To those living in La la land....

consider supporting my favorite local non-profit Machine Project this holiday season, memberships also make great gifts :)

Then fry your life away at their annual fundraising party....good fun, good coronary, good cause.

DreamWorld

Holidays are fleeting past and I miss my family most around this time of year (especially my Gram Athena), lots of love to you all. My mother has requested an update, so here it goes:

What a year. What a world.

Currently, I have been able to create a life within Istanbul with the luxury to be both removed from and immersed in the culture. This optional and anonymous nature makes for very exciting possibilities day to day; not seeking permanent place, because I have an idea where I want to end up, just finding temporary refuge in a city with a creative outlet and a little bit of comfort.

The fact that I am in a foreign country cannot escape me however, and is very apparent when I exit the rather modern western interior of home and into the neighborhood; a sort of village within the city where scrap collectors announce there needs and sweet toddling carts, their presence.

I also cannot overlook when I pass by an all girls school where scriptures are being recited in a rather cult like fashion.

Or am blessed with an intrusive call to prayer at 6 in the morning.

I am not here to ignore these moments, but embrace that I can live my life amongst them. No interruption or criticizing, but learning and choosing which aspects to participate in and which I prefer not to.

A good exercise in acceptance, and proof that coexistence is real and possible.

I have really developed an interesting way to look at life, embracing the present moment and accepting that in my eyes there are only a few things found to be true. Everything else is up to interpretation and becomes a battleground for the egocentric.

This is a period of intrinsic knowledge development, full eye opening experiences and challenges by which to grow. Here are some of the highlights this year (please also take these as a deep Thank You to those who contributed to the experience, you know who you are!):

-Meeting my Chilean twin Julian…Serydarth connects the best of the best.

-Being humanized by fresh humanure in the Tuscan mountains of Garfagnaga.

-Italy, it’s people, and all of its splendors!!

-Mutual understanding and the enjoyment of life with the lovely Joicy!

-Falling in love with the Balkans!! Music, cultural diversity, beautiful languages, and hot headed nationalism. This includes the countless bus rides, the ‘living in a car experience’ in Malakaland, and the unexpected 'ending up in' Turkey one morning in June.

-Learning about creating a homestead in the most sustainable fashion in Krushevo, Bulgaria.

-Permaship and the path to Istanbul (Andrew you have done more for me than you know!)

-Morocco, tranquility and trances.

-Visits from old friends and a beautiful brother.......Beer Gardens, following the World Cup (Germany and Holland during the finals was not planned), and a Spritz introduction!

-Maya opening up the Dour for music, a new found love for Belgian everything, and my lovely covoituraging hosts to Paris….. a lesson in ask and you shall receive.

-Non-hostile, hostel life and my worldly family in Pisa.

-The renovation of my current life c/o Cynthia, Angelika, and Emiliano. A Big GIANT Thank You.

-The opportunity to take a PDC with the masters, thanks to the Permaculture Institute of Turkey.

-‘Stumbling upon’ the passage Hazzopoulo and finding (my) Aponia.

At the end of 2010, my hair a bit darker, my wit a bit sharper, and my mind a bit clearer….I have a realization:

I do not live in a dream world, but in the real world living my dreams. Lucky me.

Luck Bless You. (XX Aponia)

XOXO

Ally

Oh and if you are not bored by the self –absorbed ranting by now, here’s a little extra food for thought…

Let go lovies, just live; and keep in mind this set of Alex-isms, some cliché but all carrying some truth through personal experience thus far.

Be inspired and it will inspire others effortlessly. Trust yourself and people will trust you.

Do what you have to do to survive even if you feel it is irrelevant at the moment, you can always develop a way to connect what you have learned later on. There is always a way to maintain integrity of a goal while developing new skills.

Any skill you learn will come in handy some time in the future, and you are able to learn anything if you really want to and put in time and effort.

With this said there are some things I just don’t want to learn, which I think is ok too.

Be yourself and stop questioning things, everything will fall into place if you have good intention….and thankfully it has so far for me.

Don’t ignore the ignorant; open their mind to something new (if you can, of course).

This world has so much potential for universal happiness, so start making choices that feed the happiness. I have much hope for 2011!!! Happy New Year......

Quote of the day (AKA: How to charm a wood nymph.)

to dance under huge catterfly wings

u, me and a bunch of jackalopes
oh the visuals!!

A sea of people swallows you whole.....Istanbul don't steal my soul!

The ambient sounds of the city have shifted from church bells ringing in the distance to the call to prayer.

