Things I’ve Learned In Venice

Posted on July 20, 2012 by jaynezak

“ If you read a lot, nothing is as good as you’ve imagined it. Venice is! – Venice is better. “ Fran Liebowitz

Things I’ve Learned in Venice

Venetians hate Napoleon because he stole from them the very treasures that Venice had previously stolen from Constantinople. The French hate that the Venetians have two museums (Palazzo Grassi and the Dogana) devoted to French modern art.

The pigeons in Venice have special protection because of their popularity with the tourists. No self respecting Venetian over the age of two would pay any attention to a pigeon.

There are two Venices – the actual one and the reflection in the water. Which is real and which is the illusion?

Directions in Venice may involve going” through a sestiere, past the scuola, down the fondamenta or the riva to the rama to the rio tera, to the calle, rughetta or salizzada and under the soltoportego”.( good to travel with map people)

Peggy Guggenheim has a room in her museum devoted to her daughter’s art. (don’t we all?)

An important Venetian holiday is held on the third week in July. It is the Feast of the Redentore commemorating the end of the plague that killed fifty thousand people including Titian. The fireworks display is so extensive and significant that the re-election of the mayor is contingent on their quality ( sort of like us picking a governor based on his movies) I have to add that they were the most incredible fireworks of our lives –I hope that mayor got re-elected.

If you find yourself in Venice on a vaporetto going out into the open sea, don’t worry, it will come back into the city……. eventually.

Vaporettos (water buses) in Venice are on the honor system. Many stops do not have kiosks to buy tickets which makes it hard to be honorable.

St. Mark, (patron saint of Venice) had his body “rescued” from his grave in Alexandria. Venetian fishermen covered the relic in pork to repulse the Muslim inspectors. There are mosaics that tell this story in the Basilica. If it was today, it would be covered in pork belly-something I see on every menu.

There is always reconstruction and renovation going on in Venice. The city slogan is “com’era dovera “ ( as it was and where it was)

The Biennale ( Worldwide Art Exhibition) in Venice is filled with the same pretentious art people one finds anywhere else. The difference is that in the summer, they bring their kids. You can hear in several different languages, what was that? When are we leaving?

The Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri) connects the Doges palace to the Prigioni (prisons). The name comes from the fact that the prisoners used to sigh as they saw Venice from the tiny windows on their way to the prison. “I stood in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs; a palace and a prison on each hand.” Lord Byron

There is always a small choice of musical concerts in Venice. They all play Vivaldi.

Napoleon called St Marks Square ‘the finest drawing room in Europe.’ In the summer it is filled with tourists, pigeons, musicians and waiters. Try to see it late at night or early in the morning .

Volare is a song I never expected to be woken up to in the morning or hear 100 times a day.

The Rialto Bridge was built in just three years between 1588-91. It replaced the wooden bridge built in the twelfth century. The architect was Antonio Da Ponte. He beat out Michelangelo and Palladio for the contract. His name means Anthony of the Bridge . I cant help thinking he went into the competition with an edge.

Venice has no sewer system. Household waste flows into the canals and is washed out into the sea twice a day with the tides.(in case you were thinking of tasting the water or swimming )

There are many mask shops in Venice but only a few are traditional mask makers. Remember if its cheap, its fake. La Bottega Dei Mascareri is a traditional mask making studio near the Rialto Bridge.

They say the best way to explore Venice is to get lost among the endless narrow streets and bridges. I don’t think that is the best way to explore Venice with my daughter. But no matter how good at directions you think you are, you will get lost in Venice.

Bauer Il Palazzo Hotel is one of Leonardo Di Caprio’s favorite hotels. (and mine also!)

Don’t touch the produce in Venice. In fact it is considered offensive to touch fruits and vegetables in the markets all over Italy.

The Bellini was invented by Guiseppi Cipriani, founder of Harry’s Bar. It is fresh white peach juice mixed with Prosecco. (sparkling wine). Its pink color reminded him of the color of the toga of a saint in a painting by Giovanni Bellini. It is named for the artist.

