tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68045642446748733022024-03-13T08:01:14.296-04:00The Smiling EggplantALL ABOUT ITALYCynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comBlogger870125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-83602179806896890342017-07-30T11:27:00.001-04:002017-07-30T11:27:31.018-04:00This blog has now closedThis blog has now officially closed. It's been an interesting ten years.<br />
<br />
Ciaone.Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-54279530616897973462017-07-05T17:07:00.000-04:002017-07-05T17:08:48.356-04:00Paolo Villaggio has diedThe enormously popular Italian comedy actor Paolo Villaggio has died at the age of 84. He was part of the large number of gifted comedians who played clueless, hapless characters but who were actually far from it in real life.<br />
<br />
What made him so famous back in the day was his persona as the oppressed little guy, a clerk or other employee who was unlucky both on the job and at home. Here he is as Fantozzi, his most famous role. He has missed the bus (literally) and is terrified of the possibility of being late for work. Watch the whole thing, it's worth it. For other videos, go to YouTube and search under Fantozzi.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sN6opoE0iZk/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sN6opoE0iZk?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-45969251338790981552017-06-30T20:20:00.003-04:002017-06-30T20:20:31.131-04:00Frugal pasta recipes from the New York TimesThe <i>New York Times </i>has a <a href="https://cooking.nytimes.com/68861692-nyt-cooking/3360366-easy-and-cheap-pastas-most-of-them-vegetarian">good compendium of pasta recipes</a> that they say are frugal, although the asparagus pesto (love it) may not be too thrifty. They feature a lot of the ingredients I love, like lemon, anchovies and cauliflower. Definitely check it out.<br />
<br />
In a separate article, the <i>Times</i> also provides some eggplant recipes from Sicily, where eggplants are big (as they should be). You'll find them <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/30/dining/eggplant-recipes.html?hpw&rref=food&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well">here</a>.Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-40015306315322049522017-06-29T20:04:00.000-04:002017-06-29T20:25:11.848-04:00Italian proverbs: chi puo' non voThis isn't actually a proverb, but a proverb-like saying found on a building in lovely Ascoli Piceno in north-central Italy (see below), in the Marche region of Italy. Ascoli is well worth visiting. While there, don't miss the local specialty of <i>olive ascolane, </i>scrumptious local stuffed olives.<br />
<br />
As I was saying before my attention was waylaid by considerations of food (happens all the time). In Ascoli they have a number of sayings sculpted on the front of buildings. Here is a pithy statement from 1529 on why life is not all it could be:<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Chi po non vo/chi vo non po/chi sa non fa/chi fa non sa/et cosi' il mondo mal va.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
In modern Italian:<br />
<br />
<i>Chi puo' non vuole/chi vuole non puo'/chi sa non fa/chi fa non sa/e cosi' il mondo male va.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
In English:<br />
<br />
He who can doesn't want to/he who wants to can't/he who knows doesn't do/he who does doesn't know/ and this is how the world goes badly.<br />
<br />
This is actually pretty deep when you think about it. And on this cheerful note, I wish you a happy Fourth.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6pOTXkXYis0/WVWU3GMOFFI/AAAAAAAADpY/g9WGHV6K1cMeVLmba4bkD2oIalm0XBOCwCLcBGAs/s1600/ascoli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="680" height="170" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6pOTXkXYis0/WVWU3GMOFFI/AAAAAAAADpY/g9WGHV6K1cMeVLmba4bkD2oIalm0XBOCwCLcBGAs/s400/ascoli.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<br />Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-66444057741823435852017-06-23T14:40:00.000-04:002017-06-29T20:43:59.063-04:00New York Times article on historic Italian librariesHere is an unusually good article on historic Italian libraries, published recently in the <i><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/13/travel/italian-libraries-hidden-treasures-books-architecture-art.html">New York Times</a>. </i>It has to do with ancient libraries seen from the perspective of the tourist (albeit cultivated) and not the scholar. As shown in the piece, these libraries are not just about books and manuscripts but also about beautiful art and architecture.<br />
<br />
Despite being a trained librarian and mega book lover, I myself neglected this aspect in my twenty years in Italy. I passed by the Marciana in Venice many times and never went in. This is mostly due to the forbidding nature of many of these places, which are carefully guarded and not tourist-friendly. Which is understandable, to a certain extent.<br />
<br />
If you go, make sure to prepare beforehand and confirm rules for access.Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-4106956886487924942017-06-21T15:32:00.003-04:002017-06-21T15:35:11.516-04:00Fun way to increase your cooking repertoireI thought about this brilliant idea a while ago, but I'm just now getting around to posting it.<br />
<br />
