Mi Piace Neve!
(That's "I like snow!")

I grew up in New Hampshire, a state not exactly known for long summers. In fact we have an expression about New Hampshire's seasons, that goes like this- 11 months of winter and one month of damn poor sledding! So you can imagine that growing up in such a place you either love winter and embrace it or hate it and suffer or head to Florida. I embraced it-learning how to ski both downhill and cross country, snowshoe ( I started on wooden Quebec-made ones with lace bindings) and ice skate. We all played ice hockey back there (Cripe-40% of the state claims French-Canadian blood, what do you expect?) partaking in afternoon hockey pickup games. We'd play on a small pond well into dark making our own teams and settling our own indifferences. Gasp! Can you imagine today's parents actually letting their kids play with other kids on ice in the woods unsupervised? What a radical concept! Anyhow, since I learned to love winter I love to play and travel during that time too-and not to escape it for sunnier warmer climes. I have had the opportunity to visit Chile in the winter (Okay-you got me-its summer down there then!)- Japan, Italy, Austria and Slovenia in winter (real winter). And boy were those great trips. Got to do some great downhill and cross country skiing and snowshoeing in some pretty spectacular places like Italy's Alps outside of Trento (pictured here at Monte Bondone). And of course the best thing to skiing in Italy is Apres-skiing espresso e pasti! That sure beats burgers and gas station coffee any day. Embrace the winter miei amici-it is just about to begin-enjoy it!

Start spreading the News!

It was 11 years ago today that I got the terrible news that one of America's greatest performers and one of the greatest Italian-Americans ever passed away. Ironically I was in Sicily at the time-the land that Sinatra's father (and mia nona) hailed from. Flags in Sicily were flown half masted on May 14, 1998. Many Sicilians approached us and offered their condolences. There will never be another Frank Sinatra. But there will be a Frank Sinatra movie--and I haven't been this excited about an upcoming movie since I caught wind of Walk the Line. Cash and Sinatra are two of my all time favorite singers. Anyhow, fellow Italian-American (and another great) Martin Scorsese will be making the film! I can hardly wait! Come fly with me!

World Hiker

coming to the airwaves soon! Yesterday I was on Steve Scher's Weekday program on KUOW 94.9 FM to talk about local hiking options and my new book Day Hiking Central Cascades. We ended up chatting a little about hiking in South Korea, France and Italy. Steve was intrigued to know more about hiking in Europe and I had so much fun on the program that I'll be coming back soon to do a segment on hiking in Europe. Now, I won't be talking about the Alps and the Cinque Terre- that and the pot bars of Amsterdam are Rick Steve's specialties. I'll be talking about hiking in the Apennines, Sicily, the Aeolian Islands, the English Lake District, Ireland, Slovenia, Bulgaria and the Pyrenees. Stay tuned here for when the program will air-I'll give you a head's up.

In the meantime-if you missed my talk yesterday- click here and advance the podcast 20 minutes-that's when the fun starts. And if you're interested in hiking in Europe visit Mountain Hiking Holidays-they're a great Northwest-based European (and World) hiking outfit that I have guided for. A bien tot!

(photo- trekking across the rooftop of Bulgaria-the Pirin Mountains)

Buona Pasqua

Happy Easter everyone-and especially to miei paesani en Italia. I know for many in the Abruzzo it will be a difficult time to celebrate. Easter is about rejuvenation and hope and in time the cities and villages of the central Apennines will rebound. Here in Western Washington, its another gray day. The tulips are starting to blossom however bringing new life and light to the saturated landscape. And here at the Romano household, Scruffy Gray is bringing new love and life to our humble abode. Giuseppe doesn't quite like it-but he'll get over it. He was expecting the Easter Bunny to make a short appearance, not an Easter Kitty to move in! Have a great day everyone!

(photo- Darn- I missed the Pope again!)

