a very good night out with Margaret & Leesil

Look how big Leesil's hand is.
Aww! How come I didn't know places like this exist in DC? It is still DC, mind you... But it is better at moments like this.
I like these people.
I'm not drunk or anything.
Pablo pulled us into another bar, and wasn't even dark out yet. We felt secure with Pablo because he is a security guard. And also he is nice.
Leesil deserves an honorary statue sometime...

I loved Pablo. He was very happy about 3 things: playing tennis tomorrow, Obama & Denver. Mostly Denver.What just happened?
So happy to get that farmer's cheese, even if it came at an emotional price.
Strange Strange Strange...

Italia Due

Let's try this again- in Pitigliano, rounding the bend on the way to the Mediterranean, w/o nausea this time.

Finally, Isola di Giglio.

This is the most amazing swimsuit I have ever seen in my life.

On the road to Giglio Campese.



Giglio Castello at night.Back for more at our favorite Ristorante Santi.

Ever searching for the perfect gnocchi.

Giovanna's prize shot at Santi.


I'm glad Giovanna likes to drive.

View from the hotel.

Refreshed.

Saturnia. Gorgeously complete with naked hippy peyote man with big sloppy balls.

And back to this. Why do we ever leave here?

Italia Uno

Andiamo!
BMW Welt- best breakfast in the world, for reals. Even with Mr. Raoul Kohler hovering.
Can we leave to drive through the Alps already?
We've arrived. Kitchen view.
At the villa. Whatevs.
Daytrip re-imagined: Vanna braves Bolsena.
The best view at Bolsena.
First night at the fabulous Claudio e Luciano's aka The Soccer Restaurant
I can die now. Pannacotta con frutti di bosco aka dolci numero 2.
Deer in headlights, about to dip into pool.
Quotidian roughness.
Lucsious antipasti at home with Michelle.
On to Venice: NoNoNeinNon.
Laundry next to commie hdqtrs.
Paraiso.
In the Biennale park.
Finally found...the perfect restaurant, Da Alvise (ae fondamente nove, right next to the coolest hospital ever).

mmmm first gelato of the day in Venice @ Paolo e Giovanni's...
Self-referential, um, art.

OMFG this bread...

Paulo & my future wives preparing the celebratory dinner.
THE best lasagna I will ever eat.

La famiglia Piccolo.

Getting Caught Up: Silverdocs

SO much to tell you about, so little time and internet connection (thank you my mysterious neighbor "RJ")...

Let's go back to Silverdocs for starters. That was nice-uh. Saw a lot of great stuff and it was such a refreshing change to be immersed in a film festival, but still sleep in my own bed every night.

I was probably most affected by WARCHILD, the doc about Emmanuel Jal, Gini Reticker's PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL, Chao Gan's RED ROAD, and MY MOTHER'S GARDEN from Cynthia Lester. But I think I liked every single thing I saw, at least enough to watch it entirely, and that certainly doesn't happen very often. It was a well-run and impressive fest, and it was a fancy one, particularly the post-Spike Lee reception.

But Mr. Lee himself did not cut interviewer Lisa Kennedy any slack whatsoever. I've never seen such a painful interview. Good thing we had plenty of popcorn to tide us over to the prailines and bourbon.