Archive for 2008
thank heaven for great (italian) neighbors
I’ve been so lucky to have been blessed with great neighbors.
Growing up, Sylvia, the Italian woman next door with four kids of her own, used to bake me a birthday cake *every* year–fancy ones like with a Barbie standing in the middle and stuff.
Even now, she still finds time to send me cards for my birthday and Christmas despite having many, many grandchildren (I’ve lost count!).
Well my buona fortuna continued when I moved here.
I’ve told you about my neighbor Anna Maria before, but I really can’t express how lucky I am to have moved in near her. She is one of the kindest, most generous people I’ve ever known, always giving me something–literally just about every day it’s something new.
Other than the usuals like olive oil, vino, red wine vinegar, lemons, oranges, clementines, and Brasilena, she also supplies me with some special harbingers of the seasons like:
Berrylicious homegrown strawberries and blackberries!
Just look at these gorgeous fragole:
And she also brings me this:
Want a closer look?
Anyone know or care to guess what it is?
(I know some of you know!)
Also, if you have great neighbors you’d like to brag about, do share!
Duomo in Palermo, Sicily
Welcome back to Palermonday!
A few weeks ago, we started at Teatro Massimo, and then we started a walking tour up Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Now, after passing through the Porta Nuova and seeing Quattro Canti and La Fontana della Vergogna/The Fountain of Shame, we have arrived at the Duomo.
Absolutely one of the most beautiful buildings I’ve ever seen.
Part of what makes the Duomo so unique is its many architectural influences that reflect Sicily’s history as a territory that has seen a truly impressive number of leaders–check out this busy flag of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (thanks Paulus Maximus!).
The Duomo was built by Normans in 1184 on the site of a Muslim mosque that had been built over an early Christian basilica.
Got that?
During the 13th and 14th centuries, Gothic additions were added to the exterior and then the Spaniards added a Catalan touch in the 15th century.
Neoclassical elements were introduced both inside and out during the late 18th and early 19th century by architect Fernando Fuga of Naples.
You can read much more about the architectural details and see great photos of the Duomo, especially of the interior, here.
And just for fun, check out this liceo (equivalent of a US high school) that overlooks the Duomo.
Somehow I don’t think concentration would come easily for me with the gorgeous Duomo outside.
Be sure to come back next week for the last Palermomonday—
gardens and fruits and veggies, oh my!
Happy Memorial Day to those in the US! Hope you have your poppy!
calabrian women’s summit 2008
Last weekend Cherrye of My Bella Vita, Dawn (blogless! scandalous!), and I met up at Il Cedro in Catanzaro for our 2nd annual Calabrian Women’s Summit. Remember how much fun we had last year?
As we now know of two other American women (two!) in Calabria, look for the event to grow and hopefully become more frequent as well!
We’re already planning to get together to see Sex and the City (in Italian–boo) next weekend . . . yes it opens here on May 30 just like for most of you. Are you going? I only started watching Carrie and the girls here a few months ago, but I’m just as addicted as everyone else who has been with the ladies for years.
Will she and Big *really* get married?!
Anyway, Cherrye gives a great rundown of this year’s Summit with photos here, so do head over and check it out. We had a blast! Woohoo!
For my part, I’m going to share some photos of Catanzaro Lido and get those of you in the States geared up for the long weekend with some beach shots:
The Lungomare:
Setting up for the summer:
Boys in the water (there was a cool breeze, but they didn’t feel it):
This little one retreated every time the water came near–water was cold to her!
Puppy in the grass appropriately acting out the theme song of the weekend, “It Wasn’t Me” by Shaggy–I *dare* you not to dance or sing along if you click on that link.
Read more about this lovely Bottlebrush (aka Feather duster to me) in the comment on Flickr here:
And a final shot of Catanzaro Lido:
Summer’s just about here!
Don’t forget check out Judy’s Over a Tuscan Stove for this week’s La Buona Cucina America recipe– Buffalo Wings!–and also my guest blog appearance over at Lucky Dorito!
Buon weekend!
love thursday:
tomato love
This heart-shaped tomato was the sweetest I’ve ever eaten.
Maybe (just a little) because P handed it to me with a kiss.
Happy Love Thursday everyone!
Recipe: Olive Oil and Limoncello Cake
The original recipe comes from a restaurant in the Valpolicella region in the province of Verona in northern Italy — but I gave it a southern Italian twist with limoncello.
Read on...
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
Calabria Guidebook
Recipes
