Archive for August, 2010
Andiamo al Mare! Posted by Serena on Aug 13, 2010
Eccoci in pieno agosto! (Here we are in full August!) and Italy is officially closed for the summer. L’esodo (the exodus) has left the cities abandoned to tourists, and families have packed their costumi da bagno (swimming suits), crema solare (sun cream), secchielli e palette (buckets and spades), teli da mare (beach towels), and ombrelloni…
Il Coro Degli Alpini Posted by Serena on Aug 10, 2010
In my recent article ‘Al Passo dei Due Santi’ I recounted the tale of our trip up to a pass in the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano mountains to listen to a concert given by a local Alpini choir. The concert was so enjoyable that I decided to phone my friend, whose husband sings in the choir, in…
Pomodori al Riso Posted by Serena on Aug 7, 2010
The tomatoes are ripening beautifully and developing their full flavor in the hot August sun, and are wonderfully complemented by the sweet aroma of basil. Pomodori al riso (Tomatoes with rice) is a very simple dish, but one that perfectly recreates the taste of summer: ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, a hint of garlic, and olive…
Qualche, alcuni o dei? Posted by Serena on Aug 4, 2010
When talking about unspecified quantities we can use several forms. The most common indefinite adjective is qualche, which means ‘some’, ‘any’, or ‘a few’. The problem with qualche is that it is invariable, and always singular, but expresses the idea of plurality. Let’s look at the way we use it: Ho comprato qualche pianta al…
Gli Alpini – part 2 Posted by Serena on Aug 2, 2010
The scope of the Alpini’s duties goes far beyond their involvement in war, as they are always ready to deal with emergencies such as earthquakes, floods or landslides. In 1873, shortly after they were formed, they promptly helped the population of Alpago, near Belluno in Northern Italy, which was hit by an earthquake. More recently…