Your friendly administrator is off to Italy

[Jim]

Hey performers.net-ers,

I'm going to Italy for three weeks, May 6-30 but I'll be checking in occasionally from the road to make sure everyone is playing nicely with each other. I must admit, things have been really nice and tame lately. Maybe it's because the season is starting again and everyone is busy... either way, thanks for being cool.

While I'm away, I'm leaving everything on and will be monitoring remotely from Internet cafes... It will be my first experience handling this from the road. I'm kind of excited! So if anyone has questions for me, post in the TOP forum -- Forum FAQ. That's the first place I'll look for new posts and any site problems. I'm probably only going to check in a couple times per week, so be patient.

Oh, yeah, if anyone has any suggestions for MUST SEE Italy destinations, please reply here. I'm planning on hitting Rome, Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, Cinque Terra, Bologna, Venice and I fly out of Milan. Whew... Whirlwind tour.

And I won't have my show with me, I'm just going to be a tourist. (I will, however, be eyeing potential pitches...)

See you on the road.

[Daniel Forlano]

Jim!

Listen, it is really hard to go wrong. But you've also chosen the larger cities. Look into Parma, Cremona, Padova and Como. These towns are home to small wonders of the world. Also, when I was in Bergamo I went hunting for Enrico Rastelli's grave. I found the right cemetary (I think) but it was closed and gaurded. I climbed the wall but in secrecy and haste I could not find his grave. Anyway, each town tends to have it's own flavor and charm, and masterpieces of art and history are always near. (I sound like a travel book.)

Because you are going North I'd get there and spend as much time as possible. I say that because you could easily spend a month in any of the provences you'll be passing through (Tuscana, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Lombardia, or Liguria) and it is easy to get attached to where you are. Don't waste time in Roma when you can be in Como. The smaller towns will be beautiful and relaxing.

But if you go to Roma visit the Pantheon, Piazza Navona (I did a show there.), The Forum, The Colosseum, and Trastevere (across the river) where there are great restaurants and night life. Be careful in highly crowded OR remote places. Theft is rampant. (Happened to me.)

Firenze is an all around best. I met a performer named Ramin. He would perform at night in Piazza Della Signoria and Piazza Della Republica (I had my best show of the trip here). Ramin was regularly ticketed in Piazza Della Signoria but it didn't matter because they would never follow up on the charge. By the way, the Uffizi gallery is just off Piazza Della Signoria.

In Venezia there is a Hostel right across the water (take a water taxi) from Piazza San Marco. You can wander the streets endlessly and take taxi's to other islands.

I could go on...
The north is the wealthy and fashionable part of Italy. Think castles, paintings, architecture, Duomo's, lakes and the Italian Riviera.

Don't forget renting a small car might be suitable if you want to visit smaller towns with limited train/bus schedules. Driving in Italy can be nice.

There is a town somewhere in which the streets are built in concentric circles around the center. I don't know what town it is. Also, I've always wanted to spend time around the lakes in Lombardia.

Take care,
Eat well,
Long life,

stitches

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stitches

[Frisbee]

Jim,

Have a fun time in Italy...it was good to see you in boston before I headed west. California has been fun so far...talk to you soon.

-Frisbee

[Butterfly Man]

In Rome don't miss Caffé Greco ... as an artist (& tourist). (nearby the Spanish Steps)

While in Firenze don't forget to try Brunello Di Montalcino (an Italian wine) with the local beefsteak ... to die for ... espcially if they had hoof n' mouth.
Gratsi´ ... Prego!

[Daniel Forlano]

Hey Jim.

If/When your in Bologna have pizza at the Pizzeria Belli Arti. It should be some very good pizza. Also some food suggestions from my sister: "Osteria Broccaindoso, La Felina (up on the hill about a 15 minute cab ride, you need reservations and it's a bit expensive i.e. $25 for brunch, then the great part is that you can walk all the way back to Bologna down the mountain, the views are great), Bravo Cafe" has good pizza among other things.

At some point try some Carpaccio (an appetizer of beef cured in lemon juice). Also, gorgonzola pizza once got me high in Bergamo. (Bergamo is cool because the old town is on a small cliff while the more recent town sits below.)

A few more considerations: Venice can be deceptive. Think of the waterways as streets (since they are) because there are many points of interest along the main waterway running in an "S" through the city.

Michelangelo.
Probably too late to see "The Creation of Man" in the Sistine Chapel?(Vatican City).
How about Leonardo Da Vinci's "The Last Supper," in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan.

Maybe check out some country Villa's or wineries.
Eat many flavors of gelati.
Rent a bike.

It's Faneuil Hall for me.
I'm fucking jealous...

stitches

And theatres! Why not check out the interiors of some theatres.


[This message has been edited by Daniel Forlano (edited 05-10-2001).]

[Jim]

Hey folks,

Greetings from the medieval and touristy SanGimignano. The brick streets are lined with kitchy shops and tourists by day, but at night and in the early mornings this place is magical. Everything looks like a post card. The local wine is great and I'm getting to know all the local artists. There are no street performers here, but I keep having the urge to jump out and do something. It is very tempting. Thousands of tourists sitting around eating gelato looking at each other in a giant town square... It's like a blank canvas. I did hear about someone from Barcalona passing through here last summer with a unicycle and fire show. No idea who it was.

In SanGiminano, I'm staying with a friend so it's easy and virtually free to live here. I'm planning a few day trips to Florence, Siena, Pisa and the Cinque Terra.

Daniel, thanks so much for all your recommendations. They are helping. Rome's sights and art was amazing, but the city was horribly noisy and filled with foreigners on every sidewalk selling CRAP. I met a few statue mimes and scoped out lots of cool potential pitches. The mimes were all lined up in Piazza Navona, six in a row. It was frustrating watching them work. They could have done so much more with the crowds, but seemed content doing minimal stuff. Noone had any real crowd control.

I'm off to Siena tomorrow and will check out the scene there.

Damn, vacation is cool.

Jim

[worldwidese]

Ciao Jim. Happy for you that you're enjoying Italy. But do us all a favor and grab yourself some props- umbrellas or wine bottles or oranges to juggle? plates to spin? cards for tricks? or cigar boxes to hold together? (I can't remember the name of the trick) and do at least one show so you can post us on your experience. Aw, go on Jim! Don't be cruel and keep us in suspense. Kelly.