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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…
Gli Alpini – part 1 Posted by Serena on Jul 29, 2010
As I wrote in my last article ‘Al Passo dei Due Santi’, last Sunday my husband, my parents and I went to hear a concert given by the local Alpini choir. Gli Alpini (the Alpines) are an Italian military corps and the oldest active mountain infantry in the world. They are very popular in Italy…
Al Passo dei Due Santi Posted by Serena on Jul 26, 2010
Yesterday my husband and I took my parents to il Passo dei Due Santi (the Pass of the Two Saints) in the Appennino Tosco- Emiliano, located about 10 km west of Pontremoli a volo d’uccello (as the crow flies). The pass lies on the border between the regions of Toscana in the south and Emilia…
Come Picchia il Sole! Posted by Serena on Jul 23, 2010
Meriggiare pallido e assorto presso un rovente muro d’orto. To slump at noon thought-sick and pale under the scorching garden wall. These opening lines of Montale’s famous poem (here with a translation by Millicent Bell) perfectly evoke the ambience of a hot summer day. I don’t expect to compete with a Nobel prize winner, but…
Il Telefono Posted by Serena on Jul 20, 2010
Il telefono, for some a lifeline, for others a necessary evil. It’s good to be in touch, but sometimes ‘ti viene la voglia di buttarlo dalla finestra!’ (you feel like throwing it out of the window!) Here is a bit of useful telephone vocabulary: telefonare a qualcunodare un colpo di telefono a qualcuno chiamare qualcuno…