I have made it to Istanbul and I believe I made the right decision. The city is 'out of control' in a good way. Imagine LA with twice the population and cultural whiplash. A month and a half will do me good.

Follow my daily adventures here and maybe you will understand why:

http://interistanbul.tumblr.com/

Tilt a whirl wind tour….and my heads still spinning

Alas, I’ve stopped.

Where did I land? Italia of course…

My return came not by surprise or chance, but necessity. Sammy, my youngest brother, was visiting Italy with school and I could not miss the chance to see him. It was a brief but worthy trip that brought me back to one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Venice. I enjoyed every moment with my sweet bub, but felt a little like the crazy vagabond sister and hope I did not embarrass him too much crashing in his hotel room, and looking like a real ragamuffin, as gram would say. I must note here that I am soooooooo very proud of my brothers and am thrilled to see what fine young men they’ve beco

me. This visit made me realize more than ever how lucky I am to have such a wonderful family, the youngest being the most brilliant of all (I can say this because we all agree)!

Rewind.

After Istanbul in June I really did not stop. Essaouira, Morocco for the Gnaoua festival of music. Germany and Holland to visit my dear friend Daniela from SF. Then back Italy by land via Belgium for the Dour festival, hitching to Paris, covoituraging to Southern France, trucking to Casale, train-ing to Venice and now living in Pisa, where I work in the best hostel in the world Walking Street Pisa with my dear friends Marco and Anna. http://www.walkingstreethostel.com/

This part of the trip was filled will such randomness I do not know where to start. I have posted albums and will take any questions if the photos do not speak for themselves.

Sammy and friends http://www

.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2156

89&id=693271938&l=5a350ea020

Roadtrippin' http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2156

75&id=693271938&l=94da9c6c8d

Danyaya!!!

http://www.facebook.co

m/album.php?aid=21278

0&id=693271938&l=322bedef2d

Moroccan Trance http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1992

32&id=

693271

938&l=b006702904

Stay hydrated.

My pauses never come without a stint of grief, for good reason. When you beat your body up for extended periods of

time, it has a way of retaliating…this time in the form of renal colitis (particle matter passing similar to kidney stones). My body managed to stage three ailments over a period of a week, strategically amplifying the pain from one to the next without actually killing me. It was a dreadful spell that left me missing home more than ever. My trip to the emergency room for diagnosis was the highlight of this ‘low point’ due to the fact that I conducted the entire process in Italian, including understanding the diagnosis, truly an accomplishment in my eyes. Walking past the leaning tower sick as a dog, I still enjoyed watching countless tourists prevent the tower from falling down, and realized I would not want to be sick anywhere else in the world (except home that is). I could not express my internal laughter because of the pain, but I really love this aspect of the city.

After this episode I often would ride the bike that I purchased for 15 euro back to the surreal Piazza dei Miracoli to read my book and admire the giant landmarks that seem as though they spontaneously arose from the bright green carpet of grass.

I can describe the scene in one word, miraculous!!

Hostel World

I cannot end this post without

briefly describing how fun it has been working at Walking Street. Marco and Anna run the hostel as if it were a home for the weary travelers that are usually just passing through to visit other parts of Toscana or Cinque Terre. They’ve created and amazing atmosphere in a beautiful historic building with no outside help. The couple work their asses off and made me r

ealize how difficult working in ‘hospitality’ actually is. With that said I really enjoy meeting all of the guests from around the world and have even developed a new tangent of my project because of it based on nothing other than ‘identity’ (considering the diversity of my sampling, I could not resist…more info to come!).

We have created a strange little family at Walking Street Pisa, communicating by way of a weird mix of Italian, English, and Thai (since Anna is from Thailand), with the occasional Japanese and Spanish bits. There have also been some guests in residence that have added to the goodness. The presence of sweet Morvarid from Iran, Norbert from Hungary, and a Chilean family (Lorreto and her aunt and nonna!) have really strengthened the sense of community within the hostel and make the experience and dinners that much better.

Another notable experience to add to my nonstop adventure.

I will be returning to Istanbul soon, to build a garden and prepare myself for India. Am I ready? I will have to be.

Tales from the east are coming soon.

Obscura Observa

The Camera Obscura is a fascinating contraption, wish I could see how MP worked this one.

http://machineproject.com/events/2010/08/07/camera-obscura-at-machine-project/

Fellow San Franciscans, is the camera by the Cliff house still standing or was it destroyed when they moved the mechanical museum....I don't recall. Please go and check either one for me and report back. Thanks.

XOXO

Ally

Permaship sails!

