Thursday, July 27, 2006

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Remembering Pasqua Siciliana...



We visited Sicily last year during Easter with very close friends of ours. Her family has a house in a laid-back Sicilian town and we witnessed so much there especially with the Easter processions. They do know how to celebrate Easter than we do in misty ol' England!

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Correcting BBC News Website!



BBC News made a mistake on their website re: Italian Election results! Oops!

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Monday, February 06, 2006

3° e Ultimo Giorno a Milano...

Today is my last day in Milan :( but I'm looking forward to go home to see Martin again :)

Today did nothing much, managed to pack everything (books etc) into the suitcase - phew :) Had a stroll around the city before having a delicious pizza for lunch.

Am at hotel now - planning to leave shortly for Central Station to catch a coach to Bergamo airport. Really enjoyed Milan despite nothing much to see - well there are several sights but not as many as one would find in Florence, Venice and Rome :) Yes, I'd like to come back again with Martin and hopefully have better luck in acquiring the most popular ticket to see The Last Supper! Perhaps we could use Milan as a base to visit other places in Lombardy, Piedmont and Liguria. I don't think Milan is an ideal place to stay for a full week but a weekend stay is enough.

A friend of mine, Alex, has offered to pick me up at Luton - could catch train to St Albans, but I don't think I could face catching a bus to the station and get on a train to St Albans and then either taxi or bus from St Albans station to home... At least I get a lift and an excellent company :)

Can't wait to see my baby tonight! :)

Sunday, February 05, 2006

2° Giorno a Milano

Had really nice lie in this morning and thought I have caught up with all the sleep I lost in the previous night! Breakfast at the hotel was nice and simple.

Decided to not use metro despite having a 2-day ticket cos I felt like walking and making the most of the sun. My first stop was Santa Maria alla Grazie church - the museum next to it has the main attraction in Milan - the painting of the Last Supper. My planned visit is not because I'm christian (which I'm not) - its because of the book I read the year before. Yep, you guessed it - The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown! :) I turned up at the entrance only to be turned away - they were sold out for the day. I knew one had to phone in advance to book a ticket but I was hoping they would have some cancellations - ah well. They're closed tomorrow so little point in asking for reservation for tomorrow...

Onwards I went and wandered through the streets of Milan towards Piazza del Duomo. Found a little church dedicated to St Maurice (a saint I've never heard of) and thought I have a peek inside - it was stunning - very small and the frankincense was smoking in the air - very striking experience. Feels very orthodox-y but the sign assured me that it is catholic :) The people were queuing up at the altar which was only about 10 metres away from me (I was standing by the entrance - yes that's how tiny the church was!). These people were queuing to receive some sort of sweet/pastry and they kissed the small icon which was in the hand of an 'acolyte'. I assume the icon is the picture of St Maurice. It was rather interesting to watch all these and see how people take part in a ritual.

Anyway I got to the Piazza del Duomo - it was full of people feeding the pigeons - reminded me immediately of Trafagalar Sq :) Visit the Duomo - very stunning and grand. Found myself in the middle of midday mass so had to creep out discreetly as possible without receiving any frowns from the Duomo regulars!

My next stop was Teatro alla Scala - the infamous Opera house in Milan. Its museum was closed so I walked further to another museum called Poldi Pezzoli. It was ok but I got to see a couple of Botticelli's work (I'm a Botticelli fan!) - and particularly liked Madonna del Libro - rather appealing. One could sort of recognise the hand used on her hair with the infamous painting of Botticelli - La Nascita di Venere which I got to see few years back in Florence. At least I get to practise my Italian by reading the titles of the items displayed in this museum which was rather fun - a bit sad I know!

After late lunch I wandered around the shops (including the likes of Armani, Gucci, Prada and Vuitton) I found myself in several more of librerie! Yes, bought more italian books!! I think I have enough books to take home and have vowed to not buy any more from now!