Here it is: you choose an ingredient. Not a main ingredient like rice, pasta, bread, vegetables, meat, fish. But an accessory ingredient, so to speak. Garlic, onion, different kinds of oil, different vinegars, different kinds of pepper, herbs (preferably fresh), spices, fresh lemon, fresh ginger, truffles (yum) and so on. You get the idea. Then you acquire said ingredient (not a token amount) and use it up over a shortish period of time, like two weeks or one month. This will force you to get inventive and out of your rut and comfort zone. Do not be indiscriminate and put ingredient x anywhere- that will not improve your cooking skills or expand your repertoire (is that a pretentious word in cooking? sorry). You probably will also lose money and time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Utux5zr1Hbo/WUrJFNYc8PI/AAAAAAAADo8/YgPr28pL9wEnt0gcyE5QTyXCWBAtlP0KwCLcBGAs/s1600/prezzemolo-foglie.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="251" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Utux5zr1Hbo/WUrJFNYc8PI/AAAAAAAADo8/YgPr28pL9wEnt0gcyE5QTyXCWBAtlP0KwCLcBGAs/s1600/prezzemolo-foglie.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Here's an easy example. What is the most used herb in Italian cooking? Basil? Origano? No- it's parsley. The Italians say "<i>e' come il prezzemolo, e' dappertutto". </i>He's like parsley, he's everywhere. Start out by acquiring the fresh parsley. Try both Italian flat leaf and curly types. Compare and contrast (I only use the former). You might want to get a parsley plant or two. You might want to grow your own, and then start a herb garden. Try making <i>salsa verde </i>(both Italian and Latin American). Try making omelette aux fines herbes. Tabbouleh. Experiment (it won't be too risky with parsley). Look up its nutritional value. Look up recipes and try them. If you know foreign languages, look up foreign recipes with parsley.<br />
<br />
If you follow this over a period of months, or years (why not?), you should significantly improve your cooking skills and food knowledge, and have fun doing it.Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-2623105565185813162017-06-13T21:20:00.000-04:002017-06-13T21:22:07.299-04:00Donna Leon, Earthly RemainsThis is the 26th novel of crime writer Donna Leon, who sets her books in Venice, where she lived for decades. Let's cut to the chase: it's very good. It came out a couple of months ago, and I usually obtain books from the library or Overdrive (e-books through library). But when I heard it was set on the island of Sant'Erasmo, I had to have it <i>right away.</i> Sant'Erasmo (below) is a really big but sparsely populated island near Venice, known for its vegetables and dear to my heart, as most of the islands near Venice are.<i> </i>So I shelled out sixteen something and got it on Kindle through the diabolical invention of one-click ordering on Amazon. It was worth it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_j57kq63xYs/WUCOWEVFl5I/AAAAAAAADog/eZPuI6Frwxs5XfB7NGzaaFNq81KgC5P4wCLcBGAs/s1600/71_santerasmo_blogolandia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1000" height="286" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_j57kq63xYs/WUCOWEVFl5I/AAAAAAAADog/eZPuI6Frwxs5XfB7NGzaaFNq81KgC5P4wCLcBGAs/s400/71_santerasmo_blogolandia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Our police inspector Brunetti is packed off to said island for r and r. He goes alone and meets an interesting old man with whom he rows around the lagoon and talks. Sounds boring but is not. Complications ensue, involving widespread pollution, corruption, and bees dying off. The peeps are interesting, and Leon shows that she has perfected her wry (she would call it bleak) view of human nature. There are more or less sympathetic characters, but she is masterful here in showing the ambiguity and difficulty of moral action across the board. A sort of philosophical-ecological tale with plenty of local color (literally, in the case of Burano, also featured along with Sant'Erasmo).<br />
<br />
Highly recommended.Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-5878006485564660822017-05-11T14:49:00.000-04:002017-05-11T14:49:20.005-04:00Trader Joe's frozen porcini chunks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
There are some ingredients of Italian cuisine that are hard to come by in the States. <i>Radicchio tardivo di Treviso</i>, seen below, is one of them.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--DUw0WIk93c/WRSuDnm7ZzI/AAAAAAAADoA/dsbpiK4tXg0ogUG47Mp2UiK0_p-qYKj9wCLcB/s1600/radicchio-rosso-treviso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--DUw0WIk93c/WRSuDnm7ZzI/AAAAAAAADoA/dsbpiK4tXg0ogUG47Mp2UiK0_p-qYKj9wCLcB/s400/radicchio-rosso-treviso.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NOT porcini</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<br />
Another one is porcini mushrooms. I've come upon the dried variety, of course, but there are obvious limitations. Next best would be frozen (also a compromise, but still.) So last week I was at my local Trader Joe's when I came upon their frozen porcini mushroom chunks. And bought them, naturally. Net weight 8 oz., price $3.69. Not bad. Imported from France. It must be a new item, since I haven't found anything on the Internet about them.<br />
<br />
My first use was from frozen in a simple pasta dish. Pretty good. The second was even better. I sauteed fresh onions in olive oil, added riced cauliflower, stirred, added the flavorful water from bag, added the porcini (cut into smaller pieces). Bit of grated parmigiano. Very good. An herb or two would make it even better. I'm thinking thyme.<br />
<br />
