Palermo, Italy

Italy is like Brazil. Sometimes it makes me wonder if the history books got it wrong and some Italians got to Brazil before the Portuguese. The resemblance is amazing in the lack of organization, ease of life, love for football, nightlife, etc. I can't even begin to describe how I like Italy. Sure it is chaotic here but this place is soon moving to my favorite place to live just because it is Brazil without the violence and the stress. The traffic for instance, is a mess but people a not as stressed as they are in Brazil. It is bad but people learned to leave with it and make the best of it. They just accept it as a fact of life. The police and law enforcing agents also let a lot of things pass because it is not worth it. In a sense, it is a self-organized society that seems to thrive. I love it!!! I can't wait to go back home and talk to Sarah, Kalil and Adele about this place. I wish they were here. I'm starting to think that my next sabbatical MUST be in Italy. Kalil will be a bit less then 18 and I'm sure he will love it here.

Taormina, Italy

Today I woke up early, had breakfast here in the hotel and did some work until 11am. I then took the car and drove all the way to Taormina, Italy which is about a 1.5 hour drive from here. It took me more because I stopped in every place I found interesting including: Aci Castello, Aci Trezza, Avireale, Giarre and a few other places I don't remember the name. As I already knew, Italy is Brazil. I've been to Portugal and it does make more sense for us to have been colonized by Italians than Portugueses. Everything here reminds me of Brazil, the education of people in the traffic (or lack of), people throwing trash on the streets, but also some good things such as the happiness, the way they seem to know how to enjoy life, the nightlife with many many bars on the streets. Traffic here is so crazy that it becomes funny. I can't imagine leaving here but for 1 week I can survive and even enjoy. Even Rome is not as bad as this here and I heard Palermo (where I'm going after the conference) is worse than here. I remember a lot of Mano and Robson (two of my brothers) while I was driving because this places is full of small, tiny bars that they would love. Now I'm going to bed. Tomorrow the work starts.

Good Dinner

I had an excellent dinner yesterday. Giuseppe (the local organizer) has been a very good host and took me to the city of Nicolosi for a nice dinner at the Antico Orto dei Limoni which is a typical Sicilian restaurant. The food and the wine were very good. We had a 3-course meal with anti-pasti, primi and secondi piatti. Now it is 10am here and I'm leaving to visit some of the cities around Catania. The conference starts tomorrow.

Hotel in Catania

Not going well here thus far. First the lady on the plane, then you arrive in a country that thinks it is Europe but it is worse than the disorganization in Brazil; everyone treats you as if they were superior, they are almost becoming French. ;) Now I'm in the hotel, that is, if this can be called a hotel. I haven't been to to room yet but based on the ground floor here I'm not holding my breath. The city looks like it is in ruins. Sure people like this but I don't. I like new, or well preserved things. The city here gives the impression of ZERO preservation.

In Catania

I arrived in Catania 2 hours ago. I had to rent a GPS because the tragic here is a mess and I was told it only get worse because today is Sunday. What I'm really wondering is how my student will manage as he has never been outside the US.

Silver line

Here in Boston they have a bus that rides in a tunnel similar to subway; it's basically a bus that wants to be a train. LOL. I'm on the silver line going to Logan airport. From there Italy. I'm flying Alitalia on a 7hs flight to Rome and then to Catania.

Flying to Italy later today

I'm flying to Italy later today. It's a 7 hour flight so it is shorter than going to Brazil. My flight leaves at 5pm. The only exciting thing about it is that it is in Sicilly and I have never brent there. I heard it is beautiful. I'll meet two friends there also: Giamp in Catania and Luigi in Palermo.

More on Stanley Jordan

The concert was great. Stanley Jordan played as well as always and included in the set Insensatez from Tom Jobim. In fact he recorded this song in his latest CD. U bought the CD from him after the concert and I was surprised of how nice of a person he is. He is quite favous so I didn't expect him to stay after the show for a meet-and-greet. The show lasted for about 1:30 hours. After that I went home because I was really tired.

Stanley Jordan

I'm at scullers jazz club to watch Stanley Jordan. The setting is nice given this is a small club. I'm looking toward to the concert. I always wanted to come to one of his concerts.

Talked to Bill Frisell

For the first time I managed to talk to Bill Frisell. It was yesterday after the concert. He was nice and very shy. He signed my CD. His manager spoke perfect Portuguese and that helped. To talk to him I went to her first but I didn't know she spoke Portuguese. The concert was good as it always is.

Bill Frisell tonight

I'll go to Bill Frisell's concert. Today he is playing in a quartet with violin, viola, cello and obviously guitar. The band is called 858.

Long time, no write...

It's been quite long since I wrote here. I went to Brazil for 5 days to attend my brother's 50th birthday. It was an amazing gathering of people able to consume alcool like no other group I've met. :). But most importantly, my brother was very happy and enjoyed the 2-day celebration. All his friends and family were there.

But I haven't been writing because I don't have much to say. I'm returning home soon and I've been concentrating even more on work. Also I'm kinda sick of being far from everyone and haven't enjoyed being here in the last few weeks. Sure Boston is an amazing city but amazing doesn't replace the people you really love. I'd go back today if it wasn't too much irresponsability. I've made a commitment to be here so now I have to go through with it. It's hard but it's the correct thing to do! :(

Homeless but with a Macbook

I just passed by this homeless man hare in Boston (or at least that is what I think he is) asking for us to "spare some change". I was surprised when I saw in his bag a MacBook. What?! Is he asking for "change" so that he can buy the latest MacBook pro? Amazing! Maybe being a homeless here in Boston is not so bad. The "tech" oriented people may not have change but they can give them their old Macs.

Arrived in Boston

In relieved that nome of my bags were lost. I have very short connections and I was worried the bags weren't making it. They are here. The issue now is to find a way to include clothes for me because everything I have is for other people. :)

Flying to Cincinnati

The flight from Atlanta left on time from the gate but due to the trafic on the runway it took us 30 minutes to get off the ground. The prospect of getting to Boston in time is not promising as now I'll have something like a 30 minutes connection. What I'm worried the most are the bags. I hope they make it.

Happy mother's day Sarah

I wish I was there to say this in person. I miss you. Happy mother's day! I'll be back soon. Love you!

Returning to Boston

I'm on the plane back to Boston (with stops in Atlanta and Cincinnati). I already miss my family :(. It was nice there. Soon I'll be home back for good!

At Logan Airport

I'm almost at Logan to catch my flight to Orlando. There is a connection in NY I guess to get some swine flu. lol

Good research week

The last few weeks were not so good in terms if research but the last three days compensated for the lost time. We finally converged on the transactions paper and decided on possibly three projects one of which I'm really excited about. I'll work on getting some results next week in Florida. Unfortunately I can't mention it here but if it works it will be amazing. :)

Home tomorrow!!!

I'm very happy I'll be going home tomorrow. I miss Sarah and kids. It will be nice to see Kalil play some soccer, Adele try to be cute, and Sarah... ;). Sunday we have a party for Aurélia so I'll have a chance to see our friends. I miss them all and miss being close by.