I randomly found myself at a Permaculture workshop at the Permaship in Shipka, Bulgaria. Oddly enough the instructor ended up being from the states, which was an unexpected pleasure since I was able to understand on a level superior to what could have been otherwise. Doug Crouch is an amazing instructor and I highly recommend any course you can take from him. He is extremely knowledgeable in the area of permaculture and teaches with practicality and enthusiasm. You can see some of his projects here:

http://treeyopermaculture.wordpress.com/about/

The PermaShip itself was a wonderful space that managed to gather a real lovely group of people for this workshop. It was a period of interaction, engagement, and friendship building and I feel fortunate to have been a part of it.

Permaship is part of the Liveplaces collective of spaces around the country of Bulgaria. It is an innovative project that is putting into effect the changes we need to sustain our future. Unfortunately from Turkey I can not access theses websites to link, so you will have to wait for more…….coming soon

Village Living…..in a ‘Live’ Village

After the Greek madness, Nenad was kind enough to chauffer me past the Bulgarian border and through the fairytale like mountains of the Rhodopi. We battled ogres and wild horses before heading into the valley of Gotse Delchev where I met my hosts, a lovely couple from the UK who have decided to create a homestead in the Muslim village of Krushevo, successfully using their gorgeous piece of land to experiment with sustainable building methods and create a place to exchange ideas and experiences.

Time warp…..

While there, I spend some time out in the fields working with a kinship group in the community. The backbreaking labor is performed exclusively by hand or with the aide of a horse, and yet there is not one complaint. The hours depend on the day length; work can last for hours on end. Entire families go to the fields cultivating potatoes or their other cash crop of tobacco, working the land to benefit the entire village. The work is also seasonal, and the winter months bring a time to work with in the home and rest from the years work. There is a spirit to the people that I don’t see often, and the interactions between family members is endearing. Children are ever-present. During breaks in the field the family recollects fro tea and snacks and the children at times participate if they are strong enough to hold a tool. It is a collective effort and the job gets done. There is a social aspect to the work that you have to experience for yourself, and I really wish I could communicate on a higher level as I aided in the feels. It was a semi- surreal experience. As I looked beyond the fields at the green mountains and big- ever-changing skies I realized that hard work has incredible reward, and I take a lot for granted.

Both sides of the spectrum.

We went down to purchase stone from the roadside yards, a field trip of sorts. Series of palleted local stone are strewn alongside the road heading to Krushevo. Mountainside quarries extract a beautiful rock rich in mica and ranging on tone from greenish slate to a yellowish brown color. The high mica content gives it a glittery overlay, and leaves your skin with a costume makeup sparkle. The stones are hand cut with a chisel and the workers sit in the hot sun daily splitting slabs on small cushions. I was in a state of shock when I heard the prices paid for such amazing product. Having formerly priced stone, I could not believe the cost when purchasing direct from the source (pennies in comparison). Furthermore, I could not believe the prices we pay for similar, possibly the same, stone in California. It blew my mind how little is awarded to the laborer in comparison to the buyers. It also made me visualize the carbon footprint that trails the demand for such luxuries in life, and made me question: If the person buying comes from Bulgaria or California the worker gets paid the same, so why do we insist on not purchasing locally? One of the many questions that arise unanswered.

Village Homestead

Lily and Yan are an amazing and inspiring pair. They have managed to relocate their lives and become an active part of a village with very particular cultural values and living standards, enjoying and embracing every moment. It is total immersion and they handle the adjustment in a beautiful way.

As individuals, their wealth of knowledge and amazing patience makes them great teachers (or rather ‘sharing professionals). The practical knowledge I attained during my stay will stick with me for life (my cake baking skills have gone from dependent to equated and I will never NEED a basic cake recipe again, and that is only one newly developed skill!). It was valuable and memorable time spent, and I hope to re-vist the site as it shifts and changes in the coming years.

Thank you Lily and Yan for sharing your space, good luck with the developments to come.

Please check out the village website for more information and images (my camera was still broken at this point): http://krushevo.com/

Detours lead to terrible tan lines

A crisis has struck and I had to experience it. A brief stop in Nis, Serbia turned into a 10-day journey and the formation of an amazing friendship. My host in Nenad managed to talk me into detouring through Southern Serbia, Macedonia, and Greece before heading to Bulgaria for work, an adventure defying international borders and imposing cultural edification. The history and conflicts in the Balkans are so complex that I have just begun to wrap my head around what has gone on and what is going on…..it is hard to understand so I opted to accept and enjoy the ride

It was an experience to say the least. Protests, beaches filled with Malakas, job-hunting in horrendous seaside tourist resorts and tacky towns, finding abandoned greenhouse production sites and trying to understand why, sleeping in cars and on beaches, discovering a sea-side sanctuary and making it an alter to Athena. There was not a dull moment and the days flew past with little time to register how much we had actually done.