Gondolas are operated by highly skilled oarsmen. Only 3 gondolier licenses are issued annually after extensive training and a written exam. There are only 400 licensed Gondolieri operating in Venice today and 350 gondolas. (I wonder if anyone else had to take it three times)

Almost everyone in Venice belonged to a scuola in the fifteenth and sixteenth century. They were like fraternities formed around occupations or immigrant groups .The scuole were self governing and helped their members integrate into society or with their problems. They became important artistic patrons. The themes were usually the lives and miracles of the Saints. Caravaggio was a favorite painter of the scuole. It is worth it to go and see the art in some of the scuole around Venice..

Venetian food is simple, fresh and delicious. There are no food jokes here. Seafood, small birds, liver, fresh fruits and vegetables and local grains are the staples. Some traditional dishes are risi e bisi (risotto with peas) eaten by the Doge on St Marks Day, pasta e fagioli ( pasta with beans a hearty peasant dish), dried cod, cuttlefish cooked in squid ink and sardines with onions. They are not known for pizza, but eating pizza in Italy is always a good thing.

Ciao, Fly Safe,

JAZ

Looking For Buddha In Bangkok

Posted on July 14, 2012 by jaynezak

“it is better to travel well than to arrive”. Buddha

Looking for Buddha in Bangkok

Day 1. I didn’t see Buddha today among all the Golden Buddhas. He wasn’t at the most famous Emerald Buddha where all Buddhists go to worship. He wasn’t around the ancient Buddhist scriptures or at the giant leaning Buddha or the Grand Palace. I heard he was on the sky train but I missed him. I thought I saw him in the night market eating fried crickets on a stick. It turned out to be an old man with a beautiful smile. (it might have been gas- crickets are apparently better for the digestive system when eaten raw). I didn’t see him at Starbucks, nor was he having the most fabulous Thai Massage. I thought I saw him at the flower market among the beautiful orchids but it was just another Buddha wanna be. He wasn’t having Pad Thai , Thai Coffee and Thai Mango at the restaurant on the river. He was not on any of the riverboats that I have been on today. I will look again tomorrow.

Day 2. No, not today.

Day 3. He wasn’t at the floating market. Someone swore he ate lunch there everyday. He wasn’t at the train market either. The train runs through the market to Bangkok eight times a day. Eight times a day, they pack up and put out their food. The people help each other do it. It is not very tranquil. No one seems to mind. They all have their shrines to him and they all smile. I think he has been there before.

Day 4. Buddha is not shopping at Siam Paragon Mall or MBK. However, there is a monk on a cell phone and two other monks with shopping bags. I hope he is not begging for rice in the food court. He is not at Best Quality Fakes either. Though, I’m sure he would know how to find them.

Day 5. The real Buddha is not at the old capital city of Ayuthetta. There are many Buddha statues and many more decapitated ones. It is the ruined city that is left after the Burmese ravaged the old capital. it must have been quite beautiful when Buddha was there. I couldn’t see him when I was riding the elephant and I was pretty high up.

Day 6. He was not at Chatuchak Weekend Market . If he was there on a weekend, I would never see him because it is one of the largest and most crowded markets in the world. It covers over 27 acres and has more than two hundred thousand visitors per day. Surprisingly, He was not at (BIA) Buddhadasa Indapanno Archives. It is the most beautifully decorated space combining art and nature dedicated to Thai Buddhism. When I meditated there , I didn’t find Buddha but I did find peace.

As I rode to the airport I wondered where was he in this very Buddhist country? Was he in the faces of the children, the kindness of the people, the quiet dignity of the elephants, the beautiful orchids, the peace at the meditation center? Was he there all the time? Or, will I just have to look harder on my next visit?

Sa wat dii kha, fly safe

JAZ

Rick Steves -Love Him or Hate Him?

Posted on July 11, 2012 by jaynezak

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.” Mark Twain

I have this hate love affair with Rick Steves. Rick Steves is the host of Rick Steves Europe on American Public Television and Public Radio. He has published many guide books. On the surface , we have nothing in common.

