A New Blog

If you like the Alan's Italy Blog and my writing and the former TV show the West Wing, then please check out my new blog, Alan's West Wing Reflections at alanswestwing.blogspot.com.

Reasons for Cancellation

My apologies to my many readers of this blog for canceling Alan's Italy this week, and therefore forestalling the writing of the blog regarding the show. My engineer, Ellen, and I have come down with fierce colds that prevented us from going forward. I probably could have performed last evening, just as I actually went to work in the city the day before (a horrible experience under the circumstances), however, it may have been madness, so, what the heck, we just postponed a week. Therefore, those of you who either enjoy reading the blog or watching the show will have to wait until Friday, October 24 for Alan's Italy Show # 102, Cinque Terre Revisited. In fact I couldn't even do my usual last minute modifications in the presentation, because I was literally in bed yesterday all day. After setting up the album I was to use for the broadcast, I decided to add some things and change the presentation, which I couldn't do. Now I will have the time to work on honing the final product which could make for a better show overall. I hope you tune in.

Finally a Show About Bellagio

After two weeks of stewing in my juices about the major mistake I made on show # 100, I finally got a chance to correct the error. As you may remember, I indicated that the "eastern fork of Lake Como" was really the Western Fork. I was happy that is out of the way.

Meanwhile, I focused on Bellagio after three straight shows related to Varenna. I realized that I had hundreds of photos of Bellagio, but never really spent much air time showing too many and discussing my many visits. I actually had decided to break the idea into two parts, a show about Bellagio and then another just about the Villa Melzi which we just recently visited back in June. When Laura saw the breakdown, she indicated that I needed to combine the two. I also then came to the conclusion that I could not have sustained two 50 minutes shows, added the Villa Melzi photos to the Bellagio show which made more sense anyway, and off I went.

The show was perfectly engineered by Ellen, and after seeing the show myself realized that it was almost perfect on my end as well except for indicating that the sculpture at the Villa Melzi was neoclassical when in reality it could have been originals from ancient times. I should have looked that up.  A small error, but otherwise a nice smooth broadcast. I am now for the most part finished with Lake Como, four shows in total.

I now turn to Cinque Terre for what may turn out to be probably four shows, the coastal boat ride which will give me a chance to review the entire Cinque Terre experience, which I had produced early in 2012 as one of the first shows, two shows on Monterosso al Mare, and another on the stunning town of Portovenere which is just south of Cinque Terre. I have a lot of photos of the only town we did not visit in 2009 Corniglia, but not yet sure if that will be a separate show or rolled into the Cinque Terre Boat Ride Show.

An Evening to Remember

As I said on the broadcast last night, I never imagined that I would have gotten this far. When the idea to do a show was first broached to me during the early spring 2011, I not only scoffed at the idea presented to me by my friend, but had forgotten according to him that the idea was actually given to me a year earlier and rejected outright as folly. Getting the project under way was unbelievably difficult. Nobody could figure out how to hook up the new MacBook Pro computer I especially bought for the show. I truly must have given up at least a dozen times, even given away the computer because I just not figure out how to use it. Then I had a kidney stone attack, subsequent surgery, and an emotional breakdown. For months I basically gave up the project. I must have always thought that I might return, as evidenced by the fact that during that hiatus I actually had peppered two albums which were intended to become the basis for the first and second shows, Venice and Florence. Then on a crisp November morning, I called my future engineer and great friend Ellen and asked her if we could try this out in the studio. Another month passed by while we tried to find the way to broadcast, until finally on December 9, 2011 (my daughter's birthday) we did a show to DVD which would have been placed on the "carousel," the system that creates weekly programing from DVD's created during live shows. After the show was taped, I suddenly blurted out to Ellen, "I can do this live!" In reality I was terrified to go on live TV, but the next week on Friday evening, 5 PM, December 16, 2011, I did my first live broadcast. That decision basically changed my life and you can plainly see on the anniversary edition for the 100th show.

I only began using Youtube to store the shows in a place that my friends could see it since most of them lived away from the Woodstock viewing area. I never imagined that there would be 100 shows, that 17,000 views would have occurred by the 2 1/2 yr point, or that Youtube would even allow so many one hour videos on their site. I liked the idea of the blog, because the whole process of conceiving a show, creating the images and story to go with it, along with the actual mechanics we perform in the studio was so emotionally wrought with anxiety, trepidation, and excitement (all of which comprise the story of my life) that I needed that outlet for closure. Everything fell into place so beautifully for me that here I am with, in my and a other people's mind, an amazing and incredible creation. I say this with the utmost modesty, however. I am not a producer, broadcaster, or performer. I am a teacher of mathematics with a passion for Italian travel enhanced to a great extent by my relationships with my friends in Italy. But other than my work at the college, this project has come to define who I am. I rarely have a conversation with anyone, be it at a party, dinner, or any tete a tete without the topic of Alan's Italy coming up. It is absolutely amazing.

