calabrian women’s summit 2008

Il Cedro B & B in Catanzaro, Calabria, ItalyLast 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:

Lungomare at Catanzaro Lido on Flickr

Setting up for the summer:

Getting ready for summer on Flickr

Boys in the water (there was a cool breeze, but they didn’t feel it):

Fun in the sea on Flickr

This little one retreated every time the water came near–water was cold to her!

Bird who doesn’t want to get *too* close on Flickr

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.

It wasn’t me on Flickr

Read more about this lovely Bottlebrush (aka Feather duster to me) in the comment on Flickr here:

Inspiration for the koosh on Flickr

And a final shot of Catanzaro Lido:

Catanzaro Lido on Flickr

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!

25 Beans of Wisdom to “calabrian women’s summit 2008”
  1. 05.23.2008

    I am sooo jealous your summer is on its way whilst we brace ourselves for winter 🙁
    I love the beach !

    I like the Bottlebrush it is very common here found in almost every Sydney St, it adds
    lots of colour.

    Vee’s last blog post..End of Chemo Cycle 3

    Now now, Vee, you’ve had your summer 😉 Seems these are “endemic” to Australia…wonder if some Aussies brought them here?! If so, thanks to whoever did so 🙂

  2. Gil
    05.23.2008

    Thanks for the nice trip to the beach after I just went through a cold and dreary day as usual beautiful pictures.

    Glad you enjoyed, Gil…but you’ll be here soon, right?

  3. Very nice photos. The sun is finally showing here today.

    Have fun at the movie next week.

    I am going to try my hardest not to read any reviews of the movie. I don’t want to read any spoilers. I get the sense that Big and Carrie don’t get married.

    nyc/caribbean ragazza’s last blog post..Are bloggers narcissists blabbering on about nothing?

    I sort of got that feeling from the trailer too….

  4. 05.23.2008

    Michelle, I am freezing to death here. I know, when it comes it will be like a hammer blow, but honestly, I have only faith to assure me that summer will come.

    Judith in Umbria’s last blog post..Made in America: Buffalo Wings

    Honestly it’s only this past week or so that we’ve had even close to “short sleeve weather.” And those kids in the water were probably pushing it…guess their moms weren’t around 😉

  5. 05.23.2008

    So nice to see blue skies for a change. It’s been raining non-stop over here.
    Joanne and I are organizing a SATC evening out in Milan, hopefully with other local bloggers. Would be great if you could make it too!

    Linda’s last blog post..Paris – Bloody Marys and Butter Pie

    Oh I wish we were closer! Will you have it in English?

  6. Joanne at frutto della passione
    05.23.2008

    Yeah, Linda and I could flip a coin to see who gets to feed you!!! I can’t wait to see the movie, I think the trailer is a big tease and that they’ll probably not have a big NYC wedding, but they’ll elope to Las Vegas or something. That’s me, ever hopeful and pouring a Cosmopolitan!!!

    Joanne at frutto della passione’s last blog post..Fish balls or cakes or whatever you want to call them!

    Don’t worry Joanne–I have plenty of appetite and can be fed wherever you lead me 😉 I like your interpretation of the trailer!

  7. 05.23.2008

    Looks like a lot of fun! Bon weekend en Italie!

    poppy fields’s last blog post..I’ll take 5 knights please

    Thanks! Same to you in Francia!

  8. 05.23.2008

    How beautiful and what fun! I’m so jealous. In a good way, of course. 😉

    jen of a2eatwrite’s last blog post..What’s Cooking Wednesday – Strawberry-Rhubarb Cobbler

    Of course! 🙂

  9. 05.23.2008

    Ok. To Michelle and NYC from the comments – NO WAY! I’m with Joanne… they’ll get married. They *have* to! Seriously, as I asked you, Michelle, when we saw the trailer, is it bad I got chills??

    To everyone else – Michelle, Dawn and I were the only ones laughing out loud during the trailer.

    Boh!

    Cherrye’s last blog post..Obessesion is a Travel Addict’s Best Friend

    We shall see soon enough! Can’t wait!!!!!

  10. Tina
    05.23.2008

    Oh I’m so depressed looking at those summer photos – it’s autumn here! But I’m not complaining yet – it’s still warm. 🙂

    Tina’s last blog post..I’m here 🙂

    Yeah! Still warm is good 🙂

  11. Maryann
    05.23.2008

    I can’t wait to see the movie! It sounds like so much fun going with the girls. Wish I could join you all 🙂

    Maryann’s last blog post..Fish For One

    Wish you could come too Maryann!

  12. Anne
    05.23.2008

    Sure you will have loads of “Fun”…Enjoy the movie..I haven’t been watching the series…well not all the time, so not sure about it.

    Thanks Anne!

  13. 05.23.2008

    Oh those sites/pics look incredible! I just need to find the time to get down to our beach and see what I can find too!

    expatraveler’s last blog post..My Shoes – Photo Hunt

    Ooh I hope you find some time! Love your photos 🙂

  14. SabineM
    05.23.2008

    WOw, nice town….
    I should live closer so I can come to the 3rd annual!

