How To Scare The Neighbours

Halloween is almost upon is. While walking through the streets, you can see some store windows decorated in orange and black, with little spiders, bats, and witches spooking their way around the streamers. But that's where the Halloween spirit end. Italians don't celebreate Halloween. There are no carved pumpkin faces smiling on doorsteps, no mini packs of Halloween candy in the aisles of the supermarkets, no rumoured costume preparations among the children at school, and no adult Halloween parties to attend.

A few days ago, Sania and Jason arrived at our apartment for the Italian leg of their around-the-world tour. They brought with them a little pumpkin for us. After dinner one night, we decided to carve him up North American style since all us NA-ers were missing out on Halloween by being here in Italy.

When Enzo saw the pumpkin, he thought it was great! It was his first jack-o-lantern viewing. We told him that we planned on putting the pumpkin out on the balcony all lit up, and he jokingly said "For sure the neighbours will call the police!"

We didn't believe that the neighbours would be scared of a little lit up pumpkin, so last night we got him all ready and put him out on the balcony railing. A few minutes later, we saw the man who lives across the street come out on his balcony to throw out some garbage. On his way back in, he looked up and saw our balcony. Then he stopped, and stared, for about 2 minutes, before going back in. Then a few minutes later, we saw him peering out his window at the pumpkin. Then he was back on the balcony again staring at it.

We all thought is was hilarious and started flashing the kitchen lights, and playing scary music to complete the mood. It was great. Whoever thought a little pumpkin could cause such a fuss?

Back Up and Running

Well everything is working now. We've got the internet set up here at my apartment now so you should be reading more of me soon.

Dressed or Undressed?

So this morning I was in the bathroom drying my hair when I heard a 'knock knock knock' on the door. I opened the door and what did I see? My roommate standing in the hallway in his boxer shorts and only his boxer shorts. He asked how long I was going to be in the bathroom, and then disappeared back into his room. I thought the whole thing a little strange since a) I had just seen my roommate in his underwear, and b) he didn't seem to be bothered by that.

That got me thinking about things and I remembered a time when one of my boyfriends went out on the balcony to hang up his towel in just his underwear. To me that was a bit strange, but he just replied "It's not like I was naked or anything." Fair enough I suppose.

For my part, I would not go walking around my apartment in my bra and underwear, nor go out on the balcony dressed as such either. It seems that guys consider themselves 'dressed' in only underwear, while I consider myself rather 'undressed' if I'm only wearing underwear.

Is this a guy thing, a girl thing, or only a me thing? Any thoughts?

Finally Some Photos

Here it is, the long awaited pre-quel to Finally Some Photos Pt. II.

AMSTERDAM

The I AMsterdam letters behind the Van Gogh Museum. I went and had my picture taken with the 'S.'

A nice canal view...

Wait a second, does that bus say......?!?!?

Why yes, indeed it does. *shock*

Amazing Discovery #526: People really do wear wooden clogs in Holland!

Finally Some Photos Pt. II

Yes, I realize that there is not actually a 'Finally Some Photos Pt. 1' post. Due to the nature of blogger and the way it uploads pictures, I decided to outsmart it and work my way backwards from end to beginning. But blogger being blogger, of course everything got all screwed up. I was working on the Pt. I post, but it is refusing to upload pictures anymore. Oh well.

So you will all just have to deal with Pt. II before Pt. I. How George Lucas of me!

AMSTERDAM

OMG! It's the painting guy still being televised on Dutch TV!

BERLIN

Bear Scare in Berlin

Modern Art. Personally I think it looks like a giant gumball that has rolled through the city taking bits of furniture with it.

The Reichstag. While we were waiting in line to go up to the dome, an Isralei couple completely cut the line and went in at least 40 people ahead of us. And to start they were about 20 people behind us. Naturally they had to be Jeweish, in Berlin, butting in line at The Reichstag. Too ironic.

This is the flag of exactly what country? Austrianada?

BUDAPEST

The Parliment Buildings

A picture of my feet, for some reason

The dragon statue at the old fisherman's bastion on the Pest side. A few minutes later I literally got my head stuck in the dragon's mouth trying to take a funny picture. His tooth got caught in my ear and I couldn't get my head out. It was made worse by the fact that I was balancing on my knees on a ledge overlooking a stone flight of stairs at the time.

Back Again

Well it seems my flighty neighbours are back in town for their bi-monthly visit. If past happenings are anything to go by, then I should have unlimited, free use of the internet for two days before they pack up and take off again. I am going to make good use of it this time.

Just not now because it is late and I am tired......