The golden hour — sometimes called the magic hour by photographers — is the first and last hour of sunlight. Spending an evening’s golden hour in the Giardino Giusti is a serene experience and a must for garden lovers. Continue Reading
Blog
First impressions of an Italian winter
The way a crowShook down on meThe dust of snowFrom a hemlock treeHas given my heartA change of moodAnd saved some partOf a day I had rued.
Robert Frost – Dust of snow http://www.poetryfoundation.org/
[divider][/divider]
It really was ‘a day I had rued’ – a seemingly endless, exhausting flight. 13 hours in the air, and that’s not counting the first 7 hour flight. We approached Malpensa airport, Milan though a dense fog at -3 degrees.
The jolt into winter came when I arrived at the station. More like arctic shock! It got me scrambling to the bottom of the suitcase for the piumino (puffer jacket).
The light dusting on the ground and trees was my first glimpse of snow, albeit through the train window.
What a first impression of an Italian winter!
Ben arrivati… Isabella
Packing for Italy, is it wiser to pack less?
The suitcase is packed after finally, a third was culled. Have I packed enough, too much, the right stuff? I’m suffering suitcase anxiety!
There’s been much agonising about what to leave behind. Further advice on the packing list has been received. Thanks, especially to my italian friends! I’ve culled about a third, but I’m troubled. The suitcase still looks quite full even though I’ve space-bagged the puffer jacket!
Well, the verdict on whether I’ve packed enough, the right stuff, or too much, will be in later during the trip. Of course, there’s still the shopping… two pairs of boots, maybe a coat (which I’ll wear home) and other treasures. Also presents for the loved ones. Hope I’ll be able to fit it all in!
Hmm, I’m definitely suffering suitcase anxiety now, maybe I’ll go and have another look.
Is it wiser to pack less?
A presto! …Isabella
What to pack for winter in Italy
[dropcap size=dropcap]W[/dropcap]hat to pack (and what not to) for a winter trip to Italy is a dilemma especially when we are heading into summer in Australia. Christmas in Italy has always been on my wish list and I’m finally going to experience winter there for the first time. Winters in Adelaide are cold, but nowhere near as cold as an Italian winter and I’ve never experienced snow. So, what to pack?Continue Reading
Travelling to Italy from Australia – making it easy
[dropcap size=dropcap]A[/dropcap]ustralians love to travel and I’m one of them. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics we took a record 8.4 million short-term overseas trips in the year ending June 2013. That’s a lot of flying time!
As you know, I love pretty much everything about Italy. But the one thing I really don’t look forward to, is getting there. Did you know that transit time from the major capital cities in Australia to Milan or Rome is around 23 hours? So, how do you make travelling as easy as possible? Continue Reading
A few of my favourite (Italian) things
The jasmine (gelsomino) is blooming on my verandah. It makes me feel homesick — for Italy. It’s been more than a year since my last trip and the absence of some of my favourite Italian things is being felt.
Some special things characteristic of an italian summer which I miss:
- The ora dell’aperitivo, between 7.00 and 8.00pm in the piazza with the heat rising from the cobblestones, drinking a Spritz Aperol before dinner.
- Mellifluous Italian voices enveloping me like a beautiful silk scarf in their musical tones
- Gelato, the real stuff, not that sweet, fake confection which is served up in Adelaide.
- The smell of fresh foccacia wafting up from the bakery (panicifio) below my apartment early in the morning.
- Swimming in the clear blue waters of the Ligurian Sea, warm and much saltier compared with the cold waters of the Southern Ocean.
Here in Adelaide we are coming to the end of a very wet winter. It’s been a time of hunkering down, keeping warm and trying to keep the Italian journey going.
One of my favourite (Italian) things is listening to my favourite Italian radio station Kiss Kiss Italia which comes from Naples. They play only Italian music, mainly top 20 with some news and talk and of course commercials, which I love just as much as the songs.
Another favourite is Capri a TV serial filmed on the Island of Capri, which is off the coast of Naples. It has intrigue, romance and some great characters. My favourite is Kaspar Capparoni who plays the blonde hero Massimo …handsome, kind, passionate, great physique… the perfect Italian man in my opinion!
Cooking is one of my passions and although I tend to eat out when I’m in Italy, when I’m home, Italian food is favourite.
I’ve recently tried my hand at baking focaccia… with less than perfect results! I found the recipe on a great food blog called Silvia’s Cucina, with authentic italian recipes by a young Italian woman living in Australia. Beautiful pictures and great recipes.
My focaccia didn’t look quite like Silvia’s although I followed the recipe religiously. But, I’ll have another go soon and let you know the result.
Sometimes it’s the small things — the voices, the smell of baking bread — that you miss most…
Alla prossima …Isabella