La Dolce Vita - Part II

I'm off to Rome in a few hours. As with last year, the day to day details will be determined along the way, but there a few definites thus far:

Depart 6/30: United Airlines 966 at 6:20
Arrive 7/01: Rome 8:50am
Have first gelato: 8:51am
Have first litre of vino: 8:52am (have to lay down a base of gelato before I start drinking)
Return: August 15 (shit!)

Other than that, Liz (you know my friend from high school) is flying over next Saturday for 2 weeks. We are hanging out in Rome for a couple of days and then flying to Dubrovnik, Croatia. We're spending 2 nights on the island of Korcula, 5 nights in Dubrovnik, and renting a car to venture into Bosnia and Montenegro, then back to Rome for a few more wine soaked days. If we land ourselves in an eastern European jail, it would fabulous if you would all use your political and financial powers to save us. Assuming jail is not in my future, I'm also thinking of heading down to Sicily for a week.

Same girls, same drinking, different part of the world

So that's about it. I hope you all have great summers and feel free to comment on the posts. I check often and its always great to hear from you all, even you Peter. Also, I've got an Italian SIM to use in my cell this year so if you text or call, it will be an international call for you. I'm also using Skype to talk to my family for free; if you use Skype my contact info is posted on the left. I've also got a webcam on my laptop, so I'll take you for a tour of the apartment!

Baci e a presto!!

BBQ and stuff. . . .yum

So I've checked off one box, Kansas City Barbecue. I was starving by the time I got unpacked and has missed lunch at the convention center. This was probably for the best if the food last year is any indication. I got a recommendation from a born and bred KC native, Jack Stack's. Man oh man was it good; we're talking plate licking good. I had beef burnt ends, the tips of the roast cut bite size and put back on the fire to slow roast in sauce for 5 hours, and 4 pork ribs. It was a good thing I had about a 20 minute walk back to the hotel; I needed it. Took some pictures along the way. . . .

Cool add on the side of a building on 12 street.

Interesting looking restaurant/club behind my hotel. Will get to it later!

the top of the convention center where I'll be spending unspeakable hours grading essays.

Who knew. . . casinos in Kansas City.

Lovely, lovey wine shop a block away. Shocking I should find such a thing!

Kansas City!

The top of the TWA building.

L'estate Cominicia!

Summer has finally arrived. I'm finished work, at least finished with kids, and now I'm off to Kansas City for the AP Reading again. After 9 days there, in which time I must get to a Royals game, hang out in 18th and Vine's jazz clubs, attend a BBQ & Jazz festival, and I suppose do the work I'm being sent there to do, I'm back home for 2 weeks and then off to Italy, Croatia, Sicily, and who knows where else. Let the games begin!