Obviously not a substitute for fresh porcini picked while hiking in the woods of Tuscany, but better than being porciniless.<br />
<br />
<br />Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-17273199257535484462017-03-30T20:18:00.002-04:002017-03-30T20:18:39.141-04:00Tampa ItaliansWe generally think of Americans of Italian origin as associated with the Northeast (well, with the exception of New Orleans.) But another Southern town has a significant presence of Italian-Americans, and they started coming around 1885. That city is Tampa in Florida.<br />
<br />
The history of the Tampa Italians (who were overwhelmingly of Sicilian origin) began with the establishment around that time of Ybor City. The area, just outside the downtown center of Tampa (which was tiny at the time), was founded by Spanish-born Vicente Martinez-Ybor (EE-bor). He set up cigar factories in Key West; subsequently, when the Key West Cubans (of whom my paternal grandfather was one!) got uppity, he decamped to Tampa. He and other Spaniards built a number of factories, which were mostly manned by Cubans but also a number of Italians (including many Italian women, who were relegated to the less desirable and less skilled task of stripping the tobacco leaves.) <br />
<br />
Other immigrants were attracted, such as Germans (who specialized in the decorative cigar boxes) and Jews (who were often merchants). Italians in the cigar industry spoke Spanish. The various ethnic groups began separate social clubs/organizations, which provided instruction, entertainment, socializing and even medical care. Here is the Unione Italiana in the center of Ybor City (7th Avenue). It is still active (probably less active than it could be.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LrwFUd1iWxw/WN2bjMHGfsI/AAAAAAAADnk/Ftvu5ExczagB1ML58QtFTB0xGqehqqlMACLcB/s1600/5142323813_c71a5ac446_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LrwFUd1iWxw/WN2bjMHGfsI/AAAAAAAADnk/Ftvu5ExczagB1ML58QtFTB0xGqehqqlMACLcB/s400/5142323813_c71a5ac446_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Most of the Ybor Sicilians came from the province of Agrigento in the South of Sicily (chiefly known for its magnificent Greek ruins). Specifically, they came from two villages, Santo Stefano Quisquina and Alessandria della Rocca. Another immigrant came from nearby Cianciana- Santo Trafficante. He and his son Santo were heavily involved in the Tampa Mafia, with his son Santo Trafficante Jr. becoming (improbably) one of the biggest mobsters in the US during his lifetime. It should go without saying that the great majority of the Tampa Sicilians were not involved with the Mafia. At present, there are a number of peeps of Sicilian origin in Tampa, many of them in prominent positions.<br />
<br />
Ybor City and its immigrants is a fascinating topic. You can find out more by reading these books (which I have read and recommend): Mormino, <i>The Immigrant world of Ybor City </i>and Urso, <i>A Stranger in the Barrio: memoir of a Tampa Sicilian.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-50330734972145829962017-02-17T19:28:00.000-05:002017-02-17T19:56:48.884-05:00Barilla Pronto pasta- a reviewI finally got around to trying this. The concept, which is appealing, is to avoid the boiling and draining that goes into making pasta. Is this as good as your regularly-prepared pasta? I'll cut to the chase. The answer is no. My skepticism is strengthened by the fact that this type of pasta was not introduced to the Italian market.<br />
<br />
Various formats are available, including half-length spaghetti (already questionable), linguine, angel hair and penne. I tried the spaghetti. The raw pasta is cooked in a pan. It is covered with cold water and stirred until the water is absorbed. This is actually not a new technique, it is called <i>pasta risottata</i>, that is, pasta that is made the way risotto is made- normal pasta is used. I tried this years ago (see the post <a href="http://smilingeggplant.blogspot.com/2009/11/i-made-spaghetti-risottati.html">here</a>) and I didn't like it then either.<br />
<br />
In all fairness, I only tried it twice, and it probably takes some getting used to. It might be especially useful if you make small portions and are in a hurry. But I don't intend to buy it again.Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-33165842306632767452016-11-21T19:32:00.000-05:002016-11-21T19:40:07.916-05:00Tha Catalan language in Sardinia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p-XNyogIi8A/WDORYBXHeoI/AAAAAAAADm0/afOM_5teqZQzgE9YyrsVR5rSCJ_MZUA7wCLcB/s1600/alghero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p-XNyogIi8A/WDORYBXHeoI/AAAAAAAADm0/afOM_5teqZQzgE9YyrsVR5rSCJ_MZUA7wCLcB/s400/alghero.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Italy has a number of linguistic enclaves, including those where German, French, Greek or Albanian are spoken. Of these, only the German-speaking area (Alto-Adige/Suedtirol) in northeastern Italy has a strong chance of surviving linguistically. This is due to their numbers, and to their history of social and political action.<br />
<br />
The <i>New York Times </i>has <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/21/world/europe/catalan-italy-alghero.html?_r=0">an article today</a> on a little-known language minority, the speakers of Catalan in Alghero (hard g, accent on the second syllable.) Alghero (in the photo above) is a small city in northern Sardinia.<br />
<br />