Here is a taste of the spectrum of places we visited,

The very expensive and successful Sani beach resort( http://www.saniresort.gr/en_GB) and this video I shot of the abandoned and beautiful greenhouse (former eco-village), contrast the interests in the tourist industry:(

The job-search was particularly amusing, and I had my doubts from the beginning not looking at it as a waste of time, but instead an experience. Going door-to-door asking for work at every hotel, restaurant, and tchotchke shop is exasperating, and constant rejection gets old fast, but the stories that came along with the regrets were worth the effort. Thankfully I was travelling with a person that has lived through this sort of ‘crisis’ for the past 20 years, and we managed to make light of the situation. He put into perspective our values in life, and made me recognize what type of person you become when you let all the bullshit go. Nenad you are the most positive being I’ve met yet. Don’t change. Thank you for softening my realism with optimism and laughter… until the next Balkan adventure!

A side note. Bosnia-Herzegovina is one of the most beautiful and green countries I have ever seen and I would love to return and explore with a car and a companion.

Sarajevo is a melting pot of culture, and I wish I could have spent more time there, without the downpour of rain. My camera broke after enjoying a Nescafé (!!), but I managed to collect more pictures of myself then ever with the aide of my photographer/travel guide and American enthusiast George from France (a lovely, though contradictory, character…think as to why).

Here is a taste of my most tourist documentation yet (try to ignore what I am wearing):

Amongst Balkan Giants

I sat in a bar in Thessaloniki, Greece with the Balkan ‘Mafia’, the only native English speaker, and realized whether I was there or not the group would carry on interacting in foreign tongue. The lingua franca continued to dominate road trip tunes and beachside conversation, woven with a mix of Serbo-Croation, Bulgarian, Greek and the occasional Duetch bit.

Amidst this collection of characters I realized how much I want to be able to fully communicate in a different language, and how lucky I am to be born a native English speaker. I reference this thought often as I consistently change countries and know one day my brain will deliver. Spero que oui.

Moral: Learn at least one other language. It’s good for you. If you don’t, travel to the Balkans you will not regret it.

TED...Spreading Genius

How did I not know of this site? Inspiration at your fingertips.

http://www.ted.com/

Left me SPLIT in two….

After a restless night crossing the Adriatic, I’ve made it to Split, Croatia. The natural beauty of the Dalmatian coast is stunning, but I am still adjusting from the 6 month stint in Italy (my grazie means nothing here and it’s frustrating :)!

Next week I will make my way to Bulgaria for work by way of Bosnia & Herzegovina (stopping in Sarajevo) and Serbia (either Belgrade or Nis). Needless to say my Balkan leg of the trip has begun.

While touring Split, I was randomly guided toward the 2010 exhibition of World Press photos, showcasing the best images in photojournalism from the past year.

I gazed at the photographs in awe, and they seemed to summon a spectrum of emotions as I slowly made my way through the exhibit by way of fear, endearment, and fascination.

I left feeling inspired but weakened by reality, overwhelmed by my naiveté as a traveler in this great big world. It took this collection of pictures to make me realize that the bubble many of us live in actually floats.

As I enter a region that has suffered from recent war, I’m sure this will sink in even more.

XOXO

Ally

If you have the opportunity please see the exhibition for yourself.

www.worldpressphoto.org

You can also see the beauty of the Dalmatian Coast (including some photos from the exhibition), here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=171394&id=693271938

A very special Hvala to my lovely host Pascal, I really appreciate your humble being for opening up your home and allowing a pleasant transition into Eastern Europe. Your generosity and kindness will not be forgotten and you’ve reminded me how wonderful it is to be part of the CS community!

A girl in RUINS

After a whirlwind Tuscan holiday, a la Americana (courtesy of Govi, Dustin, and his amazingly generous family!) I returned to Roma to meet May and Karen.

It was a nice visit that left me renewed and refocused (with cleaner clothing and shorter hair), ready to take on another 10 months or more of travel…..

Though my stomach was feeling similar to its surrounding antiquities (the terms heavy, worn, and ruin come to mind). I forced myself to endure, and thoroughly enjoy, the opportunity to eat at out nightly, experiencing Roman cuisine in a way that would have been impossible in the months preceding. I can also say that tripe has never tasted so good!

