Archive for 'Uncategorized'
The Machine Gun Soloist: Part 1. Posted by Geoff on Jun 18, 2013
“Un giorno mia zia mi chiese di andare a pagare una bolletta alle poste. Io andai. Ma l’impiegato era lento e detti un pugno sul bancone. Nel movimento si vide la finta pistola che portavo sotto la cintura. L’impiegato credette che fosse una rapina e mi consegnò i soldi. Io pensai: “È così facile?”. E…
Without Title Posted by Serena on Jun 13, 2013
At the moment I’m reading a book by the writer Andrea Camilleri, world famous creator of the fictional detective Salvo Montalbano. The book I’m reading, which was published in 2005, is a historical detective novel entitled Privo di titolo (Without title). It’s set in Sicily, Camilleri’s favourite location for his stories, during the Fascist era…
Babel’s Tower Posted by Serena on Jun 11, 2013
Last weekend Geoff and I went to Zurigo, Svizzera (Zurich, in Switzerland), for my cousin Francesca’s 50th birthday. Francesca, whose parents are both Italian, grew up in Switzerland, where her father used to work for the Italian Embassy in Zurich. She married a Swiss lawyer, and has two teenage children. Bilingual in Italian and Swiss…
Focaccia al Mais Posted by Serena on Jun 7, 2013
Just outside Pontremoli there’s a bakery that makes a delicious focaccia al mais (cornmeal focaccia). As much as I’d like to buy it fresh every day, it’s not practical for me and Geoff, because we live in a tiny little village 10 km north of Pontremoli, in the opposite direction from the bakery. So, as…
Bananas! Posted by Geoff on May 17, 2013
When I lived in England, bananas were my favourite fruit. But I have to admit that I was never a big fruit fan until I came to live in Italy. I still like bananas of course, but the variety of really fresh and tasty fruit available here leaves me spoilt for choice. Plus, I now…
Rice and Stinging Nettles – Italian Style Posted by Serena on May 6, 2013
Whilst our orto is still in sad state after this long and wet winter, stinging nettles are growing everywhere like mad, so I’m going to make the most of them! Here in Italy, when the weeds start growing it’s traditional to go and collect the new leaves and shoots while they’re nice and tender. It’s…
O Bella Ciao Posted by Serena on Apr 26, 2013
Yesterday was the 25th of April, Festa della Liberazione (Liberation Day), which is a national holiday here in Italy. It represents the liberation of Italy from Nazi occupation and Fascist dictatorship, and the end of the Second World War in Italy. 68 years ago, on the 25th of April 1945, Torino and Milano were freed…