Today's post subject is taken from my A-Z Challenge Suggestion Box: 'Why don’t you write more about Italy and its heavenly cuisine through the rest of the month? At least, that is what I want to know more about. A closeup of a gelato stall, tossing pasta, cooking seafood…. drooool! You get the picture right?' Good… Continue reading F is for Foodies
Tag: italy
D is for Dude on a Bike
Today's A-Z Challenge is this rather snazzily attired gentleman in Piazza Del Popolo in the centre of Rome. I couldn't decide if he was on his way to a lunchtime rendezvous or heading back home to his wife to atone for a lunchtime misdemeanour! I particularly liked the way he stopped in the middle of the… Continue reading D is for Dude on a Bike
Don’t Leave Me This Way
One of the conditions of my WordPress Least Prolific Blogger (Overseas) award is that I’m only allowed to blog twice a year. So here is my bi-annual update. Unbelievably, we leave Italy in just over a week. Three years have flown by and, despite all my bitching about Italian drivers, Italian shoppers, Italian rudeness, Italian… Continue reading Don’t Leave Me This Way
Hooray Hooray, It’s a Holi-Holiday
I've just got back from a week's holiday Oop North, staying in places where Wi-fi is obviously just some crazy-assed technology from the future. No Facebook, no emails, no news and no Big Bang Theory. Did I miss much?? Quick Google search...nope, not a lot. Organising holidays is so stressful. Once I'm there, I'm fine but the planning and… Continue reading Hooray Hooray, It’s a Holi-Holiday
It’s My Party
Today's my birthday and I planned to celebrate with a cappuccino at a bar with the best view in Rome: it overlooks the Italian Men’s Swimming Team training pool. Forget the Coliseum or the Spanish Steps; this is the first sight you should see in Rome. However, I had a poorly child at home so, instead of… Continue reading It’s My Party
Locked Out of Heaven
Near where I live is Ponte Milvio, Rome’s oldest bridge. First built in 206 B.C., the bridge has always been a site of interest. According to Tacitus, the first century Roman historian and statesman, it was ‘famous for its nocturnal attractions,’ and was where the Emperor Nero conducted his debaucheries. In 312, Constantine, the first… Continue reading Locked Out of Heaven
Inside Italy: The Streets aren’t Paved with Gold
One of the things that drives me mad living in Rome is the dirty streets. As most people live in apartments, they have to bring their rubbish down to the street bins. I'm pretty sure they get emptied regularly but these pictures show what the bins and surrounding area look like on an average day.… Continue reading Inside Italy: The Streets aren’t Paved with Gold
Top Ten Questions to Ask Yourself Before Moving to Italy
I don't usually go in for competitions, especially not ones where me or my writing are being judged, but this week, I'm entering not one, but two blogging competitions. The first one is at Expats Blog, where you'll find my entry, Top Ten Questions to Ask Yourself Before Moving to Italy, in amongst hundreds of… Continue reading Top Ten Questions to Ask Yourself Before Moving to Italy
Rome Revisited: Fountain of the Four Rivers
When I first came to Rome, I did all the touristy things and spent hours wandering the tiny lanes, visiting piazzas and admiring monuments. Then real life and plain ol' laziness took over. Having guests last week (who seemed to appreciate all my cleaning efforts and brought a hefty supply of goodies so they can… Continue reading Rome Revisited: Fountain of the Four Rivers
Top Ten Tips for a Successful Week with Houseguests
Refuse to let them through the front door until their bags have been searched for Bird’s Custard, Patak’s Curry Paste and trashy magazines Exhaust them by visiting every single tourist sight – insisting that walking between each one is the only way to get to know the real Rome Forbid anyone from ordering coffee at… Continue reading Top Ten Tips for a Successful Week with Houseguests
Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head…or Here Comes The Sun?
It’s raining here – again. Despite Rome having a reputation as a city of eternal sunshine, it actually has a greater rainfall each year than London. Rome receives an average of 733mm of rain per year, whereas London only gets 587mm. The difference is that all this Roman rain squeezes into just 74 days but… Continue reading Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head…or Here Comes The Sun?