    SabineM’s last blog post..Photo Hunt: Shoes

    I wish you did live closer Sabine!

  15. 05.23.2008

    You’re killin me sister, can I just tell ya that? You’re killin me.

    You’re going to force me to put photos of the Rocky Mountains up on my blog so that I feel better about being here instead of there, aren’t you.
    *sniff*
    s’okay.

    ;o)

    So glad you ladies had a wonderful time, and thank you so very much for sharing the photos, they are absolutely delicious.
    Now Shaggy and I are going to go dance…

    Ciao Cara Mia,
    XO

    Scarlett & Viaggiatore

    Wanderlust Scarlett’s last blog post..spring cleaning

    Yes yes photos!!!! I hope you and Shaggy had lots of fun together 🙂

  16. 05.23.2008

    What a fun summit! Do you accept ‘non-full time living in Calabria people’ but ‘sometimes living in Calabria’ people? I would love to come along to a summit one of these years if I happen to be in Calabria at the right time!

    Leanne’s last blog post..Rain rain go away

    Absolutely Leanne! We’ll definitely have to organize something when you’re down here nearby 🙂

  17. 05.24.2008

    Ahhh! I love the feather duster flower. People had a lot of them in their gardens in Otranto, but Paolo (believe it or not) didn’t know what they were called…first time ever I’ll be able to school him on a plant…thanks!

    Maggie’s last blog post..Times are a changin’

    Hee hee…glad to help 🙂

  18. 05.24.2008

    Oh please, please tell Summer is really on the way. I have just shivered through a week of rain over here, lending winter clothes to my sis who came to visit bringing only shorts and flip-flops (as you do when you think you’re going on a summer holiday). We had fun eating tho!

    That beach looks so tempting I almost believe we will see some sunshine, I do believe in Summer, I do believe in Summer, I do, I do …

    amanda’s last blog post..Ochres and Umbers

    Oh I sure hope I’m not giving you false hope Amanda. No! I refuse to believe it! It’s coming! It’s coming!

  19. vanessa
    05.24.2008

    hurray summer is FINALLY here. It’s been great weather lately, our beaches look about the same and shock horror I have even seen some peoeple in the water already too. Most uncharasteristic. The summit sounded like fun. I would have come but was slogging my guts out doing a 1/2 marathon! The next film i want to see is Gomorrah (sp??) which is currently on at our local cinema and i’m hoping it will still be there next week when my sister comes to stay (= babysitter for the evenings!). SITC I think i will wait for it to come to sky/ on DVD so I can watch it in english. I did used to watch the series here in Italy but the voices really killed it for me (for some reason would not change into english). Love the bottle brush photo, reminds me of our pohutukawa which line the beaches at xmas time (in NZ).

    Yes I’d like to see Gomorrah too–after I read the book though. SATC used to only be on in Italian here (I think on Jimmy maybe) but now it’s on Comedy Central and the English works 🙂

  20. 05.25.2008

    Summer!! Just the sight prompts intense yearning! Oh, that looks lovely, so very very lovely. Enjoy!

    annoa2’s last blog post..Sunday Scribblings: Quitting

    Thanks, hope you’re having a great weekend as well 🙂

  21. 05.25.2008

    The blue in those pic’s is incredible! I want blue! I’m very, very tired of gray….
    And I’m so jealous – you get to see the movie before I will!

    katie’s last blog post..Savory: with Green Beans and Potatoes and (not) a letter of apology

    Oh I hope you get to see it soon Katie…along with lots of blue 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

  22. 05.26.2008

    Those pictures are just gorgeous.

    Your “blogless! scandalous!” really cracked me up.

    nova’s last blog post..Said and Unsaid, Remembered and Unremembered

    Thank you Nova, on both accounts 😉

  23. 05.28.2008

    I think your “summit” is the best idea ever.
    The water looks so inviting. So blue.
    I’m over to Cherrye’s to check out the scoop.

    cheeky’s last blog post..words that resonate

    Wish you were here to join in the fun Cheeky 🙂

  24. Antonella
    05.29.2008

    Must preface by saying I hate Board (or any long) Shorts! The Italian guys in the water look like they’ve taken up wearing board shorts…but with black speedos underneath? LMAO!

    Glad you could appreciate the photo Antonella…I didn’t look to closely myself so I can’t confirm 😉

Michelle KaminskyMichelle 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

Calabria travel guide by Michelle Fabio

Recipes

 

Homemade apple butter
Green beans, potatoes, and pancetta
Glazed Apple Oatmeal Cinnamon Muffins
Pasta with snails alla calabrese
Onion, Oregano, and Thyme Focaccia
Oatmeal Banana Craisin Muffins
Prosciutto wrapped watermelon with bel paese cheese
Fried eggs with red onion and cheese
Calabrian sausage and fava beans
Ricotta Pound Cake