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61237 articles
An Ode to Autogrill
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
We are back in Virginia after spending several days cooking, feasting, gabbing, laughing, and enjoying the merriment of the holidays with family. We had more food than we knew what to do with on Christmas, and shared Giorgio's polenta feast tradition on Santo Stefano. We had a great time, but we're tuckered out!Â
Interminable hours on the turnpikes and interstates sap it out of you, and we
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Buon Natale
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 1 times. Similar articles
We are leaving today to drive to Ohio, where we will spend our first Christmas in many years, wrapped in the warm embrace and crazy traditions of our family. Before I go I wanted to wish you, my blog family, a hearty Buon Natale. May it be joyous and fun, however you choose to celebrate. See you when I get back!
This image is a detail of the Beffi Triptych, a three-panel painting from the
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Who Ordered the White Christmas'
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
We've got trouble...right here in River City. With a capital 'T' and that rhymes with 'P' and that stands for 'Precipitation'. In the form of snow. Lots of it. And we're not even in northern Ohio! There seems to be some kind of mix up. I am *not* the one who was dreaming of white Christmas. Not. Me.
The back deck; another few inches have fallen since this was taken.
It started last
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Italian Reading List, Part IV - Cookbooks
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
I am wrapping up my series of Italy-related reading with cookbooks. I admit that while I have quite a few of them, I also rely much more heavily on the scrawled and stained scraps of paper that have sketchy recipes written on them, given to me by Giorgio or other friends, or devised while dining in Italy. I also bought a few regional cookbooks in Italian which are wonderful, even if they are a
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Italian Reading List - Part III
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 1 times. Similar articles
In my continuing series of reading material for Italophiles, this week I am highlighting fiction. I have read a healthy number of novels set in or breezing through Italy; unfortunately many of them left me shaking my head at the errors, stereotypes, or poorly-conceived plots. This is in no way an exhaustive list, just a few that I enjoyed more than others.Â
FICTION SET IN ITALY
A Room With
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Italian Reading List - Part II
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Today I'm continuing my Italian reading list with the second part of my series of books about Italy. Last time I listed the memoirs; this time around I'm highlighting nonfiction and guidebooks.
Guidebooks are difficult to quantify as they are very subjective depending on the reader's taste as well as the destination. One guidebook publisher might offer an excellent book about Rome but fall short
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Italian Reading List - Part I
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
I've been dabbling on Facebook the last couple of months. I was reluctant, being the techno curmudgeon that I am, but I admit that it is kind of fun to zap one-liners and zingers on friends' pages, and post little notes that wouldn't constitute a blog post. When I wrote about a novel that I was reading that made some Italian errors, several people responded that they would like an Italy-related
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Buona Festa del Ringraziamento!
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 2 times. Similar articles
Thanksgiving is upon us. The day when the country comes together as one nation indivisible for unbridled eating, the one holiday that truly revolves around food and comes closest to typifying an Italian festa in the volume of food and length of meal. Each year, friends and family inevitably, innocently ask us, ?What do Italians do for Thanksgiving'?
The answer is, nothing. Thanksgiving is not
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Raise a Glass to San Martino
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
After what seemed like an endless week of dreary grayness and relentless rain, the sun found its way back and the weekend turned into a beautiful display of blue skies and brilliant autumn leaves. A classic Indian Summer, or as they say in Italy, l'estate di San Martino (Saint Martin's Summer).
