Jovanotti in Atlanta -- Oct 8!!!!

Jovanotti will be in Atlanta October 8 at the Variety Playhouse and I will be there, too! Non ci posso credere!!!

I think it's the Italian rapper's first Atlanta concert ever. I can't believe he'll actually be here; last time I wrote about him he was about to play a concert in New York.

My hope is he plays "Ragazzo Fortunato," my absolute favorite Jovanotti song. SEI BELLA (O) COME IL SOLE!



Se io potessi sarei sempre in vacanza
se io fossi capace scriverei il cielo in una stanza
ma se devo dirla tutta qui non è il paradiso
ma all'inferno delle verità io mento col sorriso
problemi zero problemi a non finire
un giorno sembra l'ultimo
un altro è da impazzire
ma se devo dirla tutta qui non è il paradiso
ma all'inferno delle verità io mento col sorriso
di 10 cose fatte te ne è riuscita mezza
e dove c'è uno strappo non metti mai una pezza (2 volte)
sono un ragazzo fortunato perché m'hanno regalato un sogno sono fortunato perché non c'è niente che ho bisogno
e quando viene sera e tornerò da te
è andata come è andata la fortuna di incontrarti ancora
sei bella come il sole a me mi fai impazzire s
ei bella come il sole a me mi fai impazzire.
Siddartha me l'ha detto che conta solo l'amore che
tutto quello che ti serve può stare dentro al cuore
ma se devo dirla tutta qui non è il paradiso ma all'inferno delle verità io mento col sorriso
di 10 cose fatte te ne è riuscita mezza
e dove c'è uno strappo non metti mai una pezza (2 volte)
sono un ragazzo fortunato perché m'hanno regalato un sogno sono fortunato perché non c'è niente che ho bisogno
e quando viene sera e tornerò da te
è andata come è andata la fortuna di incontrarti ancora
sei bella come il sole a me mi fai impazzire
sei bella come il sole a me mi fai impazzire
sei bella come il sole a me mi fai impazzire.

NYT Visits Gargano in Puglia

The New York Times says Italy's Gargano peninsula in Puglia is the "next stop" in travel. Wow -- I was there five years ago!

A Challenger to the Amalfi Coast?
The Gargano Promontory, on Italy’s eastern coast, has been known as a budget destination. Now it’s trying to change that.

See the article here:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/09/02/travel/in-gargano-polishing-italys-spur.html?smid=pl-share

Vi presento Leonardo!

Il nostro caro angelo è nato il 9 luglio!

Il 4 luglio.........(Baby's birthday?)

Come forse sapete, il 4 luglio è il compleanno, se si può dire, dell'America.

E doveva essere anche il compleanno del bambino/della bambina.

Ma sono quasi le 3,00 qui ad Atlanta, e vi posso dire con certezza che lui/lei non c'è!

Immagini che mi piacciono

Stanno sul cassettone, accanto al letto, quindi le guardo tutti i giorni.

Regali insoliti dall'Italia

Il Nostro Inviato è appena tornato dall'Italia e come al solito ha riportato dei bei regali e ricordini per me. Potete vedere nella foto: una confezione di caffe, una bottiglia di vino, una scatola di riso. Insomma, le solite cose. E poi ha comprato questi due libri.....

Eh ragazzi, è vero: sono incinta di quasi 8 mesi! Fra poco un'altro americano comincierà ad imparare quant'è bella la cultura italiana e quant'è sana mangiare all'italiano e quant'è appagante conoscere la lingua italiana (e la gente italiana).

Profumo d'Italia?

I've been begging Il Nostro Inviato to plant the flower you see in the photo since we returned to Atlanta nearly four years ago. In fact just about this time four years ago, I came to visit Atlanta to look at houses and begin figuring out my second tour of duty in the City In A Forest. And this flower -- jasmine -- was blooming and the scent was overwhelming and everywhere and it made me think of one thing and one thing only: Italy! For me, it has a similar power to the Italian liqueur, Montenegro: one whiff of that and I'm transported back to Siena, Italy, circa 1993. But I cannot actually recall where I would have seen this flower growing in Italy, in order to internalize its distinct perfume and forever associate it with Il Belpaese.

