Sunday, June 29, 2008

a touch of inspiration


if you can make a heap of all your winnings
and risk it all on one turn of pitch and toss
and lose and start again at your beginning
and never breath a word about your loss
if you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
to serve your turn long after they are gone
and so hold on when there is nothing in you
expect the will which says to them “hold on”
if you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue
or walk with kings not losing the common touch
if neither foes or loving friends can hurt you
if all men count with you but none too much
if you can fill the unforgiving minute
with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run
yours is the earth and everything that’s in it
and – which is more – you’ll be a man my son

endless summer #8






last day "closing session" in venice...at fitting way to end the "voyage d'etude"

endless summer #7





villa sandi

endless summer #6






1. eirini
2. manu
3. me and nuno
4. me collecting another "muselet"
5. tasting wine (again)

endless summer #5






doing what we have been made to do - taste wine.

endless summer #4






an italian villa were we had a tasting and some snacks.

endless summer #3


our polo shirts

me in the middle of some seriously big vines. i was standing upright in the middle of the vine when i took this picture.

the grapes from the "proimsed land".

me and some more vineyards.

the group at our first tasting.

endless summer #2


me at the massive vines of northern italy.

the Don and father Carbo.

me at the bottom of Hemingway's hill at the left and the valley in the back with the foothills of the alps.

viniferos 2007 at the hand.

me in venice

Excursion ITALY:
With singing French students, legendary professors and the heat wave, our week in Northern Italy was an absolute blast. It was a gruelling 12 hours on the bus from Montpellier to Veneto. With temperatures reaching 36 degrees centigrade at 10 o’clock in the morning, it was going to be a hot week. And it was, but in more ways than one. We were fortunate to visit some good producers in the Friuli and Veneto regions of north eastern Italy. But for me as an introduction to a country I have only visited once before in my life it was perfect.
The region is covered with Roman Catholic memorabilia...not my cup of tea, but it is impossible to look past the statues and buildings. Any conspiracy theorist’s dream I would say. I guess a lot of the spooky mysteries of Roman history were imbedded here by the Catholics seeing that it is a very traditional area. Ok then, moving right along....
...some highlights would have to be our drive down “Strada del Prosecco” and my closer encounter with Prosecco – an Italian sparkling wine made in the Charmat method style were a second fermentation takes place inside a pressure tank (for the “vinos”). But Prosecco is in actual fact a grape variety more than a style of wine. With its fresh fizziness and fruity delight it was a welcome refreshment from the heat. Coming across this “find” and hearing about its world wide popularity it made me think why the “bubblies” from back home are not exploiting the same sort of fame. According to me our quality is on par if not better and for half the price. Makes you wonder about world politics and economics does it not?
Second highlight have to be discovering the rolling hillside of Friuli and Veneto, where most of the fighting of the First World War between Italy and Austria took place. Hearing the history and heritage of this landscape was astounding. And while standing in a hillside vineyard overlooking the valley down below I was told that this is where the famous American writer Ernest Hemingway was during WW1. It struck a cord in me seeing that I am a huge fan of “Papi”.
Then there was the bizarre ego-battle between our two “tour guides” – Don Giovanni and Father Carbo (The legendary two professors, one Italian and one French. These are world renowned men when it comes to vines and wines and we had the privilege of enjoying their company for the week). But the beauty is that they are old time friends that has discovered and understood the intrinsic complexity of the vine for decades. And having them sharing their knowledge was inspirational. They both have their ways...with the Don being elegant and very “Italian” and Father Carbo being the big Obelix-like Gaul with less tact and a touch more robust authority. Watching them “argue” and talking “their game” was fascinating. But on the final day to see them – two big men embracing each other as old bosom friends was moving and a reality check. It made me see once again the value of friendship.
The week ended fittingly with an afternoon stop-over in Venice. Even tough we had limited time it was the perfect “switch-off” as the academic year came to an end. Cruising the “grande canal”, walking the small and narrow streets, seeing people on the gondoles, and having a “campari” and soda sitting quietly watching time going by...

Saturday, June 14, 2008

endless summer #1


well. finally i have put everything in place and there is only a week left before the beginning of my endless summer journey. the time has come to write history and make every moment count. This is the way it is going to happen.

  • last week of june - visit north and eastern italy including verona and venice
  • first week of july - visit val de loire in the north of france with friends (coralie and anthony)
  • second week of july - visit south western france (biarritz), northern spain (st. sebastian) and wine region of la rioja before trying my luck with the bulls in pamplona. we (me, nuno and clara) will be visiting clara's house in la rioja
  • third week of july - nuno and i push on for a week in portugal. we are planning to travel from north to south visiting most of the wine regions on the way to his house
  • end of july - i fly to london for a couple of days to visit wilmi and louis before flying to greece in the last week of july
  • last week of july/first week of aug - i will visit maria in greece and do some island hoping and sailing while i am there. i have a must stop in santorini.
  • rest of aug - after greece i will fly via london again back to the south of france. this will give me a day or two to wash some underpants before jp, suzaan and i set off on our three week roadtrip around italy. we will do a round trip including most of the top part of italy visiting the following places. milan and area. verona and area. venice. tuscany. and all the wine regions in between...
  • september takes me back to france. the kingdom of champagne. i will do a months holiday work in a champagne cellar...a dream come true for me.
  • the holidays will end first week of october and i have one more week that is not yet filled.
so there you have it. i will try to update the blog with stories and pictures as often as possible. i would love to share this amazing opportunity with as many of my friends as possible. so spread the word...it is time for an endless summer...




Sunday, June 8, 2008

travel journal


i have decide to write a travel journal of the summer. so this can be seen as the first unofficial inscription of this journal. i am trying to find a good strong name for the journal and to try and make it interactive for those that want to travel with me. seeing that i still have some weeks of work and preparations to do it gives me time to make sure everything is in place before i go. here is a map of the med. my play park for the next two months or so.

dan the man


if you want to find some adventure or fun or inspiration - go and visit http://www.dghugo.com
this is a website of a friend. he is a pro adventure racer. mad hatter. and fun freak. it is always good to see that there are people that do not compromise on their dreams and expectations. it is worth the visit.