Not familiar with Catalan? It is a Romance language originating in Catalonia in northern Spain, but it is <i>not </i>a dialect of Spanish, it is a separate language of which the Catalans are very proud and protective. Here's a sample:<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 20.002px;">Tots els éssers humans neixen lliures i iguals en dignitat i en drets. Són dotats de raó i de consciència, i han de comportar-se fraternalment els uns amb els altres.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 20.002px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 20.002px;">All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 20.002px;"> </span><br />
<em style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 20.002px;">(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)</em><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 20.002px;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<br />
<div>
And here is a man from Alghero speaking the local dialect of Catalan:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BbNSP-CQJhg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BbNSP-CQJhg?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<em style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 20.002px;"><br /></em></div>
</div>
</div>
Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-57778948171602959142016-10-21T19:36:00.000-04:002016-10-21T19:38:57.732-04:00Anna Magnani, cat ladyAnna Magnani is one of the all-time greats of Italian cinema, and an Academy award winner. But more importantly, she was a <i>gattara, </i>that<i> </i>is, a cat lady. Specifically, a <i>gattara</i> is a person (usually female) who feeds and otherwise looks after stray cats. A male, a cat dude, would be called a <i>gattaro</i>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lJ_JTwL6Uk8/WAqk6BjKKCI/AAAAAAAADmM/WmOg6EYRNHgiiqq7li1ljAyqpL2B-4qtgCLcB/s1600/anna-magnani-e-i-suoi-gatti-4128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lJ_JTwL6Uk8/WAqk6BjKKCI/AAAAAAAADmM/WmOg6EYRNHgiiqq7li1ljAyqpL2B-4qtgCLcB/s320/anna-magnani-e-i-suoi-gatti-4128.jpg" width="249" /></a></div>
<br />
The great actress lived near Largo di Torre Argentina in Rome, site of important ancient ruins. She would go out in the evening with a basket full of food, a scarf on her head in an attempt to disguise herself (to humans). The square is still a hangout for kittehs, who now have an all-volunteer cat sanctuary to look after them.<br />
<br />
Check out Anna in her day job as actress in Rossellini's neo-realist masterpiece, <i>Rome Open City</i> (the scene contains a spoiler).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-5MMIMKhJNs/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-5MMIMKhJNs?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-21926992299823662802016-08-08T20:03:00.000-04:002016-08-08T20:29:25.899-04:00Sports vocabularyMany of us are following the Olympics, in which the Italians are doing well even as I write. They often do well in the Olympics. So let's take a little look at the names of some basic sports terms in Italian. In no particular order... although my favorite sport just happens to come first.<br />
<br />
<i>Nuoto</i>. Swimming.<br />
<br />
<i>Staffetta</i>. Relay.<br />
<br />
<i>Stile libero, rana, farfalla/delfino, dorso</i>. Freestyle, breaststroke (literally frog), butterfly, backstroke.<br />
<br />
<i>Tuffi. </i>Diving.<br />
<br />
<i>Atletica</i>. Track and field.<br />
<br />
<i>Salto</i>. Jump.<br />
<br />
<i>In alto, in lungo, con l'asta</i>. High, long, pole.<br />
<br />
<i>Corsa</i>. Running.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1xcFO9wj_F4/V6kb7zMDD6I/AAAAAAAADlQ/aAnuY2PqBzcS-SFpfFtfKTgiBeTEcI4PQCLcB/s1600/running5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1xcFO9wj_F4/V6kb7zMDD6I/AAAAAAAADlQ/aAnuY2PqBzcS-SFpfFtfKTgiBeTEcI4PQCLcB/s1600/running5.gif" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<i>Scherma. </i>Fencing.<br />
<br />
<i>Tennis</i>. (same)<br />
<br />
<i>Calcio</i>. Soccer.<br />
<br />
<i>Football americano</i>. Football.<br />
<br />
<i>Baseball</i>. (same)<br />
<br />
<i>Badminton. </i>(same)<br />
<br />
<i>Basket/pallacanestro</i>. Basketball.<br />
<br />
<i>Canoa/kayak. </i>Canoe/kayak.<br />
<br />
<i>Ciclismo. </i>Cycling<i>.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uz37e482VIM/V6kcYGC3hnI/AAAAAAAADlU/5eKEz60RE5UCWw-IyFzp1bzP_QwIVWSbACLcB/s1600/cycling4.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uz37e482VIM/V6kcYGC3hnI/AAAAAAAADlU/5eKEz60RE5UCWw-IyFzp1bzP_QwIVWSbACLcB/s1600/cycling4.gif" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i>Ginnastica. </i>Gymnastics. (in everyday Italian the word means "exercise.")<br />
<br />
<i>Equitazione. </i>Equestrian<i>/</i>horseback riding<i>.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Sci </i>("shee"). Skiing.<br />
<br />
<i>Discesa, fondo</i>. Downhill, cross-country.<br />
<br />
<i>Pattinaggio. </i>Skating<i>.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Pallamano. </i>Handball.<br />
<br />
<i>Canottaggio.</i> Rowing.<br />
<br />
<i>Vela. </i>Sailing.<br />
<br />
<i>Hockey. </i>(same)<br />
<br />
<i>Su ghiaccio, su prato</i>. Ice, field.<br />
<br />
<i>Pallavolo</i>. Volleyball.<br />
<br />
<i>Beach volley. </i>(same)<br />
<br />
<i>Pallanuoto</i>. Water polo.<br />
<br />
<i>Pesi</i>. Weightlifting.<br />
<br />
<i>Tiro</i>. Shooting.<br />
<br />
<i>Tiro con l'arco</i>. Archery.<br />
<br />
<i>Golf. </i>(same)<br />
<br />
<i>Rugby. (same)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Boxe/pugilato. </i>Boxing.<br />
<br />
<i>Trampolino</i>. Trampoline.<br />
<br />
