Italy Adventure

I have just returned from my very first visit to Italy. As it was a jam packed visit covering 5 different locations and a range of work and leisure activities, this Italian blog may come in a couple of stages...

The adventure began with a 4 day workshop in Gorizia, in the far North East corner of the country and right on the border with Slovenia. The workshop was for a European research project called 'Risk Bridge' in which so called experts from different fields came together to talk, exchange insights, and apparently engage in mutual learning on the topic of risk. The different fields covered in the event included climate change, electromagnetic fields, stem cells, sediments and in my case, nanotechnology. Can you say Junket? When the conference dinner involves 9 courses, some of which include a kind of guinea pig pate, you know that you are not in Kansas anymore Toto!

Before the workshop began though, my boss Roger and I were taken on a wine tasting tour of some of the fabulous vineyards popping up all over Slovenia. With the alps as a backdrop, the countryside was just absolutely stunning, so stunning that these photos can not do it justice!

In addition to all the wine that was sampled, there was also some grappa, of course!

The most interesting of which was one made from celery, which not only had a very distinct celery flavour, but which was also celery green in colour!

One of the wonderful things about this wine/grappa indulging jaunt in Slovenia was that not only did it occur in a fabulous cellar in an ancient castle set in the beautiful Slovenian countryside, it was also guided by the fabulous company of one Silvio Funtowicz and his wonderful wife Bruna De Marchi. If you don't know who they are, don't worry, but if you do, I hope you are suitably impressed! Here is the one and the wine...

While the risk bridge workshop itself was a little dull, on the last day the nanotechnology group had their own separate meeting and that was wonderful. A really great collection of people debating ideas and sketching collaboration projects, all the while enjoying the fabulous coffee that Italians are deservedly famous for! Academia as it should be! At the end of this day, the group was again escorted by Silvio and Bruna into a fabulous little outlying area for some more spectacular food and wine. This time we went to a town called Cividale, established by another guy you might know, a little someone called Julius Caesar...

Cividale was so beautiful that the whole group had to stop and admire it!

And as it turned out, Bruna happened to know a man that owned one of the medieval towers in the village and he allowed us to come in, climb, and admire the view of the city and surrounds from the top. It is not every day that that happens!


Unfortuantely I have no pics from the very top as I was worried about climbing the rickety ladder and squeezing out the tiny hole with my camera in tact, but here is one from the window before the final climb! Also rather beautiful I think you will agree.



All in all the trip to Gorizia was really fantastic, but I must say it was more for the food, the wine and the company than for the quality of the work :) It is a tough life I am leading here in Europe I must say! Next time, news from Lago Maggiore...xxx