J4

Eva Cassidy: American Tune

Alter of the
Nation

A Sign in
Simbario

Bertucci Grocery
Store in Simbario

A Pizzo
Street

The Tomb of the
Unknown Soilder

Sunset in
Pizzo

Bertucci St. Sign

Colosseo 2

Bertucci
Street

Simbario Church

Colosseo 1

Collesium

Empty in
Simbario

Farming in
Simbario

Colosseo
3

Distant
Colosseo

Simbario
Downtown

Empty House
in Simbario

Farming in
Simbario 2

Farming in
Simbario 3

Farming in
Simbario 4

Foro Della
Pase

Foro Della Pase
11

Foro Della Pase
2

Looking up
at Pizzo 1

Looking up
at Pizzo 23

Gardening
in
Simbario

House in
Simbario

Popolo Di
Simbario

Inside a
Simbario Church

Looking up
at Pizzo 3

Looking up at
Pizzo Town3

Michigan
Girls

Mountain View
in Simbario

Murat Castle
and Pizzo 1

Murat Castle

Murat Castle
and Pizzo 2

Murat Castle
at Dusk

Night in Pizzo

Ocean View
from my
Balcony

One Perspective

Pizza in Pizzo

Pizzo

Pizzo and the
Murat Castle

Pizzo Ocean
Front

Pizzo Sunset

Pizzo Town at
Dusk

Pizzo View

Pro Loco
Simbario

Reflecting in
Pizzo

River Ancinale 2

River Ancinale

River Ancenale 3

Reflections in
Pizzo

River Ancinal 4

River Ancinal
5

Rome 2

Rome 1

Rome 3

Rome 24

Rome 4

Rome 5

Rome 8

Rome 7

Rome 9

Rome 6

Rome 10

Rome 11

Rome 14

Rome 13

Rome 15

Rome 12

Rome 16

Rome 17

Rome 18

Rome 19

Rome 20

Rome 21

Rome 23

Rome 26

Rome Was'nt
built in a Day

Rome was'nt
built in a Day 2

Rome 26

Rome 25

Rome was'nt
built in a Day 3

Rome was'nt
built in a Day 4
4

Rome was'nt
built in a Day 6 6

Rome was'nt
built in a Day 5

Rome was'nt
built in a Day 7
7

Rome was'nt
built in a Day 8

Rome was'nt
built in a Day 9

Rome was'nt
built in a Day 104

Self in Pizzo

Self Wine in
Pizzo

Sibario Bar

Rome was'nt
built in a Day 12 5

Simbario
Church

Simbario
Church Alter

Simbario Church
Ceiling 2

Simbario
Church Ceiling 3

Sibario Home

Simbario
Church Ceiling

Simbario
Plaque

Simbario Store
Front

Simbario Statue

Simbario Street

Soldier poses at
Rome Airport

Simbario Road

Streets of
Simbario

Wall of
Simbario
Church

Sunday
Afternoon in
Simbario

Street to
Collesseo

Sunset in Pizzo

Tassone
Bertucci

Welcome to
Simbario

Tourist Shot

The Town of
Pizzo

View in Pizzo 1

View in Pizzo 2

Walking along
the Beach

Tomb of the
unknown Soilder

Sunset

Journal Update: Saturday March 11, 2006

Music reflects my Moods...and they vary from Moment to Moment! If your checking out past journal entrees
pages 1 and 2 be sure to start from the bottom up to receive in order. Click on any of the pics for a full size view.

If you're already caught up on my past entrees and pics Enjoy the Music Selections on those pages changed w/ every
update!!!

Main Page Music Selection: Italian Folk Dance/Tarantella Napoletana
Journal 1 Music Selection: Life-Death/Prefuse 73 (J-1 page and Music Selection dedicated to G.H. /JES CHILL'N)
Journal 2 Music Selection: Mandolin Instrument/Godfather Theme
Journal 3 Music Selection: La Rabbia Esplode de Reggio (The Anger Explodes de Reggio) /Canzoniere delle Lame (Canzoniere
of the Blades)

Boungiorno,
Where to begin? I’ve been back in Eindhoven for a few days now after one of my greatest adventures. It’s still very fresh on my
mind, though I can hardly believe it myself. It feels like something somebody else did and I’m just a bystander watching.

I arrived in Rome late afternoon last Wednesday and immediately got settled into my room so I could go explore. I was staying
near Termini (the main train/bus station) and close to a lot of everything I wanted to see.
The room wasn’t anything to write home about. But for 45 euros a night, it was at least clean. Bed and breakfast (they called it)
included an ok croissant and as much free espresso as I wanted (when someone was there to make it). From what I hear for the
price and the location, I’d stay there again.

