tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post2932467502478261267..comments2024-03-28T12:16:58.318+00:00Comments on Paul's Beer & Travel Blog: The Italian JobPaul Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09678639237696546268noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-18270895294679546132018-04-30T20:48:39.328+01:002018-04-30T20:48:39.328+01:00USA for me later this year Prof, although after th...USA for me later this year Prof, although after the rather alarming start to this year, I'm a little wary of planning too far ahead.<br /><br />The last time I was across the pond, I kept being mistaken for an Aussie; and Ethelred, eight years ago, in a suburb of Bamberg, I was stopped in the street by one of the locals and asked if I was a Frank? (I think this assumption was based on looks, as the local Franconian dialect is unintelligible, even to those whose German is of a high standard).<br /><br />I suppose it was a compliment, of sorts, but my reply of "Nein, ich bin Engländer", must have been a disappointment to my inquisitor.<br /><br />Here's to happy travels for us all!Paul Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09678639237696546268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-17852384377715951592018-04-30T17:06:35.397+01:002018-04-30T17:06:35.397+01:00Good show guys.
Yes Paul, the vote as I recall wa...Good show guys.<br /><br />Yes Paul, the vote as I recall was only an "in principle" one, for the very reasons that you cite.<br /><br />My versions of Italian and French seem to get me mistaken for a German (the Germans seem to think that I'm one of them, but with Asperger's) so whether in the end I get the fast lane pass or not, at least I won't perhaps get my food spat in!<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />EEthelred The Unsteadynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-24571352824899169422018-04-30T16:27:59.960+01:002018-04-30T16:27:59.960+01:00Paul - France,Spain,Italy and Greece are all on my...Paul - France,Spain,Italy and Greece are all on my itinerary this year - I'm a big fan of Europe.<br />And Germany is one of my favourite countries to explore.<br />But I have a global outlook too.Sri Lanka,USA and the Caribbean for later on in the year.<br />I'm a citizen of everywhere !<br />No special T-shirt but my trusty England beach towel travels everywhere with me. Professor Pie-Tinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-87963484330713055112018-04-30T15:40:27.692+01:002018-04-30T15:40:27.692+01:00Thanks Prof, I intend to make the most of it, as I...Thanks Prof, I intend to make the most of it, as I do with all my trips. Needless to say, this one is beer-related, and we’re travelling with the same group of people, we went to Düsseldorf with last year. The T-shirt is to wind up the tour leader. It worked last year, and who says that both sides of the Brexit argument can’t have a bit of fun at each other’s expense!<br /><br />All joking aside, UK residents will soon have to apply for a visa to visit countries in the Schengen area. This will be a “one-off “ expense, or rather it will be limited to the life of the applicant’s passport. This requirement would still have applied, even if we remain a member of the EU, because we are not signed up to the Schengen agreement. All the EU is doing, is strengthening its borders; something which must surely appeal to the leave brigade.<br /><br />Ethelred, I’m not whether Guy Verhofstadt’s offer was actually approved by the European Parliament, as there are all sorts of legal complications regarding status/citizenship.<br /><br />If the offer of Associate EU Citizenship does come to fruition, I will certainly be signing up for if it. <br />Paul Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09678639237696546268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-77437130290421070612018-04-30T11:27:50.939+01:002018-04-30T11:27:50.939+01:00Yes Paul, have a good 'un, both.
Prof, as far...Yes Paul, have a good 'un, both.<br /><br />Prof, as far as I am aware, the offer by Guy Verhofstadt, which was approved by the EU Parliament, still stands. That is, that UK subjects will be able to apply over the heads of the authorities here for Associate EU Citizenship post-exit. There will be a fee, and an Oath Of Allegiance to the values of the EU, I gather.<br /><br />I look forward to swearing mine, and to gaining the document. If it entitles one to use the fast track at airports, then it will be worth it for that alone. At Fiumicino last October, there was no queue at all at the EU passports gate. The one at the other was a quarter of a mile long, six wide, and not moving.<br /><br />If we see you in it, then we can give you a wave, eh?<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />E Ethelred The Unsteadynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-86991520060775475672018-04-30T09:39:31.459+01:002018-04-30T09:39:31.459+01:00Enjoy your trip Paul.
Obviously no-one will be abl...Enjoy your trip Paul.<br />Obviously no-one will be able to travel from the UK to anywhere in Europe after Brexit so best make the most of it.Professor Pie-Tinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-76322477728211673742018-04-29T21:55:44.555+01:002018-04-29T21:55:44.555+01:00It's quite some time since I last visited Ital...It's quite some time since I last visited Italy E, and as previous trips were confined to Milan and Venice, the middle and southern parts of the country are largely unknown to me.<br /><br />A return visit is on the list, but it's unlikely to happen this year. The lad and I are off to Bamberg in northern Bavaria next month, for a short break. I shall pack my blue T-shirt; the one emblazoned with yellow stars. Paul Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09678639237696546268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-79672665414311300112018-04-29T16:59:55.421+01:002018-04-29T16:59:55.421+01:00Incidentally, if you're lucky enough to be goi...Incidentally, if you're lucky enough to be going to Il Bel Paese, then it's quite possible that you'll go via Fiumicino, Rome's airport on the coast.<br /><br />You might dismiss Fiumicino as just the airport town, but it's a thriving seafood-fishing port, with second-to-none restaurants facing the quayside promenade, and I can now recommend spending the eve of your return flight there.<br /><br />It was there that we visited The Tower Irish-style pub, but next door is Super Mario's Craft Ale bar, as I recall. We headed off for frutti di mare and Frascati, but there's always the next time.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />E.Ethelred The Unsteadynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-60994892232658311662018-04-29T16:26:46.136+01:002018-04-29T16:26:46.136+01:00Jeffrey Bell aka Stonch is a big fan of Moretti.
