MUD Time!

The Mud Baths of Vulcano.

In North America (and probably around the world), people pay hundreds of dollars for a “mud wrap” – a skin & body treatment where mud is caked onto the entire body for therapeutic benefits.  In the Aeolian Islands… they have the real thing!

Immediately south of Lipari lies the island of Vulcano (named creatively after the fact that there is a smoking Volcano), home to a NATURAL mud bath at the foot of the volcano where sulfur & other gas escaping the earth heat a pool of water, creating a big, brown stinky hot-tub of miracle mud.  For 2 Euro per person, you are allowed to enter the bath and soak up all it has to offer.  (As an added bonus, they let you take the ‘rotten-egg’ smell on your skin home with you FOR FREE!  Can’t wait to get back to Catania and give everyone a big hug!)

 

The information sign said that the most effective treatments occur in the morning, before eating, when the weather is cool, and after being on the island for two days to acclimatize.  We’d been there an hour, had just eaten lunch, and it was almost 80 degrees… perfect!  It also explained that for centuries scientists have noted the health benefits of applying the mud to your body – specifically for improving skin conditions, acne, circulation, and even minor sprains & bruises.  However, I’m sure without proper showering techniques the medieval users of the mud quickly became outcasts, which in Italian is known as ‘uovimi stinkissimo’ (direct translation: the guy who smells like egg eats alone).

Loving every second of it...

Christie – being a huge spa fan back home – was in absolute heaven… running in to the water and immediately covering her whole body with the mud.  I, on the other hand, wasn’t so sure and tiptoed into the bath… but at least the water temperature was 28 degrees Celsius (about 94).  Reluctantly, I eventually let her give me a face mask like I was her little brother and she was playing dress-up, and it actually felt pretty good… a sort of ‘metro-sexual right of passage’ moment.

Before...

... and AFTER!

After our time in the bath, we walked 20 feet to the sea, where similar vents have created what I call the ‘hot tub’ effect in the sea… seawater that is perfectly warm like a bath.  We sat in the ocean for a while to finish our time there and let the remaining mud wash-off.  If you ever visit the Aeolian Islands, be sure to experience something truly unique on the island of Vulcano.

The warm sea... a perfect end to a truly unique experience.

~ J. Twice

Panerea

Panarea - "Island" to the fifth power.

This morning we traveled to the island of Panarea, the smallest yet arguably most 'exclusive,' of the Aeolian Islands.  Only 3.4 square kilometers, the tiny island overflows with European jet-setters in the summer as its unique city and coastline is a magnet for million dollar yachtsand  those seeking to escape everyday worries.

The white washed buildings of Panarea contrast beautifully with the blue sea.

The small town itself is filled with white-washed buildings, lazy wood-covered patios, and bright blue water.  In the distance, the smoking shadow of Stromboli looms menacingly while closer to shore rocky remnants of ancient volcanoes lie uninhabited.

This is a bed by the sea.  'nuff said.

We spent the morning walking through narrow corridors and past brightly painted doors (blue and yellow are the most popular) while avoiding the local scooters and golf carts (no cars are allowed on Panarea -- so the Taxis are Golf Carts!)

They love their doors here... especially BLUE!

Christie's 5'4 frame towers over the only local car.

The taxis on Panarea... GOLF CARTS!!!

Later, we found a secluded beach for a quick dip... the water is not cold but still not 'bath water' - and one must be a little careful about jellyfish.  (The warning came from a local just as I was diving in!)

Not a bad place to cool off...

I give Panerea two thumbs up... although Lipari is still a better 'home base' for Aeolian travel, unless all you want is total seclusion.

~ J. Twice

Scootin' Around

70 MPH on this hog...

To finish our first afternoon in Lipari, we rented a scooter!!!  It was exponentially safer than on the mainland in Sicily, and also incredibly scenic!  Check out the pics!

The happy couple after a ride around the island.  The only reason I rented it was so that she had to hang on.

Not quite a Harley but I still look sweet!

I took a side road and this is where it ended up... picturesque but time to turn around!

Christie didn't know it... but the sticker on the back of her helmet certified her American citizenship!

Looking back over the island of Vulcano towards Sicily from the top of Lipari... 

Christie in front of the island of Salina.

Who is this guy?

~ J. Twice

Lipari Blues

Where's Waldo?  Yep... that's really me swimming... and yeah, that's the normal color of the water here in the Tyrrhenian Sea surrounding Lipari.

After 4 consecutive weeks of games and with 8 days before our next contest, Christie and I headed north to the Aeolian Islands for a little R & R... and we were simply blown away.

The Aeolian Islands, officially dubbed, "The Best Islands in the world you've never heard of..." are a volcanic archipelago of 7 islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea about 20 miles north of Sicily.  They have been inhabited for centuries, beginning with the Greeks in 580 BC (They were originally named after the Greek 'Keeper of the Winds' Aeolus, who was believed to have lived on the island and was responsible for the big 'Fan in the Sky' back in those days).  However, we were not here for the history or museums... we were here for some sun!

Upon our arrival (a painless 45 minutes ferry from Milazzo), we worked our way through town towards our hotel - the Hotel Carasco.  While we had not planned on the 1 km walk taking us over three large hills and one sand beach, we eventually reached our hotel and immediately cancelled all plans for the day in leu of the swimming pool.  For while our life here isn't exactly the most stressful... "It's not vacation until you are at the beach!" (Christie Chorley quote).  Good Times!