<i>Lotta libera</i>. Wrestling.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xSRbK9yiCoY/V6kcvWA8ylI/AAAAAAAADlc/oZeiYTXlw9s_xMkEP4Mv1GLdJDDpFt2uACLcB/s1600/wrestling.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xSRbK9yiCoY/V6kcvWA8ylI/AAAAAAAADlc/oZeiYTXlw9s_xMkEP4Mv1GLdJDDpFt2uACLcB/s1600/wrestling.gif" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I imagine I've left out someone's favorite sport and that someone may be mildly resentful. Someone should go to the dictionary and look it up.<br />
<i><br /></i>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-8850073832858243382016-08-02T21:47:00.000-04:002016-08-02T21:47:58.808-04:00Italian proverbs- meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domaniThe proverb <i>meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina</i> <i>domani </i>literally means that it is better to have an egg today than a chicken tomorrow. This obviously indicates that it is better to have a sure thing in the present than expect a better outcome in the future that might not come about. It's the equivalent of "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."<br />
<br />
Obviously the Italians never paid much attention to this proverb or else they would have consumed all the eggs before they hatched and chickens would have become extinct, taking all future eggs with them. No frittata. No <i>pollo al mattone. Che disastro.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
For my little compilation of Italian food expressions, see <a href="http://smilingeggplant.blogspot.com/2011/02/small-compendium-of-italian-food.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jUAmZhoPHSM/V6FMyN5JsxI/AAAAAAAADlA/2nGwhQCTnUk-aqiLTs4tpdLzljDrrty4QCLcB/s1600/chickenoregg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jUAmZhoPHSM/V6FMyN5JsxI/AAAAAAAADlA/2nGwhQCTnUk-aqiLTs4tpdLzljDrrty4QCLcB/s400/chickenoregg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-22438820823521878302016-07-31T13:38:00.000-04:002016-07-31T13:38:02.355-04:00Altan describes 2016My favorite Italian cartoonist, Francesco Tullio Altan, must have foreseen 2016.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w9moZovB-7c/V542tenO6CI/AAAAAAAADkw/d2COH_cYq30HzmJkkWuPu6VHxQ76hsK9gCLcB/s1600/salviamolademocrazia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w9moZovB-7c/V542tenO6CI/AAAAAAAADkw/d2COH_cYq30HzmJkkWuPu6VHxQ76hsK9gCLcB/s320/salviamolademocrazia.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
<br />
Man- Democracy is in danger.<br />
Woman-Let's hope someone comes and helps it.Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-89625817431776082862016-07-30T17:17:00.000-04:002016-07-30T17:17:32.623-04:00Ms. Ginsburg goes to VeniceSeveral months ago, <a href="http://smilingeggplant.blogspot.com/2016/03/new-york-times-article-on-venices.html">on the pages (screens)</a> of this illustrious blog, I informed you that in July there would be an enactment of <i>The Merchant of Venice</i> in the original Ghetto of that city.<br />
<br />
And now they have indeed put on the play. As part of the related activities they also staged a mock trial in which American Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was part of a group of judges hearing an imaginary appeal by Shylock. The judges found in Shylock's favor. Amusingly, Justice Ginsburg's grandson played the part of Lorenzo (the lover of Jessica, Shylock's daughter.)<br />
<br />
The judges were somewhat perplexed about what to do with uppity Portia, the woman-disguised-as-male-lawyer who defends Antonio, Shylock's opponent. They find her guilty as an impostor without the proper requisites and sentence her to get a law degree from the University of Padua and a Master's in an American University. Unfortunately, the Faculty of Law in Padua would not allow a woman to study there in the late 16th century, and there were no universities in the United States at that time. There is also the small matter of the judges' jurisdiction... You ask me, Portia was a great gal.<br />
<br />
Kidding aside, Justice Ginsburg (although an admirer of Shakespeare- how can you not be?), maintains that <i>The Merchant </i>is anti-Semitic. I strenuously disagree. So Shylock is the villain (a nuanced villain, to be sure)? Is <i>Hamlet </i>anti-Danish? Is <i>Macbeth </i>anti-Scottish and misogynistic? Is <i>Othello</i> racist?<br />
<br />
If you want to read a bit more on this, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/28/theater/ruth-bader-ginsburg-rbg-venice-merchant-of-venice.html?contentCollection=weekendreads&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=c-column-middle-span-region&region=c-column-middle-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-middle-span-region&_r=0">here</a> is the original <i>New York Times </i>article.<br />
<br />
Below, see another great Shakespeare lover, Al Pacino, deliver Shylock's famous monologue.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/th7euZ30wDE/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/th7euZ30wDE?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-6936750896196280242016-07-29T13:01:00.001-04:002016-07-29T18:04:49.500-04:00Zucchini ideasI love zucchini (courgettes for you furriners.) Despite urban legends of peeps doing their best to get rid of the fast-growing little green ones by such means as unloading them on neighbors' porches in the dead of night, they are yummy. Make 'em alone, make 'em with pasta, put 'em in rice salad, frittata, as roll-ups, in zucchini parm, stuffed (easy in the microwave), in vegetarian lasagna, as carpaccio (very fresh, very thinly sliced), in baking, on pizza, with other grilled veggies in a sammich... Do not however commit the common American mistake of growing or buying large zucchini. Have you ever noticed that the word "zucchini" includes the suffix -<i>ino </i>(denoting smallness)? Oh, and do not neglect the flowers.<br />
