Sogno di senape

The Long Journey Home

The above photo is from the Frankfurt airport. Forza Bologna.

So, the permanenza in Bologna is over. There remain loose ends from the trip that I haven’t tied together for publication here—like the Medeski, Martin, and Wood stuff—but I think that I will safely call this, pretty much, the last post in the saga. Sad, I know, but this blog has served it’s purpose. And though documenting my semester abroad became, somewhat, just part of how I functioned as a student, I really don’t forsee anything in the near future warranting the continuation of such a “blog.”

That said, Bologna was amazing. Still can’t believe that I was there for a entire five months and I know that I will be going through withdrawals at some point but, for now, it’s great to be home. Really really great to be home.

Done.

Photo from the NYTimes.

Okay, so I don’t intend to be anyone’s first news source, but I think that my catching wind of this news on the eve of my departure is reminding me of something I’m going to have to work on until November. And hard.

But I do hope that conjecture turns out to be true: “Mr. Davis said he came up with the idea because he has examined the state-by-state polls in detail and determined that Mr. Obama would have a hard time getting elected. “I believe he can win without her,” he said, “but they cannot be beat with her.”

And from Obama’s speech, the level of involvement he expects from Clinton in his campaign was left ambiguous—whether her involvement will be as VP Candidate (obviously, since this is what the hoopla is about) or as a Senator. In either regard, doing something to patch up the long primary season would be nice.

Good news. I think.

Just Rock the Structure

Photos from the Rome trip are up here. The trip was, much like Venice, full of straight tourism, but a little more varied in the age range and a little more impressive in general. Word of advice: The Colosseum does not warrant a visit inside. It’s pretty much just big and that can be seen from the outside. The inside is pretty busted (I know).

Vatican city and the Vatican museum was just amazing. Definitely worth a visit and definitely worth arguing with the ticket office to get a student rate. I’ll just say, I was very happy to get to see the Birth of Man and the School of Athens, but I was quite disappointed at the thought of the scene from Six Degrees of Separation in which Stockard Channing gives the Birth of Man a big slap. I want to slap the Birth of Man. Would be just fantastic. Just fantastic. But, that probably won’t happen for a good while now.

The Motherland

So, the return trip to San Marino was a brilliant success, I would say. The weather was wonderful and provided for some great pictures; however, the most important photo of the journey was definitely this of the Diamond Bar Ristorante (that being because my hometown is Diamond Bar). There is obviously a strong connection between these two places that I call home. 

The dear City of San Marino. But, most importantly, here are the new photos.