When I wake up tomorrow morning, it is going to be a different sort of day. Inspired by Cherrye at My Bella Vita and Benny at Fluent in 3 Months, I have decided to kick my Italian studies into full gear starting September 1st (hey, isn’t it back to school time?). I have decided to ...
Archives for August 2009
Every Sunday Evening
Romani playing bocce in Villa Borghese by Ben just Ben Every Sunday evening during the warm weather months, of which there are many, the old men near where I live play bocce. This game is played all over Italy, but here it is a local ritual that takes place only on Sunday ...
The Amateur Gardener Tackles Lavender
There are times when I love the internet and then times when I really love the internet. When it comes to learning about what’s going on in my garden, it’s generally the latter. Earlier this year I planted three new lavender plants, and they have been very happy in their new home. ...
Something Fishy in Atrani
Today I went for a beautiful swim in Atrani, and while I was there the city was setting up for the Festa del Pesce Azzurro, or the Festival of the Blue Fish, which takes place tonight. The city is covered with fishing nets like a haunted house might be with spider webs, and there ...
A Day Swimming in Capri at the Faro
Last month when I went on a boat tour around Capri, one real treat was seeing the Faro (lighthouse) on Punta Carena for the first time. The second most important and powerful lighthouse in Italy, it is a striking pink and white striped structure placed on a promontory shaped ...
Happy Hour and the Bells of San Benedetto in Amalfi
I received such happy comments about the church bells from the Ferragosto Procession in Amalfi that I just have to share another video with you all. Turns out I’m not the only one who loves the daily ringing of the bells across Italy! On Tuesday I was in Amalfi for the evening and enjoyed ...
Out & About: The Wind Surf in Amalfi
Yesterday I took a nice walk down to Amalfi to go to the beach. (Note to Self: wait until it gets cooler to do that again!) Taking the steps down to Amalfi is one of my favorite walks to do along the Amalfi Coast. There is a moment when you come around a corner and are greeted by ...
Ferragosto Procession in Amalfi
While I spent most of Ferragosto hiding out in the house from the heat and the crowds, Saturday evening we decided to venture out to see what was happening and to meet friends for dinner on the beach in Atrani. As we drove through Amalfi looking for parking, I heard the distinctive procession bells ...
The Dog (or Cat) Days of Summer on the Amalfi Coast
We have definitely entered into the dog days of summer here on the Amalfi Coast. Or, around my house I should perhaps say the cat days of summer: Puffy doesn’t seem to be able to do much at all during these giorno afosi, ...
Buon Ferragosto!
Festival Lights for Ferragosto in Positano August 15th is an important holiday here in Italy called Ferragosto, which celebrates the Assumption of the Virgin into heaven. One of the most important holidays of the years and a bank holiday, Ferragosto is a day usually spent ...
Wishing on the Stars on the Amalfi Coast
As I spend my first whole month of August on the Amalfi Coast, I am learning a lot of new things. The first is that I finally know what really crowded here really means. And I mean the really crowded, no place to park, no beach chair left unoccupied, mobs of Italian tourists sort ...
Out & About: Night Bells and Moon over Ravello
Ravello is a beautiful sight at night with its churches glowing and the city lights sparkling up and down the Amalfi coastline. The other night while passing through Scala, Ravello’s little-known and charming next door neighbor, the bells of the Duomo of Ravello filled the valley down to Atrani with ...