 

I mean, Siena's historic center has little vegetation, and that goes the same for Florence. Anyway if someone can tell me if this is in fact 'il profumo d'Italia,' I would be grateful. Although, in any event I'm over the moon smelling this lovely jasmine plant, growing on -- and I hope soon taking over -- my front porch.

ATL Italian Film Fest -- my picks

The 6th Annual Atlanta Italian Film Festival starts next week. I published the schedule (see below) and now I'm listing my choices for the top picks. I know it may be hard to get to all of the films so I think these two are your best bets.

1. "20 Sigarette"

(Info courtesy of the Atlanta Italian Film Festival)

20 Sigarette
20 Cigarettes
Director: Aureliano Amadei
April 5th at 6:00 PM

Aureliano is a 28 year old youth with a passion for film. Awaiting his golden opportunity he spends his time as an amateur filmmaker in small Social Centers. His one chance comes from director Stefano Rolla who offers to send him to Iraq as assistant director on a film about the Italian military "peace mission”.




2. "La Bellezza del Somaro"

La Bellezza del Somaro
Love and Slaps
Director: Sergio Castellitto
April 5th at 9:00 PM

A house, a modern family, a group of family friends, a grandmother, a foreign maid, a cross section of our society, a micro world. Parents and children are discovered and rediscovered in the unexpected provocation of a daughter, still a minor for a few weeks.

Italian Film Fest in Atlanta April 5-7

Here's the press release about Georgia State University's Italian Film Fest:

The 6th Annual Atlanta Italian Film Festival in collaboration with the Italian Film Festival of Miami announces all seven films! Please join us as we celebrate the best of contemporary Italian film as well as the beloved classic The Bicycle Thief to be shown on April 7th at 9:00pm.

All films are shown at the Rialto Center for the Arts on the campus of Georgia State University.

The festival is sponsored by The Center for Collaborative and International Arts.

The entire festival is FREE and open to the public.


20 Sigarette
20 Cigarettes
Director: Aureliano Amadei
April 5th at 6:00 PM

Aureliano is a 28 year old youth with a passion for film. Awaiting his golden opportunity he spends his time as an amateur filmmaker in small Social Centers. His one chance comes from director Stefano Rolla who offers to send him to Iraq as assistant director on a film about the Italian military "peace mission”.

La Bellezza del Somaro
Love and Slaps
Director: Sergio Castellitto
April 5th at 9:00 PM

A house, a modern family, a group of family friends, a grandmother, a foreign maid, a cross section of our society, a micro world. Parents and children are discovered and rediscovered in the unexpected provocation of a daughter, still a minor for a few weeks.

Basilicata Coast to Coast
Basilicata Coast to Coast
Director: Rocco Papaleo
April 6th at 6:00 PM

Nicola, Salvatore, Rocco, and Franco were members of a band when they were young but now each one of them has different jobs such as teacher, actor, etc. Sharing their common passion for music, they decide to attend together a music festival held in Southern Italy that will reunite them for the first time in the last ten years.

Matrimoni e Altri Disastri
Weddings and Other
Disasters
Director: Nina Di Majo
April 6th at 9:00 PM

Forty year old Nana runs a small bookstore in Florence. Despite the constant nagging of her well-to-do family, she has no intention of making anything more of her life. As for her sentimental interests, though secretly in love with Bauer a self centered novelist who takes advantage of her feelings to obtain small professional favors, she has pretty much given up on finding her Prince Charming and living happily ever after.

Il Padre e lo Straniero
The Father & the Foreigner
Director: Ricky Tognazzi
April 7th at 4:00 PM

In a Rome with echoes of the Middle East, a friendship develops between two very different men, the Italian Diego and the Arab Walid. The two men bond through the shared love for their disabled sons who both attend the same rehabilitation centre.

