Archive for 'Uncategorized'
In Your Own Way Posted by Geoff on Nov 28, 2016
If you’ve ever seen Quentin Tarantino’s film Django Unchained you’ll have heard the lovely voice of Italian singer songwriter Elisa performing the song ‘Ancora Qui’ by Ennio Morricone. Elisa Toffoli, better known simply as Elisa, was born in Trieste in north-eastern Italy. Growing up in the border area of Monfalcone, (only 15 km from Slovenia…
Ode To An Odious Teacher Posted by Serena on Nov 25, 2016
A few days ago I wrote a post in which I recounted a pleasant episode that took place when I was a 15 year old student at the Liceo Classico in Lucca. This was a very strict old fashioned school, in which the teachers never paid compliments to the students, but only put them down…
Our Italian Olive Harvest Posted by Geoff on Nov 23, 2016
November through to December is the period in which la raccolta delle olive (the olive harvest) takes place here in Toscana, and 2016 has turned out to be the year of our first ‘real’ olive harvest, even if on a fairly humble scale, as we were to find out. Harvesting Olives For the past few…
Exploring The Parmense Posted by Serena on Nov 11, 2016
We’re still here in Salsomaggiore Terme, in front of the imposing Art Nouveau Terme Berzieri. Geoff is sitting on a bench, recovering from the tortuous drive. I make an effort to look at the building: “Com’è brutto! Perché fai finta che ti piace?” Geoff asks me. Geoff, who usually likes Stile Liberty, finds the building…
A Relaxing Trip – Part 1 Posted by Serena on Nov 9, 2016
I once read that on average it takes about 20 minutes for a couple in a car to start arguing about navigation or driving styles. Well, I guess I’m lucky then, because last Friday it took me and Geoff about 40 minutes before war broke out! We had decided to keep Friday work free, and…
At The Railway Station In Italy Posted by Serena on Nov 2, 2016
In English there’s a particular name for unhelpful public employees: jobsworth, an abbreviation of the phrase “I can’t let you do that, it’s more than my job’s worth”. The jobsworth seems to delight in upholding petty rules at the expense of humanity or even common sense. Isn’t it wonderful then, when you come across their…
October Italian Grammar Quiz – The Solutions Posted by Serena on Oct 28, 2016
Lazy astronauts up in your space station, and lazy submariners under the polar ice cap … where are your answers? Luckily some of our clever readers have had a go at this weeks quiz, which, if you haven’t yet seen it, you can find HERE. Now, let’s see how you got on. 1. Finché or…