Rick travels around Europe with a backpack or carry on luggage (which never looks very heavy). He wears relaxed comfortable clothing and sensible footwear. He motors through countrysides finding quaint inns and farmhouses to stay in. He is always looking at something old. He goes to places that we have been to or would like to go to –nothing outrageous or dangerous. If he is shopping , it is in some outdoor market or picturesque shop. He is always using a lot of hand motions to show that he is buying it for himself to eat now. There is nothing that Rick Steves ever buys that I would want. He has perfectly behaved children who eat Sacher Tortes in the Bavarian countryside and don’t get hopped up on sugar. Sometimes they stay with a Czech sitter at the hotel while Rick and his wife go to a medical spa in Karlovy Vary. Rick is the everyman of traveling.

So what is his appeal for me? He makes us feel safe and comfortable in a place we have never been. If Rick has been there or met them, we will be ok.

That is how I ended up having an amazing vacation in Croatia with my kids. I had been trying to go to Croatia for two years. Both my tour and my cruise had been cancelled. I decided to use the internet for the first time to find a tour guide. I found Petar Vlasik . I went to look at his references and there it was –recommended by Rick Steves. I immediately emailed Petar and he immediately emailed back. I had a good feeling and ….Rick Steves liked him. We planned to go to a few places in Croatia – Dubrovnik, Hvar, Split and Cavtat as well as some side trips. . Petar was an amazing charming, knowledgeable, helpful cool guy to organize our trip and take us around . The trip was perfect. We have a friend in Croatia. I highly recommend Petar to all of you when you go to Croatia (and you must). http://www.dubrovnikrivieratours.com Would I have done this without Rick Steves? ( I do now – that is another blog) I like to think I have good intuition but Rick Steves definitely helped.

Which is how I came to watch his shows . We aren’t as different as I would like to think. I realized that I love to travel as much as he does. I love meeting the people in new places as much as he does. I love the old churches and ruins as much as I love the modern buildings and contemporary art. I admire him for making a successful career out of his passion. I love his enthusiasm over a tiny hand made flute or an old French cheese. I feel exactly the same way when I find the perfect bracelet or walk into an amazing five star hotel.

Fly Safe

JAZ

Things I Have Learned In Munich

Posted on July 7, 2012 by jaynezak

“You can’t be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline – it helps if you have some kind of football team, or some nuclear weapons but at the very least you need a beer” - Frank Zappa

Things I Have Learned In Munich

Pedestrian crossings in Munich often have a sign saying “Set an example to children” Something we should all remember to do.

Seen in German fashion magazine. “.the new recessionista, crunch chic.”

“Dachau is a lovely town in Munich which happens to have the first concentration camp located there. But this was not an extermination camp and the largest number of people were not killed there. “ (quote from a guide book)

Birds never sang in Dachau even though there are many trees, because birds do not like the smell of death.

Brausebad is the old German word for shower. It was written outside the door of the “shower” in the camps. After WW2 they were not allowed to use that word anymore and it became douche instead.

Nazis are big business in Germany. You can take a third Reich tour in Berlin and Munich. You can visit Dachau outside of Munich or Sachenhausen outside of Berlin. In the tourist bookstores you can buy Hitlers Favorite Places in Munich, Famous Nazi’s of Munich, and Hitler’s Berlin or Hiltler’s Munich..

“The Neo Nazis aren’t the bad Nazis.” (quote heard at Dachau)

The Irish backed the Germans in World WarTwo. (anything to go against the English)

Soccer is a hooligan’s game played by gentlemen. Rugby is a gentlemen’s game played by hooligans.

I was in Munich in November and missed Oktoberfest. I didnt have to bring my lederhosen and dirndl and missed the overindulgence of beer and pretzels , beer and weisswursts, beer with sauerbraten , beer with potatoes and beer with beer.

Haidhausen is the place to be in Munich if you are a schiki miki (club going Bavarian Hippie), or Eidel chic or one of the Mueslis (European granola types)

Weisswurst breakfast which consists of boiled white sausages in milk that you eat by sucking out of the casing, with a fresh baked pretzel and mustard is surprisingly delicious.