Immaturi
The Immature
Director: Paolo Genovese
April 7th at 6:00 PM
Six ex-best friends find each other again on the verge of turning 40 when a notification from the Ministry of Education informs them that their SATs have been voided and they will have to take them again.

Italian Immersion in NYC

The New School in New York City will be holding two intensive Italian immersion courses this Spring.

(Other languages are also on offer.)

Here's the email with all of the information:

We are excited to share with you our schedule of language immersion On the Go weekends for the Spring 2012 semester.

Here are the following languages and levels offered this semester:

*March 2 - 4*

Arabic Level 1
Chinese Level 1
French Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4
German Level 1
Hebrew Level 1 - NEW!
Italian Levels 1 and 3 - (Level 3 NEW!)
Japanese Level 1
Portuguese Level 1
Russian Level 1
Sign Language Level 1
Spanish Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4

*April 27 - 29*

Arabic Level 2
Chinese Level 2
French Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4
German Level 2
Hebrew Level 2
Italian Level 2
Japanese Level 2
Portuguese Level 2
Russian Level 2
Sign Language Level 2
Spanish Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4

You can register online at http://www.newschool.edu/continuing-education/on-the-go/ or over the phone at 212-229-5690 or 5620.

Department of Foreign Languages
The New School
64 West 11th Street
New York, New York 10011
t: 212 229 5676
f: 212 229 5679
http://www.newschool.edu/ce/foreignlanguages/

I forgot to post this for Christmas

Click to enlarge -- It's an Italian feminist joke! Can you top that?

(No, you can't).

Ital film @ GSU Thu - Feb 2

Georgia State University's student-run movie theater, Cinefest, will continue its monthly Italian film series with a showing of "Toto in the Moon".

If you don't know Toto, get yourself over to the theater. He was an old-school Italian comedic actor who had a touch of Jerry Lewis, Jonathan Winters, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, et al, in him. Very funny!

The film starts at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

The showing is free. Hope to see you there.

For more information, visit:

http://www.cinefestfilmtheatre.com

Or sign up for updates on Facebook.

Cinefest
66 Courtland Street SE, Suite 240
(At the corner of Decatur St.)
Atlanta, GA 30303

Babbo Natale è bravo

Guarda che cosa mi ha riportato Babbo Natale/Il Nostro Inviato dall'Italia! Il nuovo libro di Roberto Saviano. C'è qualcuno che ha visto la trasmissione televisiva o letto il libro?

L'ho gia' cominciato a leggere ieri sera ma ancora non so se ci sono i problemi che si verificano nel "Gomorra."

Cioè, credo che la redazione non abbia fatto granchè con quel libro; c'erano dei capitoli lunghissimi che si sarebbero migliorati parecchio se un redattore si fosse dato da fare.

Poi, c'era anche questo sotto l'albero di Natale:

Un "calendario goloso." Ci sono anche le ricette!

Spero che tutti voi abbiate passato un bel Natale!

Io domani torno a lavororare ma mi rimangono ancora qualche ora di liberta' ed ho in programma di passare un po' di tempo con degli amici e qualche ora con il mio nuovo libro.

Festeggiare Natale, secondo tempo: Panettone

It's not Christmas without panettone!

You can eat this bready raisin-studded cake for breakfast either plain, or use it to make french toast (that's an American adaptation -- I doubt the Italians do that!).

We also have traditional American treats:

Peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips on top, for a twist. Today I plan to make oatmeal cookies, and tomorrow possibly another round of chocolate chip.

Buon appetito e buon Natale!

L'albero di Natale

Innanzitutto, portiamo l'albero di Natale a casa. Si' che costa una cifra, ma subito la casa diventa piu' accogliente!

Poi, si mettono le catene di lucine intorno all'albero.

Ecco l'albero con tutti gli attrezzi e l'angelo in cima. Che capolavoro!

Buon natale!

Festeggiare Natale, primo tempo

Per festeggiare Natale da noi, ormai si comincia sempre qui:

E poi:

Prossimamente: le foto del albero di natale.

Ital film @ GSU Thu night

Georgia State University's student-run movie theater, Cinefest, will continue its monthly Italian film series with a showing of "Era Notte A Roma".