1st night in Rome I had to try the pizza. For less than 10 euros I had at that moment experienced the best pizza ever and
enough wine to celebrate my 1st dinner in Rome. People here don’t eat until about 8:30 or later.
And even though I’m thinking my host is a bit skanky I was invited to dinner w/ him and 2 other guys staying there. He insisted,
and after having already had a whole damn pizza myself he wouldn’t take NO for an answer and I joined them for more wine and
good food (not bad).

Thursday morning after my very small croissant (very good by the way but I think 2 bites and it was gone) and my long awaited
espresso I was out the door to explore. I wasn’t sure at that time just how far I was from everything and being that I didn’t really
have a whole lot of time in Rome (Thursday would be my only full day) I decided to splurge the 12 euros for one of those tour
bus things.

Good choice! It gave me an idea (besides the free map) of where everything was located within walking distance and after the 2
hour tour on the bus and back at Termini station and w/ the whole afternoon ahead of me I took off on foot to explore and take
pictures.

Honestly, I don’t know half of what I took. I just started snapping at everything that looked interesting. I guess I could have taken
the time to label each one from the map and book w/ descriptions but I didn’t (it would have taken me a long time to get that all
figured out and ending up w/ a lot more pictures that I normally would take I just labeled them as they appear). Let’s just say I
took an overwhelming amount of any and everything of beauty. I was surrounded by it. Picture taking for me is usually for other
people to see because I have the memories forever embedded in my own cobwebs.

Really I think the pics do tell the story of this particular adventure. I think some people enjoy looking at pics over words and vise
versa. Here I try to tell the story as I see it in both pictures and words. So Thursday I snapped away in Rome. I guess because
I was up and about early Friday to catch my train to southern Italy, Calabria I missed my free espresso at the bed and breakfast,
and except for the quick cold cappuccino at Termini I was running on little caffeine while being preoccupied with getting on the
right train. It was already complete chaos w/ morning computers. I somehow do mange to get on the right train and 5 hours later
and some pretty amazing countryside I arrived in Southern Italy, Reggio de Calabria, Vibo Valentia, Pizzo (wow, that’s a
mouthful).

Here I am greeted by the family I am to stay with in Pizzo in their home, Casa Armonia B&B Franco and his wife Teresa). Right
away I am made to feel like I am in my own home. http://www.casaarmonia.com/hausearmonia/index.html Check out this site for
complete insight to the town of PIZZO and where I was spending my next 3 days.

I am about 40 km. away from Simbario (where my great grand parents come from) and still no idea how or when I will get there. I
settle into my room and my host takes me out for a cappuccino (this was the missing link to my day…ahhhhh caffeine). I’m
simply taking in the beauty this beach side town is offering and indulge in another cappuccino. I immediately meet up w/ 2
travelers from Dublin and we roam the streets together a while and then share a glass of wine before going our separate ways.
But before parting we exchange email and phone numbers opening up yet more possible travel adventure in the future. There
wasn’t a lot to see here but a lot to see. I roamed down the center with its shops and its many bars (where you could get ice
cream, a snack, a cappuccino, or a glass of wine) countless times and never once bored.

This 1st day I had to try the ice cream as soon as possible being the ice cream hoe I am and hearing Pizzo had the finest in all of
Italy. And let you me tell ya it’s what makes me the ice cream hoe I am and will always be. The _expression “to die for” is
appropriate here. I’d come back simply for the ice cream and the pizza which really words can’t describe at all. It’s all in the
taste buds.

Saturday I’m up early to espresso and many breakfast items and snacks including homemade biscotti. I am ready for anything.
Still not sure of when and how I’m getting to Simbario. My host was to arrange my getting there by bus (or at least that’s the way
I understood it. By the time of day I finally see my host (late afternoon) we find out it’s too late to take the only bus going that way
and there is not another one until Monday. At that moment
seeing my obvious disappointment Franco immediately gets on the phone to Simbario to call as many Tassone’s as it will take to
hook me up to someone that might be a family member. This is far more out of any of my expectations.

I come only with the little information I had dating back to great grandparents leaving here at the turn of the century, a few dates
and a few names of their families and that’s about it. One phone call he makes connects us to a Bruno Tassone (the whole town
of Simbario just over 1000 population is full of this last name). They speak (in Italian of course) for a good 15 minutes and it is
discovered that in those minutes the possibility is very good that we are related.

