Past Blast: Turin

Interior Dome of Turin's San Lorenzo, by Guarino Guarini [1679]

I dropped by Turin [Italian: Torino] during Spring Break in 2004. Located in far northwest Italy, it is nestled in the Alpine foothills. I visited before the 2006 Winter Olympiad was held there, but the city was already in the midst of facade cleaning and venue construction. America-side Turin is most famous for its Shroud. I wasn't able to see the Shroud for myself due to its being on tour at the time, but I found the museum dedicated to the Shroud and the centuries of trying to prove its authenticity interesting anyway. Turin also happens to have one of the largest Egyptian artifact collections [outside of Egypt, of course].

The Mole Antonelliana

Turin is also home to what was originally conceived as the world's tallest synagogue, the Mole Antonelliana. Today, it houses Italy's National Museum of Cinema. The interior is a modern collection of tributes and film reels that highlight Rome's Cinecitta heyday. Nevermind that many Italian films also appear on MST3k. It also lets you get a view of Turin and the surrounding Alps from atop the dome.


Turin really surprised me. I basically penciled it in as an overnight place to stop on my way up to France, but it actually had a nice collection of museums, Roman ruins,  and churches to spend the day sightseeing. I didn't have a chance to get out to the mountains, which during the winter would be a great place to catch some skiing. If you're ever traveling through Turin via train, I highly suggest making a day [or two] of it. It will be a nice breather from the more touristy parts of your trip.

Roman gate Porta Palatina

Always liked this photo of a Turin bollard... disguised as a penguin

Past Blast: Orvieto

Orvieto's Wall

Orvieto is a small hilltop town in southwestern Umbria. It is easily traveled to from Rome's Termini train station, and is a great place to spend a day trip when you need a break from urban Roma. Our class hit it up both on our trip north towards Florence, and as a side-project to redevelop the old military barracks. Ah yes, the good old Caserma project.

Il Duomo

In the mood for some Vino? Orvieto is famous for its white wine: "Orvieto Classico." The city itself seems to be surrounded by vineyards; anytime you find yourself on an outer wall of the city, that's what you'll be looking down on. Keep an eye out Stateside for a bottle or two in the larger liquor stores; it's usually a nice, light summery drink.


The facade of Orvieto's Duomo was recently restored, and is a nice surprise while wandering the narrow winding streets. If you catch it on a nice day, the sun will reflect brilliantly off the gold paint. Inside the 700-year-old building is a chapel containing a cloth that was bled on by a consecrated host; just look for the crowds that tend to gather in front of it.


Orvieto's hillside is made out of that ever-present tufa stone of central Italy. Easily quarried, the hill is now lined with tunnels that you can tour deep underground. If you're lucky you'll see an Etruscan ruin or two.

Echo!

Reach for It

Ah yes, September. The start of football, school, cooling days, and, once every few years, the debut of the latest Halo game. I don't think it will surprise many readers to hear that I'm a big video game fan. Although I probably hide it well except for occasional photos of Rock Banding that make it past the censors. I've had an Xbox 360 since I began full-time working; so after playing Halo 2 only on friends' consoles, I've managed to play Halo 3, ODST, and Reach from their release date.


Games themselves have really come a long way in telling stories. I'd say many of today's games are on par with some of the stuff Hollywood puts out [ok, not the really good stuff, but there is a lot of crap]. Many movies are half-computer generated anyway. And Halo has always been known for its outstanding music score as much as the gameplay itself. And if a game is really good, its cost-to-entertainment value is really a steal.


A couple of friends of mine and I have met up practically every Tuesday evening online for our 'Halo Tuesday'. While it allows us to team up and shoot aliens/people, it also lets us catch up on other things, not unlike a teleconference. If only real teleconferences were so fun. Besides, there are worse ways to keep in touch. Of course: the more, the merrier; if you see us on [here's a link to my 'gamertag'], join the fight.

Past Blast: Bagnoregio

Civita di Bagnoregio

Civita street, typ.

One of our abroad day trips to the Viterbo province of central Italy was to the Civita di Bagnoregio: an old, isolated hill town. It's another cut-from-some-fantasy place, and its imposing view of the surrounding landscape lets you know how it has managed to survive so long. Its tight streets are car-free, and wind around buildings that seem to have expanded naturally over the years. The city sits on an outcrop of tufa stone, which is easily cut and mortared into the walls, stairs, roads, pizza, etc.

There is only one access road, although it primarily serves tourists these days.

One way in...

Bear Down

Bears on top!

