Giudecca Grand Canal

These past several weeks I have worked on a big project. Organizing years worth of recipes. It has been over a year now since  I read ” A Year To An Organized Life”. I cherish my recipe gems. Travelling through food is a great experience without leaving your neighborhood. Anyway, I came across a  magazine piece I saved for a great fresh tomato sauce. The article, by a magazine writer interviewing Luciano Pavarotti,  world-famous opera singer, while Luciano cooked in his kitchen.

Spaghetti Subito (serves four)

3 large ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped

1/4 cup Italian parsley, coarsely chopped

A few leaves of basil, chopped

1/4 freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1/3 Italian virgin olive oil

2 cloves of garlic, crushed

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

1lb. spaghetti

” First, sing the tenor part of an opera” go to a friend’s house and find a large mixing bowl. Lovingly place all ingredients except the spaghetti in the bowl and mix . Meanwhile, cook your spaghetti in plenty of rapidly boiling water _ but not until it’s mush, rather al-dentissimo, , on the hard side. Drain, please. Now, caro, take the largest available bowl and mix the steaming hot spaghetti and the sauce with speed and precisions. Put it on the table , pour a big glass of Brunello di Montalcino and, for the moment disregard the world around you.”

Two new DVD’s out this past week are very good vehicles for transporting you to happiness. Thought provoking , the happiness in these films is enlightenment. To say the subject matter is harsh is an under statement. Don’t let it keep you from seeing the films. The first is “The Messenger” the second , “The Stoning of Soraya M. I make it a point to read reviews of foreign films and films shot in foreign places. I especially enjoy films about the immigrant experience.

Travelling to happiness. Isn’t that the point of it _ travel I mean.  I  travel   a bit. I’ve been home a week now . It was great. I plan great trips.  Now I have jet lag and it is lasting longer than usual. It will pass just like the Adriatic and Aegean Sea passed under me. Like the gigantic Bosphorus passed by ancient Byzantium on my “Byzantine Odyssey”. Istanbul, founded by Greek scouts in 660 BC, beautiful Greek Isles,  especially Corfu covered in cypress and olive trees, and the island of Delos , birthplace of Apollo. Precious Venice, vaporettos (water taxi) , a visit to Accademia , Giardini  Marina Park, a Commissario Brunnetti novel read where he lives. Add more drama by reading a book that takes place in the city you are visiting. His district is Castello.  Ravenna’s marvelous mosaics, a collection eight historic buildings and   UNESCO World Heritage site, in Italy. All  dreams come true  for me . I am lucky, I am happy. But now what?  I made a Thai style  salad  dressing for lunch for excitement. I miss ordering off a menu. I have to challenge myself . It gives me energy until the post trip funk goes away. Yesterday I visited our  local farmers market. That was fun. Luscious summer produce made me happy. Reconnecting with my laptop  made me happy. I won’t do that again (leave it at home).Lots of down time with airports and flying. Think of all the things you can do coming and going. Next time I’ll be busy having more fun with my laptop.  I notice airlines with the best on board amenities and service have happier clients. I was thinking about why so many Americans don’t have passports, don’t travel internationally. It’s clearly because they have only travelled domestically and fear the world is like that.  They think everyone  wears their oldest clothes while traveling. Maybe it’s to scare people  from sitting next to them. It works for me, I know. I try to sit alone when possible. I can find something to be happy about in an airport. I  get very emotional, seeing people reunited with their loved ones. Fun  to watch the big smiles, hugging ,and  kissing.Try to imagine why they are so happy. Are they coming home or are they away from home. Baggage claim is an emotionally charged area ,too. A good place  to listen for foreign accents. Just for fun, listen next time you wait for luggage and  count the languages you recognize. If none, try to expand your horizons further. Of course things turn when the bags don’t show up. I have never lost my bag for more than three days. Always keep  valuables plus a change of clothing in your carry on bag. Always. No excuses. Arriving on the same plane with your luggage is happiness.