King of the Road…A Fairy Tale
Once upon a time, not long ago, the people of Rome woke up to find that some kind Being had left an item called a car on their doorsteps. Despite never having seen one before, had a driving lesson or been informed of the purpose of roundabouts, traffic lights or STOP signs, the people happily… Continue reading King of the Road…A Fairy Tale
Beauty School Dropout
The Italian Mammas at my children’s school are all extremely glamorous. They’re thin - none of them look as though they’ve ever consumed a slice of pizza, let alone an entire Hawaiian washed down with several beers. They dress in high heels and their designer label clothes are chic and tailored. Their hair is coiffed,… Continue reading Beauty School Dropout
Inside Italy: Make Some Noise
So I’m back in Rome after two months away. What’s the first thing I noticed? THE NOISE! My god, I can barely hear myself think (not always a bad thing). I’ve totally got out of the habit of apartment living, being surrounded by hundreds of people. The main culprits are: The Man Upstairs: while I’ve… Continue reading Inside Italy: Make Some Noise
Home ARome
I’ve returned to Blighty for a few weeks to escape the insane temperatures of Rome. I was hoping for cool breezes and light drizzle but, so far, it's been pretty hot here too. Fingers crossed for snow on the way... Sadly, HWW has been left in the heat to, well, work. It's far too hot… Continue reading Home ARome
Inside Italy: Mamma Mia
There must be some Italian mammas out there rustling up homemade tortellini and tiramisu but I haven’t met any of them. Most of my Italian friends are working mums who stop off on their way home to pick up a pasta pronto (ready meal) of lasagna or stuffed peppers. We were guests at a recent dinner… Continue reading Inside Italy: Mamma Mia
Inside Italy: If I Could Turn Back Time…
As part of my naïve stupid enthusiastic commitment to saying 'yes' to new experiences, last month I spent the longest two hours of my life at a traditional Italian folk music concert. Words cannot truly convey the torment I was put through but it was more painful than childbirth. The performers were a variety of singers, children’s choirs,… Continue reading Inside Italy: If I Could Turn Back Time…
Chocolate Brownies speak louder than words
Last Italian lesson of the year. A quick recap of the basics: Teacher: “Come ti chiami?” What is your name? Easy. “Mi chiamo Barb.” “Quanti anni hai?” How many years do you have? “Ho ventuno anni.” I have 21 years (if only). “Di dove sei?” Ok, I know dove means where. So where are we? Aha: “A… Continue reading Chocolate Brownies speak louder than words
Teachers’ Gifts: the thought that counts?
It’s the end of term here, which means the usual rigmarole of buying teachers’ gifts. When I was at school in the '80s, teachers’ gifts were pretty much unheard of. Any child who brought in a present for the teacher was looked upon as some sort of nerd who deserved a turn in the Poking Tunnel™.… Continue reading Teachers’ Gifts: the thought that counts?
Daddy Cool
Apparently it was Father’s Day in the UK yesterday…but not here in Italy. That is my lame excuse for totally forgetting, not sending my Dad a card (sorry Dad) and having to get up ridiculously early to print out a Father’s Day “keepsake book” for the kids to fill out and give to HWW. But… Continue reading Daddy Cool
Summertime Blues
It’s starting to heat up here in Rome. At 10am this morning, the temperature had already hit 27 degrees, the sky was a deep blue without a cloud to be seen and the sun was beating down. Sounds like bliss huh? Hmmm, sadly not. I'm sure I’m a lone voice with this opinion but I… Continue reading Summertime Blues
Inside Italy: Puppy Love?
I know the British are supposed to be a nation of dog lovers but the Italians surely take the (dog) biscuit. They really love dogs. Everywhere I go, there are Italians - or their maids - walking a variety of tiny dachshunds, terriers and Chihuahuas (Google Chihuahua-husky mixes; they’re gorgeous. Like walking beanie-babies). I know very few… Continue reading Inside Italy: Puppy Love?
The Fair Weather Fair
The school Summer Fair was due to take place on the last Saturday in May. I’m always happy to donate something fatto in casa (homemade) to these things, so the day before I baked my favourite Banana & Chocolate loaf and rustled up 40 Marshmallow Rice Krispie cakes. An hour later, the Fair was postponed for… Continue reading The Fair Weather Fair
Inside Italy: Mad Dogs and Englishmen
At work the other day, my husband (HeWhoWorks) found a couple of large cardboard boxes that were to be thrown out. They were just what we needed to store our little used (ok, never used) camping gear so he thought he’d rescue them. As he left work with the boxes that evening, the security guard… Continue reading Inside Italy: Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Arrabbiato Chilli Jam: Some Like it Hot
One of the things I really miss about England is the fantastic range of chutneys, pickles and relishes. I love them so much I even add pots of piccalilli and jars of pickled onions to my Christmas list. But it's often hard to find something spicy, tangy and tasty in Rome; Italians don't seem to go in… Continue reading Arrabbiato Chilli Jam: Some Like it Hot
