| | Today's post is by Nancy of Family on Bikes. It's exactly the kind of story that I love to share here on TourAbsurd. One that demonstrates that people are good!
If I’ve learned anything from my many years gallivanting around this world – five of them on bicycles – it’s that people are kind and generous and will do anything in their power to help a fellow inhabitant of their planet who’s in need. Adolfo, a youth pastor at a church in Nicaragua, is just one of thousands we’ve met. 
That day, we had battled a killer head wind for sixty miles and arrived into Managua exhausted. We had been invited to a university to talk with the students so made our way there first. Late in the afternoon we were ready to head to a hotel. Continue reading “Road Angel of Managua” → 
Rome, Italy Dario and I were just settling down to watch some movies after a heavy dinner of Italian-ized American food. See, when there's a good deal on prosciutto, Mamma buys a bunch of it and puts it in the freezer. Unfortunately, this means it's not always available for eating on short notice. Rather than wait for it to thaw or – horrors! – heat it up, I opted for a hot dog. Oh, yes, they sell hot dogs here. They even slice them up and – more horrors! – put them on pizza for kids. With fries. Yes, on the pizza. It's not my fault, I swear. Fresh salad was available right out in the garden. Bowls full of strawberries were in the 'fridge. Mamma had even made a pastiera earlier in the day. But we were all feeling lazy, so hot dogs it was. With homemade fries. But not on a pizza, thank the gods. Afterward, Dario and I waddled upstairs and prepared to vegetate until we passed out. As usual, I checked all my social media channels to see what was hopping in blogland. Me: Oh, yeah! Supermoon tonight! Dario: Wha- ? Me: Come on, come on, come on! SUPERMOON! Dario: …? I grabbed the binoculars, camera and tripod, and roused the parents on the way to the terrace. They were in pajamas already, but came out to see what craziness their American daughter-in-law was up to this time. As soon as we walked around the corner of the house, I think they got it. (Click to enlarge.) 
Much better than getting mooned by a superhero. Continue reading “SUPER-moon!” →
Rome, Italy You may have noticed that I've acquired some Neapolitan snobbishness about food from my Italian in-laws. It is not helped by the fact that when we visit our non-Neapolitan friends in Napoli, they tell us things like, "When my family comes to visit Italy, they skip the rest of the country and come here for the food. It's the best!" It's also not helped by the fact that Roman pizza is actually pretty bad. I know a few folks who would argue that last point, though I suspect that they accidentally stumbled into a Neapolitan-run pizzeria in Rome. In any case, when Dario and I were introduced to Kenny of Eating Italy Food Tours Rome, I welcomed the chance to shed (or at least modify) my prejudice. There is no way that Rome could ever triumph over Naples in terms of food, but I might take mercy on it. And since, hey, we were in Rome, I figured I'd go about it emperor style: each dish would either make or break the case for Roman food being allowed the right to live. 
Not a bad way to start off my quest. Or any kind of quest for that matter. Continue reading “Roman Food, I may let you live” →
Isle of Capri, Italy Living in Naples, as with any big city, has its ups and downs. For an introvert like me, one of the downs is the sheer mass of people everywhere you go. Still, it can be invigorating at times – like when you're on the road. It frightens most non-Italians, but I LOVE it. When you think things are going to be unpredictable, you pay more attention, no? I felt safer on the roads with the millions of Neapolitans who drive like maniacs than I ever did with the Washingtonians who assume everyone will stay in their own lane and follow all the rules. Means people have skills, man! (Click to enlarge.) 
What is it about me and islands? I just love 'em! One of the other big "ups" is, of course, the pizza. Another is easy access to Pompeii, Herculaneum, the Amalfi Coast, Vesuvio, and Capri. Continue reading “3 ½ Things to do on Capri” →
What it is, how to make it, and how to eat it: - Foreword
- Terminology
- Definition
- Recipes
- How to Eat It
Foreword I have a bad habit: when I learn something about The Right Way To Do Things I immediately turn into a snob. Whether it's grammar, computer tricks, or cooking, once I know the best and proper way to do something I get pretty hoity-toity about it. That is not to say I am unwilling to learn an even better way, but if I discover something secret or authentic, I want you to know about it. When I visited Naples in 2007 – the visit that made me decide to move there immediately – I experienced pizza The Way God And The Universe Intended. I can't ever eat pizza now without comparing it to the best in the world. And now, having married into a Neapolitan family, I hold a degree in the field of faux expertise di pizza. 
Wood-fired Pizza Margherita in Napoli. It doesn't get any better than this. Continue reading “The Definitive Guide to Pizza Margherita” →
Rome, Italy You may have heard that I went on a tour of the Doge's Palace in Venice. Well, Dario and I enjoyed it so much that when our friends, Mariana and Fede, came to visit us in Rome, we contacted Walks of Italy again to see what they had hopping in the home town. (Click to enlarge.) 
Nice spot for a picnic. Continue reading “Featured Photo: Colosseum Top Tier” →
Rome, Italy Hey, all! Just an update on what's been happening lately. I have 2 giant, mega posts brewing, 1 normal sized one waiting, and several that have been happily percolating in the background for some time now. I want to tell you more about Catalonia, give you a suggested route for a photo tour of Rome, get into the juicy details of the Doge's Palace in Venice, bite into some incredibly delicious Italian eats on a food tour, and (later today!) get a view from the top tier of the Colosseum! I'd like to introduce you to my friend, Mariana, who is visiting Rome with her husband right now, too. Oh, and I created a cover photo for the TourAbsurd.com Official Fan Page on Facebook to go with the new timeline layout (not a fan of the layout, but what can you do?). The problem is not material, it's time. 
24 hours + 1 year of constellations = still not enough time! Continue reading “New website, guests, tours, and crazy-busy-ness.” →
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