Archive for December, 2015
My Favourite Italian Blogs of 2015 – Part 2: Serena’s Choice Posted by Serena on Dec 31, 2015
Oggi tocca a me (today it’s my turn) to choose my favourite articles written by Geoff during 2015. Not an easy task at all, as there’s so much to choose from! However, after a lot of pondering here’s my list in no particular order: Tourists, Beware Of What You Wear This blog was a great…
My Favourite Italian Blogs of 2015 – Part 1: Geoff’s Choice Posted by Geoff on Dec 30, 2015
As 2015 draws to a close I’ve decided to leaf back through some of the many articles that we’ve shared with you over the past year. It’s an odd experience! As you know, we try to provide you with relevant and contemporary material about real events, so over a period of time our blog naturally…
Il Mio Primo Capodanno Posted by Serena on Dec 29, 2015
Avevo quattro anni nel mio primo Capodanno di cui ho un ricordo preciso. I miei genitori avevano deciso di passare le vacanze di Natale in Egitto e così la notte di Capodanno eravamo alloggiati in un albergo di lusso al Cairo. Dopo cena mia madre mise me e i miei due fratelli maggiori a letto…
An Italian Nativity Posted by Geoff on Dec 24, 2015
Probably the most abiding symbol of Christmas here in Italy is il presepe. Il presepe is a reconstruction of the nativity story, and its origins date back to 1223 when San Franceso di Assisi created the first presepe vivente (living presepe). The presepe can be found in three main forms: 1. the simple small scale…
A Very Special Christmas Tree Posted by Serena on Dec 23, 2015
Every Christmas when I was a child we had to learn the usual stereotypical seasonal poems which inevitably referred to il Bambinello (Baby Jesus), angeli e pastori adoranti (adoring angels and shepherds), and pace e amore fra tutti gli uomini (peace and love between all people). So, whilst searching the other day for an atypical…
Just Good Friends Posted by Geoff on Dec 21, 2015
A reader recently commented on my blog Italian Sexual Euphemisms “I would love to see a post about words to describe the less graphic interactions between men and women. I’m particularly confused about how to say ‘girlfriend’, as distinguished from ‘friend who is a girl.’ Same with boyfriend. I’m sure there is a lot of…
At the Art Gallery in Italy Posted by Serena on Dec 18, 2015
The setting: the ticket office of the Galleria Nazionale in Parma The characters: the ticket seller and an elderly couple Tired from the long journey and the heat, the couple are trying to make sense of the notice board at the entrance of the Galleria Nazionale: Marito: “Oggi che giorno è?” Husband: “What day is…