A sign seen in a Munich store window “Wurst Fuchs”.

Pabst Blue Ribbon beer means the Pope’s beer. Every year the Pope comes to Munich to bless the hops

If you want to see hordes of tourist getting ridiculously drunk with huge steins of beer, go to Hofbrau House in Munich (Hitler’s fav)

The German New Wave Goth Punk teenagers are not people you want to share a train car with.

Neuschwanstein castle in the Bavarian Alps (the sleeping beauty castle) is probably best visited when it isn’t snowing.

After returning from Germany, I was watching a documentary entitled, The Rape of Europa. It was about European art stolen by the Nazis . I saw a castle that looked familiar. I was there in a snowstorm so I didn’t recognize it right away. The first art recovered from the Nazis( that had been stolen from the French) was stored in Neuschwanstein castle. There were many rooms filled with stolen art and it was a fact they left out when I took the guided tour of “the Sleeping Beauty Castle. “

On the program at the ballet in the Bavarian State Opera House, they list the minutes of each act and each intermission and the starting and ending times. German attention to detail put to good use! (and Mia was great! )

Munich being closer to Milan than it is to Berlin has amazing Italian food and great pizza.

Whenever you are in a coed sauna (especially if it says naked area) in eastern Europe and Germany just know that it will be inhabited by fat, old, naked men.

In the 1960’s and 70’s the next generation of Germans were horrified when they learned what their parents have done. I had this feeling in Munich and Berlin. Dachau, the Resistance Museum , the Jewish memorials and the Jewish museum were filled with school children on class trips.

gute reise and fly safe

JAZ

Leap Of Faith

Posted on July 2, 2012 by jaynezak

“Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith “

Margaret Shepherd

I am the first one to get on a plane to go anywhere I have never been. But sometimes you can travel without ever leaving your hometown. Every big city has its ethnic neighborhoods with interesting restaurants, markets, specialty shops, massages, acupuncture, threading, henna ,fortune tellers , museums, theatres, music and dance programs, herbalists, houses of worship etc. There is always an opportunity to learn something new.

That was the experience I had with the New Grounds Muslim Jewish Fellowship put together by Temple Emanuel and King Fahad Mosque. In our first meeting a group of women walked in wearing hijabs (head coverings) and traditional blouses in beautiful colors. The men came in with somber faces . ( I probably had one as well) We stopped to have a break for them to pray . It felt strange to stop a meeting to pray. Prayer isn’t so easy for me anyway.

We got to know each other through special exercises. We had to really break down our own barriers to talk about issues. Slowly, we became friends. Our last meeting was in the mosque. All the women wore the hijabs and everyone had to leave our shoes at the door. I was inspired to put together a beautifully colored outfit with matching head covering as well. (not my usual black) .

I had seen the blue dome of the King Fahad Mosque in Culver City many times. As I pulled into the parking lot, a man approached me. He was wearing a black skull cap and a long-sleeved white cotton shirt that came below his knees. He said,” Are you one of our guests today?” He directed me to the women’s entrance. I watched the men greet each other as they prepared to pray. It didn’t look strange at all . It wasn’t a scary place filled with terrorists. It was beautiful and welcoming and peaceful. The blue and white tiles reminded me of the Alhambra in Spain. I remember learning that blue is a protective color and I look forward to seeing the Blue Mosque in Istanbul . I understand more about praying now. Praying five times a day doesn’t seem weird to me anymore. . It is about taking time during your day to think about something bigger than yourself – to step back and remember what is important. I am trying to find the time to meditate everyday – also to step back.

I know that we are all Americans. If we had met in a mall, a museum or at a UCLA class, we would have been brought together by similar interests. This time, we were brought together by our differences. This is what happens when you travel. The differences are obvious. The similarities are later revealed.

I have learned that a complete stranger in a country so different from yours can become your friend. If you spend five minutes getting to know someone from another culture, chances are you will find much more in common than you thought.