<br />
Here is a small but tasty compendium of my recipes over the years featuring zucchini:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smilingeggplant.blogspot.com/2007/07/pasta-with-zucchini-fresh-tomato-and.html">Pasta with zucchini, fresh tomato and fresh mint</a> Zucchini and mint, uhmmm<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smilingeggplant.blogspot.com/2008/07/pasta-salad-with-peppers-zucchini-and.html">Pasta salad with peppers, zucchini and eggplant</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://smilingeggplant.blogspot.com/2007/08/spaghetti-with-zucchini-and-shrimp.html">Spaghetti with zucchini and shrimp</a> A classic combination in Italy<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smilingeggplant.blogspot.com/2013/07/zucchine-alla-scapece.html">Zucchine alla scapece</a> More mint, my favorite zucchini recipe<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smilingeggplant.blogspot.com/2009/09/pasta-with-vegetarian-ragu.html">Pasta with vegetarian ragu'</a> Mediterranean flavorsCynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-21913734088059760672016-07-25T20:37:00.000-04:002016-07-25T20:39:39.678-04:00Italian surnamesWant to get an idea of where an Italian surname comes from? <a href="http://www.cognomix.it/mappe-dei-cognomi-italiani">Here</a> is a fun site that will tell you how many families there are in Italy with the given surname, and above all, what its geographic distribution is.<br />
<br />
Open the link given above, insert the surname in the field marked "cognome," and you will get the number of families and how they are distributed over the Italian territory. If you are not sure of the names of the Italian regions indicated, below is a map of Italy that shows them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1q1Zd4rUD58/V5avAwG2fJI/AAAAAAAADkg/BGBGoOkxkSUWF-wZgIEzwIMauX7aLa-8wCLcB/s1600/italie50.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1q1Zd4rUD58/V5avAwG2fJI/AAAAAAAADkg/BGBGoOkxkSUWF-wZgIEzwIMauX7aLa-8wCLcB/s640/italie50.gif" width="548" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Note that some distributions may be misleading in terms of the ultimate origin of the name. Because of massive internal immigration (mostly from the South to the North, and to a certain extent Lazio, the area that includes Rome), some southern names may have a significant presence in Lombardia and Piemonte in the North.<br />
<br />
There are other features relating to genealogy, but most require a knowledge of Italian.Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-34767887195372043862016-07-20T13:31:00.001-04:002016-07-20T13:32:18.769-04:00An excellent Italian food blog- Memorie di AngelinaThere are so many excellent online resources regarding food and recipes that it isn't really necessary anymore to acquire cookbooks or food magazines. Unless of course it's your thing.<br />
<br />
The problem arises (especially with a foreign cuisine) in assessing the value and authenticity of stuff online. Well I'm here to tell you that the well-established blog <a href="http://memoriediangelina.com/">Memorie di Angelina</a> is the real deal when it comes to Italian cooking. The author (an American) writes in honor of his nonna Angelina who inspired him to great culinary feats. There's an adorable picture of the future lawyer/cook as a baby in the arms of nonna on his About page.<br />
<br />
Believe me, I vetted this site, and it was not found lacking. The proof of the <i>budino </i>was not in the eating (alas), but in thoroughly inspecting his post and recipe on <i>carne alla pizzaiola, </i>our favorite at home back in the day as made by my mother (Angelina!), born in Naples. Dude passed with flying colors.<br />
<br />
<i>La pizzaiola </i>is a simple dish made with thin steak and tomato and oregano sauce. At home we would mop up the delicious sauce with crusty bread (<i>la scarpetta). </i>No pasta needed<i>. </i>You can find the recipe <a href="http://memoriediangelina.com/2010/08/29/carne-alla-pizzaiola/#.V4-vOkYrLnA">here</a>.Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-21563414549738760842016-07-13T18:33:00.003-04:002016-07-13T18:36:18.363-04:00Word of the week- ciaone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vztwchdksEw/V4bBajZIKZI/AAAAAAAADkQ/b_uJ31FXlPwlhJmmb-uYvrfZi3MJ7JrrgCLcB/s1600/ciaone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vztwchdksEw/V4bBajZIKZI/AAAAAAAADkQ/b_uJ31FXlPwlhJmmb-uYvrfZi3MJ7JrrgCLcB/s320/ciaone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Want to make your Italian friends laugh? Want to astound your non-Italian friends with just how cutting edge and cool you are? Just replace "ciao" with "ciaone." The word is so stupid it's cute.<br />
<br />
"Ciaone" (cha-OWN-eh) is obviously "ciao" with the -<i>one</i> suffix (expressing largeness) added. Sort of a "big bye!" Although "ciao" can be used for "hello" or "goodbye," the neologism "ciaone" is generally used only for "good-bye," and is usually ironic or facetious. There is also a variant, "ciaone proprio" (<i>really</i> ciaone) that almost means "good riddance" (an expression that doesn't exist in Italian.)<br />
<br />
