Italians do it better!

What many countries are lacking is culture and what many people are lacking in style! However having recently "Rom-ed' I realized again to what extend the Italian are lucky. Apart from the fact that they seem to wear sun glasses even at night and have mobiles phones that never stop ... They have a great ancient culture which doesnt stop to surprise me. Rome is a city that is soo rich of culture that makes a Big Mac look like a low calorie burger.

Everywhere you look there is something that dates back many years before moi and are huge in size and importance. The best thing to do when walking around is taking a digital camera and shoot from the hip, but not only on eye level but also higher and lower, be surprised!

At first the struggle is there in terms of the temperature (almost 40) but another part of the Italian experience is the F&B industy, eg pasta and sparkling water. It has become an art to transform a simple pasta dish into an experience culinaire and you rarely have a bad meal.

Even the sparkling water is light of taste but yet with a bite that makes you feel 'Bueno' again.

Of course than there is the favourite of all favourites the Espresso and this time I managed to visit the Temple of Grounded Beans, the best espresso shop in town, Tazza d'Oro!

Treat your body to a dose of the Italian doping called Espresso for 90 eurocents. Hello! Is anybody paying attention here??? We have been drinking, crap espresso's here on the Cote d'Azur in a price range of 3 to 10 euros! Wake up and smell the coffee, would be an appropriate statement! Let me describe the process; enter the Tazza d'Oro shop, nothing fancy but you can smell the respect to the God of Coffeebeans right at the doorstep. Go straight to the till, buy an espresso or cappucinno (1 euro, no kidding), walking towards the sweaty waiters behind their counters, handover your ticket and wait for your coffee that will rock your socks off.

Dont forget that you need to fully enjoy it on by drinking it standing up at the counter, observing all the types of customers of all types of background. Does an espresso unites us? Does it bring world peace? I don't think so but by God is tastes good!

And it doesnt stop there, cos the Italian have mastered another thing to ...Elegance. Who ever and when and where ever you look, people are paying attention to their looks, Italian design in cars and decoration are wellknown but clothing is obviously the other important one.

They wear there clothes with grace and style, even a simple police mens uniform shirt is tailored. It just seems that the rich Italian culture and history have made them proud people that cherish their back ground and are not shy in embracing it and enjoying life to the fullest, cos tomorrow could the last! A wise lesson, a great tradition and a beautiful place to be part of for a short number of days.

Let's just celebrate it all by wearing an Armani suite and sunglasses, over a good pasta meal with some italian ice cream as dessert and of course the espresso to finish it off. You can park your Ferrari just around the Via della Corso ....

Americans are NOT stupid !

For years I have been used as an official guide for the American tourists. With basically one important quest... Do you know where there is a McDonalds? Have a look at this and maybe there is still hope for them...

Napoleon's bits and pieces

Some food for thought, since we are cultural after the opening of the Big Mac Museum...

Exiled emperor Napoleon Bonaparte died on May 5, 1821. The following day, doctors conducted an autopsy, which was reportedly witnessed by many people, including a priest named Ange Vignali.

Though the body was said to be largely intact at the time of the undertaking, it seems the priest took home a souvenir. In 1916, Vignali's heirs sold a collection of Napoleonic artifacts, including what they claim to be the emperor's penis.

While no one knows for sure if it really is Napoleon's, uh, manhood, people have paid good money for the penis. Currently, it's in the possession of an American urologist

Who said that history cannot be fun????

French Banks do it again

Everybody knows by now that French banks are not my favourite business partner, after months of getting things sorted to buy a new house the bank was finally not giving its support to the purchase, for some vague reasons. This could change in the coming weeks so pls Mr Bos, feel free to drop by again cos we love you.... Thanks, but no thanks!

However for going through the official purchase process there is a disposit of a large amount of money. Well, I guess you sense it...they lost it...Sorry? Well it has been deducted from my account but than the trace is gone. The notaires involved have no clue and the bank neither.
Dont worry Mr Bos, we will find it back. YOU better!
I have decided to get rid of all banks here and sign up for a 100% internet based bank, which is owned by Societe Generale. Good prices and you manage your business with a touch of your browser!Check it out http://www.boursorama.com/banque/banque/banque.html?origine=456

Hopefully they will be able to deal with things normally and we finally are be able to say...Those French banks are not that bad afterall!

PS If somebody feels sorry they can send cheque to my new bank account ;)

American Culture

The country that is probably the most talked about in a negative way in the US. Well, I am not a number one fan either but I have to say that there are things that good about it. What about New York? , the NBA? Scrubs ? Apple? Warhol? Well of course a country which is so big should have some interesting things but what about culture? I mean antique means older than 15 years ... Well, I agree Mr Bos but you have to explore more the US and you will see that it is moving all the time and in terms of culture experiences, its very rich!

Let me, dear reader, give you an example of how rich US culture this. I think one of the finest places to experience culture is in a museum. All clearly indicated and explained, an idiot proof culture experience. You will enter a museum, first hesitating cos you will find it expensive but than soon realizing that culture has no price! An experience that is great for people of all ages.
(this message was sponsored ....) So, the latest in museum trends, the ultimate culture experience has opened in....You guessed it, the USof A. In a town called North Huntingdon and the opening is eagerly awaited by many. Ok, so what is it about? Vermeer? Warhol?

Well no, it is about a real american invention, something that has changed the world and even changed your body! It is the first ever Big Mac museum in the world ! WOW! great, a real RICH or should I say FAT experience. A museum that will explain you the history of the burger, ze Big Mac, its food value (hint close to nothing), its Big Mac index (economic currency system), the biggest Big Mac ever made, commercials. You name it, if it has a Big Mac on it, it will be there!
And as an additional bonus for the opening the first 100 visitors will get a free Big Mac, that is what I call Value for Money in Culture!

So, I guess that it is clear, in terms of a real culture experience the Americans have it all undercontrol! Who could have thought the opposite?

Check it out & eat healthy http://www.wpxi.com/news/13946963/detail.html

Bill Clinton Voodoo doll

For the ones who dont know where I was born... Well its Apeldoorn, give me a call, if u dare :)

Life is good even when it rains

Shock horror ! After months of very very warm days, full sunshine and no drop of rain, this night and morning we had a liquid something, I think it is generally referred to as..rain?
The signs were there, yesterday evening no stars, the night was cold and it smelled like rain ...
I used to be called Little Smelly Foot, my indian name, so my skills originated from that.

Getting back to this huge and important event called rain. Generally we enjoy about 300 days of sunshine here and rain is not really part of Gods Masterplan for the Cote d'Azur. Which means it really has an effect on people. The postman is in a bad mood and delivering wetmail (thank God for email), concierge is complaining that he needs to clean his car again (his daily job, I would prefer he cleans the entrance but...) and me of course picking up the FT out of the garden (that is another story) spoiling my haircut and a newspaper.

It just feel different, when the weather is grey and rainy. It reminds me of Holland, a super country but I would suggest putting a roof on it ! Those grey Sundays, nothing todo, watch tv or read a book and thinking about the next working day. Or ending up fighting we anybody crossing my path hahahahh You got to love those days...

We are spoiled here and we dont appreciate it! All those sunny days, those long roads along side the beach, the blue sky and white pebbles, the terrace ful of people (I anybody working here?)
It is a great place to live and we should complaint, the plants are happy you know!
Lets try to smile and say that is soon will be over ... And think about the possitive effects it has, the eh ehhhhh, hey hang on...!!! The sun is back !

Oh forget it, I am having a coffee on the balcony with a wet FT , cheerio !