Archive for 'Culture'
Indovinello Fotografico Posted by Serena on Dec 15, 2009
Here’s a seasonal photo quiz for you. By seasonal I don’t mean Christmas, we are fortunate enough to escape the pre-Christmas frenzy where we live! Here in the wintery hills of Lunigiana it’s business as usual for the contadini (peasant farmers), for there is still important work to be done on the land. Below are a couple of…
Il Trasloco Posted by Serena on Dec 6, 2009
In a recent post, I mentioned the enormous task which we have been undertaking di traslocare (of moving) my elderly parents to an apartment close to where we live. Mia mamma ha ottant’anni mentre mio babbo ne ha ottantotto ed anche se sono ancora abbastanza in gamba hanno bisogno di un po’ di aiuto. (My mum is eighty years old and…
Opere in Mostra Posted by Serena on Nov 24, 2009
This winter in Italy, lovers of Modern and Contemporary art will be spoilt for choice. Interesting art exhibitions are a bit like buses, nothing comes along for ages and then a whole load all appear at the same time. For me it’s going to be a difficult choice because I’d love to go to at least five…
Orti Energetici a Pisa Posted by Serena on Nov 21, 2009
Anyone who regularly reads my blogs will know that we are keen gardeners, and that we have a large orto (vegetable garden, or allotment) which provides us with nice fresh produce throughout the summer. So when I was browsing through the newspaper the other day and my attention was caught by the words ‘Orti Energetici’ (Energy…
Lucca Comics 2009 Posted by Serena on Nov 15, 2009
It’s not everyday that you can stroll along the historic walls of Lucca and encounter Spiderman! But if you happened to be there over the weekend of 29th of October to the 1st of November you would have seen not only Spiderman but just about every other hero or villain portrayed in all the most popular fumetti…
Facciamo San Martino Posted by Serena on Nov 12, 2009
Wednesday 11th of November was la festa di San Martino, a date which has particular significance for the contadini (farm labourers, or peasants) as it brings to a close the agricultural year. ‘Fare S.Martino’ (literally: to do S.Martino), is an expression used in the vast agricultural plains of the Pianura Padana, which means both to…
Omaggio ad Alda Merini, poetessa Posted by Serena on Nov 6, 2009
On Saturday 31st October I heard the sad news that la poetessa (the female poet) Alda Merini had died from cancer, aged 78. I only discovered her poems a couple of years ago, and I was immediately taken by their delicate sensitivity. Through her poetry, Merini describes her inner torment, longing for love, and mysticism. Alda Merini was born…