The new entry has attained the glory of being included in the venerable <a href="http://www.treccani.it/vocabolario/ciaone_(Neologismi)/">Treccani dictionary</a>. There is also an article in the <a href="http://www.wired.it/lol/2016/04/18/storia-ciaone/">Italian version of Wired</a> discussing the word's origin (there are many schools of thought on this weighty matter.)<br />
<br />
Ciaone e buona estate!Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-33018105016378022362016-07-13T17:15:00.000-04:002016-07-13T17:10:57.216-04:00Rice salad- insalata di riso<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ei2z7PAy32Q/SnNkiPbmOQI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/WTKF-IPCt7E/s1600-h/rice+salad.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364742120549005570" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ei2z7PAy32Q/SnNkiPbmOQI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/WTKF-IPCt7E/s320/rice+salad.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 214px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a>Everybody knows about pasta salad, but fewer Americans know about another popular Italian summer dish- <i>insalata di riso,</i> or rice salad.<br />
<div>
I just made it this morning. It's lighter and more refreshing than pasta salad, but the main reason I made it is that I had a lot of disparate stuff waiting to be used. Here's what I did:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Made rice for four in microwave because getting near stove in July is uncalled for. Use regular rice, not risotto rice. It should be <i>al dente. </i>If you don't know how to microwave rice, <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Cook-Rice-in-a-Microwave">here's how</a>. I do it all the time. When done, put in fridge to cool its heels.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then I got a large bowl. Finely minced my fresh flat-leaf parsley and basil (more parsley though). Got out half-can of solid chunk leftover albacore, carefully rinsed to avoid fishy taste. Added flaked tuna. Got pimento-stuffed olives, quartered. Added those. Got crinkly cherry tomatoes, quartered and added. Finely diced some crinkly red pepper, zapped briefly, added that too. Got out coolish rice, mixed everything carefully. Seasoned with salt and freshly-ground pepper (take into account saltiness of ingredients before seasoning). Doused with extra-virgin olive oil (Bertolli). Mixed carefully. Covered and placed in fridge. It needs to rest one-two hours.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This can be varied greatly. Here are some ideas:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Pieces of uncooked hot dog. Yes, this is authentic. In fact it's common.</div>
<div>
Finely diced cheese (fresh mozzarella is very good).</div>
<div>
Diced ham.</div>
<div>
Diced artichoke hearts.</div>
<div>
Hard-boiled eggs. </div>
<div>
Finely diced zucchini.</div>
<div>
Button mushrooms.</div>
<div>
Capers.</div>
<div>
Kernels of corn.</div>
<div>
Diced pickle.</div>
<div>
Diced cucumber.</div>
<div>
Cocktail shrimp (preferably fresh or thawed frozen).</div>
<div>
Halved or quartered pearl onions.</div>
<div>
Nuts, especially pine nuts.</div>
<div>
Other herbs (fresh only)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Not all at the same time.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-68629881489998370022016-06-28T14:21:00.000-04:002016-06-28T18:21:30.220-04:00Bud Spencer has diedItalian actor Bud Spencer has died, age 86.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How did the Neapolitan Carlo Pedersoli get the name "Bud Spencer?" It's a long and entertaining story. He started out after the war as a precocious university student, who then turned his attentions to swimming competitively and did very well indeed. He was national champion and was the first Italian to swim 100 meters in under a minute. He also was in the Olympics. Here he is in all his youthful glory.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8dgtzu0vjN4/V3K7KiQt5mI/AAAAAAAADkA/6oAXo7MDkFYL2c7DH3BcL3KhGJduCaFHwCLcB/s1600/budspencer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8dgtzu0vjN4/V3K7KiQt5mI/AAAAAAAADkA/6oAXo7MDkFYL2c7DH3BcL3KhGJduCaFHwCLcB/s320/budspencer.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Time passed, he got married and had some bambini. He tried his hand as a songwriter. Then stumbled upon an acting career and as part of the spaghetti western trend took the name of "Bud Spencer," a combination of Budweiser and Spencer Tracy. He lost his swimmer's physique but not his badassness, as can be seen here (with his sidekick Terence Hill aka Mario Girotti.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XwhZwnQNPCM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XwhZwnQNPCM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Not content with his meager accomplishments, he went on to become a businessman, pilot, politician and author. His last book, <i>Mangio ergo sum</i>, came out two years ago and was inspired by the anguished nightmares caused by a diet. Various philosophers come to talk to the hungry giant, who tells them his own views on life, and finishes up with a recipe. <i>Pasta e fagioli </i>seems to occupy an important position in his worldview, as it should.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Get to know more about this great guy at his official website <a href="http://it.budspencerofficial.com/">here</a> (English version at bottom of home page.