After having a quick nap at the hotel I thought I try the 'Deaf Club' in Milan - ENS Milano. Found it but only to be met by a Deaf cleaner telling me not to cross the floor that has just been mopped. From a short distance we conversed in International Sign and that he was sorry to inform me that they were closed at 7pm (it was after 8pm). He wasn't very talkative so I let myself out - ah well at least I know where it is and I can try again next time I come to Milan :) Found a nice pizzeria near the Central station. Before I went back to the hotel - visit to the very same gelateria I went last night at Piazza del Duomo - yes bought myself another tub of gelati! Like last night, I sat down in the square eating gelati and admiring the illuminated steeples of the Duomo against the cold black sky.... :)

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Giorno 1° a Milano

Did not have very much sleep last night cos I had to be up at half three in the morning ready for taxi to take me to Luton airport at 4am. That's only because I had flight to Milan booked at half six in the morning *groan*!!! Let's fast-forward a bit to when I arrived at Bergamo airport - it was great as the sun was shining despite weather forcast predicting a cloudy day. Got coach to Milano - the whole experience was a bit unnerving as I was travelling on my own - first time for 10 years since I backpacked on my own around Europe!

The hotel was nice and the metro is easy to use. The 'Duomo' (cathedral) is impressive even if most of the facade is covered for restoration. The city need to get used to before one can fully relax and roam around - I don't know why I felt like that but I had opportunity to have a taster - by having a quick tour around the city and to see what's on offer.

I have confession to make - I've made too many visits to Milan's several 'librerie' - I just cannot tear myself away from these bookshops! It's not very often for me to have chance to buy 'libri italiani' from 'librerie italiane' - that's obvious because I don't live in Italy!!! :) Have made a stock of books including cookery books and I hope Martin will like them as well so that I won't feel too bad!! After dinner this evening I found a nice gelateria in Piazza del Duomo - treated myself to a tub of gelati. Even in winter - the italians adore eating them, so I don't feel bad for eating them! :) Sat in the square watching the night air swirling around the steeples of the Duomo while gorging on delicious gelati - heaven!

Bed starting to beckon and I think I'll have a good night's sleep to catch up before I can really explore Milan tomorrow :)

Buona notte e sogno d'oro.

Friday, February 03, 2006

Taking care of Gaia



www.climatecare.org
www.good-energy.co.uk

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Thoughts on LibDems' Leadership Contest



WARNING: 9 minutes in duration - definitely not for the light-hearted!

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

HODIE LASSVS SVM

hodie scribere in latina mihi certum est. nimius hodie arduum laboratus sum atque lassus sum!

cras laborare ad Aquae Sulis ibo tum meum genitorem et meam genetricem Bristolii videbo.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Subtitling vlogs...


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Friday, January 06, 2006

Scattered thoughts


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Thoughts on 1st working week of the year coming to an end, Christmas tree on 5/6th Jan & Deaf-Blogs.com.

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

January Blues


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Festive celebrations now behind us - 2006 begins with January, in my opinion the most depressing month of the whole year :(

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Testing vlog


2006!

Back home yesterday from France where we've been spending our New Year's celebrations. It was absoluting dead in Dijon on New Year's Eve. It seemed that the French, or Dijoneses, don't do New Year with a bang as we do in England but Martin and I had romantic candlelit dinner followed by a stroll around Dijon ending at the main city square before the stroke of midnight. As soon midnight was struck, the Dijoneses appeared from nowhere to wish everyone 'Bonne Année'! It was then when I popped the question to Martin - who was very surprised and did not expected it at all. Delightfully he accepted :)

After Dijon we stopped over in Lille - a terrific place to shop and we certainly shall be coming back soon to shop there for a weekend :) Got home yesterday and went over to Alex and Mike's - had lovely homemade pizza together (Alex does mean wholemeal pizzas!) and watched The Jerry Springer Opera DVD (the one I bought Martin for Christmas) - the DVD was so good - laughed so much and we all want to see it live this year!

Good start to 2006 - may it continue for the rest of the year!