What does a return of sunny warmth in late autumn have to do with Saint Martin, you ask' His feast
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Bumping into Gladiators
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
I never really gave much thought to the iconic Roman fighters known as gladiators. Sure, we skimmed over them in my ancient history classes in college, and I read a bit of background when I visited the Colosseum for the first time. I have seen them talking on cell phones and getting bawdy in coffee bars while on break from their jobs as costumed kitsch performers offering photo ops to tourists
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A Happy Birthday
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Yesterday was my birthday. While I'm not particularly *thrilled* to admit that I've turned 43, I'm not one to lie about my age, either. I figure I've lived, experienced, and earned all of the joys, tears, laughs, meals, chores, events, mistakes, excitement, monotony, pleasures, fears, decisions, and dreams of each of those years, and I wouldn't deny any of them.Â
I don't mind the laugh lines
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The Eagle is Slowly Rising
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
I was strolling through the rotonda of the National Gallery of Art when a gloriously gilded painting caught my eye. The beautiful triptych was obviously Italian from the Medieval period. I went to take a closer look and discovered why the altarpiece struck me as familiar; it had been housed in the Castello Spagnolo in L'Aquila, and was brought to the US as a gesture of gratitude for American
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The Last Mule of Anzi
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
A friend told me the story of her father-in-law's emigration from Italy. He left Lucca at age 17 for California, like so many others, in search of opportunity and riches in the New World. His wife and her family had likewise come from Lucca, but he had long shunned the idea of returning to Italy, despite his kids' pleadings. Finally, after much insistence that Italy had changed in the forty
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Do The Artusi
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 1 times. Similar articles
Last night, for the first time in about three years, I went to a movie. With so many other things to do in Italy, we didn't spend much time at the cinema. Truth be told, I've never been a big movie-goer anyway, so it wasn't much of a sacrifice, especially when there were concerts in the piazzas, plays in the opulent opera house teatro, and various festas to attend year round.
But, having just
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Home Food
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
In my last post I reported on a "home cooking" trend in the US. As you might expect, Italy takes the concept of home cooking to a different level.Â
The organization Home Food was started to preserve and showcase the special and unique regional dishes and food products of each area. "Typical", "traditional" and "regional" are the buzzwords they live and cook by. They even wax poetic: "Food is
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Cooking at Home...or Home Cooking'
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Down the street from our house is a little shopping center. Along with the handful of eateries and shops is a storefront business I'd never heard of before, called Let's Dish. The window had a menu posted and a glance inside revealed a few stainless steel kitchen prep areas. Curious, I went inside to inquire about the place.
I was told it is a "revolutionary concept" in home cooking. A "
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To Italy and Back - at Lunchtime
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
We have had company. Normally, in years past in our other "destination spot" homes, this meant playing tour guide, finding scenic drives and regional restaurants, and showing our guests all the beauties of the area during their visit. This time, however, it involved a vastly different itinerary that involved tiring trips up and down the three stories of the townhouse, hours huddled in the
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O Foods Contest for Ovarian Cancer Month
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Olive all'Ascolana is an Oh-so-good O Food
September is national Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and I'm getting both my blogs involved to participate in the recipe contest hosted by Michelle of Bleeding Espresso and Sara of Ms. Adventures in Italy, initiated to draw attention to the disease and its symptoms. The gist of the contest is to highlight a food that begins or ends in O, while talking
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Clearing the Cobwebs
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Ciao tutti! If it seems like cobwebs have been gathering on the nest, it is because we have been in transit. The vagabondi have yet again packed up and moved onward. How many times are we up to since January' Anyone keeping count' I can barely keep it all straight in my memory at this point!
