destroyed...

Sometimes memories are like dreams: better than reality.

When I used to live in New York, everything seemed to be wonderful. I
loved everything about it and the "city that never sleeps" was just
reality. Today the Big Apple seems more like a city that doesn't let
anyone sleep. It's rather noisy, undisciplined, untidy, people are
rather rude in the street and in some shops you wonder whether the
attendant is going to take a rifle from under the desk and shoot you.
Exaggerating? No, I am not. I remember the Americans coming to Europe
and telling me that Europe was "so old", not antique, old. Americans
have no appreciation for antiquities, they look at the practical
aspects of life and the smog plastered buildings in Pest or the Walter
Scott monument in Edinburgh are not their cup of tea. Same for the
Coliseum, having far too many windows missing and let rundown by the
Romans, attracts strange comments.

This morning I was walking with an old colleague of mine, he has
Danish ancestors but he lived over here all of his life, and I was
telling him that I am starting understanding how Americans feel about
"old Europe" because after a few months spent a year ago in Shanghai,
I feel exactly the same about NYC. Old York City would be more
appropriate. But there is a big difference between Europe and America.
Europe, while ageing, keeps its charm and gets even more beautiful,
unless it gets dirty, America when ages shows signs of poor quality
materials used in its buildings.

Even restaurants used to be much more spacious. They have increased
the number of seats leaving the size of the places unchanged and you
feel cramped between a wall and a fat Yankee drinking his 3rd
disgusting coffee.

There is something in NYC that has changed. I walked from Central Park
to Chinatown and passed through a few areas in this 4 miles walk that
do not seem as safe as they used to feel a few years ago.

Am I saying that I do not like NY anymore? No, I am not. I still love
it. You can see your wife ageing but still love her despite she is not
the way she used to be 30 years ago. But I find very important to
tell, in this blog, that the only places that never change are in our
minds, in our memories. There are places that improve. I was in Buenos
Aires a few months ago and it was even nicer than it was 10 years ago
while places like Caracas and Sao Paulo are much worse than 10 years
ago...

Tonight i must go to Central Park for a bit of jogging, I went to buy
all new Nike sportgear and | cannot miss it!

Mario called me a few times but I didn't bother picking him up. My
father managed to get through the hotel reception and inform me that
an uncle has died and I should go back to Italy for the funerals that
will be held on Saturday. I didn't even bother giving him 10% of my
thoughts about it.

I must write a message or send a mail to Simona, but now, 18:06, it's
nearly time to get ready and go to the Park... Well... Time to close
my eyes for an hour, before going to the Park eh eh

See you guys!