I now can navigate through most of the city center on autopilot. It is an amazing walking city and you can spend an entire day outside if the skies are clear, in fact I encourage it. All of the monuments and ruins can be seen walking the city center, and a guidebook or tour can facilitate the routes you choose. I do recommend seeing the inside of the coliseum and the Vatican museum for sure.

Here are a few sights that deserve honorable mention, if you would like any other recommendations (by budget traveler standards, of course) please let me know and I will send a more inclusive list!

Crypt of the Capuchin Monks

If there were anything I recommend as a must see in Rome, this is the place. A spectacle of eerie standards, the crypt, adorned with bones of monks and royalty in the most beautiful fashion, is incredible. Symbols and scenes depicting the crossing from life to death are all the more realistic when represented by human remains. The hard women at the entry desk are intimidating but add to the charm, and if you are genuinely interested will give you a wealth of information (in a way that makes you feel like how I imagine a schoolchild in catechism does). It is a worthwhile experience that will take about 30 minutes out of your day and 1 Euro out of your pocket. Go and give 2 Euros instead.

Aventine Hill

A peaceful picnicking spot, with a beautiful view of the city. Walking to it along the Circus Maximus also presents great photo opportunities of the ruins.

As for shopping, I do not do much personally for obvious reasons, but the Porta Portese market in Trastevere is the largest in Europe and an opportunity to experience the madness of a giant. The hustle and bustle down the main throughway is enhanced by shouts from the Napolitano, and other immigrant vendors, selling clothing of all sorts. This is where I obtained the now famous, and well documented, brown down jacket for one Euro, my winter savior and best purchase thus far (it lives on as a cat bed). You can spend a day browsing, or be immediately discouraged (because there is a lot of junk). If you are in search for treasure, take time and dig. The Trastevere zone is a worthwhile wandering neighborhood, and has good apperitivo and bars in the evening.

Basilica Santa Prassede (near Santa Maria Maggiore)-Amazing mosaics! Just go and see….

San Lorenzo district for music, art, cheap drinks and the occasional protest.

Café e Dolci

Dagnigno Bakery near Republica and the opera has an amazing pistachio cream! They specialize in Sicilian sweets and also have a selection of savory items to take away.

Forno Antico bakery Where via rippetto turns into via scorfa, has amazing biscotti and scafiogl, a Napolitano pastry filled with ricotta and candied citrus.

The famous Giolotti (near the Pantheon) and Millennium in the Prati district near the Musei Vaticani (if you like chocolate with pepperoncino).

Pizza!

Classic Roma- (touristy, yet tasty): Pizzeria da Baffeto

Quick n’ delicious- Antico forno in Campo di Fiori

Meglio- Dar Poeta (A tip: order for take away and eat on someone’s doorstep in the rain instead :)

See some more of ROMA here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=171392&id=693271938

As a final thought, I realize, I am a very lucky girl. I am blessed and fortunate to have people that love and support me in my life. A million Grazies to May and Karen for the visit. I love you so much, you don’t even know. This adventure has made an impression on me and I hope it doesn’t frighten anyone to see what I am doing, or where I am going, or who I am becoming….I am excited to see what happens, and hope you are too! I promise not to disappoint.

XOXO,

Ally

Thank you also to Erica who gave me new ideas and new friendship. We will see each other soon; plans for an international feast are in the works! Un grande bacione, I hope you take time rest soon….

To all the folks in La La Land; counting sheep is IN.

These are the kind of random events I have yet to find during my travels:

http://hammer.ucla.edu/programs/detail/program_id/496

All courtesy of one of my favorite organizations Machine Project, please check them out if you haven't already!

Awaiting the arrival.

After 9 months of being on the road I will soon have visitors, bringing an opportunity to request things I need or want from home. This is a close to impossible task, as the list fluctuates on a daily basis. Realistic and unrealistic requests are jotted down and erased, and then appear on the paper again. It is a difficult question, since there are only very specific things I cannot get here in Europe, and I have to think long and hard about what I am willing to carry around or ingest. Any suggestions?

While I scribble these lists, another more unattainable, and quasi-superficial one is accumulating in the back of my head that makes me realize what I really do miss. Before you read what is below I must express that, while I have little desire to return to the states, I struggle with feelings of longing for my family and friends all of the time. Especially those boys. There.

So, What DO I wish I had access to right now? May sound silly but…….

-Clay and his song writing self.

-A bathtub.

