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How to say hello in Italian! Posted by Geoff on May 10, 2013
Ciao! is probably one the best known Italian words in the world. It’s an informal greeting which can be used at any time of the day and is also used to say goodbye. Just out of curiosity let’s have a quick look at the etymology of the word: ciao comes from the Venetian dialect word…
From The Computer To The Spade! Posted by Geoff on Apr 30, 2013
I recently heard about a fascinating initiative taking place in the suburbs of Rome. It’s called EutOrto, and the following newspaper article, which I’ve edited and translated, explains what it’s all about: Dal computer alla vanga, da tre anni in cassa integrazione in 20 ex Eutelia hanno preso in gestione un terreno all’Ardeatino From the…
One Muddy Day in Tuscany Posted by Geoff on Apr 9, 2013
Would the book/film ‘Under The Tuscan Sun’ have met such great success if it had been entitled ‘Under The Tuscan Rain’? I doubt it. Of course Tuscany, in the minds of most romantically inclined foreigners, is synonymous with sunshine. If you’ve only ever spent a couple of idyllic sultry weeks in our fair region it’s…
It’s Snowing in Venice Posted by Geoff on Mar 29, 2013
If you plan on taking an Easter vacation in romantic Venice you would be well advised to do a bit of research on what to expect from the weather. Should you take lots of warm clothes, a waterproof jacket and stout shoes, or is it time to dig out something light and summery, perhaps even…
Ai Gatti Non Piace La Pioggia! Posted by Geoff on Mar 12, 2013
Ai gatti non piace la pioggia, questo lo so perché sono gatta anch’io. Noi gatti siamo creature sensibili, ed anche se siamo capaci di sopportare tante cose che agli essere umani sarebbero insopportabili apprezziamo le comodità di un posto caldo, asciutto, ed accogliente con una buona scorta di croccantini, proprio come la casa di Geoff…
Figli di Annibale Posted by Geoff on Feb 28, 2013
Figli di Annibale (Hannibal’s Children) is the name of a song by the Neapolitan group Amalmegretta, whose music is a mix of reggae, dub, Neapolitan songs and Arabic chants. The song’s lyrics shouldn’t be viewed as factual, or as a history lesson, but rather as an allusion to Italy’s multi ethnic origins, which I’ll discuss…
Annalisa e Claudio fanno una passeggiata nella neve Posted by Geoff on Feb 27, 2013
Over the last couple of weeks we’ve had a lot of snow. Now, seeing the landscape transformed in such a sudden and dramatic manner is a wonderful experience … for a couple of days! Then the boredom sets in: va bene, signora Natura, hai fatto una cosa splendida e molto impressionante, ma adesso basta, ci…