That's a 1960 film from the renowned director Roberto Rossellini. The film starts at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

The showing is free. Hope to see you there.

For more information, visit:

http://www.cinefestfilmtheatre.com

Or sign up for updates on Facebook.

Cinefest
66 Courtland Street SE, Suite 240
(At the corner of Decatur St.)
Atlanta, GA 30303

Italian immersion weekend in NYC

The New School in New York City will be holding a three-day intense Italian immersion course during the first weekend in December.

(Other languages are also on offer.)

Here's the email with all of the information:

Dear Students,

I would like to inform you about our upcoming language immersion weekend on Dec. 2, 3, and 4.

I am also pleased to announce that, as many of you have requested, we have added Russian and American Sign Language to our offering.

The following are the On the Go course offerings for December 2-4, 2011:

Arabic Level 2
Chinese Level 1
French Level 1-4
German Level 2
Italian Level 2
Japanese Level 1
Portuguese Level 2
Russian Level 1 NEW!
Sign Language Level 1 NEW!
Spanish Level 1-4

You can register online at www.newschool.edu/foreignlanguages or over the phone at 212-229-5690 or 5620.

If you are unsure about your placement, call us at 212 229 5676. We will have an instructor contact you to help determine the appropriate level.

Department of Foreign Languages
The New School
64 West 11th Street
New York, New York 10011
t: 212 229 5676
f: 212 229 5679
http://www.newschool.edu/ce/foreignlanguages/
www.facebook.com/newschool.foreignlanguages
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8JQS_CCXc8

Ital. film at GSU Thursday night (Nov. 3)

Georgia State University's student-run movie theater, Cinefest, will continue its monthly Italian film series with a showing of "Come Te Nessuno Mai."

That's a 2000 film from the director Gabriele Muccino. The film starts at 7 p.m.

Hope to see you there. The small theater was full last month so get there early. Plus, dear Italophiles, it's free!

For more information, visit:

http://www.cinefestfilmtheatre.com

Or sign up for updates on Facebook.

Cinefest
66 Courtland Street SE, Suite 240
(At the corner of Decatur St.)
Atlanta, GA 30303

Today's Laughs

The first one is the best!

Il Trota ha detto che per non ingrassare mangia solo il buco della ciambella.

Il Trota ha detto che quando il suo papi è caduto voleva chiamare il 118, ma non ricordava il numero.

Il Trota ha detto che per non far cadere il padre di notte dal letto lo farà dormire di giorno.

Leggendo i necrologi, Il Trota ha detto che non capisce come fa la gente a morire in ordine alfabetico

Il Trota ha detto che non capisce perché alcune tazzine da caffè hanno il manico a sinistra ed altre a destra

Il Trota ha detto che non ha bisogno delle chiavi inglesi perché non ha mai avuto una casa a Londra

Il Trota ha detto che spiare le coppiette in macchina non è reato ma fecondazione assistita.

Il Trota ha detto che non capisce come mai tutti come password scelgono sempre solo asterischi

Il Trota ha detto che i libri che ha a casa non hanno l'indice ma il medio

Il Trota ha detto che Garibaldi era un drogato perché si faceva l'eroina

Il Trota ha detto che una gallina può fare un uovo duro se lavora sodo

Il Trota ha detto che sta scrivendo un libro su se stesso, ma arrivato alla schiena proprio non ci riesce

Il Trota ha detto che le rose senza spine vanno a batteria

Il Trota ha detto che il poliziotto più sfigato è quello che muore al Posto di Blocco, mentre il più fortunato è Blocco

Il Trota ha detto che il Sahara è un deserto e su questo non ci piove...

*

GRAZIE ILARIA!

Street art in Milan (literally)

Scattato dal Nostro Inviato.

A little Dante in my kitchen

I have the entire text of Dante's Divine Comedy.

On the wall in my kitchen.

Every word! Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso.

From: "Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita," all the way to "l'amor che move il sole e l'altre stelle." (That's the Dante version of from alpha to omega).