-Deodorant that makes your pits smell fresh and clean, and soap that actually works, without irritating your skin. Glad your not reading in smell-o-vision. Enough said.

-Taco trucks. The thought of a La Estrella taco prompts an insatiable hunger, no amount of pizza or pasta can tame. Oh chile, I miss you most. Daikokuya’s fried rice, and that psychedelic curry are runners up. Basically, I wish there was more gastronomic diversity at times.

-Pure unadulterated FUN. The type of FUN that I have only experienced with a certain group of people (you know who you are), and continue to search for as I encounter others. My nonsensical side takes over at times and I miss my other halves most when the wave attacks.

-Manicure/Pedicure and that once a year airbrush design by Tony at Lee’s on Fig…..you are not in my budget anymore, and it shows.

-The opportunity to hear live music nightly (LA, I love you for this!), open bars, and free movie screenings. I still get the invites in the mail, and do wish I could teleport every once in a while.

-Themed get-togethers and dinner parties. Spaghetti Western night may taste better in Italy, but where are the stacked televisions and ADD atmosphere? And what about those fabulous random art movements? That collective creativity is a lacking force in my environment at the moment, and I crave the energy.

-LBE. We must film a new video.

That’s all I can think of for now. The list will grow and shrink as I go along…….

XOXO

Ally

Adaptation.

The pauses lengthen as I continue this journey, posing some to question what I am exactly doing out there in this big world? Where to begin…..

For starters, some notes on Italy:

The only thing consistent in Italy is its beauty.

This is both good and bad for many reasons for me personally right now.

Then trains are late, and have random ticket checks. The weather is unpredictable. The dialects change from town to town, and looming fears force me to be cautious of whom I speak to…..

Stating these facts, my randomness fits perfectly here and I feel at home. It must be in my blood.

I’ve been around…..check out the photos to see for yourself

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=120325&id=693271938&l=8584473e75

Right now I am staying near a city called Sora on the border of Abruzzo and Lazio, in the village of Pescosolido.

I am helping to restore a series of abandoned homes that will be eventually connected, creating a bed and breakfast. There is a lot of work to be done, but the idea is great and everyday something improves and changes! Exciting.

I will be here for another couple weeks until friendly faces land on Italian soil (YAY!). Giovanna, I can’t wait to see you, and the moment I see my May and Karen, I believe I will cry….. I am desperately looking forward to those tears of joy!

Learning along the way…

Californians will have a hard time conforming to real, seasonal change.

The months of January and February forced me into a sort of hibernation. I really felt like a bear. I was freezing cold, and could not understand why I felt the way I did…. then, I realized I had never endured a true winter, especially one with no heating. Something to consider!

The slushy wet snow kept me in and I dreaded exiting the house. It would have been a very interesting psychological study, and I did learn to become comfortable in the kitchen at least.

Not all of the time was spent sleeping, however. I did manage to improve my Italian, ran a really lovely group for English conversation (I really miss them!), and attended a theater course for foreigners (Thank you Sarah darling!), among other things.

When it was all over, I realized it was the first time I was truly ALONE in all of my life…and I embraced the opportunity (being in a foreign country does add and extra element), and so everyone knows, I can live with myself just fine.

The arrival of Spring.

The most interesting part of this time of year was observing nature’s response to the change of season. As spring was breaking, I was not the only one waking. The contrasting differences were apparent, and most encounters displayed themselves while walking in the Tuscan mountains of Gafagnana. The snow was melting. The birds were singing, insects spawning, flowers blooming…PRIMAVERA! It was beautiful! For me, the fog was starting to clear, and I not unlike my feathered friends; I began to sing with delight at the thought that winter would soon be over. Sorry to the poor family I was living with at the time, I am sure they will never want to hear this American girl try to harmonize again! Alex in Wonderland I was.

I consider myself fortunate to have been in their home during this transition, it was a good place for me, under the Tuscan sun (and rain), with folks that helped to heal the strain. Thank you immensely La familglia Irlandese and that sweet, sweet Catalan.

Changes….turn and face the strange?

I want to state, I am NOT on Vacation. This is a lifestyle change.

I am dirty and smelly. I have strange reactions to the constantly changing environment and diet. I feel cold and damp, but you would never be able to tell by the dryness of my skin.

Physically I look a MESS, but something positive is brewing within, and for this, I will continue to endure the challenge.

The fact is, I am at peace with the idea that I am no longer ‘travelling’ but instead embracing a new way of life. I have become a modern day nomad and the wondrous web, leads my way. It is a bizarre concept......but I like it! I make no money and spend very little…and I learn so much! The challenges will only become greater as I prepare to head East, but I know I will be ready soon!

