"EXPO Milan 2015"

[Sergio Natali]

Dear Luger friends,

I'm aware it's completely off topic, but since in the world, when people talk about Italy they just refer to common places like mafia, pizza and so on, for once would be intersting to watch this video right to the end.

Have a nice day and... "happy lugering" to all of you!

Sergio



https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152975159580211

[ithacaartist]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

I dunno...I think about Ferrari, MV Agusta, canal cities, cobblestone highways built 2,000 years ago and still in use, aqueducts, futball teams, Olympic skiers, Giacomo Agostini, Monza, open air cafes, fantastic cathedrals...

I've never visited, but did fly over it...

I visited a friend in Milan in the early 90s...drove the Ligurian coast, saw a full eclipse of the moon from hotel balcony in Santa Margarita. I remember blood orange juice, espresso and fresh amaretti in the cafe in Mombaruzzo. Milan amazed me with the variety of colors presented by the globs of phlegm on the sidewalk, I kid you not, many fluorescent green. Take lots of money if you go.

[Ron Wood]

Sergio,
Great clip! Italy is on my "bucket list"...hope to get there someday.
Ron

[Curss]

I second Ron, hope to visit one day!

[Diver6106]

BTDT, but will get back - relatives in Torino. In fact Renata Temperino's father (and distant cousin of mine) has a signed letter from one of the US Generals in the Po River campaign honoring him for his help in WWII. Torino was an industrial center, but they fled to Borgiallo as it was bombed and then helped the Allies. They also invented and built Temporino vehicles for the allies in WWI, but the depression did them in and they sold out to Fiat. But while Italy is a modern state, government corruption and socialistic taxes keep the middle class from saving up their money and then moving up. They live well, but on the edge and are not displeased with their lot - not enough for a revolution.

"Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."

[Douglas Jr.]

Great video!
My greatgranparents (from daddy's side) came to Brazil from Brescia in 1897 and my wife has relatives living there. My nona (granma) spoke Italian fluently until the day she passed way - although she never taught her children (in order to gossip with her sisters without worries - go figure). Although the other 50% of the family is from Portuguese ancestry, we are full of names like Genari, Scaglione, Rivaldo (my part) and Cecchetto and Cardim (wife's side) in the family tree. So my understand and ties with Italy goes far from the pizza-Mafia-spaghetti stereotype and I'm planning a trip to the Boot in a year or two.

[Lugerdoc]

Italy is indeed a fascinating country with beautiful women and great food, except their pizza, which was not as good as any that I've had here in the USA. TH

[alvin]

Originally Posted by luger.parabellum

when people talk about Italy they just refer to common places like mafia, pizza and so on

We knew a little bit more.

A friend has visited many countries in the world, including Italy. He was a clarinet player when he was in high school and knew there was a song "Come back to Sorranto". While he's in Italy, he saw a town named Sorranto on his travel map, but he's not sure that's the town in the song or not. But he still remembered the tune of the song, so asked local people, they told him "That's the one". He immediately drove there, the impression was so great, including the road leading to Sorranto with beautiful views.

Another story was on football ticket. He told us football game's ticket is very expensive in Beijing... could go $1000 on black market if players are well known European teams. While in Rome, there was a game. He and a few friends met a guy selling tickets, asking $250. They didn't know local price, so happily paid $250 per ticket to the seller. In the stadium, they figured their "neighbors" only paid $19. "Even the other good side behind cameras was $50". They were very surprised. Even more surprisingly, this "news" spreading like wild fire, once a while a viewer came over asking "Did you indeed pay $250 for the ticket?" After get positive answer, the queryer was happy, waving toward the direction where he came, "Yeah!!! they did!!!"

[Sergio Natali]

The town is Sorrento not too far from Naples.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbdM7yuNGYI


As far as the second story goes, if you buy tickets outside a stadium at the very last minute when the ticket box has already sold out all the tickets you probably can still find some rascals outside offering one to you at a mad price.

Sergio

[John Sabato]

Sergio! Ricordo con piacere! (I remember fondly) During my Army career (1967-1988) I had the privilege of serving in Italy for almost 7 of my 20 years service.

I lived in Livorno (Leghorn) Italy for 4.5 years, a major commerce port on the western shore, and close enough to Pisa, and my work location that I would often change clothes, and go into Pisa, and climb the steps to the top of the leaning tower to eat my lunch, enjoy the view, and watch the tourists who had saved their pennies for years to be able to spend a couple days there...

Italy is the country of half of my heritage (Germany being the other), and I felt very privileged to be able to serve there.

The food was amazing, and LugerDoc's comment about the women and the pizza are spot on.

Seldom will you find two pizzas in Italy that taste even similar as each restaurant has their own recipe and methods for producing them. Give me New York Style Pizza anyday... but I never had a bad meal in Italy!

Don't forget the wine! Wine is cheaper than Coca-Cola, and you can have it delivered to your front door like they used to deliver milk in this country years ago.

If you go to visit Italy, never look for a particular wine label when you eat out at a restaurant... always ask for the "vino da tavola" or house wine as the establishment owners always save the best vintages for themselves. I was never disappointed with the house wine and had some on a daily basis with my evening meal...

I spent my last two years on active duty, in a small town in northern Italy on the other coast supporting the Italian Air Force as a Site Communications Chief and Army Liaison at a joint US-Italy air defense special weapons site. The rural livinng was very enjoyable, and the people even more friendly. If I had to retire somewhere other than the USA, it would probably be in Italy.

[guns3545]

John,

Were you with the 31st or the 34th??

Sergio, thank you for sharing this magnificent video.

I agree with everything shown and said.

We were there working with the Italian Army's Third Missile Brigade from 1960 to mid-1963. Our twin sons were born in Venice in 1961, so we brought back the greatest of souvenirs.

Great country! Great people!! Great memories!!

Saluti a Tutti!!!

John

[John Sabato]

Originally Posted by guns3545

John,

Were you with the 31st or the 34th??

54th Signal Co, 509th Signal Battalion, supporting the 34th USAAD and the Italian 1st Air Brigade, 57th Gruppo at Ceggia. Sadly this base has been deactivated for many years.

[guns3545]

Originally Posted by John Sabato

54th Signal Co, 509th Signal Battalion, supporting the 34th USAAD and the Italian 1st Air Brigade, 57th Gruppo at Ceggia. Sadly this base has been deactivated for many years.

John,

We had only a peripheral relationship with the 509th. The Italian Army provided backbone comms but the 509th provided secure sideband comms used for release codes. No satellite links like today.

We got to know a few of the 509th guys and are still in touch with a couple of them who live in Florida.

I knew a few of the 31st and 34th guys. I was Exec, then CO of the 29th, then got promoted and moved on to some special work. In those days, he 28th and the 29th supported the Army and of course, the 31st and the 34th supported the Air Force.

Small world.

John

[Sergio Natali]

To both of you John

Since it's the 50th Anniversary of the "Frecce Tricolori" the acrobaic team of the Italian Air Force I post these short videos, they give me the creeps every time I watch them.
I hope you'll like them.

Sergio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXWzikuOQvM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uxxrYtvkgI&spfreload=1

[guns3545]

Mille grazie Sergio.

Questa è la prima volta che ho visto li eseguono. Loro sono magnifici.

John

[John Sabato]

Real precision flying...no argument there. ... but I am like you Sergio... it is one thing to risk your life for principal or cause, but another altogether to risk your life for entertainment purposes. I hope they all get home to their families safely after each performance.