Apologies to my 1.5 readers for the relatively long silence. I was in Bellagio attending a tedious and mind numbing conference, which I barely managed to escape (traumatic flashbacks still haunt me, however...). Although the conference itself was excruciating, Bellagio, Lake Como and the surrounding villages were heartbreakingly beautiful. Mist gently rolling down snow-capped mountain peaks, vividly lush greenery, fields of fragrant wildflowers in full bloom, schools of fish visible just beneath the lake's silvery surface, sailboats languorously swaying in the distance ... the area inspired all forms of purple prose imaginable. It was a very 'torture in paradise' experience. Wish you were there.
I have run away to a safehouse in Milan, set up by the
IOM for trafficked researchers. I hope to find my way home soon. In the meantime, here are other memories of captivity, structured in a format I blatantly copied off a
real writer (sorry Dan), minus the wit:
ATE lots of fish, soup, and salad, all sourced locally
DRANK an average of 8 -10 cups of sugary hot chocolate a day (sourced from a dubious-looking coffee machine)
SAILED across the lake via ferry boat
SPOTTED the balcony where Padme and Anakin shot that love scene for that epically horrible movie
FAILED to spot George Clooney, in spite of being tipped off by an inquisitive, reliable
source on all things A-list
FORGOT to bring my digital camera cord, so the hazy picture you see is from my phone
BOUGHT limoncello for soulsis, olive oil for the
chef
Apparently, John F. Kennedy whisked Marilyn Monroe off to Bellagio when he was wooing her. Looks like it worked.