Apparently, Bruno’s grandfather Vito had a father also named Vito which would have been my great grandfather Domick’s father
and Vito Jr. might have been a brother to Dominick. That’s about all I got out of the conversation at this point since my hosts
spoke very little English and the fact that I was leaving on Monday morning wasn’t going to allow us to meet on Monday when
this could be arranged.

Still, I had no idea of how to get myself to Simbario. It was the purpose of why I was here to begin with and for my mother and
the rest of the Tasson (the name Tassone had been shortened to Tasson, my mother’s maiden name) family I needed to go for
at least a short while to take some pictures and grab a rock.

With determination I arranged for a cab to take me the 30 min drive there and back and to roam Simbario for the following
morning. I thought 60 euros was damn reasonable considering I’ve taken cab rides before for that amount for much shorter
distances and the driver was going to sit there and wait, while I went off to do my thing for a couple hours. It was like having my
own personal driver for about 3 hours. Finally, that arranged I go out and treat myself to what I considered to be the best pizza in
my entire life and I go to bed early full of excitement of the unexpected the following morning.

Another great breakfast of the same I meet my cab and we take off thru mountainous roads of sheer beauty.
http://www.cogalmonteporo.net/GastronomiaVV/inglese/itinenogastrVV/index/ricettivita/comuni/comuni/simbario/SIMBARIO.htm
Check out this website for more info of this small town where my ancestors come from. It’s worth the time.

So there I am, in Simbario looking every bit a tourist. I mean there is no way I could hide the fact. Me and a camera snapping
pictures in a small ass town where everyone knew everyone I’m sure. Little did they know I was one of them? I’m sure there was
family there I’ve never met before. I roamed the streets for 2 hours snapping pictures of any and everything that told me where I
come from. I could feel the spirits of what remained in the energy of something that truly cannot be described in words. I can
only hope that in sharing them with you and perhaps seeing the pictures for yourself you can maybe feel some of this energy. I
just share them with you.
From what I had just experienced I was left pretty speechless by the end of my morning and the drive back to Pizzo was in
silence (that and my driver didn’t speak much English).

I spent the rest of the day trying to capture my experience by way of poetry and got off to a pretty good start. I’ll share it
sometime when it feels finished. Here my last few hours in Pizzo I snap some final pictures of the area and purchase a few gifts
for friends and family from the region. I decided to go back to the same restaurant I had the best pizza ever (I had promised the
owner from the night before and he seemed pleased that I remembered).
This time I had a nice pasta w/ fresh seafood and a flask of white wine to toast my last night and celebrate my family name.
Usually a red wine drinker I’ve learned to like both quite exceptionally well just depending on what mood I’m in and for most of my
trip deciding on white w/ my meals. I slept well and with some sadness left early the next morning for my train back to Rome for
one last night before back to Holland.

Back to the so called B&B (at least it was familiar) I decide to take in my last few hours with a walk, one last pizza (not as good as
in Pizzo but every bit better than anything I’ve had anywhere else w/ no exaggeration).
I decided to take in a bit of the night life and found myself out at a bar I read about in Lonely Planet. The club was owned by
Americans and had a reputation for both American and Italian patriots alike. I right away meet up with a traveler from Georgia
(the accent gave him away) and my bartender, from the States originally was quite friendly and talkative. Here too, I end up
meeting a native Italian who turned me on to some good smoke. Now that was a nice surprise since I wasn’t expecting anything
of the sort there in Italy. Go figure I should meet up with some pretty kewl peeps my last night out. I was literally running for my
bus to the airport 1st thing in the morning and not having slept but maybe 2 hours. Only to arrive and get checked in and find
out the flight has been delayed about 3 hours.

What do you do? You start conversing with people on your flight I guess. This advantage I think over taking a major airline. I
met Anna, Ashley, and Sara (from Michigan c-pic taken at the Eindhoven airport), very kewl young travelers on their way to a bit
of partying in Amsterdam. They’d already had an obvious good time in Italy and we shared a little about our travels. LOL they
got a total kick out of my full name Jesus and sort of saw me as this life travel guru. I like that they could see this in me. I think it
was ironic too, that they should be from my birthplace of Michigan and where my great grandparents’ final destination was after
arriving Ellis Island from Simbario. But really, I don’t believe in accidents. There we were all in Italy and had something in
common, connection and networking. This is what traveling is about for me, always expecting the unexpected, never knowing
who you might meet at any given time.