Where we "laid out" (aka Sunbathing) today... not a bad view?

The pool at Hotel Carusco... a safe alternative to the sea.

Yeah... I'm big here!

Dusk at the Hotel Carasco patio looking back towards Lipari town.

~ J. Twice

Elephants Win 49-14 vs. Sharks!

Johnson rolls left and fires deep...

On Saturday, we played the most complete game of the season to date, beating the Ancona Dolphins 49-14 to improve to 4-1 on the season.  It was a great team effort - and I was proud of how our defense stepped up, playing with many injured players to make 8 stops and even scoring a late touchdown themselves!

It was an absolutely GORGEOUS day for football... about 75 and sunny with no wind... the type of days you DREAM ABOUT in late October while playing in the Canadian Football League.  (For those of you who have never stood on the sidelines in MINUS 30 Celcius in Saskatchewan with a 40 km/hr wind in your face... you are letting one of the more miserable moments in life pass you by...)  In fact, Christie and some of the Pink Elephants hit the beach for two hours before the game, rolling in at kickoff with flip-flops and swimsuits.  Gotta love Sicily!

... and scrambling to the left for some yardage!

Offensively, we were very efficient... I finished the day 17-25 for 290 yards and 5 touchdowns, but did not throw a pass in the 4th quarter as we were working the clock.  Matt was his usual spectacular self, grabbing 8 balls for 181 yards and 4 TDs.

It must be noted that the Ancona players played very physical - with an intense group of linebackers that swarmed to the ball extremely well.  Plus, you must consider that they took a 20 HOUR TRAIN RIDE the day before the game to get here!!!  (It must also be noted that during their bus from the train station to the game, a car collided with the back of the bus, shattering the window and sending glass onto some of their players!  They immediately thought all the untrue stereotypes of Sicily were true!)

Christie and I are now off to the Aeolian Islands - a chain of 7 Volcanic Islands just off the northern coast of Sicily - for two days of R & R.  George is similarly on a train as we speak to the "Cinque Terra" region for a similar purpose.  Arrivederci!

~ J. Twice

Our Italian Labor Day

Another beautiful breakfast a la Christie - this time Scrambled Eggs with Onion, Tomato, and Garlic along with Seasoned Sausage, Multi-Grain Toast, and Strawberry Fruit Salad.  Oh yeah, breakfast here comes with a view.

Thursday was another national holiday in Italy (for those of you scoring along at home, only the second this week) -- this time "Worker's Day" which is the direct equivalent of American Labor Day.

With all the shops and businesses closed, we decided to do our best to honor those who do actually work by taking the day off from our stressful life of sightseeing and sunbathing, to simply just "BE" in our most zen-like form.  Now this may sound somewhere between sarcastic and taunting, however it is true that most of us (I'm guilty the most) spend every free moment of life not occupied by work RACING OFF to the nearest form of recreation, instead of just enjoying what it means to NOT have a deadline or golf-swing to improve.  Therefore, today trips to the beach were exchanged for long naps, and we tried to appreciate this one moment in our life when we could take advantage of our situation.  God Bless Italy. 

In some countries it is illegal not to stop and stare at such a view.

Late afternoon snack of green apples, red wine, Mediterranean style crackers, and most importantly, PARMESAN CHEESE.

One casual note, as George, Christie, and I spent the afternoon meditating in our 'zen-like' trances, we all suddenly gained heightened-consciousness and realized that the true purpose in life is not material things or divine approval, but in fact, is PARMESAN CHEESE.  Here in Italy, Parmesan Cheese is treasured along the likes of World Cup Trophies, Local Patron Saints, and Scantily Clad Women, and should not be merely grated on to pastas or seafood but instead EATEN IN LARGE CHUNKS AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY.  While her dashing cousin Ricotta may have the sweet looks and tempted us in our ignorance, it is now Parm that we hold dear.  In fact, we have all developed a border-line obsession with Parm, and are currently going through large blocks at a rate of 3 per week, usually paired with bread, crackers, or any available fruit.  I beg you, all Americans, put down your graters (or as Mitch-fans call them, Sponge Ruin-ers), go to your nearest grocery store, and no matter what the price, purchase a BLOCK of Parmesan Reggianno!  (NOT KRAFT!!!)  

~ J. Twice

Euro-Doodlahs!

I found a soulmate....

My wife Christie's love of dogs is well known to basically everyone in the Western Hemisphere... but on our trip to Europe she has found more than her share of furry friends!

Dogs, which in Christie's dog language are also known as doodles (small dogs) and doggies (large ones), have come in all shapes, sizes, and languages.  Below are her favorites, which I (lovingly) have taken pictures of.

Maybe Europeans love doodlahs (her other name for them) as much as she does!  (For the record, the descriptions below are either Christie's... or what the dog is actually 'saying' to us humans which Christie has kindly translated for us!)

Should I have a Snausage or a Jerky?

I'm just shakin' around!

3 doodles??!! This is my version of heaven...

I'm just posin' around...

Hey - what are you lookin' at?!  It's so bright....I need my doggles!! (Dog-Sunglasses)

Do you like my perm?

Why the concerned look?  Everything is OK!

Roman watch doodle...

~ J. Twice