Feel like traveling?

Below are links to a list of helpful resources, which may guide you along the way. I encourage everyone to consider experiencing some sort of travel and assure you I have learned so much more about myself and others, and will continue to every day I am gone (not only work skills, but people skills, communication, language, building friendships, realizing you are alone and not alone at the same time, and learning to cope with yourself….the greatest challenge of all.) Almost all of my experiences have been positive thus far.

Help Exchange

www.helpx.net/

Workaway

www.workaway.info/

W.W.O.O.F (Worldwide Organization of Organic Farmers)

http://www.wwoof.org/

Couchsurfing

http://www.couchsurfing.org

Hospitality Club

http://www.hospitalityclub.org/

Roadsharing

http://www.roadsharing.com/

Digihitch

http://www.digihitch.com/

My advice to those craving adventure through exchange…… be intuitive. Know your likes, dislikes, and capabilities….you can always leave if a place does not fulfill your expectations, or suit your needs (however most of these things can be felt out during initial correspondence with the host, or helper for that matter). Make sure you know what you will be doing before you go (ie, hours, scope of work, meal situation) and ask questions ahead of time. You must subscribe to each of these sites individually, but I believe it is worth doing at least for helpex and workaway, (wwoof requires separate membership by region.) Realize that this is a form of travelling that is not for everyone, and do not expect to be on holiday!

Couchsurfing is incredible because it really is networks of like-minded people…do not use it as a hotel or dating service and you should be fine. Whew! There are other programs and resources of course, but at this point, you must allow your fingertips to do the work themselves :)

Wishing everyone inspiration in continuing our paths to happiness….

XOXO

Ally

And now in the spirit of the season, I give my thanks, because I am always thankful:

TO Casale: Cristian and his amazing family for housing and going out their way to make sure I was ok, Chantal for putting up with my scatterbrain self (your family is beautiful!), and Michael for making me laugh even though he may not have thought so. The lovely Micol and her family for your hospitality and friendship, I will test your mother’s recipe on a good man soon enough! The conversation hour folk….Mario and Marzia (who made me want to be a better person), Ambra and their family for giving me an authentic Piemontese experience. Katia and Lele and all the people at Pantagruel (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1145043337&ref=ts ), it is a very special place, and if you ever go to Casale, please stop there. There are many others that go unnamed but have made a special mark in my travel. Oh and who can forget…..the Cantina Sociale.

Daniele…..Spero di vedervi in India!

Joicy and Julian (my Chilean twin), I love them, and feel like they are some of the few people in the world I could share a room with while travelling for the rest of my life. It is incredibly refreshing when you meet these types of friends. Lucky Me!

The Irlandese, and their energetic home…..Finn one day we must kill a bunny the right way….maybe somewhere far away. Ian, the Catalan you kept my spirits high as a kite, in the shit and out of it.

Anna della Austria, you are strong, independent, and inspirational…Thank you and good luck!

Grazie Mille Tutti, Cheers!

Sorry Easter Bunny…Errah, Aha! (This is onomatopoeia that only my mamma will understand)

I have recently been obsessed with slaughtering a rabbit.

I know it sounds strange, but I felt compelled to for once kill the meat I ate on my own, and thought that the furry little mammal would be a good start. I HAVE been eating meat all of my life, and wanted to understand the process a bit more, giving the act the respect it deserves.

I had heard about the actual rabbit kill, and felt at peace with the ritual. No whipping chickens around by their necks or bleeding pigs, just a simple wack on the head and the limp body would tenderly undergo my thoughtful skinning. I had even imagined preserving the pelt and using it……maybe to practice with taxidermy? (a strange fantasy, but this whole post is a bit off.)

After talking it up for weeks, my images were instead crushed by a brutal, seemingly painful kill (Rule 1: do not ask an Italian military man to demonstrate a harrowing task). As soon as the rabbit was taken from the hutch, visions of my sweet bunny Pretty, and thoughts of Grandma’s Snowball rushed to the brain. I could not bring myself to slit the creature’s throat (his method of choice), but forcefully watched in shock.

My excitement instantly turned to grief once I saw the sweet white rabbit wriggling, legs strung up like Jesus reversed. Then, the moment I had waited for….blood stained white fur, a half alive skinning, guts fed to the surrounding chickens, it was a sight too strong to bear, and my dreams of peaceful sacrifice were crushed.

When it all was done, we were kindly given the tortured carcass (thank you Guiseppe!) as a present for Pasqua, and did the animal justice (it was the least we could do) by presenting it as the centerpiece for a splendid supper the following night.