I hate anniversaries, birthdays, and most occasions. I like life just kind of rambling along without fanfare. As the one hundredth show loomed, I dreaded having to create something "special." I thought about a lot of possibilities like some old videos I never showed to the audience, some kind of slide show which included my favorite photos (which I actually did for the two year anniversary edition), a boat ride along Cinque Terre (which will be a future show), etc. This idea of the evening we spent with Simone and Silvia seemed appropriate. I then rescheduled a lot of stuff I had planned. I put Lake Como first among the places we visited during the last trip and sent Cinque Terre into the future, and began planning for a Varenna show (number 98) to kind of introduce Lake Como, then the Bar il Molo show (number 99) to set up the 100th. Then I had to build a show around what would never have carried a full 50 minute broadcast so I added four other highlights of my trips throwing in our adventure in Pisa in 2012, the Orvieto experiences (2012 mostly), the La Spada cooking demo and interview with the owner, Simone. Then I had a big decision to make. If I chose the boat ride and dinner with Simone and Silvia, I would be diminishing the importance of the 2013 Venice Biennale experience, which was actually and probably the best time I ever had in Italy. Both from Laura's amazing achievement perspective and from my own participation having interviewed all those wonderful artists, it kind of hurt to push that into 2nd place when clearly it should have been number one. Yet I felt that I had already produced a lot of material on the Biennale and Venice from 2013, and had yet to talk about the really, really wonderful evening on Lake Como. Then, of course, I could not do a special show without talking about my wonderful and devoted friends we visit in Italy. Voila! That is how I conceived this show.

Yet, being who I am and have tried to explain (even on last night's show), I cannot, absolutely and completely incapably, do a show without screwing something up. In this case at least two things that most (all?) people would never pick up. At this point if you haven't seen the show, go watch it and come back and see if that is what you saw. I should probably not even say this since only a few people people might know this. Being who I am, i.e. honest, here goes. First, and only Laura would know this, I identified the photos of the interior of the restaurant, Terlindana in Sala Comacina as my creation when they were actually taken by Laura. Sorry, I did go into the restaurant, but only to use the bathroom. Second and most troubling, I identified the boat ride and dinner as having occurred on the "eastern shore of the eastern fork of Lake Como." I said that at least six times. Totally wrong, Alan. What a doof. It is the western shore of the western fork of Lake Como!!!!!!! Damn!!! I know that, but the little bird on my shoulder who always seems to give me the wrong thing to do and say took the lead here and I screwed what could have been a perfect show. However, let's face it; I can never have a perfect show. Thus and finally, I hope, ALAN'S Italy with all the warts, mistakes, flubs and fluffs will continue to amaze me and I hope entertain all of you and others who may happen upon it. To you my reading and viewing audience, I say, however. Thank YOU!!!!!!

Divine Life on Lake Como

Broadcast # 99 focused on my interview with Simone Deghi at a lovely table overlooking Lake Como. Simone is a wonderful, energetic, and enterprising young man whose ambition for his enterprises appears to be endless. His charming responses were very heart-felt and sincere, but sometimes it is difficult to hear him. This was entirely my fault as, although I knew to project my voice and having been a teacher for 43 years and a broadcaster and lecturer for 2 1/2, it comes naturally by now, Simone could have used a microphone. The noises of the boats on the lake, and around the restaurant prevented him from sometimes being heard that well. Nonetheless, if you listen carefully, his warmth and sincerity come through very well. His restaurant is wonderful, and keeps getting better all the time. Bar il Molo is a delightful place to dine and enjoy the amazing scenery on the lake. The tour of his various facilities worked better as his voice was easier to hear. I think the fabulous time we have any time we dine here comes through very well. My next project for myself is to get a clip on mic for interviews.

The follow-up to this show was supposed to have been perhaps a visit by Simone and his publicist to the US to do a show live talking about his newest project, a gallery with five parts each representing a craft unique to the lake and Varenna. Unfortunately we cannot continue with that project due to an intense and comprehensive renovation of the Woodstock Public Access Studio which will commence within the month. Not only can we not plan special projects such as his visit, but even my regular bi-weekly show may be in jeopardy. Certainly I am told to be flexible for the next several months, as I may nor not be able to broadcast for a while, and even then in the modified location of a trailer which will be parked just outside the existing space. The new studio will be larger and better, I have been told. The trials and tribulations of public access television.

Meanwhile I am still planning the special anniversary show # 100 which will have several segments. First Laura promises that she will create a new series of photos for the introductory montage. The songs will remain, however. Second I will talk about the best part of my Italian adventure, my dear friends who have graced my life with their love and devotion starting with Lidia and Luca, and continuing with Franco. I also speak a bit about Susan Chalkley. Then I show a graphic which shows a list of my five favorite experiences in Italy since I began Alan's Italy in 2011, showing some photos and talking about why that experience was so meaningful to me. The culmination will be our most recent adventure, that special boat ride and dinner with Simone and his partner, Silvia, at Sala Comacina, a place reached only by water taxi on the western shore of the western fork of Lake Como. Much better know than Sala Comacina is the tiny island, Isola Comacina which is recommended by Rick Steves as a daytime side- trip from anywhere on the lake. Then we will move ahead as best we can with the next hundred episodes.

