I've been here in Italy for close to two weeks now, and things are going well. I've been able to get a lot done in the time I've been here, which I guess is pretty good considering the Italian way of life it a little slower than we're used to in the USA. I picked up an apartment the second day I was here in a town called Sacile, which is about 10 min from the base and the Alps...I'm moving in this weekend. I also picked up a '95 BMW 318i just yesterday from an Italian dealer here in Aviano that was in pretty good shape and should last me just fine during the time I'm here. The northern part of Italy I'm living in is right out of a movie...very nice scenery and nice old towns. The weather has been in the 70's and sunny for the most part. Some of the taller mountains in the Alps still have snow on them, and I'm planning to go do some site seeing up there very soon. I can't complain at all...I'm living in Italy really close to the Alps flying F-16s!
There are two squadrons of F-16s on the base here, the 510FS and 555FS. Like I mentioned before, I'm in the 510FS Buzzards...above is our squadron patch. I've met most of the guys in the squadron, and all of them seem to be good dudes. The moral is high and commander has done a lot to make the squadron a great place. I'll start some class and simulators next week and will be flying the week after...looking forward to getting back in the jet and being an MR wingman. Basically that means I won't have anymore gradesheets and will be combat ready! We have a lot of cool trips coming up for training purposes both in Europe and back in the States, so I'll be getting my fill of flying soon! I've said it a ton, but God's good and has given me a lot to look forward to!
I'm going to take a train down to Venice this weekend to check out some of the sites around there. It's a 55 min train ride for about $10 bucks round trip...not bad! Some people save up for years to take a trip to Europe to visit places like Venice and it's basically a short trip down the road for me. The town of Sacile has a train station 15 min walk from my house, so it's very convenient as well. I have plenty of room in the new apartment for visitors, so hopefully people take me up on it! Below is a picture of my new squadron building and one of the base looking down from the mountains.
More Pictures:
Sacile; Apartment
I've been here in Italy for close to two weeks now, and things are going well. I've been able to get a lot done in the time I've been here, which I guess is pretty good considering the Italian way of life it a little slower than we're used to in the USA. I picked up an apartment the second day I was here in a town called Sacile, which is about 10 min from the base and the Alps...I'm moving in this weekend. I also picked up a '95 BMW 318i just yesterday from an Italian dealer here in Aviano that was in pretty good shape and should last me just fine during the time I'm here. The northern part of Italy I'm living in is right out of a movie...very nice scenery and nice old towns. The weather has been in the 70's and sunny for the most part. Some of the taller mountains in the Alps still have snow on them, and I'm planning to go do some site seeing up there very soon. I can't complain at all...I'm living in Italy really close to the Alps flying F-16s!
There are two squadrons of F-16s on the base here, the 510FS and 555FS. Like I mentioned before, I'm in the 510FS Buzzards...above is our squadron patch. I've met most of the guys in the squadron, and all of them seem to be good dudes. The moral is high and commander has done a lot to make the squadron a great place. I'll start some class and simulators next week and will be flying the week after...looking forward to getting back in the jet and being an MR wingman. Basically that means I won't have anymore gradesheets and will be combat ready! We have a lot of cool trips coming up for training purposes both in Europe and back in the States, so I'll be getting my fill of flying soon! I've said it a ton, but God's good and has given me a lot to look forward to!
I'm going to take a train down to Venice this weekend to check out some of the sites around there. It's a 55 min train ride for about $10 bucks round trip...not bad! Some people save up for years to take a trip to Europe to visit places like Venice and it's basically a short trip down the road for me. The town of Sacile has a train station 15 min walk from my house, so it's very convenient as well. I have plenty of room in the new apartment for visitors, so hopefully people take me up on it! Below is a picture of my new squadron building and one of the base looking down from the mountains.