Leaving the mosque felt exactly like leaving a foreign country. It feels strange when I arrive and it feels comfortable when I leave. I ‘m always leaving new friends, and I always want to return.

Fly Safe,

JAZ

My Top Ten Sunrises

Posted on June 25, 2012 by jaynezak

“ Living on Earth may be expensive but it includes an annual free trip around the Sun.”

My Top Ten Sunrises

Sunsets are easy. You are usually awake and can make a plan. “Lets have a drink and watch the sun set over the Ocean, the River, the Volcano, the Old City, the Rainforest etc.” They are usually social. Sunrises in my life are fewer, accidental and sometimes seen alone. My goodbye to a city is often at sunrise. I take a lot of early morning flights .

1. Machu Picchu, Peru My plan was to meditate at sunrise on Machu Picchu. By 4:30AM , the road into Machu Picchu becomes Disneyland on a crowded Sunday. . It wasn’t easy to find a quiet place . Machu Picchu is in the clouds. The sunrise is cloudy and rainy most of the time. Still, the eery light hitting Machu Picchu in the morning feels very spiritual. We will never know why Machu Picchu was built and who lived there but we know that every morning they saw this same sunrise.

2. Mount Masada, Israel When I was in college, we climbed Mount Masada. It was very hot and very dark. At the top, there was water and a ladle that everyone drank from (I know we didn’t have Aids then, but we did have germs!!) It is still the best water, I have ever tasted. We sat down to watch the sunrise . The guide told us the story of the Jews surrounded by the Roman army. We reflected on their choice to kill the women and children themselves before the Romans got up there. It was a somber sunrise.

3. Venice, Italy My kids and I were taking a boat to the airport in the dark as the sun quickly rose over Venice. The colors change with every light and shadow and it is truly the most beautiful city in the world .

4. Havana, Cuba Leaving Havana in darkness, thirteen years ago, I was filled with a lot of emotions. My daughter had performed at the Cuban Ballet Festival. We had no information going in and had no idea what to expect. It turned out to be one of the most amazing experiences of our lives. The dark streets were filled with humanity going to work. They were crowding the bus stops to get on the few running buses . People were selling snacks. The sun rose over the busy streets and faded colors of the buildings. It sparkled off the water hitting the Malecon ( sea wall) and shined on the old cars from the fifties. I took an imprint in my memory because I knew when I came back and Fidel was gone it would be different.

5. Barcelona, Spain was the opposite experience. It was summer and the city was crowded with tourists. As I drove to the airport at sunrise, the streets were filled with students and young people who had been out all night, dressed in their club clothes. They were all on Las Ramblas, trying to keep the evening going.

6. Perissa Beach (black sand), Santorini, Greece I also had been out all night and now we were sitting on the beach . A large Pelican stood next to us, waiting for the restaurant to open for breakfast, as the sun rose over the black sand beach.

7. Gamboa Rainforest, Panama We came into the hotel at night and everything was very dark . At sunrise, I saw and heard the sounds of the amazing rainforest for the first time. The sunrise is nature’s alarm clock. I got up every morning to lie in my hammock and have a coffee (best room coffee called Puro –I brought some home) and listen to the sunrise .

8. Cervina, Italy Sometimes a sunrise involves a decision. I was seventeen and it was my first trip to Europe. I had gotten up to ski from Cervina to Zermatt, Switzerland. We had to bring our passports. (it was so WW2) As the light of day broke, all we could see was the white of a huge snowstorm. I went shopping in Milan instead. I can be flexible.

9. Bangkok Thailand The sun rose just as we pulled up to Suvarnabhumi Airport. There was no one outside except for two monks wearing saffron robes and sandals. They were leaning up again the modern steel and glass building of the airport. The sunrise reflected them in the glass.

