Our first dinner in Italy consisted of four courses: an appetizer of dried beef and arugula, then locally made pasta, then an entree of veal or swordfish (I had the swordfish), followed by dessert. The chocolate cake was spectaular, the gelato even better. Diners also had their pick of white or red wine and the glasses were basically bottomless. Our group, which totals more than 40 ... we have a few other schools on the trip ... was spread out among 6 tables or so. The best I could compare it to is the atmosphere of a wedding reception. Without the Chicken Dance.
After the food was done, guests bounced from table to table introducing themselves to their fellow travelers. It was a perfect opening. Everyone seems to know everyone else or at least knows a friend of everyone else. Not ony does it feel like a wedding reception, it has a bit of a reunion feeling as well.
One of the great things about this trip (and most Emory Travel Program trips) is that a majority of the meals are included in the purchase price. If your destination is a culinary dreamworld like Italy, the value is doubled.
I am still getting to know our travelers, but I know this much so far ... every one of them has a fascinating story. Many of them, of course, involve travel. There was one couple who has been on 14 Emory Travel Program trips. Other couples are on their second or third trip this year. Many travelers graduated from Emory in the 1960s and earlier. Their recollections of campus are so crisp, it is like they were students yesterday.
The Lido Palace Hotel, in whose lobby I an writing this, will be home for the next 8 days. I am looking forward to exploring it. Tonight, though, all the exploring will be inside since it is raining outside and has been for the last five hours. It is a little damp in here, too, but not uncomfortable. In the lounge there is a pool table (a full-size one, too, not the kind you used to find at Park Bench). Inviting travelers to shoot a game or two is high on the agenda. I have always been an inconsistent player ... I wont even have to let our guests win. They will beat the EAA guy on their own. Everyone will be happy!
I miss the apostrophe key. I do not think these European keyboard have one. More research must be conducted. Until then, I will minimize contractions. Thats upsetting.
About Me
- Eric Rangus, Emory Alumni Association
- I'm an amateur when it comes to European travel. In North America, though, I'm pretty good. I've visited 44 states--missing ME, NJ, MT, UT, AK, and HI--and five Canadian provinces (BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec). One thing I've always found fun is to incorporate a visit to a baseball park in my travels. I think a lot of people do that. This year I've added two stadiums to my list: Safeco Field in Seattle and Fluor Field in Greenville, SC (home of Boston's A-ball team). The Italian Job marks a huge jump in my travel experience. I'd like to think I'm gonna know what I'm doing, but I don't speak Italian, and I actually didn't know until a few months ago about Milan's place as a fashion capital. For readers who know me, this probably doesn't come as a surprise. While I work for the EAA, I'm not an Emory alumnus. I was born in Chicago and I grew up in Florida; I graduated from Florida State University and the University of Georgia. However, I've spent more than eight years on the Emory staff (the last 2 1/2 with the EAA). Before that, I worked in University Communications. I like telling Emory stories, and I really like working with Emory alumni.