| Randy's Rants
Checking in from Europe, where I'm doing a quick tour. In terms of local flavor, sights and vibe, this is the coolest trip I've been on in quite a while. It began in Milan, Italy, which of course is the epicenter of fashion. Supermodel Brandon Mills has worked there many times, so he directed me to the hot shopping spots.
Armani has a compound that's basically a city block, three stories high, filled with most of his different stores and even a restaurant. I picked up a dope casual suit and some shirts there. A couple blocks down the street at Moreschi, I snagged a pair of limited edition, hand stitched shoes that are totally off the chain.
The interesting thing is I needed only one more place to see on my "bucket list" item of visiting all the great opera houses in the world: the legendary Teatro alla Scala in Milan. Last I heard it was under renovation, so I thought it wouldn't work this trip. But my friend Lucinda "the Opera Diva" sent me a note that it was open again. So the plan was to take my new clothes back to the hotel then get directions and head out.
But while shopping, something called me to keep walking down a street, to what looked like an interesting plaza about six blocks away. Of course it turned out to be La Scala.
Truthfully, the outside is interesting, but not any more so than thousands of old buildings in Europe. But when you get inside, there is nothing in the world like it. Even Palais Garnier in Paris can't equal it.
I got to view the actual theater from a private box while they were setting up for a show. It literally sucked the breath from my lungs and my eyes just misted up. There are six levels of balconies and the design detail is astonishing. And when you realize that the special relationship it had with Verdi and reflect on all of the legends that performed there, it's a very emotional experience.
The house was inaugurated on August 3, 1778. In the tradition of the day, the main floor had no chairs and spectators watched the shows standing up. The orchestra was in full sight, as the orchestra pit wasn't built yet.
Above the boxes there's a gallery called the loggione where the poor heathens can watch the performances. Now opera audiences in Europe are VERY discerning. I've seen singers in Paris do performances that would get a standing ovation in the States, subjected to boos and cat calls in Paris. But evidently the inhabitants of the loggione make them appear tame by comparison...
About three years ago, tenor Roberto Alagna was completely booed off the stage during a performance of Aïda. An understudy had to jump in to replace him in the middle of the scene - wearing street clothes.
If you appreciate classical music, La Scala is worth the trip from absolutely anywhere. Go to the left side and there is a museum tour for five Euros, offering a great deal of the other areas of the house to see. Some of the rooms upstairs feature costumes from Aïda, Madame Lescaut, and other cool productions. Other rooms offer paintings of the great early maestros.
When you go, be sure to check out the gift shop next door. It's filled with some very cool postcards, poster replicas of early performance bills and a huge library of CD's and DVD's. And make sure you go downstairs to the basement. You'll find about six chairs facing a screen showing performances at the house.
I lucked into arriving just in time to view the final act of Madama Butterfly. Cio-Cio San hugged her son for the last time, plunged the dagger into her heart and collapsed, as we heard Pinkerton wailing her name in desperation and remorse. I'm such a wimp I used to cry at Kasey Kasem's long distance dedications, so it took me ten minutes to regain my composure and go back upstairs.
In Milan the promoter booked me at the hotel Leonardo di Vinci. I went along because it was connected to the Congress Center I was speaking at, and thinking I would get a better local culture and vibe. How gullible can I be? Low water pressure, limited hot water, and dreadful food. If you go to Milan, better you stay at a hostel or sleep in the train station. But I'm ranting again, aren't I?
The next stop on the tour was Valencia, Spain. Which just might be the coolest city in Europe. The architecture is simply stunning everywhere you look. It has all the Gothic churches and remarkable classic buildings you'd expect, and you can even see a small part of the wall that surrounded the city in medieval times.
Then when you get to the newer area of the city, the structures are simply sublime. The aquarium, the huge performance school for the arts shaped like a Roman helmet, and about six other buildings would be iconic landmarks anywhere. And the sculptures and other artwork are wonderful. The only place that comes close is Melbourne, Australia. Take a look at the breathtaking pix here:
http://is.gd/17JJE here: http://is.gd/17JER and here:
http://is.gd/17JHc
There is one particular statue that is completely artistic genius. A strong male body with wings and a creature head, which will cause you to stop in your tracks and admire with awe. In fact, it solved my dilemma of what I was going to get for my mid-life crisis tattoo! Couldn't find a pic online, but if I do I'll send you. It really is amazing.