We feared that we would once again be loading and/or unloading in rain, as has been the trend in our
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A Granddaughter's Tribute
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Today is my grandfather's birthday, so I want to give him a rousing shout-out:Â Happy Birthday, Gramps!Â
We went to my hometown on Sunday to take him out for a brunch celebration. Sunday was my sister's birthday, and ever since her first birthday they have gone out for lunch as a dual celebration, usually just the two of them. We honed in this year, since it was only the second time in the
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How Art Can Change The World
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 1 times. Similar articles
Fiona Donovan has a big heart. Living in Alexandria, Virginia, in the Washington, DC metro area, homeless people are not an uncommon sight to her- on park benches, along the roadsides, or roaming the streets. She was especially bothered that there are children without homes and wanted to do something to help. That's when she struck on an idea to use her natural talents and create art, sell it
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Tour del Gelato
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
The weather has finally turned hot; good grief, it took long enough! I was starting to think that 'summer' was not on the northern Ohio calendar year and that only two seasons existed here: winter, and not winter.Seizing the opportunity to get some sun and some Italian atmosphere, we headed down to piccola Italia (Little Italy) for the blow-out party of the year, the Feast of the Assumption. Just
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La Buona Notte di San Lorenzo
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Today is San Lorenzo, the feast day of Saint Lawrence, a popular festa throughout Italy. He is the patron saint of librarians and is called upon by comedians and cooks, owing to his famous quip during his martyrdom, "I am roasted enough of this side, turn me over now". He is also one of the patron saints of Rome. The notte di San Lorenzo is widely celebrated, though I suspect it is because his
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A Rose in Barcelona
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
My grandmother's name was Rose. She had a cousin Rose, who traveled to Italy a couple years agoto meet us, accompanied by my cousin Celia. We all spent a wonderful week on the beautiful Costa del Cilento, hanging out together, cooking together, and visiting the Motherland together.Both of these Roses were named for their aunt Rosa, who was the sister of my grandma's mother, and who is referred to
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Italy in Bits and Pieces
From 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree, 3 year ago, Read 1 times. Similar articles
The past few weeks have been pretty busy so I put blog-reading on the back burner. But after just a week I started missing my normal haunts and feeling withdrawal symptoms. I initiated a sort of "rotation system" to try to read a couple a day, just to keep up with things.Then yesterday I went on a bender. I sat down with my bookmarks and blissed my way through a few hours of unabated blog
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My November in pictures
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
I forgot to post my November pictures. Â
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There is no queue in Hungarian
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
I have to admit it, I am a British person to the core of my being. Living away from the UK for over a year has finally taught me this. There are a lot of British cultural traits/ modes of behaviour that I can do without, queuing is not one of them. I have always been a stickler for queue etiquette- waiting my turn even when the Kids were desperate for the loo and the sensible thing would
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Ouch- my arm is sore
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
I have finally had the H1N1 vaccine. I may have had to spend over 2 hours in a doctor's waiting room but the deed is done. Judging my experience this morning I am of the opinion that it may not have been much of a preventative measure. I spent a morning in close confines with a group of very ill people (in a doctor's waiting room- surely not') who all seemed to be coughing and spluttering- not
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In print
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
I have had a photograph included in this month's issue of The Lonely Planet magazine. Go to page 6- it is the sledging scene on the bottom left corner. It is small but it is a start.
In some ways I cannot wait until it gets really cold again. It is nice to be able to go out without 4 layers of clothes on though.
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Anti viro
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Hungary has it's very own home produced vaccination against H1N1. This vaccination has just been licensed by the World Health Organisation. The vaccine seems to be being produced in reasonable amounts- about 2 million doses have been made available so far. I was asked at the Nursery if I wanted to get the Kids immunised. A doctor would come to the Nursery and it would not be a problem. I
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Broken boy
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Magnus and Rowan had a little disagreement the other night and Magnus lost. He squealed in pain and would not stop crying. I have fractured both of my wrists and know what the signs are- the swelling in his hand gave it away. We bundled the Kids up and took the short drive to the local hospital. I have never visited before and had no idea where the casualty was. We managed to get
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What's the beef'
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Or more correctly "Where is the beef'"  I had a typically Scottish yearning for "mince and tatties" today. The last time I bought beef mince I got it minced in Spar without any problem. I cannot remember what cut of beef I got minced up but it was not a prime cut. I went to 3 butchers today- they all had beef- various cuts. I came away empty handed as they all refused to mince it for me.Â
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My October
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
1. moo, 2. Egg festival, 3. Judean People's Front/People's Front of Judea', 4. lila, 5. Autumn morning, 6. dried sweetcorn, 7. Bread Tromp l'oeil, 8. Ready steady eggy..., 9. Hope, 10. Squash carving, 11. McF'zi, 12. Szarvasbogár, 13. Japanese cats, 14. little and large, 15. Thumbed, 16. freedom, 17. acer, 18. Playing at food, 19. siófok cake, 20. Little Buz Aldrin, 21. Through the round window,
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Paprika
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
I love paprika. I have always had a fondness but in the UK most of the paprika powder is none too good- old and bitter in my experience. So I usually bought Spanish Smoked Paprika- or pimenton, La Cinita was my favourite brand. I have subsequently discovered that real Hungarian Paprika is nothing like the stuff I was buying in the UK. There are so many kinds here- I am particularly fond of
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Busy doing nothing much
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
I have just realised that I have not posted for ages. In the time since I last posted we have been busy doing nothing much. The Egg Festival was amazing- 3 days of eggy fun held here every year. I have lots of photos on flickr. After this hubby's mum came for a week. Unfortunately the weather took a turn for the worse and it was suddenly very cold and windy. It dropped from 26oC to 6oC in
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September 2009 in photos
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Not so interesting photos from last month. I was concentrating on texture and pattern. My favourite is the ginger cake- yum.
