Auguri!

Buon anno cari amici!

Speriamo che l'anno nuovo ci porti pace e tranquillita'.

Divertitevi!

No trespassing!

I found a photocopy of this picture on the door to the closet in the guestroom. It reads, "Keep Out - No Unauthorized Personnel."

That was Il Nostro Inviato's way of keeping me away from my Christmas gifts until Dec. 25! It worked.

Baccala' per la vigilia di natale

Il Nostro Inviato sta preparando il cenone per stasera! Io invece vado in chiesa.

Tantissimi auguri di buon Natale!!!!

Natale in America

La proprietaria di questo centro di bellezza ad Atlanta festeggia natale alla grande!

Buon natale da Ciambellina!

Merry Christmas cari lettori!

"Ecco la verita'"

Ora si capisce come mai Berlusconi e' stato ferito.

(Grazie Ilaria!)

Protester hurls statue at Berlusconi

(Photo credit: ANSA news service)

Anger against Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has reached fever pitch -- a protester threw a small statue at him today in Milan, hitting the 73-year-old in the face.

I blogged about the previous protests (below), in which signs, some with witty messages, were the chief protagonists.

This really ratchets things up a notch. And it's quite different from the tomato that hit Sarah Palin (though probably similar complaint).

A Facebook page has already surfaced suggesting the protester, who has been arrested, be named a saint immediately ("Santo subito").

Il Corriere della Sera has the story covered from every angle (www.corriere.it).

Cena

Homemade pizza, prepared by Il Nostro Inviato

Bon mots

"Like a shot of espresso in a company full of decaf lattes."

Se la risposta è Berlusconi....

...allora la domanda è sbagliata.

(Trans.: "If Berlusconi is the answer, then the question is wrong.")

Mafalda al NO B DAY

Mafalda al NO B DAY
Originally uploaded by Rufus_thb

No translation needed! Clearly Berlusconi needs to start thinking about his second act.

No B day - Papi natale

No B day - Papi natale
Originally uploaded by liberareggio

Translation: "Christmas gift: Berlusconi in court"

Even NYC is shunning Berlusconi

Protests around the globe, organized via the Internet, have sprung up against Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

The images I've posted here are from Italy, Germany and the U.S.

Message for Berlusconi from L'Aquila

Some folks from L'Aquila, where a devastating earthquake took place, tell Silvio Berlusconi, "This isn't reconstruction."

No B day - E chi lo vuole?

No B day - E chi lo vuole?
Originally uploaded by liberareggio

"Even the Mafia doesn't want you anymore." Protest against Berlusconi.

No B day - global protest against Berlusconi

No B day - spegnamola
Originally uploaded by liberareggio

Giornataccio per il Berlusca!

Christmas in Italy

One of the joys of visiting Italy in December are the Christmas gift markets -- mercatini di natale or christkindmarkt -- you find in many cities there, particularly in the North.

It's a tradition you see in Northern European countries such as Germany, and given the teutonic influence in Northern Italy, it's no surprise cities like Trento (in photo above) also have these markets.

Even if you don't read Italian, take a look at the gorgeous photos of quaint little towns bedecked with stalls of holiday goods. See link here from the Corriere della Sera:

http://viaggi.corriere.it/consigli_di_viaggio/vie_dello_shopping/2009/trentino_mercatini/trentino_mercatini_specialeneve.shtml

Italian cars @ High in Atlanta

The High Museum of Art will soon launch its "The Allure of the Automobile" exhibit, which will not only feature the Bugatti you see above but also a 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C2900B Touring Berlinetta!

Non vedo l'ora!

The exhibit, which will show off 18 unusual vehicles, begins March 21 and will run through June 20.

For more information, visit the High's Web site at www.high.org

Ci vediamo li!

(Photo credit: 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante Coupe, collection Mr. William E. (Chip) Connor, photo © Peter Harholdt.)