Thanks, of course, to Il Nostro Inviato (che oggi scappa di nuovo per Italia).

He bought the poster somewhere in Italy as a Christmas gift a few years back and I finally had it framed this month.

I added something else: a magnifying glass so I can read verses while he prepares dinner. Because otherwise the type is way too small and no one will ever be able to read a word of it!

So if you have a hankering for a little bit of Florence's greatest poet, come on over!

Actually I should mention, most parts of The Divine Comedy are freakin' impossible so maybe this is a good way to tackle the text. You know, a canto or two, between dinner courses.

(You can find a great way to look at the entire text online here in Italian and here in English. It's the entire text, organized canto by canto so you can read as little or as much as you want).

Ce l'ha fatta! Incredibile

Italian Prime Minister Silvo Berlusconi survives another confidence vote in parliament. Him and cats -- nine lives.

Italian Film Series at GSU (Atlanta)

Georgia State University's student-run movie theater, Cinefest, has started an Italian film series.

Yay!

It will show an Italian film on the first Thursday of every month. The series began last week with "Travolti Da Un Insolito Destino Nell'Azzurro Mare D'Agosto" with Giancarlo Giannini.

Next month, the cinema will show "Come Te Nessuno Mai," di Gabriele Muccino.

(There's also a separate series focused on Italian horror directors such as Dario Argento).

It's a great little movie theater. And they even have popcorn! Plus the movies in this series are free. So really, there's no reason NOT to come!

For more information, visit:

http://www.cinefestfilmtheatre.com

Or sign up for updates on Facebook.

Cinefest
66 Courtland Street SE, Suite 240
(At the corner of Decatur)
Atlanta, GA 30303

Fiona, la nostra bella gatta

Col bel tempo ancora qui ad Atlanta, Fiona gradisce un sonnolino in terrazza.

Weekend Italian immersion course in NYC

Just got this email from the New School in New York City:

Dear LII students,

I hope that this email finds you well.

I would like to inform you about our upcoming language immersion weekend on October
21, 22 and 23.

We are offering the following languages and levels:

American Sign Language 1 (NEW)
Arabic 1
Chinese 1
German 1
Italian 1
Japanese 1
Portuguese 1
Russian 1 (NEW)
French 1, 2, 3, 4
Spanish 1, 2, 3, 4

You can register online at www.newschool.edu/foreignlanguages or over the phone at 212-229-5690 or 5620.

***
Nota bene:
I took a Spanish language immersion course in New York through SUNY New Paltz a few years back, and it was great!

Diner's Journal: Summer pleasures

Here's something we eat a lot in the summer:

Pomodori dal giardino
*

Le linguine ai frutti di mare...

....With scallops

Today's Berlusconi Joke

From our wonderful friend Ilaria:

Un tizio entra in un bar supertecnologico per bere qualcosa.

Il barista è un robot e gli chiede qual è il suo quoziente d' intelligenza: “150” è la risposta.

Allora il robot gli serve un whisky di malto di 16 anni, e inizia a parlargli del riscaldamento del globo, dell’interdipendenza ambientale, di problemi di meccanica quantistica, nanotecnologie ecc...

L'’uomo, incuriosito, decide di testare ancora il robot.

Ritorna il giorno dopo ed il robot gli domanda qual è il suo quoziente d'intelligenza.

L'uomo risponde: "90."

Allora il robot gli serve una birra, e inizia a parlargli di calcio, di donne, dei suoi piatti preferiti, ecc...

Sempre più intrigato, il tizio ritorna ancora nel bar il giorno dopo ed il robot gli richiede qual è il suo quoziente d'intelligenza.

Il tizio risponde: “40”.

Allora il robot gli serve un bicchiere di Tavernello e poi gli chiede:

“Allora, si vota per Berlusconi anche stavolta, eh?”

Non è il solito vino

Ma dove l'abbiamo preso e quando? (Cioè noi due non siamo mai stati nella provincia di Grosseto).

Ed è anche possibile che fu un regalo.