10. Yufuin, Japan It was our last morning and we wanted to use the onsen (mineral baths) . I was the only American in the ryokan (probably in the town) I decided not to wear my kimono and just go in my pajamas and a jacket. It was outside and very cold. To my surprise, the pre dawn bathhouse, was filled with Japanese women in kimonos or showering. It was 32F degrees and I just couldn’t shower outside. .I jumped in as the sun rose in the sky. I made so many cultural mistakes that morning (including coffee before breakfast) Luckily, the Japanese are very polite.

Brooklyn, NY When I was growing up, my favorite place to see the sunrise was to go to Kennedy Airport and watch the planes take off . After the sunrise, we would have breakfast there. I wondered when I would be a person, going to some exotic location on an early morning flight.

Fly Safe

JAZ

Things I Have Learned In Berlin

Posted on June 19, 2012 by jaynezak

Many small people, who in many small places, can alter the face of the world.” A quote from the Berlin Wall

Things I Have Learned In Berlin

Checkpoint Charlie is the Cold War Security point between East and West Berlin. This is not the original one in Berlin. The original one is fourty kilometers away. This is the one they set up for the tourists because it is closer to the wall. There doesn’t seem to be anyone who knows who the American soldier is, in the very large photograph in front of Checkpoint Charlie.

In 1996 Berlin became the center of Germany’s commercial and underground art movement. The galleries quickly moved from West to East Berlin forming the East Berlin Art Mile on Auguststrasse in Mitte.

If you are a fan of “form follows function” (as I am) visit the Neue Nationalgalerie designed by Mies Van Der Rohe (twentieth century paintings) and the Bauhaus museum designed by Water Gropius ( they used his building plans) The Bauhaus school was closed in 1933 because the new National Socialist government was afraid of their “subversive ideas and degenerative art.”

Kandinsky had a problem with the color green when teaching at the Bauhaus.

The German born artist Joseph Beuys had a big exhibit at the Hamburger Bahnhof –(old train station) Museum of Contemporary Art. I love contemporary art but I have never gotten him or his fascination with fat and felt.

Fredrik the Great of Prussia ordered that potatoes and cucumbers be the staple of the German diet because it was cheap.The portions are usually large and filling. Berlin has the largest immigrant population of any German city so there are may types of food –most common are Russian, Turkish, Vietnamese and Dutch.

“Berlin has a bit of a bad reputation when it comes to the treatment of its Jews but anti-Semitism was around long before Germany” (from the Scottish tour guide)

The Holocaust Memorial in Berlin occupies a large outdoor space near Hitler’s bunker and the Brandenburger Gate. It is made up of 2,711 gray stone slabs of different heights and shapes. They have no markings such as names or dates.

The Adlon Kempinski Hotel in Berlin has had Presidents, royalty and most recently Obama staying there, but it is most famous for being the place where Michael Jackson put his baby out the window.

Bebelplatz (where they burned the books in 1933) in East Berlin, is now the location of one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever stayed in (Hotel de Rome was originally the Dresdner bank building. They kept a lot of the building intact. ).

There is a parking lot over Hitler’s bunker because they don’t want it to become a neo Nazi shrine.

The Reichstag, the seat of the German Parliament, is one of Berlin’s most historic landmarks. It is close to the Brandenburger gate and was located right next to the Berlin wall. You have seen it in many movies.

I should explain the Brandenburger Gate since I keep mentioning it. It is the only remaining gate to the city, rebuilt in the eighteenth century and again after World War 2. It is one of the landmarks of Germany. It is the entry to Unter den Linden –the boulevard of Linden Trees . King Frederick of Prussia had the trees planted as a sign of peace leading up to his palace. It was on the East Berlin side of the wall and inaccessible to the west until the wall fell.

World War Two has had more books and papers written about it than any other period in history.

Kaiser Wilhelm the Second said, “More enemies, more honor”.

There is as much security at the Jewish Museum in Berlin as there is at the airport (except for the pictures of Terrorists of the week at Passport control) The new section designed by David Leibskind is based on an exploding Star Of David. The spaces disappear into angles. It is more about space than what is in it.

The Resistance museum is housed in the building where the attempt was made on Hitler’s life by his generals.

