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Una Splendida Villa Romana In Liguria Posted by Geoff on Nov 30, 2017
Imagine a rocky coastline rising from the verdigris waters of the Mediterranean sea. Now picture a perfect inlet between two sharp promontories jutting out like shear blades. Right there, at the pivotal point of the blades, at the apex of a steep inverted V, nestles a fabulous villa, la Villa Romana del Varignano. We’ve travelled…
Cappuccetto Rosso – Part 3. Posted by Geoff on Nov 24, 2017
Here’s part 3. of Cappuccetto Rosso. You can find part 1 HERE, and part 2. HERE. By and by Little Red Riding-Hood reached her grandmother’s house, and tapped at the door. Non molto dopo Cappuccetto Rosso raggiunse la casa della nonna, e batté leggermente alla porta. “Come in,” said the wolf, in a squeaking voice…
Cappuccetto Rosso – Part 2. Posted by Geoff on Nov 22, 2017
Here’s part 2. of Little Red Riding Hood. You can find part 1. HERE Little Red Riding-Hood was not in a hurry, and there were many things to amuse her in the wood. She ran after the white and yellow butterflies that danced before her, and sometimes she caught one, but she always let it…
Cappuccetto Rosso – Part 1. Posted by Geoff on Nov 20, 2017
My friend Vincenza is a retired Italian language teacher who’s been learning English with me for a while now. Recently we set ourselves the project of translating a version of the traditional fairy tale, Little Red Riding Hood. It was quite challenging, and a lot of fun. Here’s what we ended up with: “Now, are…
I’m Very Affectionate! Posted by Geoff on Nov 13, 2017
‘False friends’ is the very appropriate title given to words that sound similar in two different languages but, in reality, actually have different meanings. Here’s one that can easily catch you out. Affezionato … sounds just like the English word affectionate, right? And it would seem logical that you should be able to use it…
Che Palle! Posted by Geoff on Nov 2, 2017
Well, we’ve discussed bottoms, now I think it’s time to move onto another anatomical region that gives rise to a plethora of colloquial Italian expressions … balls! My recent inclusion of the expression ‘che palle’ in our blog Una Gita A Parma, and more expressly my English translation ‘what a bore’, seems to have caused…
Che Culo!!! Posted by Geoff on Oct 30, 2017
It’s interesting, and rather amusing, that an article about a cultural visit to Parma should generate so much controversy about bottoms! Well, let’s put that controversy to rest shall we? But first, a word of advice dear readers. I’ve said it many times before, and I’ll say it again: don’t get hung up on literal…