14 more days...

This week's answers were the best yet - thanks for the responses. 

I think the most valuable answers came from father and son in response to the question about thwarting pick-pocketers.  Dad and Ken's Q and A goes like this (Mom/Karen you may wish to skip this section). 

Q: What if anything are you doing to thwart pick pockets?
Dad's A: Thinking about just wearing a speedo.
Ken's A: Kick them in their funny place.



Q: What will you be taking off shore with you and how will you be storing it?
Dad's A: Money, can't fit much in a speedo [though].
Ken's A: money in my shorts.

Q: How much money are you bringing into port?
Dad's A: 50 Euros if it fits.
Ken's A: 2 dollars.


My interjection: Looks like someone got short changed.
Ken's interjection: Dad should be able to fit way much more in his speedos.
 
And not to be outdone Mike too is obsessed with his shorts and will be storing his money in his underwear.  Mike takes the prize as he will be storing 300 big ones in his briefs {I swear to god I typed 'big ones' before I realized the double entendre}. 

Michael very astutely asked (my spelling must be atrocious) how there are 296 steps in the Leaning Tower to run up while there are 294 steps to walk up.  The running or walking is not part of the equation here.  But depending what side of the Tower you start at there are a different number of steps.  This is thanks to the sandy substrate the tower was built upon.  BTW while spewing useless information the Leaning Tower of Pisa is NOT the only tower that leans; many do because of poor substrate. 

Over and out.  See ya in Provence next.

15 more days...

Cruising with Cyn
Collection of useless information circuitous to the OPERATION: Poisson Rouge Adventure.


Florence is the third stop on our European adventure. 

Breaking News!
The wonderful tour company Rome In Limo is booked for the day we are in Florence.  I am looking frantically for a replacement.  By now we should know what the can't miss items are in Florence but I will steal from an email Mo sent to me today. 

Pisa:
Tower, Duomo, and Baptistery. Main reason to go to Pisa. The Field of Miracles, the medieval wall, and the town itself can all be experienced while we walk or drive.

Florence:
-- square of Michelangelo (Piazzale Michelangelo) is where you can see the famous view of Florence with the Duomo rising above the town.
--'quick drive down into the historical center' (not sure where that is since I thought all of Florence was historical)
--Santa Croce church -- all the most important artists are buried.
-- Drive around the city continues with a visit to the Duomo(cathedral-huge)(open til 3:30 - free), Giotto's Bell Tower (Campanile)(6 Euros - open until 7:30). The Baptistery (bronze doors being the highlight-free and always available to see) is right there too (inside -- 3 Euros open until 7). I would like time to climb the dome of the Duomo or the bell tower.
-- Signoria Palace and the Square -- outside the Uffizi gallery (paintings) -- square is full of statues(copy of David where original used to stand), restaurants, town hall, palace
-- The Old Bridge -- gold and silver market -- can be viewed from near the square -- along the Arno River
-- Pitti Palace -- it's a palace and interesting to see how the royals lived if you want to.


Onto the survey. 

See ya over in Florence!

57 more days...

Cruising with Cyn
Collection of useless information circuitous to the OPERATION: Poisson Rouge Adventure.

This 6 week installment of Cyn's Cinema, we will be exploring movies that have been filmed in the regions we will be visiting. Take some time off from your everyday life and watch a movie with scenes from Barcelona, Naples, Rome, Florence, Nice and Toulon.

Let us know if you've seen any of these movies and what your thoughts are.