Comunque sia, questo vino era buono, e fra poco vi dirò perché.

Birreria @ Eataly, New York

"Birreria" (=beer bar) is not a word that you see everyday in the USA, even in New York.

But this is the rooftop beer and winebar at the Italian food emporium, Eataly in New York so you begin to expect the unexpected.

And what a view!

Here's something else you don't see much in America (or even indeed in Italy): wine served on draft from barrels.

If you happen to be near Fifth Avenue and 23rd Street in New York, stop in at Eataly for a nibble.

Italian food and wine lovers may be disappointed by the prices (New York-style, but of course) but not with the food and drink.

Buon appetito!

Caffe @ Eataly, New York

It's always a good time for an espresso. Il Nostro Inviato couldn't resist when we stopped in at Eataly in New York this past week.

Eataly = huge emporium of Italian food and drink in Manhattan

What's ailing Italy? Read The Economist

This special report from The Economist (you can see the cover in this photo) is the most thorough I've seen on Italy's economic, social and institutional problems. Oh it ain't pretty! But if you're at all interested in Italy, it's definitely worth a read.

In fact, you can even order reprints! (Sadly enough, I'm thinking of doing just that).

Another English-language periodocal, The New Yorker, has also produced a solid report (below) on Berlusconi's shenanigans, and what it says about the country he rules.

Italian beer guide

Il Nostro Inviato's friend, Mike, gave him this guide to Italian beers, and I've been meaning to post a photo for a long time.

There's a beer revolution going on in Italy, and if you wanted to plan a trip around Italian breweries and innovative beer bars, this book would be your guide.

Actually, I think Il Nostro Inviato would like to do just that!

And there are some really good Italian craft beers. I suppose it shouldn't be surprising since Italians simply know what to do once they have good ingredients in their hands whether you're talking about food or drink.

Caffe Kimbo @ Toscano & Sons

Do you remember a few months back I was oohing and ahhing over Caffe Kimbo?

Turns out I CAN buy it in Atlanta at Toscano & Sons on Atlanta's Westside.

YAY!

While I was shopping there for coffee and biscotti and fresh bread, I also picked up a really great mozzarella and prosciutto sandwich.

They'll make them fresh for you so stop in -- you won't be disappointed.

Buon appetito!

Toscano & Sons Italian Market
1000 Marietta St NW # 106
Atlanta, GA 30318-0524
(404) 815-8383

Alla ricerca di ciambelline in USA

Va bene, sinceramente, non si trovano facilmente le buone ciambelline qui.

Quelle che si vedono nella foto erano buone, ma con rispetto alle amatissime (da me) paste italiane, erano troppo zuccherose e troppo pesanti.

Beh, allora, bisogna che io mi fermi presto dalla pasticcieria Patrizio Cosi a Firenze (magari!).

La Fiat 500 è qui!

E quando dico che la 500 è qui, voglio dire che è arrivata non solamente ad Atlanta, ma proprio nel mio vicinato!

Bellina, no?

Tutti adorano la cucina italiana (in USA)

L'intero numero di Bon Appetit si dedica alle ricette italiane e soprattutto ai trucchi che i cuochi italiani (voi!) usano per creare le delizie.

Secondo me si ignora in Italia quanto gli americani si sono ormai appassionati della cucina italiana.

Qui si trovano ristoranti "toscani" e pizzerie napolitane, ecc. E' proprio una mania. E non si vede la stessa passione per la cucina francese o tedesca o persino spagnola.

Comunque buon appetito!

I used to live here....

And by here, I mean I used to share an apartment at the top of the Medieval stone tower you see in the photo.

Il Nostro Inviato took this picture while he was visiting Florence last month.

Some things never change. To put it bluntly, it will never suck to live in a tower in the center of Florence (near the Arco di San Pierino where you'd see the heroin addicts crowded around the Antico Noe sandwich shop that was tucked into the vault of the arch).

To be sure, it was cold during the winter because there was no heat (I only lived there for about six months). But the highest floor of the tower contained one large open room that was outfitted with windows on three sides, and a large fireplace.