It is illegal to have a swastika out in the open in Germany (except for historical purposes)

The Berlin Wall was built after WW2 to keep the East Germans from escaping to the west. It was a symbol of the “cold war.” Most of the wall has been taken down in 1989 but some places still stand. The East Side gallery which has 106 graffiti paintings painted in 1990 as a memorial to freedom is the most interesting.

East Berlin is now the trendy part of Berlin – first the artists, then the galleries,then the gays, followed by trendy restaurants, bars, boutiques and hotels, and then the yuppies.

In 1870, Rosa Strauss left Germany with her young son Levi. He teamed up with a tailor to make a kind of material that would be good for the men going to the gold rush.

Berlin has no famous industry except culture.(and now its history – sorry, I loved Berlin but between the Nazis and the Communists it was hard to make jokes. )

Also see Things I’ve Learned In Munich

https://havefunflysafe.wordpress.com/2012/07/07/things-i-have-learned-in-munich/

Going To Neuschwenstein

https://havefunflysafe.wordpress.com/2012/08/17/going-to-neuschwanstein/

Haben Einen Sicheren Flug

JAZ

The Suitcase

Posted on June 15, 2012 by jaynezak

“Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.” – Jack Kerouac

The Suitcase

Sometimes, packing takes me a long time. I would like to take my suitcase out the week before and see what fits but I can’t because of my dog. I have to wait until the last possible second.

Dogs live in the present moment. I spend a lot of time and money learning how to live in the present moment. Here is the bad thing. When my dog sees the suitcase, all he knows is that I am leaving. He doesn’t remember what will happen to him. In his mind, he will be alone and there will be no food.. He has forgotten that he might be sleeping with my son, playing with Olga’s kids, going everywhere with Julie or hiking all day with KT. He is not locked up in a kennel. He gets a lot of attention when I am gone. He has forgotten that when I return, he will sit at the front door for three days waiting for these people. He has forgotten that after a big welcome back, he will ignore me for those three days.

He walks into my bedroom with his tail wagging and sees the suitcase. His whole body droops. He lies down and puts his paws over his eyes. If that doesn’t work , he sits on my clothes as I am packing them. He rolls around on them to leave his smell so I remember him. When he can’t stand it anymore, he leaves the room . He walks slowly with his head down and his tail between his legs. He looks back every few seconds to see if I understand the severity of what I am doing to him.

He returns an hour later. He is running with a toy and wagging his tail. He has forgotten. He stops short . “Oh no, it’s the SUITCASE ,” and the drama begins again.

Fly Safe,

JAZ

Things I Learned In The U.K.

Posted on June 8, 2012 by jaynezak

“From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere!”

― Dr. Seuss, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Things I Learned In The UK

There is nothing the Brits love better than musicals where they already know the songs, drinks that light up in the theatre, and drag queens, as in Mamma Mia, Thriller, Dirty Dancing, We Will Rock you and Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

The UK did a composite of the worst drivers in the UK. The worst woman would be a hairdresser from Gloucester, driving a BMW. Hairdressing must be lucrative in Gloucester.

An ATM is called a hole in the wall. As in, the hole in the wall is not working.

Buckingham Palace seems to be a lovely place to grow up.

If you are starving and you don’t know what you would like to eat, the food department at Harrods would not be the place to go. ( so big and overwhelming. )

The guards at the Tower of London are called Yeoman Warders or the “Beefeaters”. Their job description is to look after the prisoners in the tower and guard the crown jewels. Their actual job is tour guide. They are called Beefeaters because up until the eighteen hundreds, they were paid in part with chunks of beef.(life seemed a lot easier –no vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians – just beefeaters)

I love watching the news on the BBC. It is much less stressful than CNN. If it rains a little more than usual here, we are on Storm Watch. An engine shuts off on a plane in the air and they have “ a bit of a problem”.

If you have no sense of direction, then walking from the National Gallery in London to Harvey Nichols is probably not a good idea, unless you have done it before and for some reason, your feet go in the right direction and you get there

There are no sales in Edinburgh or London when I am there.

