No regrets.

While we're at this summer school, we have a list of ~7 places that we can eat at at no charge (except drinks (including water)). Last night it was Elimo, a great place with an entryway that looks like a stereotypical "old person" house, with old furniture and carpets everywhere, hanging plants and a distinctive smell (not necessarily a bad smell).

The man typing next to be can be described in no other way than smashing his fingers on his keyboard. I can hear him from 10 feet away. Hell, I can feel the table moving.

The dining area was really interesting looking. Very brown deco, alot of plants, elaborate tablecloths and carpets, and a view that looks out at Tripani. The meal started with a plate of cold couscous made with tomatoes, wine and (I think) anchovies, and was followed with some slab pizza (so-so) and prosciutto. 

During the meal I had a long conversation with one of the speakers at the conference, Kerry Lee, a scientist working in the Space Radiation Analysis Group at the NASA Johnson Space Centre, who offered to give me a tour of the JSC when I drive through Houston on my way back from VERITAS in early December, which is pretty awesome.

We made out way back to the free wine room (which I've since learned serves "marsala"), but there's only so much of that you can have before the heartburn sets in due to the acidity. A group of us, mostly astrophysicists but a few new people who are here doing a summer school on acoustic photonics, went to the closest cafe for gelatto and a pint. 

This didn't last long as it was about 1:30 in a town where everything closes at about midnight (at latest). Three of us (for some reason) decided that it was far too early to go to bed (not sure it was a great decision) so we decided to track down a shop that was open (ambitious at best) and grab a bottle of wine to have at the castle. While wandering the streets, we found a shop that was still open, and we made out way to the castle where we shared the bottle while sitting at the benches on top of the Temple of Venus. 

I'm somewhat tired right now; we took our time with the wine (with good reason, it was really cool to be at the castle). 

This conversation actually just happened as the speaker was briefly inturrupted by the cutoff alarm:

Speaker: "How much time do I have left?"

Chair:      "Three minutes plus ten minutes for questions."

Speaker: "Okay, I will try to finish in five minutes."

We eventually made our way back to the free wine room and I had a long c

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