Hopefully, it was noted that O’Pinions To Go was gone last week. That’s because this writer was on a getaway trip, one that included Venice and Ljubljana, Slovenia. Seemingly an odd pairing, but only about 150 miles apart.
No, I won’t turn this into one of those this-is-what-I-did-on-my-vacation pieces, but here are a few takeaways, mostly scribbled on hotel room notepads.
* Despite our region’s increasing overseas links, it still seems a bit of a novelty to look up on a British Air departures board at Gatwick Airport outside London and see: “…Edinburgh, Genoa, Tampa, Venice, Salzburg… .”
* Thanks largely to the BBC and Sky News, you find yourself with a decidedly more Euro-centric news view. It’s good for perspective. In lieu of March Madness, transgender bathroom bills and Barack Obama-under-siege updates, here’s what was making headlines and leading current-events discussions.
>The status of a tumbling euro–in the context of an economically struggling region–was an ongoing topic. No surprise that European exporters noted the silver lining.
>President Obama’s overtures to Cuba have been well noted in Europe. Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni became the first European minister to visit Cuba since the U.S. announced plans for normalized Cuban relations, and it was touted as such. Gentiloni, who met with President Raul Castro and other Cuban officials, had recently hosted a workshop: “Cuba’s Re-engagement in the International System.” Italy is Cuba’s second biggest trade partner in the EU and enjoys a highly favorable trade balance with the island nation.
>In an obvious effort to demystify ISIS, there were several accounts of ISIS fighters fleeing battle zones dressed as women. “Jihadi Joans” to be sure. ISIS satires, from Israeli blooper videos to Palestinian comedy shows, were well chronicled.
>Egypt was in the news for something other than cracking down on the Muslim Brotherhood. It’s being very proactive in pushing for foreign investment. Economic reforms introduced after the ouster of Mohammed Morsi have begun to reap benefits.
>Tough talk between Greece and its creditors is a given. Just guessing, but Angela Merkel’s least favorite government after Moscow has to be Athens.
>While the U.S. and Great Britain remain the staunchest of allies, there are a couple of notable differences that Prime Minister David Cameron’s government has with the Obama Administration. And, yes, it’s hardly coincidental that national elections are coming up in May. The two areas of disagreement: England wants to cut defense spending below NATO guidelines, and it intends to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which China is largely funding.
>Germany, Britain and France took the high-profile lead in expressing overt concern over congressional interference in the form of that unconscionable GOP letter to Iran.
* In an era of literally downsized broadsheet newspapers, opening the International New York Times felt like unfolding a tablecloth. BTW, it’s now going on two years since that ex-pat staple, the International Herald Tribune (owned outright by the NYT since 2003), officially changed its name to the INYT.
* The nouveau-riche Chinese are seemingly everywhere.
* My wife and I enjoyed Ljubljana more than Venice. The former was a blend of Medieval charm and vibrant riverfront night life backdropped by the Alps. Plus, English fluency and a no-tipping culture.
One reality-check moment: The response of a local businesswoman who helped us with directions. I asked her how the EC experience (2004 admittance) was going. How Slovenia was being received by Western Europe. “They still think we’re gypsies,” she answered.
Venice is, well, Venice. It’s on every international traveler’s bucket list because it’s architectural eye candy for as far as the water taxi will take you. But it’s like being a crowd-shot extra on a movie set. There is no off-season for the hordes. You spend more time ducking selfie-sticks than marveling at the Byzantine glory of the Basilica San Marco.
* There’s still no place better to fly back to than Tampa International Airport. The TIA trifecta: aesthetics, logistics, location.