Today in Arabia (and in Roma in 12!)

Nice for the last few days--41/41 tops, and a little overcast (read: high altitude dust storm, though there were a few teasing clouds as well), so it actually feels quite pleasant. The direct sunlight is a substantial factor, obviously, except for mobile phones, as noted earlier.

In the news: here, complimenti al nostro grande amico e agente di viaggio volontiere (compliments of our good friend and volunteer travel agent) Emanuele Guidara, are some shots of where we'll be staying while in Italy:









Double-click to magnify. The "casale" is more or less central in every shot. Impressive views on all sides, as you can see. It will be lovely to be "in campagna" (een cahm-pah'-nyah) because of a reduced humidity and heat dispersion. In the city at night the stone and concrete release heat all night long, making sleeping in an a/c-averse culture nearly impossible.

It is apparently subdivided into a handful of apartments: ours is ground floor with private entrance. 2 bedrooms, kitchen, living room, and single bathroom, so that will be an adjustment after our palatial villa here in Al Ain. We'll be taking the Wii for moral support (and rainy days).

We will also be joined by our good friends from Raymond for a couple of weeks. Plan to head up to Pisa, Florence, and Venice with them. Also down to the hall of sunbaked horrors that is Pompeii. I wish I could remember which rooms had the dirty pictures in them so our kids can avoid them: nudity is one thing, porn quite another, frescoed or no.

And yes, we do expect the boys' heads to explode at some point during our trip. Should be interesting.

Interior shots next week. Our objective is to make you as jealous as possible!

Pace vade vocum,

Us.