Mandy's First Visit
Posted On Friday, December 27, 1991 at at 6:49 PM by AlvinA few collegues drove me out to the Roman countryside and showed me the beautiful volcanoe lakes of Albano and Nemi and I was sure Mandy would find it nice to live in this part of Italy for a while. She came over to spend Christmas in Frascati and we flew back on separate flights - she went from Fimincino to Heathrow and I went from Ciampino to Gatwick but we later caught the same airport coach back home, fun ! We spent the New Year in Cambridge catching up with friends and our teenager cats, Spikes and Punks.
Settling Down In Frascati
Posted On Thursday, December 12, 1991 at at 6:36 PM by AlvinI have hardly the appropriate words to describe the "first generation" of my co-workers other than we seemed to have been assembled from the Frankenstein Factory - full of odd parts. Luckily, I have settled down in my job with fair ease and enjoyed it very much.
I was tasked with looking after part of a computer operations that included running a data transcription chain from raw satellite media to optical discs and it was this project that led me to meet my best friend, Fabio. We worked on the European X-Ray Satellite (EXOSAT) operation and became great company although my Italian and his English did not go beyond a "ciao" in the morning, a lot of hand gestures, nodding and computer screen pointing but we always had a full smile. Here's Fabio, Roberta and Gianmarco with us.
I managed to move in to a flat in the middle of Frascati, a little town in the Castelli Romani. The tiny balcony had a full view of Rome that was 20 minutes' drive away.The Italian Job -A Dream Come True
Posted On Tuesday, November 12, 1991 at at 6:18 PM by AlvinNo sooner had we returned from the month in USA, I was invited for a few rounds of interviews for a job in Rome ! I happened to be the guy at the right place and at the right time. All in all I was interviewed by three people and the deal was signed ! There was absolutely no stopping as it was almost like a dream come true to work in continental Europe, let alone an exciting city as Roma ! I rang Mandy and she was at once elated as well as panic - her man was leaving in a week's time !
She took a few days off her busy job in Stockley Park (she was working for Glaxo there) and helped me buy a few decent ties and suits for the Italian job !
I flew out on the 17th November, a Sunday night and Mandy came to see me off at the Cambridge bus station - a very sad affair as we faced a daunting and uncertain future. An interesting side story here was that Mandy had only 2 week's earlier passed her driving test and she had never driven our Renault 5 "le Car" before and the car was stuck at the exit of the car park but luckily a few nice people helped her out, phew !
And thus began our Italian odessy... watch this space...
She took a few days off her busy job in Stockley Park (she was working for Glaxo there) and helped me buy a few decent ties and suits for the Italian job !
I flew out on the 17th November, a Sunday night and Mandy came to see me off at the Cambridge bus station - a very sad affair as we faced a daunting and uncertain future. An interesting side story here was that Mandy had only 2 week's earlier passed her driving test and she had never driven our Renault 5 "le Car" before and the car was stuck at the exit of the car park but luckily a few nice people helped her out, phew !
And thus began our Italian odessy... watch this space...
Where We Went In USA (1)
Posted On Sunday, October 6, 1991 at at 2:34 AM by Alvin
Meeting Sloppy Joe In Key West
Posted On Saturday, October 5, 1991 at at 11:25 PM by AlvinFlew over to Miami with the Delta Air Pass and were told by the nice Alamo guy "To avoid the possibility of getting robbed, do not stop your car when you get bumped from behind ...". Luckily we drove down to Key West and back without a bump. We passed The Everglades National Park along the way and were greeted with major humidity and scores of bugs; it's fun to begin with walking in the lush and green national park, but one's arms soon became quite tired after a while in trying to wave away the flying bugs.
We left bugland behind us and reached Key West and found a very relaxing town with an ultra laid back atmosphere. We took a catamaran trip out for a spot of snorkeling before returning the car in Miami. With its sunny weather and beautiful ocean scenary, this week spent in Florida gave us a good idea of why retired Americans flock to this State.
We left bugland behind us and reached Key West and found a very relaxing town with an ultra laid back atmosphere. We took a catamaran trip out for a spot of snorkeling before returning the car in Miami. With its sunny weather and beautiful ocean scenary, this week spent in Florida gave us a good idea of why retired Americans flock to this State.
