Sunday, July 27, 2008

Closing this Chapter of our Lives...

As I browsed the bookstore at London's Heathrow Airport before our flight home, I randomly came across the book "Playing for Pizza."  Seemed like a fitting end to snap a picture as I reached the final page of my own real life adventure...

Well, we've come to the end of the REALLY PLAYING FOR PIZZA experience.  After 180 days in Europe, 245 Blog Posts, and more new friends & memories that I can possible count, I can honestly say that it was a time I will NEVER FORGET.  I thank each and every one of you who have either been following our adventures on the blog or actually participated in one of our many good times along the way... you have all made our lives more rich than you can possibly know.  But as I close this chapter, the question becomes, where do I go from here?

Well, the short term answer is that we're off to Hawaii for three weeks of R & R.  (Yes, I know my life is tough, and yes, I know you are rolling your eyes right now!)  It will be an incredible time to spend with family as we head first to Maui for a family reunion and then off to Oahu to visit with friends.

Long term, our plan is to head to Southern California or Arizona towards the end of September to pursue business opportunities.  We are not sure exactly what our lives will look like 6 months from now, but we are excited as we do open this "new chapter."

Speaking of Chapters, I have already begun work on a REALLY PLAYING FOR PIZZA book that I hope to publish in the coming months.  It will expand on many of the blog stories, photography, and other personal narratives to give a more intimate and detailed look at what it really was like to live & play football in Italy.  I will keep you all posted as it develops!

And as for next year and our thoughts of returning to Catania to play, we are leaving that up to God right now and will wait to see where our lives are headed.  We would LOVE to play one more year in Europe, but also realize that with our careers that is not always the easy thing to do.  I think as winter approaches the answer will come clear - and we will DEFINITELY keep you all posted as to that decision!!!  (They do say that 'sequels' are very popular these days...)  

Finally, like George, I have constantly been getting the question about what will happen to this blog now that I've returned home.  Well, the easy answer is that I'm not currently Playing for Pizza and thus shouldn't keep the blog going on a daily basis.  (I'm sure its not that interesting to tell you that 'today I ran errands, went to work, and then made dinner'.)  However, sharing our lives with everyone and making new connections has been a very rewarding experience... so I've decided that I will continue to post "every-now-and-then" general updates about what is going on with us.  (Although you must know that if something hilarious happens, it will be going up!!!)  THAT IS... until my next crazy adventure begins and then we'll all be off and rolling again!!!

Arrivederci and A Dopo,

Jason Johnson, aka J. Twice

Best Pics: Sicily


Welcome to Sensational Sicily!

Before the Really Playing for Pizza Experience, I could tell you literally nothing about SICILY.  That is in no disrespect to the place that is now one of my favorites in the world, it is simply that few people in North America talk about it or have actually made the effort to travel to the island.  However, after spending 6 months living on Sicily, I can tell you that the island is spicy, sassy, and most of all, sensationally beautiful. 

When summarizing our experience in Europe, one can basically divide our travels into 3 distinct circles:

1. SICILY
2. ITALY
3. EUROPE

Therefore, I've devoted the next three blog posts to my favorite pictures from each of those three areas, beginning with our home near "The Boot."  

If anyone out there knows someone from the Sicilian Department of Tourism, I would like to get some commission, because I don't know how anyone could not want to visit after looking at these pictures.  Enjoy!

ALCANTARA
Beautiful Natural Gorge

ACI CASTELLO
The Norman Castle stands guard

CATANIA
Festival of Catania's Patron Saint, St. Agatha

The Piazza Duomo & Elephant Statue

ACI TREZZA
The Cyclopi Riviera

ISOLA BELLA
James Bond's island off Taormina

Sunrise at Isola Bella

TAORMINA
Sicily's playground for the rich & tourist

Quaint Shops and Restaurants

PORTOPALO
Sicily's rugged southeastern tip, just 60 miles from Africa

AEOLIAN ISLANDS
White washed walls of exclusive Greek-inspired Panarea

HILL TOWNS
Piazza Armerino

Gritty Buildings, Castiglione di Sicilia

Summer Fields Glow in Golden Hues

SYRACUSA
Scared Statue

AGRIGENTO
Temple of Hercules at Dusk

Temple of Conchord

PALERMO
Market Man

CEFALU
The Medieval Town

Blue Waters meet Arab Influence

ETNA
Martian Hiker

Etna Eruption

FACES
Trezza Fisherman

BEACHES
Fontane Bianche - White Sand & Clear Water

So... When can we book your ticket?

~ J. Twice

Best Pics: Italy

To say we've "done" Italy is an understatement.  In the six months we lived in Sicily, we crisscrossed the 'boot' more than we could have imagined, from the north (Torino, Milan, Como, Bolzano, Venice, Verona, and more), central (Bologna, Florence, Tuscany, Cinque Terra), and the south (Rome, Amalfi Coast, Capri, Naples)... plus the countless small villages and countryside between.  Italy is a fascinating country - and as these pictures suggest, much better understood one region at a time.  Enjoy!

VENICE
Slicing Gondola

The Grand Canal

LAKE COMO
Romantic Alpine Lake looking towards Bellagio

TUSCANY
Dusty Bottles at Verrazzanno

Inspiration for the Italian Flag (Red & Green)

CINQUE TERRA
Stunning Vernazza

Dramatic Nightfall at Manarola

AMALFI COAST
Stacked Buildings at Positano

Rugged Coast

CAPRI
Dark Harbor

ROME
Old and New tangled together

VATICAN CITY
St. Peter's Basilica - humanity's imagination of heaven

FLORENCE
Ponte Vecchio

The Duomo - if you see one building in Europe...

~ J. Twice

Best Pics: Europe

Neuschwanstein Castle in Southern Bavaria.

Our travels took us to all corners of Europe, from London to Malta, Barcelona to Prague.  It was tough to pick, but here's my favorite picture from each country we visited along the way.  Enjoy!

LONDON
Bustling Central London, near Picadilly

Arsenal's Emirates Stadium

PARIS
The iconic Eiffel Tower in Spring

PRAGUE
Castle looms over the Charles River

BARCELONA
The Ramblas

Fresh Strawberries

AMSTERDAM
Canal Corner

The Red Light District

MALTA
Ancient Mdina

SWITZERLAND
Alpine Waterfall

FRENCH RIVIERA
Nice Water

Cours Saleya at Dusk

MONACO
Bentley's outside the Monte Carlo Casino

~ J. Twice