Pearl Jam live in Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Breath-taking concert last night.
It was just awesome. Really good. Pearl Jam was a wave of energy, the sound was great and the weather blessed. This was my b-day present from my bro-in-law. Thank you AJ, it was fun.

Pizza and China

Last night there was a Little Italy kind of reunion in the University city of Nijmegen. Old PB's decided to see each other once more for a pizza bite. Rigo, Miss L and myself. The pizza was consumed at Donatello's, it was not bad but the Italian on the menu was sheer crap. Afterwards we went to the "De Compagnie" in the same town for a beer/Martini.

It was good fun and the top of the evening was the Chinese adventure of Rigo. He has been in Shanghai, Chanchai, Chenchei, Chunchoi, Choichoi, HoiHoi and so on.

Walibi

What a funny day at Walibi Belgium last Saturday. It was absolutely a pleasant day, spent with Jamie, Max and Dick.
The "Flashback" got us really wet, helped by the falling rain. I found out one thing: Mexican are faster than Belgian. Gosh, it took them ages to make an hamburger.

1893 Genoa Cricket and Football Club

Adrenaline !!!!
The oldest Italian football club is back where it belongs. SERIE A.
It was worth a flight. What a game, what a party. The town upside down.

Still living the dream.

FORZA GENOA

GENOA 1893: Primi a nascere, ultimi a morire (First born, last dead)

Sorry guys, this is in Italian. It is about my football team and the passion of his fans. The oldest team of Italy described by some old players. Even if you cannot understand possibly the images will give you some feelings anyhow.


Genoa_Primi_a_nascere.avi

Is the future of football in China?

I am really worried about the future of our beloved sport. These guys (girls) look dangerous !!!

Back from MEX

Folks. We are back.

What an outstanding holiday, what a wonderful country. Basically they have it all.

Sea, sun, sand, food, cocktails, beer, culture, Maya, excursions, animals, trees, flowers and so on.

We have been based at Playa del Carmen a touristic place that still keeps traditional features all around.

The hotel complex was located in the residential area of Playacar, an area populated by 5 stars resorts and trendy villa's. The hotel was set in the middle of the vegetation a kind of jungle varying from wild monkeys to peacocks. The food was excellent and the drinks outstanding (ohhhh Mojito's), the entertainment team was fantastic (not so good the mini club for the kids), the beach was Caribbean style, the pools large and warm.

Our excursions: Chichen Itza and Tulum to admire the Maya culture, Cancun (leave it aside if you go, maybe good for the nightlife but we were there in the afternoon), snorkeling on the Reef in the clear blue waters, the lazy town of Valladolid and the Cenote Dzintup, Xel-Ha acquatic natural park with its dolphins.

If you want to get a glimpse click on my foto album on the right side of the screen.

Ciao.

M E X I C O

All right. Getting geared for Mexico and hoping to have a lot of fun down there. Once back, I'll post some pics. Take good care of yourself.

Jamie's got a cam

As of today Little Jamie has gone digital. All his pics will be posted from now on on his online photo album. The link on the left side.
Cheers.

22 04 2007

40

Genoa Club Amsterdam

Last night together with Hans and Bart, we have seen a brilliant victory of Genoa CFC 1893 against FC Bologna. 3-0......
The game was broadcasted in Amsterdam at the Satellite Sports Cafe on the central Leidseplein.

Around Pisa in one day

Oh yes. As you can see the Tower is getting worse and worse. Always extraordinary to see and especially it is good to see the fun people are having around it. Work brought me there and had some hours in the morning to first jog around the town and later to visit Piazza del Duomo with its magnificent monuments.

Jamie Oliver's Fifteen in Amsterdam

Last Sunday we went to A'dam to celebrate Brenda's birthday. It was quite a nice experience. The food was good, the atmosphere was really relaxed, the kids got a Pizza and Cookies workshop.

Hanami of Tsukuba University - Cherry blossom party

Thank you Nobu for sharing with me the beautiful pictures of the 2007 Hanami.

Just married - Bao Xishun and Xia Shujuan

World, please join me in congratulating Bao Xishun and Xia Shujuan for their marriage.
Bao is the tallest man on Earth (2m36) and Xia just half of him (1m68)

Pablo Neruda - Celebrating Spring 2007

Probably the best time of the year. Let us introduce it in Italian, English and Spanish with the help of a great poet of the 20th century: Pablo Neruda (1904-1973)


Il Ramo Rubato

Nella notte entreremo
a rubare
un ramo fiorito.