If you're going to San Francisco...
Posted On Tuesday, October 1, 1991 at at 11:58 PM by Alvin"be sure to wear some flowers in your hair..." and so the classic song goes. The relaxing and laid back melody of the song really hits home after we strolled around the hilly city under a blue blue sunny sky ! Chill, Man !
We met up with Mandy's brother's family, Lawrence, Tiffany and 6-months old Vivian for lunch and strolled around Pier 39 before escaping out of Alcatraz ! Of course, we did not miss the beautiful GG Bridge !
Monument Valley With A Raised Thumb !
Posted On Thursday, September 19, 1991 at at 11:44 PM by AlvinWe thought nothing would top the scenaries at the many canyon national parks we left behind, but Monument Valley with its many red-earth Mars-scapes soon proved another highlight in this part of America ! Check out "The Thumb" below ! We only wish we had more time exploring Utah, Arizona and New Mexico before flying off to the ultra-cool city of San Francisco !
Canyons Canyons Canyons !
Posted On Sunday, September 8, 1991 at at 3:07 AM by AlvinHere they are, da dannn... : The Zion, Bryce, Arches and Grand Canyons and we love walking amongst them ! We trekked down (and back up) The Blue Angel Trail at the Grand Canyon and were rewarded with a good idea of the immensity, of the depth and awesomeness (sorry, can't really find another word here) of this GRAND canyon !
The night before we were so cocky that we were sure to find a roof over our heads that we arrived late in the evening demanding a canyon lodge offering all kinds of mod-cons (and also a view of the Grand Caynon please) and were replied by the receptionist : "September 8th, let me see...would that be for next year sir ?"
We spent the night at a camp site wrapped warm in our sleeping bags, with an uninterrupted view of the starry sky !
The night before we were so cocky that we were sure to find a roof over our heads that we arrived late in the evening demanding a canyon lodge offering all kinds of mod-cons (and also a view of the Grand Caynon please) and were replied by the receptionist : "September 8th, let me see...would that be for next year sir ?"We spent the night at a camp site wrapped warm in our sleeping bags, with an uninterrupted view of the starry sky !
A Detour In Nevada
Posted On Tuesday, September 3, 1991 at at 2:52 AM by AlvinWe intended to fly directly to Las Vegas from New Orleans and checked-through our bags but the Delta Air Pass worked on a Priority system and we were at the bottom (hey man, tens of Dollars Delta Pass, what do you expect ?).
So we flew in to Reno instead with only our day pack and spent a night in this gambling town that served us a huge dinner for 5 bucks ! We picked up our car and drove down to LV via the arid but spectacular Death Valley. We arrived at the McCarran Airport just after mid-night and picked up our rucksacks and moved in to The Pink Flamingos ! We quickly went for a swim in the pool followed by a mid-night All-Ya-Can-Eat American breakfast ! What a day !
So we flew in to Reno instead with only our day pack and spent a night in this gambling town that served us a huge dinner for 5 bucks ! We picked up our car and drove down to LV via the arid but spectacular Death Valley. We arrived at the McCarran Airport just after mid-night and picked up our rucksacks and moved in to The Pink Flamingos ! We quickly went for a swim in the pool followed by a mid-night All-Ya-Can-Eat American breakfast ! What a day !
The Big Easy - New Orleans
Posted On Saturday, August 31, 1991 at at 2:27 AM by AlvinWe've booked our Delta Air Pass and Car from the Cambridge office of TrailFinder and we're off to the US of A ! We landed in Atlanta and adjusted to the time difference and walked the "Freedom Walk" down town before boarding a Delta plane to "The Big Easy".
The Big Easy apparently comes from a local gossip columnist for the Times Picayune, in the '70s as a term of endearment and an answer to the then I Love New York City hype. If it's the "Big Apple" then New Orleans is the "Big Easy," where everything is slower, simpler and easy-going. Hey, I love the sound of it already !
We enjoyed the Cajun foods and ventured in to the French Quarter and Jackson Square. We also took the famous tram s-l-o-w-l-y around town and enjoy the unique atmosphere of this interesting town.
We spent a very enjoyable evening on board a Mississippi cruise where there was a band and they played our requested favourite song "Summer Time" - "Summer time and the living is easy, fishes are jumping and the cotton is high..."
