7.28.2004
Ciao from Rome
Sorry that the blogging has been exception sporadic lately, but Europe's been wonderful. Today we spent the entire day roaming about the Forum & just finished a fantastic meal. This weekend we're headed south to Naples, from which we'll visit Pompeii before flying back to London (where I've got a tour of Highbury lined up and a booking to photographed with the Premiership trophy) for a few more days before returning to the States.
Speaking of Highbury and Arsenal, sadly, it looks like Vieira may actually be going to Real Madrid, firmly established them as The World's Worst & Most Horrible Sports Team Ever, beating even the New York Yankees. Honestly, the Yanks suck an awful lot, but even they don't approach Franco's favorites (for whom he pulled many, many favors...state favoritism which continues to this day, which the city of Madrid paying the ridiculous sum of 300m+ dollars for the real estate of Madrid's training ground, when Madrid were just that much in debt at the time...).
Of course, I just read a report from Vieira's agent denying the most recent bout of speculation that the player and Madrid had already agreed terms, leaving only the matter of the fee which Madrid would pay Arsenal (no small matter given that Madrid's chairman has insisted they'd pay no more than 24 million euros, which Arsenal's chair has flatly and publicly rejected).
Then again, if your captain wants to leave, there's really no sense in forcing him to honor the final three years of his contract. The most frustrating part of it all for me has been Vieira's reluctance to say something about it one way or the other. It seems cowardly, and points to some significant degree of truth in these stories. After reading them for the past 3 years I figured this was just another harmless go-round in this tiresome soap-opera, but Vieira could have ended this long ago and he hasn't. At this point, I'm almost not sure whether I hope he stays--mainly I just want the damn saga ended one way or another.
In any event, that's but a small worry right now. The splendors of Rome and the ruins of Pompeii will more than compensate for however this all shakes out.
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Speaking of Highbury and Arsenal, sadly, it looks like Vieira may actually be going to Real Madrid, firmly established them as The World's Worst & Most Horrible Sports Team Ever, beating even the New York Yankees. Honestly, the Yanks suck an awful lot, but even they don't approach Franco's favorites (for whom he pulled many, many favors...state favoritism which continues to this day, which the city of Madrid paying the ridiculous sum of 300m+ dollars for the real estate of Madrid's training ground, when Madrid were just that much in debt at the time...).
Of course, I just read a report from Vieira's agent denying the most recent bout of speculation that the player and Madrid had already agreed terms, leaving only the matter of the fee which Madrid would pay Arsenal (no small matter given that Madrid's chairman has insisted they'd pay no more than 24 million euros, which Arsenal's chair has flatly and publicly rejected).
Then again, if your captain wants to leave, there's really no sense in forcing him to honor the final three years of his contract. The most frustrating part of it all for me has been Vieira's reluctance to say something about it one way or the other. It seems cowardly, and points to some significant degree of truth in these stories. After reading them for the past 3 years I figured this was just another harmless go-round in this tiresome soap-opera, but Vieira could have ended this long ago and he hasn't. At this point, I'm almost not sure whether I hope he stays--mainly I just want the damn saga ended one way or another.
In any event, that's but a small worry right now. The splendors of Rome and the ruins of Pompeii will more than compensate for however this all shakes out.
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7.15.2004
Apparently Chicken Is A Vegetable In Valencia
Or at least when my girlfriend and I ordered a delicious ´Paella Verdura´ today (at a restaurant Hemingway occasionally patronised, according to Lonely Planet), it came with chicken. It didn´t actually bother either of us--we both do not eat beef or pork, and are not too keen on some of the sea creatures included in the marisco paellas--but we did find it rather amusing. Another interesting thing I learned about Spanish food (reading Anthony Beevor´s excellent history of the Spanish Civil War) is that the reason pork figures so prominently in the Spanish diet is that it was used in the inquisition to help spot infidel Jews & Muslims.
We´ve been in Spain a few days now, and its been very nice--the warm weather is certainly a big plus after the chilly few days in London. Barcelona is next up later this weekend. Unfortunately I see have 2 minutes left before my time expires, so I´ll have to wrap this up by noting that I sincerely hope all the blustering I´ve seen here in the Spanish press about Real Madrid finally nearing success in their 3 year pursuit of Patrick Vieira is simple rubbish.