Going to make this a short and sweet post today... With the Bears currently in first place in the NFC North, emotions are riding high. So for those wondering, here are the full lyrics to da Bears' fight song:


Bear down, Chicago Bears,
Make every play clear the way to victory;
Bear down, Chicago Bears,
Put up a fight with a might so fearlessly.
We'll never forget the way you thrilled the nation,
With your T-formation.
Bear down, Chicago Bears,
And let them know why you're wearing the crown.
You're the pride and joy of Illinois,
Chicago Bears, bear down.

Past Blast: Bologna

Nettuno in front of Bologna's Palazzo Comunale

This north-central Italian city, home to the world's oldest university, is often confused America-side with the ground meat sausage baloney. FYI if you want a 'baloney' sandwich in Italy, ask for the Mortadella. And Mortadella does originate from Bologna [buh-lone-ya], so I suppose it is one of the more delicious minor mistakes you can make.

The Arcades

The streets of Bologna are famous for their miles of arcades [covered walkways, not video games]. This means that while in most Italian cities you are constantly dodging minicars in the streets, in Bologna you are guaranteed safe passage. Keep an eye out for the city-mandated crimson window shades as well.

Torre degli Asinelli [Torre Garisenda behind]

Northern Italian towns also tend to have medieval familial towers, and Bologna is no exception. Although less than 20 exist today, at one point there were an estimated 180. Does a local dispute have a neighboring family banging on your door? Just retreat into your handy personal tower and, I don't know, wait it out or throw Mortadella at them.

Cheer, cheer

Summer is making its last attempts at 90, darkness is arriving noticeably earlier, everybody is thinking 'this is the year': it must be time for football season. Finally weekend television can guarantee something other than infomercials.

The Band of the Fighting Irish plays Bond Hall

While college football doesn't have the same soul-shaking hold on me that it used to, I'm still already itching to drive over to South Bend and join the masses for a Game Day. There's no denying that campus almost buzzes during home games. So many people cram onto the quads to see the band march out, take a moment at the Grotto, or just to grab a steak sandwich. And of course gathering around the trunk of somebody's car and heating up brats with cheese & chili & frosty [usually ICE-BREWED FOR MORE REFRESHMENT!] [a.k.a. cheap] beverages is another important ritual.

Memories: Samardzija vs. Purdue in 2005

In my active history as a fan, Irish coaches have gotten off to a fast start their rookie years. Ty was 8-0 out of the gate, and Charlie finished the regular season 9-2 [which included the crazy-intense 'Bush-push' game vs. USC]. How'll BK do? Please, God, have a defensive presence for once. The old 'throw-it-over-their-crappy-cornerbacks' play has been way too predictable [and successful]. He's already interacting with the media far more than his predecessor, so the sportswriters have been kind so far. Saturday's game against Pur-don't will thankfully put an end to a lot of the speculation and finally give us something substantial to look at.

Currently I only have guaranteed tickets for the 10/9/10 Pittsburgh game... So I'll get to see some more Wannstache, which every Bears fan loves to do. Speaking of da Bears: Ugh. Although they always have a way of staying alive for the playoffs far longer than they deserve. If someone permanently crushes Favre though, that may save the season for me.

Halftime at Notre Dame Stadium

Past Blast: Starved Rock

Starved Rock

On a mini-weekend away last year, Cassie and I toured northern-Illinois' closest thing to an awe-inspiring National Park: Starved Rock State Park along the Illinois River. The sandstone bluffs along the river are impressive due to the usual flatness of the Illinois Prairieland; and canyons carved by glacial runoff are always fun to explore.

In the 1760s the local Native American tribes [Illiniwek, Potawatomi, and Ottawa] were fighting after the slaying of Chief Pontiac. A group of Illiniwek sought refuge on the high bluff overlooking the Illinois River, and were surrounded. Unable to leave, the group died of starvation, and 'Starved Rock' was born. Other landmark bluffs were later named Beehive Overlook and Lover's Leap.

Illinois River Dam

The Illinois River gained a series of Dams and Locks in the mid-1800s when the I&M canal was built to connect Lake Michigan with the Mississippi River. Starved Rock happens to overlook one of these dams, which constantly has barge traffic moving up- and down-river.

Wildcat Canyon

Today the State Park has miles of hiking along the bluffs and canyons, as well a lodge/hotel complex with a couple of good eateries. Of course you can always bring a grill and eat along the river as well. And if you're lucky, there may be a Burgoo Festival going on in one of the nearby towns...