THANKSGIVING IN SPAIN...

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Just a quick entry, to wish everyone Happy Holidays/Felices Fiestas, and share these pics from a little Turkey-Day celebration we had here:

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http://picasaweb.google.com/marcusgiovanni/ThanksgivingMadrid2007

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Also, the latest updates on me: busy!! I've (finally!) finished up my Cambridge DELTA post-grad work, and now focusing on the second year of my Music Therapy Master's (will be starting up my internship/residence work in January hopefully). Apart from that, I'm working as an EFL teacher, as well as acting with a theatre company called S.O.S. In Action (http://es.geocities.com/imtootsweet/) and singing with the Spanish Actors' Union Choir (http://www.corouniondeactores.com/), so all is going quite well.

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Will be back in NY over the holidays, so hope to catch up with a lot of people...Best wishes and good cheer to all for the fastly-approaching New Year!

¡VIVA MÉXICO!

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Vamos, ¡que México está padrísimo! An amazing trip, one of my all-time favorites. I had been to México before, but only to the border towns (like Tijuana, Acuña, etc.), so this time Luz and I chose to explore the Riviera Maya on the Yucatán Peninsula for nine days. We stayed in Playa del Carmen (about an hour south of Cancún), and from there did day trips to the numerous archeological sites and natural parks that the region has to offer.

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An incredible experience, combining the impressive history and architecture of the ancient Mayan civilization with the rich and unique culture of present-day México and its wonderful people (que por cierto, son muy buena onda :) Equally impressive are the flora and fauna of the region, and of course the sublime Caribbean beaches. (I hope to be able to return to this beautiful country in the future when I have more time to dedicate, maybe even live there for a while as I have been looking into various volunteer programs to teach in some small villages near Chiapas, so we'll see...)

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The above photo is of the Great Pyramid/Temple of Chichén-Itzá, sacred city of the Mayas and one of the recently named new Seven Wonders of World--click on the link below (then "Slideshow") for the rest:

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http://picasaweb.google.com/marcusgiovanni/MXicoRivieraMaya2007

AH, BELLE PARIS!

Gotta love Ryan Air: if you survive the trip (planes are kinda ghetto), you can visit this amazing city which is only two hours away from Madrid for about 50 EUR! Of course, once you get there watch out for those 7 EUR café au laits... The French capital is for me one of the most beautiful cities on earth (despite its inhabitants, who are, indeed, somewhat rude in general, even when one makes the effort to speak French [comme moi!]...although one can understand how they might be sick of toursits: in July and August the city is literally flooded, ad nauseam, and it makes it difficult and frustrating to do just about anything...)

Click here to see the photos (then "Slideshow"):

http://picasaweb.google.com/marcusgiovanni/Paris2007

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Then, we continue our trip south towards the French Basque Country, and then cross the border into Spain and San Sebastián in the Spanish Basque Country. Unfortunately, we had very little time to explore this beautiful city, but instead opted for a few days of quiet relaxation in the neighboring region of Cantabria where Luz's parents had rented an apartment for their summer holidays. Northern Spain is quite beautiful, and a strong contrast to the stereotypical images of sun and flamenco dancing that people associate with the south (Andalucia); the north is quite green, with beautiful rocky shores, quaint villages, and a climate similar to that of southern Ireland (meaning yes, unfortunately, lots of rain!)

Click here for the pics:

http://picasaweb.google.com/marcusgiovanni/SanSebastiNSantander2007

UPDATE

Wow, it's been a while since I've updated this blog... Hmm, let's see, well, after a very busy May and June, I finally finished my Cambridge DELTA (just have to make up one class this fall) and the first year of my Music Therapy Master's. Then, was very busy teaching some intensive summer courses, as well as doing gigs with "The Good Guys/S.O.S. Theatre", an interactive English-language touring theatre troupe. This fall looks to be much of the same, teaching intensives at my language school, touring on and off, and working on my Master's....

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NOVEDADES

Vaya, hace tiempo que no actualizo este blog... Hmm, a ver, bueno, pues después de un par de meses muy ocupados (mayo y junio), por fin he terminado el Cambridge DELTA (solamente me queda un último trabajo para este otoño) y el primer año del Máster de Musicoterapia. Luego, he estado muy ocupado trabajando, dando cursos intensivos de inglés y también haciendo obras interactivas con "The Good Guys/S.O.S. Theatre", un grupo teatral que hace giras por toda España. Este otoño promete mucho de lo mismo, dando cursos intensivos en mi academia, actuando en obras, y trabajando para el Máster...

MORE MADRID MARKETING...

So for those of you who STILL haven't made it out to visit me here in Spain, here's yet another attempt to whet your traveling appetites with some more pics of my fair (adopted) city and its surroundings. These were taken mostly by Corey and Jesse on their visit here after our Easter trip to Italy. Click on the link below (then "Slideshow"). Enjoy!
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http://picasaweb.google.com/marcusgiovanni/MadridSegoviaWCoreyAndJesse2007

IN SEARCH OF THE SICONOLFIs...

SICONOLFI
Italian (Neapolitan): from a medieval personal name derived from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements sigi ‘victory’ + wulf ‘wolf’.

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This Easter Week, 2007, saw the search for my roots in the Region of Campania, southern Itlay. An amazing trip, Luz and I started off in Naples, with its chaotic charm (and amazing food!), where we met up with friends from home, Corey and Jeff. Then the ruins of Ercolano (Herculaneum) and Pompei, left by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD, followed by exploring the Isle of Capri and the Amalfi Coast. The most thrilling for me, however, was having the chance to trod the very same streets where my great-grandparents grew up, in the small town of "Sarno"...

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The end of the trip found us back in Rome with more friends (Jesse and his girlfriend, and a former student of mine from Zoni Language School in NY, Santi). To follow my story and see the pics, simply click here (then on "Slideshow"):

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http://picasaweb.google.com/marcusgiovanni/PasquaInItaliaNapoliPompeiCapriLaCostieraAmalfitanaESarno2007

CHRISTMAS IN SPAIN (2006-2007)

Here's a mix of some holiday photos from this Dec.-Jan. which includes some shots from our apartment (and holiday party), dinner with the Palacio family, and then the trip with my folks from Madrid to Sevilla and Barcelona (slightly out of order, sorry, too lazy to organize them all). This photo is from Gaudí's amazing Park Güell in Barcelona; click on the link below to see the rest:

http://picasaweb.google.com/marcusgiovanni/ChristmasTripWithParentsSpainMadridSevillaBarcelona0607