The place you want to stay in Valencia is the Hilton. Friendly staff and facilities that are sleek, modern, and state of the art. Spain is famous for paella, and Valencia offers the best. We found a quaint little open-air restaurant on the ocean called La Rosa. The pan of paella they brought to the table was the size of a manhole cover and was muey delicioso! When you're in Valencia, be sure and eat the oranges.
From there the last stop was Amsterdam. Alas the too many miles, airplane rides and time zones caught up with me. (Looking at my new passport in the lounge, it's less than 18 months old and has 20 pages filled. Sheesh!) Or else the spicy Indonesian food we had after my speech.
By Sunday morning I was throwing up every 20 minutes. One time I completely blacked out, fell and cracked my head on the tile floor unconscious. So instead of going home the next day, I spent two more days in bed with a severe concussion, thinking I would die and afraid that I wouldn't.
If you're sick, you want to be home. Fortunately the channels at the Hotel Okura offered some great National Geographic and Discovery channel fare. It's a good place to stay. They have a great spa, food, view of the river, and wonderful service. The concierge was very helpful calling the airlines and re-booking my flights home and arranging doctors. The only rap is they missed my wake up call twice. But since I puked on their rug, I'm calling it even.
It wasn't the trip ending I was hoping for. (Can you imagine going to Amsterdam and not having any sex, dope, or hashish!) But the program went great, it was a high-energy crowd, and we captured some excellent video. And Ourania Mougiakos looked after me and brought me care packages of medicine and stuff.
Of course no trip like this would be complete without ranting about the airlines...
Since I'm already Platinum this year on American, I booked the flight from the States to Amsterdam on Delta. Only because they said the flight was operated by Northwest crew and equipment. But of course they screwed me again.
It was the typical Delta cabin that would be appropriate for a four or five hour trip, but completely substandard for a long overseas haul.
Coming home from Amsterdam, I checked three times and was assured each time it was a NW jet. Like I said, how gullible can I be? Naturally it was DL jet.
The really scary thing was it was new or just reconfigured. (You know that because the seat massage actually still worked.) The problem with DL long haul cabins are the seats aren't lie flat like real airlines offer in First. They recline maybe 90 degrees, so as you try to sleep all the blood pools in your feet.
Well now in this "new, improved" BusinessElite cabin, the seats recline even less than the old ones. Simply unconscionable for use on a nine hour flight at First Class fares. (They announced last week that they're cutting international capacity another 15% because of lower demand. Guys, maybe you want to buy a vowel. This is called a fucking "clue.")
Now in their defense, the flight crew on all four legs was very friendly, gracious, and competent.Don't know what they are doing to raise morale and improve their customer service with the crews, but it definitely is working. And the food on the two international legs was actually pretty tasty.
Going from Milan to Valencia was on Iberia. Another new plane, but as typical for European carriers, their first class is the same execrable three and three configuration with no leg room, just they don't sell the middle seat. But the crew was pleasant. And I hope my Spanish is as endearing as their English. The captain told us the weather in Valencia was "quite well," and the flight attendant announced, "the smoke is not allowed."
Going from Valencia to Amsterdam was on Vueling, an airline I'd never heard of. And hopefully never will again. They don't even offer a business or first class. So I booked my whole row, but my knees were still pressed against the seat in front of me.
Ran back to Miami for a couple days. But by the time you read this, I'll already be in Costa Rica, so I'll check in on the other side. Have a great week!
-RG
P.S. A lot of you have been asking why I haven't been sending out the Rants as often. Guilty as charged. But with doing the blog now, that takes a lot of time. If you just can't get enough of me, and want to know what I had for lunch and when I clip my toenails, you can always connect with me on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/Randy_Gage
© MMIX Randy Gage. All Rights Reserved.
Get Randy's Rants direct to your in-box. Subscribe below.
Attention Webmasters!
Add Randy's articles to your website for free.
Click here to learn how.
|