Good Friday

in the Apennines

While most of the Christian World observes Good Friday today, in L'Aquila in the Apennines of central Italy, the city buries its dead, victims of the recent earthquake. Ironically, an earthquake struck Jerusalem on this day nearly 2,000 years ago. But its aftermath was one of affirmation not despair. This is a time for reflection and renewal-and the city will rebuild and renew again. But for the families who lost loved ones in this natural disaster, renewal will be a long and difficult road. Nature is an awesome force that doesn't take into consideration whether man is secure within its confines. Man often looks to God for answers on why nature can sometimes be so cruel. The answers are there-they're just not understood. While it would be smug to suggest that people should just not live in such a disaster prone area-I would point out that most of us would have to leave our residences. But to where? No place is totally secure from the forces of nature. Without such awesome displays of nature's wrath, how could we possibly appreciate nature's soothing displays? Her sunsets, bountiful prairies and forests, awe-inspiring landscapes, and life sustaining waters? The cities and villages of the Apennines will continue to flourish-just as they have for thousands of years. The sun will rise once more over L'Aquila. Earthquakes shatter our sense of security. If Terra firma isn't so firm, what is? How about our human spirit?

(photo- a lone chamois (Camoscio d'Abruzzo (Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata))in the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo. I hiked up to this basin to see them. The Abruzzo National Park ranks among my favorite places on the planet)

Holy Thursday

The Last Supper and lasting memories

I'm having European flashbacks. Perhaps it's because of the recent earthquake in Italy, President Obama's recent trip to the continent, and it's Lent. Throughout the 1990s and the first half of this decade I traveled to Europe at least once a year. Other than personal trips and visits to family and friends, my wife and I worked as mountain guides in the Pyrenees of France and Spain. I have also hiked in Scotland, England, Italy and Sicily, Austria, Slovenia. Malta, Bulgaria, and Ireland. I have a deep appreciation for the continent's landscapes-but even more so for its cultural attributes-particularly its churches and cathedrals.

I always feel the presence of God when I'm in nature. I rarely do in man's cities. However in the great cathedrals and churches of Europe, I often feel the Creator's presence. Perhaps its because of my Catholic upbringing-I love the statues, the stained glass, the incense, the candles-it is all so mystical -so celestial. And I love the artwork of the Middle Ages-it invokes in me reflection and awe. I have yet to make it to Milan despite my several trips to Italy. It is there that Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper painting hangs. I'll get there eventually. The Last Supper painting I've posted here is from the Louvre in Paris-it's by Philippe de Champaigne, a relatively unknown painter to the masses. The painting is never-the-less a work of art. Here in the Pacific Northwest I won't have the paintings and ornate churches and Renaissance art to spiritually inspire me, but I do have some of God's greatest works surrounding me. The Cascades, Olympic Mountains and coastline, and the area's ancient forests are some of the greatest shrines on the planet. I worship there often. They are sacred and precious and like the great cathedrals, basilicas and churches of Europe, these natural cathedrals are worth preserving, protecting and respecting.

Romano's Favorite Hiking Haunts No. 6

Italy's Apennines

It saddens me to hear this morning of the news of a 6.3 earthquake rattling central Italy. The epicenter is L'Aquila (the eagle) situated right dab in the middle of the Apennines. The capital city of the Abruzzo Region, many my fellow paesani here in America have family from this gorgeous mountainous region of Italy. Several years back I took the train from Rome to L'Aquila and caught a bus to Pescasseroli in the Abruzzo National Park. I spent one week here hiking in one of the most beautiful places in all of Europe. Old-growth beech forests, wolves, bears, eagles, and excellent food and vino afterwards. Hardly any Americans venture to this part of Italy. They need to now to help rebuild L'Aquila's crumbled buildings and the region's shattered villages. Nature is a powerful force and in the Abruzzo region she has once again shown man that it is she who is in charge. A prayer to Sant'Emidio couldn't hurt right now-nor can your support.

(foto- Vado a piedi en il Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo)