Archive for 'Culture'
Italian Quiz – September 2015 – The Solutions Posted by Serena on Sep 18, 2015
This blog is dedicated to Elaine, the only person in the whole wide world who had a go at our September quiz! Elaine, when you come to Pontremoli you can collect your prize: a beverage of your choice at a local bar, okay? As for the rest of you …. no treats for you! We…
Italians Abroad – Part 2 Posted by Geoff on Sep 9, 2015
The Italians are world champions at self criticism, and are able to describe all their collective faults to a T. According to this article they are also world champions at being annoying and ungracious visitors to foreign shores. Here’s part 2 of Italians Abroad: L’Inguaribile Sbruffone All’italiano medio piace mettersi in mostra, e questo lo…
Italians Abroad Posted by Geoff on Sep 7, 2015
Dear Readers, we love your passion for the Italian language and way of life, we applaud your efforts to come to grips with it all, we admire the amount of time, money and effort that you put into organising your holiday trips to our strange and beautiful land. But please know that we are sooooo relieved…
Italian Quiz – August 2015 – The Solutions Posted by Geoff on Aug 27, 2015
Dear Readers, we’re truly touched by your responses, grazie mille! Our aim has always been to provide you with the kind of learning material that is most helpful to you, and your feedback helps us immensely as it gives us an insight into your needs as learners of Italian. Here are the solutions to our August Italian…
Italian Quiz – August 2015 Posted by Geoff on Aug 24, 2015
Dear Readers, we’re beginning to feel lonely, comments on our articles seem to be scarce these days … is there anybody out there? Let’s find out with a little brain teaser. We shall be expecting LOTS of replies! Section 1: The Right Word Choose the correct word for each of the sentences below: It was a…
A Naughty Italian Folk Song! Posted by Geoff on Aug 17, 2015
For the past four days, Serena and myself have been working for the Pro Loco di Pontremoli at Ponticello in Lunigiana, where every year since 1994 la festa degli antichi mestieri is held. To find out more about this enchanting recreation of Italian village life at the beginning of the 20th century take a look…
E’ Arrivato Flegetonte Posted by Serena on Jul 9, 2015
“E’ arrivato Flegetonte” (Phlegethon has arrived) is the main headline in most Italian newspapers at the moment. But what on earth is a Flegetonte? Well, in Greek mythology, Phlegethon was one of the rivers of the underworld, its name meaning ‘flaming’. In his Inferno, Dante Alighieri describes the Flegetonte as a river of boiling blood which…