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A crime solved
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 1 times. Similar articles
Rowan and Magnus have not acquired the ability to tidy up after themselves. They quite happily get all sorts of things out and play with them in the garden. Bikes are usually put back in the shed (by me) but scooters are left where they fall. Rowan had grown out of her scooter and got a new silver two wheeled thing from Decathlon. It had already suffered two encounters with her Daddy's car-
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Grape picking
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
A couple of weekends ago we were invited to go grape picking. A friend, Patrick, who I met through this blog invited us to his newly acquired weekend house/orchard/vineyard in Kiliti. We had a great time picking grapes, the kids really enjoyed playing with Patrick's daughters. We were able to watch the grapes being mashed and pressed. The must that was produced was absolutely delicious, it
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Charity begins at home
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
I have mentioned it before and I will probably mention it again- Charity Shops are few and far between in Hungary. I have an ever growing pile of clothes from my kids. Rowan is growing so fast that she barely wears her clothes before they get too small. I do not know what to do with the lovely and hardly worn clothes that I am left with. In the UK I would have either given to friends, swapped
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20 years on
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
September 11th is notable for something else other than the horrific events 8 years ago. The borders between Hungary and the West were opened permanently thus heralding the true end of the "Iron Curtain".Communism and the various regimes that operated under it's ideologies in Europe are long gone. I am saddened to see that there appears to be a movement towards the other side of the political
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Free at last
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Well the holidays are over. Rowan and Magnus went back to nursery on Monday. Even though most of Rowan's friends from last year have now gone to school she seems well settled. She is one of the oldest kids now and has certain responsibilities- helping the younger kids, serving up lunch, mopping the bathroom floor etc... Rowan is very much enjoying this- she is a very bossy girl and relishes
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August in photos
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Been away again. Summer is over. The weather is still hot and sunny but the Kids are back at nursery and our holidays are finished. I will start blogging again now- I have free days now as Rowan and Magnus are at nursery in the afternoon too- hooray!
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July 2009 in photos
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Apologies for the gap in posting. I have been visiting Scotland and England. One week with my husband's parents and another with my mum and family.Here are my photos from July. Click on the picture to take you to the whole set.
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Holiday time
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Sorry for not posting for a while. I went on holiday to the countryside. We stayed at a traditional cottage on a farm with horses near Szeged. It was hot and sunny but the proximity of wonderful bathing complexes made it a bit more bearable. To my shame I have to admit that I had not been to a thermal baths- now remedied. The nearest bathing complex was at Morahalom- it was lovely. There
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I sometimes wonder why
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
I sometimes wonder why we have brought our kids here. They are being put through all sorts of stresses and have to make infinite adjustments every day. Even before we arrived here it had begun. Our house was in a mess and in order to sell it we had to renovate. We had 3 months of builders and mess. The electricity going pop and forced rewiring meant that we had to leave and stay with my mum
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My June
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
1. summer shoes, 2. Green tomatoes, 3. fountain fix, 4. lavender, 5. piros muskátli, 6. Perfect summer afternoon, 7. a light shower, 8. After the rain, 9. parasols, 10. I love cherries...., 11. room to let, 12. wish it was real, 13. best of friends, 14. life is sweet, 15. nearly all in a row, 16. wash day, 17. lollipops, 18. just peachy, 19. Magnus attempts a drowning, 20. they are big, 21. free
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Blackpool'
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
I am beginning to see my adopted town as a kind of Hungarian Blackpool. Overpriced, tacky and full of people desperate for a good time. I am being unkind I know.To be honest if I were coming to Lake Balaton for a holiday I would not come here. We were in Balatonfured yesterday- lovely and classy and strangely better value than here. As an example all of the money changers were offering 10