With or without a glass of Brunello, I found the view from the top to be quite compelling, to put it mildly.

What I'm reading now: Bell'Italia!

Bell'Italia, one of the most beautiful magazines ever published!

I know one would normally follow the words 'What I'm reading' with the title of some profound novel, but, well, reading Bell'Italia is a fine use of one's time (or at least MY time!).

It patiently explores every corner of Italy, and every aspect of Italian culture, while publishing National Geographic-caliber photos. It also includes lots of fold-out diagrams and maps!

Where can you buy it?

Well, I believe my copy was purchased at the airport in Florence, and I have not seen it in the U.S. (yes, I mean, even in New York, I'm not sure if they sell it....And of course if they do, it will cost you at least $10!).

Caffe Mingo!

Slowly but surely, I'm allowing myself to open the Christmas-in-April gifts that Il Nostro Inviato brought back from Florence.

And the can of Caffe Mingo topped the list. I've never had it before and it's good!

Caffe Mingo. Caffe Quarta. Caffe Guglielmo. Caffe Kimbo.

I've tried all of these Italian coffee brands in the past few years. Am I ever going to be content again with just Lavazza?

Doubt it! It just seems like all of the other coffees are much stronger.

That's not too surprising when you're dealing with a small regional coffee brand that's made in southern Italy, such as Quarta.

But Caffe Mingo is made in Florence (Borgo San Lorenzo, actually).

Kind of cool to think I'm still discovering new things to love almost 20 years after I stepped foot in Italy for the first time.

Christmas in April (Il Nostro Inviato rincasa)

Il Nostro Inviato was in Florence last week and he was very generous with the gifts that be brought back.

Basically, this is a picture of some of my favorite things in the world. Shoot, they are some of the world's best things, period!

*Italian newspapers and magazines (Panorama, Bell'Italia)
*Taralli (a crunchy snack from Puglia)
*Italian coffee (this time Caffe Mingo and Caffe Manaresi)
*The Italian puzzle magazine (Settimana Enigmistica)
*Italian wine (vin santo & biscotti and a bottle of Morellino di Scansano which you can't see)
*Real Italian biscotti for dipping in coffee

Please note, there are also treats for Il Nostro Inviato:
*The Vin santo; trust me, it's for him!
*Oregano
*Saffron (in the yellow packet)

Ah la dolce vita!

Prima c'era la latteria dove lavorava la Paola

Quest'angolo a Firenze, sì che lo conosco. Ma La Gabbia? Ma che l'è?

Prima c'era la latteria dove compravo degli etti di gorgonzola, qualche bottiglia di birra, a volte una confezione di mozzarella e, chiaramente, il latte. Ora scomparsa.

Forse si puo' dire, Plus ca change, plus ca change...

Questa foto l'ha scattata Il Nostro Inviato. Stava a Firenze durante la fine della settimana, e si è fermato alle solite tappe del vicinato dove abitavamo noi.

Wish you were here (Il Nostro Inviato torna a Firenze)

Il Nostro Inviato is in bella Firenze today and look at this gorgeous photo. Looks like morning to me!

He snapped this photo at Patrizio Cosi, my favorite bar/pasticcieria in Florence.

And do I need to mention that the ciambellina you see in the photo is my favorite pastry?!

A chi ama dormire....

Dalla mia maestra, Antonella:

A chi ama dormire ma si sveglia di buon umore
A chi saluta ancora con un bacio
A chi lavora molto e si diverte di più
A chi ha l'entusiasmo di una bambina e i pensieri di una donna
A chi va in fretta in auto ma non suona ai semafori
A chi arriva in ritardo ma non cerca scuse
A chi spegne la televisione per fare due chiacchiere
A chi è felice il doppio quando fa a metà
A chi si alza presto per aiutare un amico
A chi vede nero solo quando è buio
A chi non aspetta il Natale per essere migliore...

Buon anno!

(Vedrete, vi offro questo messaggio parecchio in ritardo ma non cercherò scuse!)