I did help butcher the rabbit, and Anna, Chris, and I roasted it over a nice bon-fire, accompanied by roasted potatoes, artichokes, and delicious white wine that the builder of the project, Antonio, had made himself. Mmmmm…

It was a truly memorable Easter feast, sorry if you don’t get your baskets in the morning kids!

CAUTION: Photos are not suitable for children, and I assure you while some of the poses seem to belittle the poor animal, the slaughter haunted my every bite and I will never look at meat the same, needless to say Mr. Easter bunny has made an impression.

Happy Easter up your Keaster!

XOXO

Ally

Radio! Radio! Give Me! Give Me!

Enjoy this haiku, then enjoy the music:

LifeGate Radio

The best station in the world

Stream it now or else!

http://www.lifegate.it/lg_radio/

Italia LOOP-dee-LOOP

Ciao Ciao! Tanti Auguri!

Hope this New Year finds everyone happy, healthy, and ready for what 2010 brings! Before rambling further, I would like to note that during the holidays I spent quite a bit of time reflecting on how grateful I am for my amazing family and friends at home and those I have met throughout my travels. Thank you for being part of my life, I feel very fortunate to be a part of yours! Hugs and Kisses to all!

Now to update my status…..

I have successfully made a giant loop within the interior of Italy and have found myself back where I left off, in Casale Monferrato. Many things have happened since my last check in and I finally have the time to submit the events in writing. One could infer justly, that sickness generally prompts these long updates so here I go typing a way from in bed in a very chilly room sniffling and sneezing away (glad you can’t catch a cold from the internet!).

When I left Casale last, I stayed about two weeks with a lovely couple in Cerrina Monferrato, helping revamp and renovate their very old villa in the Piemonte hills. The owners, Amelia and Roberto also run a bed and breakfast and have an animal shelter on premise for which they hold dinners in a tavola downstairs to raise money for the cause. After previously staying in a house with all women, I had the reverse experience here living with four men instead. Though the energy was way different than Serydarth, we had a lot of fun together and ate extremely well, since Robbie is an AMAZING chef! Their organization is called Ponte dell’ Arcobaleno and you can find more about it here:http://www.pontedellarcobaleno.com/

I then head south by train. The nearly two weeks in Rome, flew past. My small town break was over, and I had little time to switch gears. Rome is incredible if for nothing more than it’s astounding age. Being surrounded by buildings much older than the United States brings little significance to your existence.

I have semi created a budget guide to Rome, actually more of a list, that will be posted eventually because ROME needs it’s own space……

After spending a week with my friends Hallie and Emiliano, who live just outside of Rome (and whom later invited me to spend the Christmas holiday with their family!), I headed east where I lived almost a month in a town called Pacentro, a quiet community situated within the mountains in Abruzzo. This piccolo paise is just above the city of Sulmona, known for it’s amazing confetti (in the states confetti translates to Jordan almonds, but as usual, the Italians have away of making everything delicious so don’t imagine the typical wedding favor flavor.) It’s hard to explain my experience in Pacentro- it almost felt unreal. Instantly I was shown hospitality by my neighbors that ceased to end the entire stay. I have never felt so welcomed into a family, so quickly in a foreign country. Almost every meal was taken at one of their family’s homes, and was allowed, with enthusiasm, to work along side them learning a multitude of things from baking holiday goods to herding sheep and feeding horses (they lead guided tours of the mountain Mejella by horseback in the summer.) The chance to participate in the making of sausage and other cured meats was also REAL eye opening experience. Almost everything in Pacentro is made locally, if not in the home. The town also has a cooperative that distributes regional specialties throughout the world. Because of the altitude and climate of the region you find many products that are unlike other areas of Italy. It was great to see such a small village come together in this way. You can learn more about the products on their website:http://www.riverapacentro.it/

The time spent in Pacentro was incredible and I left missing the town and it’s people instantly. Grazie mille to Annetto, Maria, and their entire wonderful family for letting me temporarily become a part of it! Huge thanks to Wilma for allowing me to stay in her home and introducing me to this town that would have otherwise been unknown during this trip, and last but no least thank you to Hallie, Emiliano, and their family for making my holiday less lonely (I was in good hands, for those concerned!)

I have now returned to Casale where I will stay for two months to learn Italian, volunteer with various local organizations, and prospectively teach English. Please visit if you happen to find yourself in Italia, and grace me with some sunshine, it’s freezing over here! Baci!

XOXO Ally