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We´ve been in Spain a few days now, and its been very nice--the warm weather is certainly a big plus after the chilly few days in London. Barcelona is next up later this weekend. Unfortunately I see have 2 minutes left before my time expires, so I´ll have to wrap this up by noting that I sincerely hope all the blustering I´ve seen here in the Spanish press about Real Madrid finally nearing success in their 3 year pursuit of Patrick Vieira is simple rubbish.
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7.11.2004
Checking in from London
Where it's in the mid 50s. In July. My packing did not anticipate this eventuality. Thankfully we'll soon be moving on to Madrid, where the temperature is a much more hospitable upper-70s.
In football news, Boro have made some interesting striking acquisitions this past week, bringing in Mark Viduka from Leeds & Jimmy Floyd Haisselbaink from Chelsea, who are themselves seeking to sign Didier Drogba from Marseille. I'm so happy to see Jose Mourinho continue the mad player buying & selling of last year--I think all the new faces & changes will make it very hard for the team to settle & gel. Meanwhile Arsenal & Utd (to a lesser extent, especially with Keane fast approaching his expiry date) both will be able to rely on a substantial nucleus of players who've been together for several years.
Of course it seems like every year Boro find the cash to put together a couple biggish moves, and every year it seems like once they come to Riverside their talent & form somehow disappear & Boro stagger to another bottom half finish. This year might be different though--with Juninho & Mendieta in midfield, JFH & Viduka upfront, and Ugo & Southgate at the back, they might make a solid run to a top 8 finish. We'll see.
I think I've just about overcome the jet lag & exhaustion that resulted from rushing to finish packing everything up & heading across the Atlantic the very next day. London's been a lot of fun, and I'm looking forward to our return here next month--that's when I've booked time for us to visit Highbury, where we'll get a tour of the ground, locker room etc, and I'll have my picture taken with the Premiership trophy :). I'm excited.
Cheers for now.
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In football news, Boro have made some interesting striking acquisitions this past week, bringing in Mark Viduka from Leeds & Jimmy Floyd Haisselbaink from Chelsea, who are themselves seeking to sign Didier Drogba from Marseille. I'm so happy to see Jose Mourinho continue the mad player buying & selling of last year--I think all the new faces & changes will make it very hard for the team to settle & gel. Meanwhile Arsenal & Utd (to a lesser extent, especially with Keane fast approaching his expiry date) both will be able to rely on a substantial nucleus of players who've been together for several years.
Of course it seems like every year Boro find the cash to put together a couple biggish moves, and every year it seems like once they come to Riverside their talent & form somehow disappear & Boro stagger to another bottom half finish. This year might be different though--with Juninho & Mendieta in midfield, JFH & Viduka upfront, and Ugo & Southgate at the back, they might make a solid run to a top 8 finish. We'll see.
I think I've just about overcome the jet lag & exhaustion that resulted from rushing to finish packing everything up & heading across the Atlantic the very next day. London's been a lot of fun, and I'm looking forward to our return here next month--that's when I've booked time for us to visit Highbury, where we'll get a tour of the ground, locker room etc, and I'll have my picture taken with the Premiership trophy :). I'm excited.
Cheers for now.
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7.02.2004
Busy, Busy, Busy
Very little posting lately, but I do have a good excuse. Tuesday is my last day at work (gotta get paid for that 5th of July Federal holiday!), so I've spent this past week or so madly tying up loose ends. And since the movers are scheduled to cart away all my junk on Wednesday, my holiday weekend will consist primarily of packing, packing, and more packing. My girlfriend & I then take fly out on our trip to Europe on Thursday, where we'll be until early August.
I may find time every now & then to post while traveling, so don't entirely delete that bookmark or link here. Hope you all have a great summer & see you in a month or so.
PS I didn't get to watch it, but it sounds like the Greeks played their same dour, uber-defensive & dirty style in their slim victory over the Czechs. Unfortunately then, despite my severe dislike of Figo & Ronaldo, I'm stuck with rooting for Portugal in the final.
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I may find time every now & then to post while traveling, so don't entirely delete that bookmark or link here. Hope you all have a great summer & see you in a month or so.
PS I didn't get to watch it, but it sounds like the Greeks played their same dour, uber-defensive & dirty style in their slim victory over the Czechs. Unfortunately then, despite my severe dislike of Figo & Ronaldo, I'm stuck with rooting for Portugal in the final.
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