, you will most likely find out after the fact.

Quick tidbits…

Switzerland is expensive.
Swiss women are better looking than Paris women.
Paris women are better looking than London women.
London women need help… badly.

A rare back-to-back days worth of posts, but I just had to write to tell how in awe I am of Switzerland and its people.

Right now I am in Bern, the capitol of the Swiss, and I could not be happier.

A city of 130,000 people, yet at 9:00 PM there is hardly a car on the street and everyone is walking and riding bikes.

I had some authentic fondue tonight (bread cubes and riiiiich cheese), with some cold beer that is made right here in Bern. Those of you who know me well know that I am not a fan of beer… put this was pretty darn good.

Tomorrow I will head to the location where Einstien (spelling?) wrote the theory of relativity. I will also walk the city and take some photos.

In a couple days I will let you in as to where I might be headed next.

Some… not all of the more-than 700 pictures I have taken thus far.

Yes, I said 700, in one week.

However, I will gradually narrow those down to a dozen over the next few days… while I take more.

Here they are… take a gander if you like.

Photos from Europe.

Well, last night was my last night in London… and it was my last night with the now imfamous ‘Pier.’

As I entered my room to start packing my things, there was Pier… spread-eagle… in a pair of doo-doo brown speedo-breifs… “nut-huggers”… reading a map.

Is it common to read a map in your undies in Italy? I don’t know… and I sure didn’t ask.

To Paris.

I haven’t yet seen anyone from the MC London Semester yet… and I wouldn’t imagine that happening, seeing as they are probably a 30 minute Tube ride from me.

I have however run into the a total of 11 different people at different locations more than one time. We always give the “I’ve seen you before… did you sit by me on the airplane” look.

In fact, one of them I suggested a place to stay, and he took me up on the offer. Then, I bump into him again where he helps me find a place in Paris.

Anyway. Small London.

The computers in my London hostel do not have a USB hook-up. However, photos will be forthcoming, most-likely in Paris.

I’ve taken about 400 so far, but I’ll narrow those down to about 50… but I’ll only be able to post a couple due to the amount of time it takes to upload.

I know you care sooo much.

And you thought I told you all my good stories… pull up a chair.

So, after my long, aforementioned first day in London, I headed back to the hostel to change clothes before a stag night on the town. (Which, for a guy like me means visiting romantic places to snap some photos, hoping that my unknown future-significant-other is alone as well, and not off spending a romantic evening with a soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend who is simply trying to get into her pants, and not her heart. How am I single?)

So, I strike up a conversation with one of my 5 roomies. (I’ll tell you about all of them in another post)

His name is Pier (pronounced Pierre, but spelled like ‘Navy Pier‘… to which he explained to me 3 times… with hand gestures.)

Pier hails from Italy. He grew up in a small town just south of Naples. He has descent English, especially when you consider that he is self-taught. I was impressed.

As for his accent. Think of me making fun of somebody from Italy who is trying to speak English… and you’re almost there. Actually, think of Balki from the TV show Perfect Strangers. Only he doesn’t call me “Cousin Larry”… he calls me, “Lan… Don.”

Anyway… on to the story.

After peeling through his artwork that consisted of eyeballs, two-headed monsters, and unecessary female nipples, I decided to ask him if he wanted to go grab a bite to eat. He was excited, said yes, but instisted that we eat cheap.

Absolutely. Let’s roll.

Sidenote: If you know me, you know that when I travel, I usually try to eat the local flavor as much as possible. (ie - steak in Ft. Worth, salmon in Seattle, deepdish pizza in Chicago, etc.)

So we set out, and being based in Piccadilly Circus we have almost everything you can think of right outside our backdoor. Sushi, Thai, you name it, we got it.

Right off the bat Pier asks, “Do you like Indian food?”

My ears pearked up, I smiled and said, “Love it! Do you?”

“No.” says Pier.

Well, thanks buddy.

We continue walking when we pass a convenience store, kinda like a 7-11, only without the gas, when I hear Pier mumbling the words written on the window…

“Food… Beverages… Candy… Bread… BREAD?!?”

Oh, crap.

“Lan Don, they have bread!” shouts Pier… in the middle of a crowded sidewalk.

I then had to explain to him what the store was, and that a $2.00 Pepsi and a day-old donut wasn’t what I had in mind for dinner.

He sighs… slightly saddened… but then he rebounds by suggesting we make a right… into Chinatown. Chinatown baby! I freakin’ love Chineese food. Not neccessarily the English flavor I was hoping for, but it will suffice.

“Yes!” I say, “I freakin’ love Chineese food… do you?”

“No.” says Pier… back to square one, where Pier begins to suggest that we check-out the menu of every restaraunt on the street, only to make a squeamish face everytime I ask him if he wants to eat there.

So here I am, alone (with Pier) in London… on Valentine’s Day… at night… picking out a restaurant… oh crap… people probably think we’re gay.

With the gay icing on the cake, I tell Pier that it is his choice. We will eat anywhere he likes, no matter the cost.

Just as I do this, his eyes light-up, and a smile runs across his face as he stares about a block down the street.

“McDonald’s”, he says with a softened tone.

So off we went. Pier and I on our Valentine’s Day dinner, sharing a window table at McDonald’s in Leicester Square .

I had a cheeseburger. He had a ‘Filet-o-Fish’ to which he kept referring to as a “Fish Cheeseburger.”

Afterwards he suggested that we take a walk around the square, to which I made up a complete lie in order to have a few moments to myself to reflect upon the entire situation.

I spent the rest of the night wandering amongst the coupled-lovers in the southbank of the Thames, strolling through Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus, taking a few photos along the way to make the most of Valentine’s 2006. A good Valentine’s Day, but a good story to tell as well.

…oh, what a night.

Well… I made it. Our plane landed safely at Heathrow around 6:15 AM London time.

You might be surprised to know that I hit the ground running, touring the city from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on 4, very uncomfortable hours of sleep thanks to the guy sitting beside me. I’ll explain later. I ended up changing seats.

That said, I’m exahausted.

Some thoughts…

- London is friggin’ huge.
- London is friggin’ expensive.
- London is friggin’ romantic. A nice backdrop for Valentine’s Day. Being the ‘catch’ that I am, it’s too bad I spent it alone. (Well… I got a story for you later. You’re gonna love this.)

(I’m going to mispell some thing due to the fact that I’m on a computer clock.)

Synopsis of Day 1:

- Toured the Winston Churchill Cabinet War Rooms
- Westminster Abby
- Houses of Parliament & Big Ben
- London Bridge
- Tower Bridge
- Shakespere’s Globe Theater
- The Mellinium Bridge
- The ‘City of London’
- Tate Modern (Art Museum)
- Picadilly Circus

As for were I’m based, I’m literally in the heart of the city. My hostel is a 30 second walk from Picadilly Circus.

I’ll have another funfilled day tomorrow. PICTURES: The computers available at the current moment have no USB hook-up, so I cannot upload any pictures/video for now. It’s going to be at least 48 hours before something develops in that area. So, anyway.

Alright, I’m tired. Hope ya’ll all had a wonderful Valentine’s Day.

I did.