In the UK, they say sorry instead of excuse me, which does make it better when they bump into you.

In London, you can be engaged just by closing a bathroom door.

In the Uk, everyone says no worries. We have recently taken that one. I still worry.

If you are walking down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh and you see men on stilts, Vikings, people in animal costumes, a lot of Elizabethans, mimes, magicians and assorted costumes; and they happen to be begging, cajoling, pleading, persuading, enticing, sweet-talking you into seeing their plays, you have arrived in August at the Fringe Festival .It is one of the largest and most popular theatre arts festivals in the world. My daughter has performed there and my son has worked there. It is one of my favorite places to be in August.

The Edinburgh Tatoo, which has been sold out in advance for the last two decades, plays every night in August. It is a ceremonial performance by military musicians. There are military corps from all over the world playing bagpipes and drums. It has turned into quite the extravaganza and like nothing else I have ever seen. I have to say I teared up at the end when 8000 people linked arms and sang Auld Lang Syne with correct pronunciation.

Not everyone in Edinburgh speaks like Sean Connery and sometimes understanding the Scottish brogue can be a bit of a problem. I just smile and nod and I hope I didn’t agree to anything important.

In Heathrow Airport there is a sign with a picture of a woman and two men. It is not the international symbol for menage a trois, It means elevator(?)

The Saatchi Gallery is always closed when I get to London.

The Tate Modern is always open when I am there. I love to walk from there across the Milennium Bridge to St Paul’s Cathedral.

Heathrow Airport has the best sales in July.

The British Museum houses all the antiquities that the British plundered from other countries. It probably would have been great to see the Rosetta Stone , Elgin Marbles and ancient Egyptian statues in their own countries instead of the Hall of the Stolen Goods.

If you have no sense of direction in Scotland, it doesn’t matter because when you ask one person for directions, everyone on the street will stop and give you their opinion as to the best way to get there.

Traditional British food is anything high in cholesterol and fried in grease. They have names like Bubble and Squeak ( some left over mashed potato and cabbage pancake -no bubbling or squeaking), Bangers and Mash (sausages and mashed potatoes), Haggis (pork guts cooked in sheep stomach, ) beans on toast (Brits are obsessed with toast) Yorkshire Pudding ( not pudding –bread),Cornish Pasties (meat in a pastry almost as good as the many different types of canned meats), black pudding (sausage? Is everything edible called pudding?) Scotch eggs (hard boiled egg fried inside a sausage inside a pastry). Dessert can be Sticky Toffee Pudding (yum) or (yes) Spotted Dick. (yellow cake with raisins) followed by digestive biscuits .(need I say more here?)

The most common phrase in the UK seems to be “Is this the queue?

For more info read London with a little help frim my friends

https://havefunflysafe.wordpress.com/2012/10/30/best-things-to-do-in-london-with-a-little-help-from-my-friends/

Fly Safe

JAZ

French Pop

Posted on June 4, 2012 by jaynezak

“Everything ends this way in France –everything. Weddings, christenings, duels, burials, swindlings, diplomatic affairs – everything is a pretext for a good dinner. “ Jean Anouihl

French Pop

Im not as cool as I look.. The truth is I love French Pop Music. Its not the Beatles, Old School, Alternative , Classic Vinyl or the ever popular Grouplove.

According to Wikipedia, “ French Pop is pop music sung in the French language. The target audience is primarily France and largely independent from the mainstream anglophile market. French Pop and the earlier category of French music, Chanson, have now combined forming the French Pop music of today”

French pop music always transports me to Europe. I am sitting in a cafe having a petit dejeuner of pain au chocolat and café au lait sans sucre . I am standing in a train station (gare de somewhere) having my first Croques Monsieur. I am in Cap Ferrat with a special boy having un verre du vin blanc.. I might be in a European club where people never dance as well as they do here. It is so much less intimidating. If its Edith Piaf, I’m in one of those WW2 goodbye scenes.

Here is my list of top French pop songs. Check them out.

Joe Dassin Anything JD – I saw him perform in the south of France.

Champs Elysees