Yeah, it may have been a bitch to have such a delay and by the time I finally got back to Eindhoven I was really hungry and
tired. But I would have never met the girls from Michigan nor the DJ from Eindhoven I ended up sitting next to on my flight. I
haven’t yet had a chance to check out the links he sent for his website www.clashingegos.com and some online dj mixes: http:
//3voor12.vpro.nl/3voor12/groups/index.jsp?groups=6066437

So here I am back in Eindhoven with my birthday just a couple weeks away. That’s just weird…I know I just finished celebrating
the last one (did I stop) and was in planning for this move to The Netherlands. I’ll be celebrating this year w/ some new friends so
definitely not alone. A couple of big dance parties I’ll be attending here in the next couple weeks along w/ a trip in the planning
for early April to visit a friend in London I made in my travels 3 years ago when passing thru from Greece.

It’s colder here by maybe up to 20 degrees (typical spring weather in these here parts, raining a lot, a little snow off and on)
comparably to what I had just experienced. In Italy (It was in the 60’s in Calabria). Gonna go chill out with Henri later this
evening. Another chance to cook dinner for someone and good quality time spent in the company of such great energy.
Besides…I’m dying to tell a friend about my trip over a bottle of wine.

You may remember his mother, Dina’s art from my last entry. If you haven’t had a chance to go check it out yet please make
some time. It’s pretty awesome stuff.

Well, if this isn’t a book by now made in to a T.V. movie I guess I’ll let you off to your own perspective adventures. If you even got
this far WOW…I’m impressed! Enjoy the music and the pics. Stay tuned for my next adventure(s) and always, always, “Expect
the Unexpected”

Pace ed amore…Ciao, Jes

Couple in the Night

Running Horses

Seaview

Bowl of Onions

Swinging Lady

Landscape by Night

Dina has been developing several techniques in painting and sketching. Main focus in this development was to find her personal
style. Her personal history, emotions and memories are ‘shining through’ the subject of her works. Not only in the scene that is
captured in a painting, but also in the atmosphere it reflects. Those pieces that have the strongest emotions/memories are often
considered to be the strongest pieces. For Dina personally, those pieces have given her the most pleasure.

In the beginning the subjects of her paintings were related to the farmers life; scene’s of the old ways of working on the field or
pictures from the surroundings. But more and more she discovered that it was more the mood and atmosphere that had her
interest. This is how she came to paint more towards a stylistic, sometimes even abstract way.

Her personal life has been one of hard work: growing up on a farm in Holland during World War 2 and the great flood of 1953
made an impression for life. As a young girl she had to do hard labor to earn money for her family. When she married to Thom in ‘t
Groen (a farmer as well) her life changed since she had the opportunity to work for her own family. She and Thom had 4 children.
After the years of poverty now a period of prosperity started. In this phase of her life she was living for her family and the farm.

It was in the 80’s she discovered her interest for painting and sketching. She decided it was time to have some personal and
private time to spend to herself. Since then she has been enrolled in several painting classes, lessons and workshops to improve
her skills. Since the 90’s she has had several expositions and has made her works known to a wider audience.

Henri

David

It's Dickie!

Ario with Beer!

Sexy Redheaded Dutch Boy!

M. M.

Heather

Boy Scout Glen!

LAST JOURNAL ENTRY FROM THE NETHERLANDS 5/29/2006

MAIN PAGE MUSIC SELECTION: CHANGES/DAVID BOWIE
J-1 MUSIC SELECTION: FINAL FRONTIER/RJD2
J-2 MUSIC SELECTION: I WANNA BE SEDATED/RAMONES
J-3 MUSIC SELECTION: SAY IT LIKE THAT/ABRA MOORE
J-4 MUSIC SELECTION: LET'S DO IT AGAIN/CURTIS MAYFIELD & STAPLE SINGERS

HEY ALL (better chill the wine I’m on my way with stories to tell),

I’M SITTING HERE WRITING MY LAST ENTRY HERE IN THE NETHERLANDS. IT’S WEIRD TO THINK I’LL BE BOARDING MY
PLANE IN LONDON THIS TIME TOMARRO MORNING AND ON MY WAY TO D/FW. MY FINAL DAYS HERE HAVE BEEN A
MIXTURE OF EMOTION. GOOD TIMES!!!

I’VE MADE FRIENDS HERE. GOOD ONES. THE LAST DAYS SPENT IN QUALITY, ENDING WITH A GOING AWAY
CELEBRATION BROUGHT THAT INTO FOCUS AS I WAS SURROUNDED BY THE ENERGY OF 10 PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BECOME A VERY SIGNIFICANT PART OF MY JOURNEY. AND THERE ARE THOSE THAT COULDN’T MAKE IT AND ARE MOST
CERTAINLY INCLUDED IN HAVING MADE A LASTING IMPRESSION.