...Jeffrey Bell aka Stonch is a big fan of Moretti. <br /><br />I have tried the alla Siciliana variant but, like you, felt the orange added a jarring flavour note.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-52098773558538861092018-04-29T12:04:07.915+01:002018-04-29T12:04:07.915+01:00Indeed Paul, but wasn't what is now Italy over...Indeed Paul, but wasn't what is now Italy overrun by the Goths, Vandals etc.? (The Sack Of Rome and all that.) Whether they brought with them brewing I just don't know.<br /><br />Whatever, it truly is a beautiful country, arguably the most lovely in the EU. I was always immensely proud as an EU citizen, to think of it as *my* Italy, and I won't darken your fine page with my views as to the Things Which Walk On Two Legs, that voted to deprive you and me of that honour.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />E.Ethelred The Unsteadynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-18372780511995107822018-04-29T11:41:31.612+01:002018-04-29T11:41:31.612+01:00Thanks for the clarification, E. An ancient region...Thanks for the clarification, E. An ancient region which is even less likely to have had its own brewing traditions. Makes a bit of a mockery of the "regional" spin, put on these beers, by Moretti; either that or a clever piece of marketing?<br /><br />I suppose in a country where there's not much history of beer drinking, you have to start somewhere, but I think the independent micro's, of the burgeoning Italian beer scene, are going down a better and more honest route by placing their own interpretations on established global styles, (pale ale, porter etc).Paul Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09678639237696546268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-79071890667058654922018-04-29T09:23:05.537+01:002018-04-29T09:23:05.537+01:00Well Paul, that explains why from Rome to Gaeta, f...Well Paul, that explains why from Rome to Gaeta, from Vietri-sul-Mare to Florence, and from Pisa to Ostia last September, Mrs. U and I came across nought but Nastro Azzurro or Peroni, but we didn't generally go to bars, favouring restaurants. We did visit a couple of "Irish" ones for a pint of Guiness though (I'm not sure how Irish being exhorted to sit at a table and wait to be served is, mind you).<br /><br />We part self-catered, but during our shopping trips it never occurred to me to look out for less well-known brews, partly because we were wrapped up in buying wine to please our guests I suppose.<br /><br />Lucana, is the feminine form of the adjective Lucano. Both mean from the ancient region of Lucania. You won't find it on a modern map, just as you wouldn't Wessex, perhaps.<br /><br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucania<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />E Ethelred The Unsteadynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-79965649589409546352018-04-29T09:01:46.710+01:002018-04-29T09:01:46.710+01:00Bah, my comment got lost in the ether. Tried to sa...Bah, my comment got lost in the ether. Tried to say - pity for all this effort that my favourite Moretti beer - the all-malt version of L’Autentica, Baffo d’Oro - is still not imported. Very well made.John Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15471796457374078158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-14127290945340633172018-04-29T08:48:26.793+01:002018-04-29T08:48:26.793+01:00I guess Russ won't be doing any Bitcoin mining...I guess Russ won't be doing any Bitcoin mining whilst he's away, then.Paul Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09678639237696546268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-63806559457874423122018-04-29T08:46:10.490+01:002018-04-29T08:46:10.490+01:00"Spelt", the primitive type of wheat, is..."Spelt", the primitive type of wheat, is easily digestible - apparently!<br /><br />I couldn't find Lucana on the map either. Perhaps it's an area within a region? The blurb about it came from the brewery website, but the beer isn't available in the UK .<br /><br />Enjoy your internet-free break. Parts of Norfolk are like that too!Paul Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09678639237696546268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-91698575606644670362018-04-29T08:20:05.191+01:002018-04-29T08:20:05.191+01:00Hi Russ,
Thanks for letting us know - I've alr...Hi Russ,<br />Thanks for letting us know - I've already contacted Microsoft to warn them of the spare server capacity that will be available - I guess they'd welcome the slack for 12 days.😂Professor Pie-Tinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-36118125433947572172018-04-29T01:29:22.968+01:002018-04-29T01:29:22.968+01:00"but now part of the multi-national Heineken..."but now part of the multi-national Heineken group. "<br /><br />Sigh. Multi-nationals strike again. :(<br /><br /><br />" although my lager of choice is the world-classic, Pilsner Urquell."<br /><br />Hear, hear! (I buy that over here in the summer) :)<br /><br />"From the Lucan region."<br /><br />I couldn't find that one on the map.<br /><br />And, isnt' it funny how certain beers become the 'in' thing. Hats off to marketing! :)<br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />PS - 'and is easily digestible'"<br /><br />Either missing a quotation or have one too many. (that doesn't include my ' quotes)<br /><br />Also, just FYI, I'm off to visit my mother tomorrow for about 12 days and as she has no Internet I doubt I'll be posting during that time. ;)Russtovichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11493687426847380993noreply@blogger.com