Title	Year	Genre	IMDb Rating	Staring
Aliens Gone Wild	2008	Sci-Fi	5.3	Michael Stark
Synopsis:	There is no offical synopsis but I did see a comment that this is the best skin flick on late night tv.  And since I'm committed to bring all types of movies to your attention...
Sightings:	Florence, Tuscany, Italy Paris, France  Piazza San Marco, Venice, Veneto, Italy (exteriors) Venice, Veneto, Italy
Under the Tuscan Sun	2003	Comedy, Romance, Drama	6.7	Diane Lane, Sandra Oh
Synopsis:	Frances Mayes is a 35-year-old San Francisco writer whose perfect life has just taken an unexpected detour. Her recent divorce has left her with terminal writer's block and extremely depressed, and her best friend, Patti, is beginning to think she might never recover. Frances decides to take a break and she buys a villa in the beautiful Tuscan countryside and decides to begin anew. Restoring her new home, she eventually finds the fulfillment she was searching for, including love. Synopsis written by Baked_bean
Sightings:	Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze, Florence, Tuscany, Italy (interiors) (bank scene) Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy (studio) (bookstore opening/Patti & Grace's San Francisco apartment)  Cortona, Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy Florence, Tuscany, Italy Montepulciano, Siena, Tuscany, Italy (leaving Cortona/wedding) Positano, Salerno, Campania, Italy Rome, Lazio, Italy Sansepolcro, Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy (exteriors) (Flag-Waving show) Teatro Signorelli, Cortona, Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy (interiors)
Thoughts:	Look at all those sights - I'd watch it.
Tea with Mussolini	1999	Drama, Comedy, War	6.7	Cher, Judi Dench
Synopsis:	Semi-autobiographical tale from the early life of director Franco Zeffirelli looks at the illegitimate son of an Italian businessman. The boy's mother has died, and he is raised by an Englishwoman in pre-WWII Fascist Italy. Living to each other in Florence, and presided over by an ambassador's widow, a group of Englishwomen live a sheltered existence which they believe is guaranteed personal protection in a tea reception given by Il Duce. However, as war breaks out, the women are interned. Occasionally in this English colony is a wealthy American, who visits among her travels and marriages to wealthy older men. She respects the "Scorpioni", as they are known, and secretly arranges for their stay in a hotel. The ambassador's widow finds her vulgar and tries to ignore her, but when the United States enters the war, the American too is taken into custody. Only then does she discover that her Italian lover has tricked her into signing over all her money and modern art collection to him, and is now arranging her execution. This obliges all to join forces. Lily Tomlin also appears as an American archaeologist working at a dig in the city. Synopsis written by John Sacksteder {jsackste@bellsouth.net}
Sightings:	Florence, Tuscany, Italy Rome, Lazio, Italy San Gimignano, Siena, Tuscany, Italy
A Room with a View	1986	Comedy, Romance, Drama	7.5	Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham Carter
Synopsis:	Lucy Honeychurch, a young Englishwoman, makes her first visit to Florence, Italy in the early 1900's. There, she meets a quiet yet eccentric young man named George Emerson. Upon her return to England, Lucy must decide whether to follow through with her marriage to her stotic fiance, Cecil, or follow her heart and her growing attraction to George. Synopsis written by Liza Esser {essereli@student.msu.edu}
Sightings:	Bluebell Railway, East Sussex, England, UK (Railway Scene) Estonian Embassy, Hyde Park Gate, South Kensington, London, England, UK  Fiesole, Florence, Tuscany, Italy  Florence, Tuscany, Italy   Foxwold House, Chiddingstone, Kent, England, UK  Kent, England, UK  Linley Sanbourne house, 18 Stafford Terrace, Kensington, London, England, UK  (Mrs. Vyse's well appointed home) Piazza Santa Croce, Florence, Tuscany, Italy Piazza della Signoria, Florence, Tuscany, Italy  Quisisana e Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Tuscany, Italy Saint Mary's Church, Chiddingstone, Kent, England, UK Villa di Maiano, Maiano, Florence, Tuscany, Italy
The Agony and the Ecstasy	1965	Drama, History	7.0	Charlton Heston
Synopsis:	Pope Julius is eager to leave behind works by which he will be remembered. To this end he cajoles Michelangelo into painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. When not on the battlefield uniting Italy, the Pope nags Michelangelo to speed up his painful work on the frescoes. Synopsis written by Ed Stephan {stephan@cc.wwu.edu}
Sightings:	Dino De Laurentiis Cinematografica Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy (studio) Apuan Alps, Tuscany, Italy Bracciano, Rome, Lazio, Italy Carrara, Massa-Carrara, Tuscany, Italy (quarry scene) Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy (studio) Massa-Carrara, Tuscany, Italy Piazza del Popolo, Todi, Perugia, Umbria, Italy (St. Peter's Square scene) Quarries, Carrara, Massa-Carrara, Tuscany, Italy (Quarrie scenes) Rome, Lazio, Italy Todi, Perugia, Umbria, Italy Tuscany, Italy Umbria, Italy

92 more days...

Cruising with Cyn
Collection of useless information circuitous to the OPERATION: Poisson Rouge Adventure.

This 6 week installment of Cruising with Cyn, we will be exploring local cuisine from the regions we will be visiting. Ken and I will be preparing a traditional meal from Barcelona, Naples, Rome, Florence, Nice and Toulon. We will be posting the receipe and our review.

Tagliata with Arugula
Ingredients
1 minced garlic clove 1 1/2 teaspoons each of chopped rosemary and sage Coarse sea salt and freshly ground pepper 1 boneless rib eye steak, cut 2 inches thick (2 1/4 pounds) Extra-virgin olive oil 1 bunch of arugula 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
• Preheat the oven to 350°. Preheat a cast-iron skillet.
• In a bowl, mix the garlic, rosemary, sage, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Rub the mixture all over the steak.
• Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Add the steak and cook over moderate heat until browned all over.
• Stand the steak on its side and roast it in the oven for 20 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 135°.
• Transfer the steak to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes, then slice.
• Spread the arugula on a platter and top with the steak.
• Drizzle with oil and lemon juice and top with the cheese shavings.

148 more days...

Cruising with Cyn
Collection of useless information circuitous to the OPERATION: Poisson Rouge Adventure.



Happy Holidays All!

Momma mia Florence
We will be arriving in Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy on Thursday May 27, 2010 the third of five ports of call.

Fun Facts

• In 1339 Florence became the first city in Europe with paved streets.
• Florence Nightingale, famous for revolutionizing the field of nursing, was named for the city of her birth.
• The identity of the architect of the legendary Tower (Leaning Tower of Pisa) is still unknown. [cb says I just read an interesting article on the web about the Leaning Tower of Pisa but for the life of me I can't remember where or else I'd pass the link on.]

Web Bites

• Florence is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and its artistic, historic and cultural heritage and impact in the world remains vast up to this day.
• The best time to visit Florence is in May, early June, late September and October.
• Proclaimed as the "art capital of Italy"...
• Michelangelo's David, one of the most frequently reproduced statues in the world, is located in Florence

In the News

The Green Initiative is important to the poeple of Florence. Read all about it...I'm dreaming of a green Christmas

Just * The * Facts

Elevation: 3 feet Latitude: 43 41N Longitude: 010 23E
Avg Temp: 61
Avg High: 71
Avg Low: 52
Avg Precipitation: 2.4
With a population of 367,569 Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany.

See you next week on Deck 14 where the cool kids hang.