REALLY I DON’T BELIEVE IN GOODBYES AS THE CONSISTANCY OF SEEING THOSE I WANT TO STAY IN CONTACT WITH IS
A CONSTANT. I’D RATHER JUST BELIEVE OUR PATHS WILL CROSS AGAIN. IT’S AN EFFORT I MAKE…WITH SOME IT MAY
BE SEVERAL YEARS LATER BUT I’VE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT WAY. FOR NOW I JUST TAKE THE TIME TO THANK THOSE
WHO WELCOMED ME INTO THEIR LIVES MAKING MY CHOICE TO BE HERE THIS PAST YEAR A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE.
IT’S THAT ENERGY I TAKE WITH ME NOW.

ONE LAST TIME I INDULGED IN A STORE BOUGHT LEGAL SUBSTANCE OUT ON MY BALCONY W/ HENRI AND THAT DEEP
CONVERSATION THAT ALWAYS SEEMS TO GO ALONG WITH IT J IT WAS NICE! TOO BAD OUR COUNTRY IS SO DAMN
UPTIGHT OR ELSE I’D BE BRINGING US ALL SOME OF THIS GOODNESS TO SHARE.

FUNNY I CAME OUT HERE WITH THE INTENTION TO CREATE THE “SPACE DOODLE” COOKIE BUT NEVER GOT AROUND TO
IT. BUT NO WORRIES…I’LL HAVE A REAL OVEN SOON TO TRY OUT THAT RECIPE (IT’S A REAL BITCH MAKING COOKIES IN
THIS LITTLE CONFECTIONERS OVEN BUT THEN I’LL BET 6 SPACE DOODLES would be more than enough).

PACKING HAS BEEN INTERESTING. EVEN THOUGH I’VE GIVEN AWAY TONS OF STUFF I’VE MANAGED TO GAIN QUITE A BIT
OVER THE YEAR. HOW THE HELL DOES THAT HAPPEN? I’VE BEEN TRYING TO MINIMIZE MY LIFE OF THINGS AND HAVE
LEARNED QUITE A VALUABLE LESSON IN NOT HAVING ALL THOSE COMFORTS OF THINGS. I HAVE DISCOVERED FOR
MYSELF I DON’T NEED A LOT. BUT IT’S NICE TO HAVE A FEW COMFORT THINGS OF SENTIMENTAL VALUE. THEREFORE I’
VE PACKED AND REPACKED AT LEAST 3 TIMES NOW.

I HAVE A HABIT AT SOME POINT TO PASS SOME OF THOSE THINGS ON TO OTHERS (W/ A FEW THINGS I CAN’T SEEM TO
LET GO OF JUST YET). BUT I HAVE CONQUERED LIVING W/OUT MOST OF MY THINGS FOR ONE YEAR AND HONESTLY,
MOST OF IT, I DO NOT MISS.

I’M GOING TO KEEP THIS ENTRY SHORT WITH STILL SO MANY LAST MINUTE THINGS TO DO. MOST OF MY FEELINGS ARE
PROBALY CONVEYED THRU THE 5 MUSIC SELECTIONS IN THIS UPDATE. ENJOY THOSE AS THEY HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY
PICKED OUT FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT AS WELL.

I’LL BE WITHOUT INTERNET ACCESS OR VERY LIMITED FOR THE NEXT WEEK OR 2. EVENTUALLY I’LL BE CONNECTED
AGAIN. I’LL TRY AND GIVE AN UPDATE AS SOON AS I AM ABLE. I’LL BE IN FT. WORTH AT MY MOMS UNTIL THE WEEKEND
AND IF SPRINT DOES WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO MY MOBILE NUMBER REMAINS THE SAME (The States one) AND
SHOULD BE ON UPON MY ARRIVAL (I WON’T HOLD MY BREATH ON THAT ONE…WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SPRINT).

MY CONDO IS STILL AVALIABLE ANY TIME AFTER JUNE 15TH FOR RENT/SELL. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT MY EMAIL ON
THE TOP OF THIS PAGE FOR FURTHER INQUIERY. I’VE GOT TO GET IT RENTED OUT ASAP!!!

SOME OF YOU I WILL SEE VERY SOON AND SOME AGAIN LATER. AFTER THIS ENTRY THERE WILL BE A REVAMP OF “JES
THE ADVENTURER” PAGES AS OF COURSE THE ADVENTURES WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN IN NEW PLACES. CONTINUE
TO EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED AND PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH. Here’s another source for contact ya’ll…if you don’t already
have a page here you really should check it out. http://www.myspace.com/retroboy69

PEACE, LOVE AND TO YOUR HEALTH, JES