Confessions of a Travel Writer, I do Not Think So
I finished my piece on La Marche today. I was there for an earthquake with a 6.3 magnitude that shook Italy and caused a lot of deaths. I happened to be in Ascoli Piceno that night in April when 50 miles away the town of L’Aquila in Abruzzo was flattened. I was shaken out of my bed at around 3:30 that morning, a first for me. At breakfast we writers shared our tales of mid-night ramblings somewhat laughing; we had no idea of just really happened. As we learned more about the tragedy I tried to find out more; one US writer I came into contact with who lives in Italy was Courtney Clonard Walsh. We hadn’t, and still haven’t, met face to face but I followed her coverage on TV, via FB and email. Her take was real and heartbreaking. It was an event that made a connection. As blogs about the new travel show Confessions of a Travel Writer are covered I wondered how I would include info about a tragedy in my piece. The copy of the April 7 2009 International Herald Tribune sits next to my computer now. I’ve yet to see an article that mentions quakes in California. I think I should mention it, would you? What would Charles Runnette do, I do not care!
posted by Kent E St. John at 7:43 PM
3 Comments:
Kent...I'm so glad that you are safe! How tragic. Lord know that Charles would have some negative thing to say that he thinks comes off as intelligent banter. I can only take so much of the dude. He needs to come on a press trip with the two of us...he might even put Princess entertainment to shame! I miss you. Let's catch up soon!
I don't really understand what you're saying about Runnette but it's a hot topic now so I would like to know what you think, did you catch the show? A topic that is always being talked about...hard to do it right I guess.
Kent, several days ago shortly after I arrived in Lake Tahoe I noticed the bed was shaking and the room swaying. I thought I was just imagining it...often in the past months after that night I have felt real and imagined aftershocks, in Rome and in Aquila when I went back to cover the Pope's trip there and for the G8 meetings.
But I wasnt imagining! It was real...and I was surprised how nonplussed I was with the whole thing and the fact that no one in California seemed to even notice. The woman with whom we had exchanged homes (btw thru www.diggsville.com, great xchange site) said it happened all the time!
Anyway, that April quake certainly shook me up! all the suffering..and to think of all the people still living in tents in the August heat.
hope all is well with you..off now to see Hollywood!
Post a Comment
<< Home