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-67628133182903454132016-06-20T11:08:00.000-04:002016-06-20T11:11:56.302-04:00Rome has its first female mayorRomans have elected the lovely 37-year-old lawyer Virginia Raggi as their first mayor. She is also the youngest in Rome's history and a sign that Italy wants to get away from its traditional <i>gerontocrazia </i>(rule by old men). She is a member of the newish M5S (<i>Movimento 5 Stelle</i>, Five-Star Movement), a populist anti-establishment party headed by former comedian Beppe Grillo and until his recent death, marketing specialist Gianroberto Casaleggio.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_BZaqzFQrig/V2gBExz7XeI/AAAAAAAADj4/hdolcrixo64oWJ1oVbGw1HLxjttzOD8LACKgB/s1600/VIRGINIA-RAGGI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_BZaqzFQrig/V2gBExz7XeI/AAAAAAAADj4/hdolcrixo64oWJ1oVbGw1HLxjttzOD8LACKgB/s320/VIRGINIA-RAGGI.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Although she makes a very favorable impression on me (she even speaks English well), I find the entire M5S disquieting. When she ran for mayor, she was asked to sign a contract of sorts which stated that if she damaged the image of the party she would resign and pay 150,000 euros to them in damages. I wonder about the legality of such a contract, and think that as a lawyer she should be wondering, too.<br />
<br />
The M5S movement did well in other cities, notably in Turin, where an even younger (31) woman, Chiara Appendino, was elected mayor. All of this is bad news of course for the reigning PD (Democratic Party) and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-73728784640659438772016-06-19T15:36:00.002-04:002016-06-19T16:17:59.007-04:00Religiously affiliated hospitality in ItalyIt took me a while to come up with the title of this post. It will be about a new portal covering the vast number of accommodations for travelers in Italy that are related to the Catholic Church. But a few considerations are in order.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First of all, you need not be Catholic or even Christian. The purpose of your stay need not be religious or spiritual. Most importantly, the places included on the website are not necessarily what we consider Catholic structures e.g., monasteries and convents. Some are family-run farms, others look just like hotels. All have been approved and have some connection to the CEI (Conferenza Episcopale Italiana), the organization of Italian bishops. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now. There are a total of nearly 316,000 beds available in these facilities, which are wildly different and cover the entire country, from the Alps to Sicily. The greatest number are in Lazio, the area of which Rome is the capital, and Veneto, the area of which Venice is the capital. There are places with wifi, pools, air conditioning, and restaurants. The prices are usually quite competitive.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ivmkT0s_zO8/V2b301eGcNI/AAAAAAAADjg/vW4xdQ0YMNI_iYK5njTETJWurPkbOP-2QCLcB/s1600/lacasinacaprese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ivmkT0s_zO8/V2b301eGcNI/AAAAAAAADjg/vW4xdQ0YMNI_iYK5njTETJWurPkbOP-2QCLcB/s400/lacasinacaprese.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here is just one example. Above you see one of the many offerings, a family-run house in Caprese Michelangelo, near Arezzo in Tuscany. It has a pool and a restaurant. Prices for singles are 30-35 euros, depending on the season. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The portal is called <i>Ospitalita' religiosa </i>and can be found <a href="http://www.ospitalitareligiosa.it/">here</a>. On the right side of the home page you will find access to the various translated versions, including English of course. Each entry gives detailed information on the specific facility. An excellent search function allows you to refine your search not only by location but by other fields such as amenities. You will not be able to make reservations from the site, but each entry has a form you may send to the place you are interested in.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Highly recommended.</div>
Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6804564244674873302.post-476867083404936292016-06-11T18:21:00.000-04:002016-06-11T18:36:56.547-04:00Italian-English dictionaries onlineHere is a list of free Italian-English bilingual dictionaries online, in no particular order. None requires registration, at least not at the more basic level. I've consulted all of them at one time or the other and have my own ideas about them. In time I will take a look at each of them on the blog, providing an assessment and some sort of rating (they are not by any means equivalent.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://dizionari.repubblica.it/inglese.php">Hoepli dictionary</a> at <i>La Repubblica</i>'s website<br />
<br />
<a href="http://dizionari.corriere.it/dizionario_inglese/">Sansoni dictionary</a> at <i>Corriere della Sera</i>'s website<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english-italian">Collins dictionary</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.larousse.com/it/dizionari/italiano-inglese">Larousse dictionary</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.garzantilinguistica.it/">Garzanti dictionary</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wordreference.com/it/">WordReference dictionary</a><br />
<a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/italian-english/"><br /></a>
<a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/italian-english/">Reverso dictionary</a>Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00857842179930989890noreply@blogger.com