Lake Como Highlighted

For the first show about our recent trip I chose to return to Lake Como, actually our last stop on this tour. Normally I would begin with our first destination and work my way through each broadcast chronologically. Because there is a chance that the owner of the Bar il Molo in Varenna, Simone Deghi, might come to the United States and appear live on the Alan's Italy, I rearranged things to make certain that when he actually arrived that the series of shows on Lake Como in general and Varenna in particular had already been broadcast. If he doesn't make the trip, it would't matter, because this current series of shows is spectacular anyway.

So I started the series using my favorite destination in Italy Varenna. Even though there are no museums and churches, it is the scene of some of my most relaxing and enjoyable times in Italy, truly a place to slow down and enjoy the stunning beauty of Italy. I went back and did some background on Lake Como and my five trips there beginning in 2007 when I first met Simone. I then showed the variety of charming and gorgeous side streets and lanes that make Varenna so remarkable. I also focused on the Hotel Villa Cipressi where we used to stay and the current favorite, Hotel du Lac, where possibly we will stay from now on. The spectacular location with the lake in the background and the amazing patio where we spent a lot of time kicking back with prosecci and lemoncelli made for a sublime and relaxing experience, truly unforgettable. I also spent a lot of time talking about how wonderful Bar il Molo was, and also our formal favorite, Vecchia Varenna, also lakeside for stunning sunsets (for which I chose about a dozen of my favorites photos taken during our five previous trips).

I ended the show with a brief preview of the next two shows. The first will feature why Bar il Molo is our favorite informal venue on the lake highlighted by a series of interviews totaling thirty minutes with Simone, owner of the bar (really a restaurant, pizzeria, and gelateria). He shows us around his various enterprises including his B and B and new art gallery. The second show in that series will mark the 100th broadcast and will focus on my five favorite times in Italy since we started Alan's Italy in December 2011 ending with the penultimate moment, the sunset motor boat ride hosted by Simone and his partner, Silvia, to a wonderful restaurant where we dined away the evening. That spectacular boat ride and dinner will be the main focus of that special anniversary show.

Professor D'Ambra Returns to the Show

Ever since Professor Eve D'Ambra agreed to come back to the show to make a presentation on Pompeii I have been very excited. I knew that this would be just like taking a course, but even better because I would be able to guide the presentation and ask questions along the way. It was very easy to set up this show. Eve sent photos, I set up the album, and with very little preparation on my part, we nonetheless put together an excellent broadcast. Her husband, Franc Palaia, who has made perhaps a half dozen or more shows in his own right was present as well. With Ellen also, of course, in the studio, it was nice and lively, and very exciting. Our only concern was that there would be too much material to cover in the one hour and sure enough as I kept glancing at the clock on the wall, I began to realize Eve would never be able to complete a discussion on each of the photos. Franc and I agreed that the best kind of show is one in which there are no limits either way and that I would just go for as long as I wanted whether it would be 90 minutes or even shorter with 40 mins or whatever. It's really very hard to judge how long a broadcast will be. Eve did not cover all the photos, but even leaving out about 2 or 3, it was still a wonderful summary of the greatness of this extraordinary archeological site.

Pompeii itself is an amazing place to study and visit. A lot of it has been rebuilt, but the basic framework of the 2000 year old city remains quite intact after all these years. Professor D'Ambra's expertise clarified so many of the important aspects of the town. It is important to have a guide with her knowledge to explain what everything means. After all not only are we viewing a great city from Ancient times, but we are learning how people lived two centuries ago. To me it always appeared that the Ancient Romans had an amazingly advanced culture complete with beautiful pubic baths, stunning open spaces, and magnificent homes of many wealthy people, two of whom were women, Eumachia and Julia Felix indicating that despite the patriarchal society women did have some major power.

I have been to Pompeii twice, and despite that fact a new story unfolded. My initial question to her was to compare the degree of preservation (and reasons for that) of Ostia Antica (near Rome) and Pompeii. The former was the Ancient Roman seaport abandoned because of the disease that prevailed at that time which prevented any kind of habitation. Thus the town survived almost as intact as Pompeii which, of course, survived because it was buried by volcanic ash. Both towns are fascinating to learn how people lived two thousand years ago. However, the advantage of having a professor explain is an amazing privilege that I once again thank Eve D'Ambra very much.

We now begin to broadcast the places which Laura and I visited this past May and June beginning with Lake Como. In that regard we begin with Varenna, our favorite town on the lake. We continue with a focus on Bar il Molo, our favorite cafe/restaurant on the lake, so for spectacular scenes, tune in.