Verona – City of Love…..?

At any given moment in time, it could all be taken away.
This would be my third time in Verona and still I’m finding new sights, new restaurants, and new ways to see the city. It helped that I was with two newcomers, so I really did get to see the city and the show from different eyes.
It is a small city and there definitely are limitations, but for a typical 4 day stint, the food is great, the people are great, and there really is still so much history to take in. One of these days I’m going to catch an opera there, trust me.

Fortunate.

I am fortunate. Just back from my second trip to Verona and my third trip to Turkey. It’s amazing that I would never go on my own, in my old career to these parts of the world, and yet I’ve found two really beautiful spots of the world. Verona isn’t a big city, but it definitely has it’s perks. One day I’d love to see a concert or opera in the old Arena there. Then you add in the food, the wine, the history, and the shopping and Verona is a really nice spot.
And then there’s Turkey. I’m so lucky that Turkey and the people we have come to know there have adopted me with open arms. The food has become so familiar. The cities and their streets have become second knowledge to me. I haven’t even stepped foot in Istanbul yet, but as for Izmir, Denizli, and some of the touristy vacation spots, they are all such a great find for me.
As I look back on 14 months in this new career, I know that I’ve been so fortunate to have made the move I did, right at the right time in my life, and that the risk was full of nothing but reward. And here I am on the edge of a whole new challenge. I am able to use my full repertoire of experience, skill, and calculated risk to my advantage, and it’s paying off in dividends. 2014 is going to open up a whole new world for me with this company. The wheels are already in motion to catapult me into a new role, something I was destined for from the very beginning. It’s going to be one fun journey, safe to say.

Song of the Day: Askin Nur Yengi – Sana Degmezmis

And He Was Oh Oh So Mad, And I Don’t Think He’s Comin, Comin Back…..

Don’t be alarmed. You won’t see anything here for two weeks.
It looks like this: YVR – MUC (Munich) – VRN (Verona). VRN – MUC – AYT (Antalya). AYT – DNZ (Denizli). DNZ – ADB (Izmir) – MUC – YYZ – YVR.
This is starting to become a habit….

If you really want to keep up, stay tuned to the FB page!
See you soon, travel safely!

Song of the Day: Been Around the World – Lisa Stansfield
This song deserved a much better video…

Day Eight/Nine – Verona, Italy. Marmomacc the Stone Trade Show…..

Ok, as the last trip report update, I saved the bestest for last! Yes, this is what I get to do… well sort of. Rocks and rocks and rocks and rocks, look at rocks, select rocks, critique rocks, buy rocks, trade rocks, sell rocks, rocks on rocks on rocks on rocks.

Who’d have thunk that a kid from East Van would be dealing in rocks? Nevermind that, who’d have thunk that a kid with 15 years experience in apparel would be dealing in rocks?? Yes, weird but true! Weird, but necessary! Weird, but it’s the future!
People always ALWAYS ask me “Why?”. Well, when you’ve seen what I’ve seen in the apparel side, and you’ve seen the future (especially in and for Canada), you know that the apparel industry has already seen it’s brightest days. That and the next few years worth of American invasion competition, means that a shrinking pie just got gobbled up by some major players (hungry hippos)!
That, paired with the opportunity to move the family closer to the bigger support network of the big family, and KAPOW, here we are!
I have no regrets in the slightest on my decision to move, but the adjustment period is just starting to make sense. That, and trips to Cali, Turkey, and Italy and that will turn most people’s heads your way!
Stay Tuned!!

Day Eight – Verona, Italy the city…..

If you stop and think about all the opportunities we are given in life, it’s pretty amazing if you completely lose count. Just when I thought that the apparel industry had taken me so far in my life, my passion, my travels, my bucket list, and my perspectives, along comes my current career and a whole new set of opportunities, travels, and life stories open up.

I had no idea of what to expect in Verona, but I instantly fell in love with the city. Other than the food and wine, Verona proved to be a pleasant surprise to me right after Pamukkale and Izmir, Turkey.
Verona was rich full of history, statues, a genuine colluseum, an old amphitheater, and so many twisting, winding, cobblestone streets, it was excellent just exploring. It’s not a big city, really it should have only been one night for us, maybe two for personal time. We were there for three and by the third night, we knew people in the plaza and shops. We didn’t get a chance to check out the big lake about 30 km away, but we were told it was a nice place to see. Other than that, it was fun shopping, people watching, and taking in the plaza!

Why Did Constantinople Get the Works? That’s Nobody’s Business But the Turks…..

YYZ -YVR – MUC – IST – DNZ – ADB – IST – BLQ – VRN – FRA – YYZ – YVR.
That will be me at the back half of September.
If you need a translator, the above is:
Vancouver – Toronto – Munich – Istanbul – Denizli – Izmer – Istanbul – Bologna – Verona – Frankfurt – Toronto – Vancouver.

That’s a lotta Airmiles.
I’m so blessed, I’m giddy.

Song of the Day: Istanbul (Not Constantinople) – They Might Be Giants