Italy

Nan and I just returned from a tour of Italy and I have to say we didn't want to come back. We had to, for lots of reasons, but living in Italy is awfully appealing. Italy is beautiful, the people are nice, and they live differently...better in many ways...than here. I think it's the structure of their society that's so appealing. Every city seems to have a square (piazza) surrounded by small shops and fruit and veggie stands and places to sit and talk while enjoying a coffee and some cookies or fruit and cheese...and to watch people. It's not so frantic..and the focus seems to be on friends and family, not "things." Yes, Rome is frantic and crowded and the traffic is crazy...but there are peaceful spots everywhere. And in the smaller cities...well, it's just nice. And, of course, the more money one has the more there is to enjoy...but it's different. And, we've traveled to a lot of places.

We are halfway through a story that is about to turn winter in one of the most beautiful places in the world profoundly ugly. Just like in a Cecil B. DeMille movie, we have a cast of millions, we have epic scenery, and we have made acquaintance with someone who will go on to perform a heroic act.

Unlike your typical Hollywood production, however, this movie is not going to have a happy ending—in fact, you could make the argument that it’s not over yet. So wrap yourself up in something comfortable, grab something to drink ... and when you’re ready, we’re packing up and heading to the Alps.

We have another one of those "amazing history" stories for you today--and this one's a real doozy.

We're going to spend the better part of four years in the Italian Alps (or, to be more accurate, what was intended to be the Italian Alps), and by the time we're done, nearly 400,000 soldiers will have been killed--and 60,000 of those will have died as a result of avalanches that were set by one side or the other.

In the middle of the story: a mountaineer and soldier who was so highly regarded that even those who fought against him accorded him the highest honors they could muster, creating a legend that lives on to this very day.

And even though a young Captain Erwin Rommel fought in these battles...it's not him.

Oh, by the way: did I mention that there are also some handy object lessons for anyone who might be thinking about fighting a war in Afghanistan?

Well, there are, Gentle Reader, so follow along, and let's all learn something today.

Easely and his bride and staff took a nice taxpayer paid trip to Italy to promote NC as a vacation spot for Euro-spending Italians. Must've been some trip because it cost you and me over $170,000.00