Archive for Why Do They Do That
Italian Prisoners Open Gourmet Restaurant
There’s more off-balance in Tuscany than that infamous tower, and I’ve got the story to prove it.
A couple of years ago, I watched Dateline or 20/20 or one of my other favorite American news programs in shock. Every year Fortezza Medicea Jail in Volterra, near Pisa, opens their doors for a few nights and doubles [...]
Italian Games
You have to get up pretty early to beat an Italian at his own game. I know this. Yet, I tried.
It’s blogosphere knowledge my father-in-law worries about my eating habits. He buys me chocolate to “fatten me up” and encouraged his sister to “talk to me about my problem.”
So, one day, after he growled at [...]
Better Late than Never - Poste Italiane
It’s a pretty widespread secret that our beloved, and much depended on, Poste Italiane sometimes lets us down
Just a quick hop, skip, and jump around the blogosphere will tell you all about it.
You know what I say to that?
Expectations, people!! It’s all about expectations. And, come on…give the poste a break! Sometimes they do come [...]
Heart Palm Leaves Make the Heart Happy
Unlike America, Catholic churches in Italy don’t give palm leaves for Palm Sunday services. What a shock! (You can read more about this unusual habit in last year’s Palm Sunday post.)
So, this year I was prepared. I arrived just in time to purchase this.
Apparently, Father Alessandro had already blessed this leaf, so the price went [...]
Grabbing a Whopper
As promised, I must confess why I was sans comment on many of my posts - and your blogs - last week.
Yes…I had a friend in town, but that wouldn’t have kept me away! No way - no how!
You see my friends, Calabria, and Italy in general, is chock-full of new experiences just waiting to [...]
Cutting Through the Tape - Part II
The saga continues…
When we last saw our hero, he was knee deep in nastro rosso and fighting his way towards the tourism office in Catanzaro.
Ma, perche’?
Because…in 2006, just as the handsome proprietor was set to build his B&B empire, the APT Tourism Board in Catanzaro announced that, in an effort to boost local tourism, they [...]
Cutting Through the Tape - Part I
Oh, how I TRY to keep this place upbeat and positive (I am speaking of the blog, of course), but sometimes you have a really crappy day - or, your husband does - and you need to share. And, sometimes…just sometimes…that crap won’t fit into one blog post. So, here you have…
“Cutting Through the Tape [...]
Two Things
you already know…
1) I hate being cold;and2) Italians have some pretty extreme ideas of what constitutes health.
Therefore, the following coversation between my suocero and myself should come as no surprise.
Me: (shiver) “I’m soooo cold!”
Lui: “Do you know why you are cold?”
Me: “Uh, si! Because it is cold outside.”
Lui: “No! You are cold because you don’t [...]
Do It Already!
Ahhh…la vita italiana.
Laid back.
Stress free.
Full of nothing but wholesome pasta and strong vino.
Right?
Yea. Right.
Don’t get me wrong. We have some good pasta down here in the south - and our wine ain’t too shabby, either, but sometimes you just wanna get going! You want to buy personal products in the middle of the day. You [...]
Accenti Italiani
I just *love* Italians…
You know I do.
One, on most occasions, more than the rest.
But, one thing I do not discriminate on is my love of their cute little accents…in inglese, of course.
My personal favorite?
“Cherrye”
It is no surprise Italians encounter difficulties with my name - Americans have had problems my entire life. In the states, [...]