Passeremo il muro,
nelle tenebre del giardino altrui,
due ombre nell'ombra.

Ancora non se n'è andato l'inverno,
e il melo appare
trasformato d'improvviso
in cascata di stelle odorose.

Nella notte entreremo
fino al suo tremulo firmamento,
e le tue piccole mani e le mie
ruberanno le stelle.

E cautamente
nella nostra casa,
nella notte e nell'ombra,
entrerà con i tuoi passi
il silenzioso passo del profumo
e con i piedi stellati
il corpo chiaro della Primavera.

The Stolen Branch

In the night we shall go in
to steal
a flowering branch.

We shall climb over the wall
in the darkness of the alien garden,
two shadows in the shadow.

Winter is not yet gone,
and the apple tree appears
suddenly changed
into a cascade of fragrant stars.

In the night we shall go in
up to its trembling firmament,
and your little hands and mine
will steal the stars.

And silently,
to our house,
in the night and the shadow,
with your steps will enter
perfume's silent step
and with starry feet
the clear body of spring.

La Rama Robada

En la noche entraremos
a robar
una rama florida.

Pasaremos el muro,
en las tinieblas del jardín ajeno,
dos sombras en la sombra.

Aún no se fue el invierno,
y el manzano aparece
convertido de pronto
en cascada de estrellas olorosas.

En la noche entraremos
hasta su tembloroso firmamento,
y tus pequeñas manos y las mías
robarán las estrellas.

Y sigilosamente,
a nuestra casa,
en la noche y la sombra
entrará con tus pasos
el silencioso paso del perfume
y con pies estrellados
el cuerpo claro de la primavera.

YES, I made it

About one month ago I have decided to start running. After 3 years of warming up the couch it was time to get my ass moving.
Went to the shop, bought all the necessary stuff (overdone?), look in the mirror and thought about the next New York Marathon.

Started to follow a running plan and at my second training I got injured.........
I restarted three days ago and tonight I finished without trouble my second session. New York is getting closer.

Dear Mr. President (PINK)

Dear Mr. President
Come take a walk with me
Let's pretend we're just two people and
You're not better than me
I'd like to ask you some questions if we can speak honestly

What do you feel when you see all the homeless on the street
Who do you pray for at night before you go to sleep
What do you feel when you look in the mirror
Are you proud

How do you sleep while the rest of us cry
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye
How do you walk with your head held high
Can you even look me in the eye
And tell me why

Dear Mr. President
Were you a lonely boy
Are you a lonely boy
Are you a lonely boy
How can you say
No child is left behind
We're not dumb and we're not blind
They're all sitting in your cells
While you pave the road to hell

What kind of father would take his own daughter's rights away
And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay
I can only imagine what the first lady has to say
You've come a long way from whiskey and cocaine

How do you sleep while the rest of us cry
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye
How do you walk with your head held high
Can you even look me in the eye

Let me tell you bout hard work
Minimum wage with a baby on the way
Let me tell you bout hard work
Rebuilding your house after the bombs took them away
Let me tell you bout hard work
Building a bed out of a cardboard box
Let me tell you bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
You don't know nothing bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
Oh

How do you sleep at night
How do you walk with your head held high
Dear Mr. President
You'd never take a walk with me
Would you

Back from Poland

Hallo world.

I am back from a quick Polish biz trip. For those among you who never went in that direction I have uploaded these images to give you an idea of the contrasts that you will see in the country. You see this mostly in Warsaw but in the upcoming years will become more and more.

That "GREENISH THING" is the WC of the 1st Class Wagon I travelled with. Useless to add words, I fear.

The other picture shows the Old City centre (Stare Miasto). This part of the town was completely destroyed after World War II but now it looks just stunning.

I would like to add one more note about the people I met. I found exceptionally friendly.

Ladies & Gentlemen: Mr. Paul Wolfowitz

From Wikipedia:
Paul Dundes Wolfowitz (b. December 22, 1943) is an American academic and political figure. He is currently the President of the World Bank, but may be most famous as a prominent architect of the foreign policy of the George W. Bush administration known as the Bush Doctrine, which resulted in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
A former aide to neoconservative Democratic Senator Henry M. Jackson in the 1970s, Wolfowitz also served in the U.S. Defense Department, as Director of Policy Planning and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the U.S. State Department, as U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, and as Deputy Secretary of Defense in the Administration of George W. Bush.