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Summer holidays
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Magnus, Heather, Rowan, John and Tom togetherMy brother, his wife and 3 kids arrived last week for a holiday. Although it was sometimes stressful having 4 adults and 5 kids of very similar ages in one house it was worth it. The kids swam and pootled about and the adults got to babysit in turns. Dode and I got to go out at night twice.Summer has begun- Rowan and Magnus have finished Ovoda for
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Travel hints # 2
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Things to doGo for a walk. The Town is quite compact and is nice to stroll in. There are suggested walks on the Town website. I would suggest going for a walk past Jokai Park and along to the harbour, then back along Petofi Sandor Utca. The area around Fo Ter is full of statues by Imre Varga- a son of Siófok.Do not miss the Evangelical Templom- the Lutheran Church on Fo Utca- opposite
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Sad but true
From 3 years in Hungary, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Magyar szalagOriginally uploaded by Jo Peattie The European Election results for Hungary were not too surprising. I kind of thought that throughout Europe the countries badly affected by the economic meltdown might give their governments a bloody nose. This was true in the UK- with a lurch to the right and strong support for UKIP- an anti EU party. The BNP- close in sentiments to Jobbik gained
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surviving P1
From Transposable Element, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
i really don’t know where november went. in between getting sick and reviewing jan for his final assessment tests, there was hardly time for anything else. yup, jan has finished first grade, and i must say he did quite well. his report card is something any parent can be proud of (yes, even his marks in chinese, considering the circumstances), but more importantly, he has remained enthusiastic about school, curious and eager to learn.
i remember how anxious we all were this time last...
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fair enough
From Transposable Element, 3 year ago, Read 1 times. Similar articles
“mom, can i use the small computer'”
“no, you haven’t even had breakfast yet.”
“but mooooom, dad lets me!”
“well, is dad here' no. so leave it, i said no.”
“that’s not fair!!”
“(sigh) oh well, son, life is not fair.”
“no, mom! my life is fair! you’re the one who isn’t!”
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travel lust
From Transposable Element, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
these recent episodes with illnesses (mine, hubby’s, the kids’) make me want to pack up and escape. i’m starting to imagine that i’m breathing in stale air, stuck in a densely-populated city that sees many travelers from flu-infested cities in the northern hemisphere.
dominican republic vacations are out of the question, but i’ve been thinking hard if we should bite the expensive airfares to manila. with the thousands of OFWs going home for the holidays, december...
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and again
From Transposable Element, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
i’m running a fever. yet again. i can’t remember the last time i got sick before these last episodes. it’s been far too long since the last time i was starting to think i was invincible. and then this. three in a row.
well, the say bad things come in three’s, so i hope that’s already the end of it. sure, it helped burn fat, but i’ve also lost much more. it’s not so much the cost of medicines and doctor’s fees (thank zeus for health insurance!),...
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The Salon
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Korca, Albania July 2009
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The Gentleman, Albania
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
"In the morning of his days, he is in the afternoon of his life."~Mary Oliver~We often stop and pick up hitchhikers in the country, enjoying brief but lovely little episodes of friendship with real people. Our bits of Albanian get us through, but oh how we long to be able to communicate completely. This handsome gentleman waved us down between two tiny villages and asked for a lift to "the center". We tried to figure out the center of what, which turned out to be the center of the next little...
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Young Roma Boy, Albania
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Korca, Albania July 2009What are little boys made of'What are little boys made of'Frogs and snailsAnd puppy-dogs' tails,That's what little boys are made of.There's a story behind this young boy's eyes, isn't there' Because of our language barriers I couldn't find out what it was... but I have my ideas. He was obviously happy- you can see that around his eyes, but there's a hesitancy around his smile. I wanted to gather him into my arms and take him with me. He's a charmer, that's for sure.
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Yes, In The Middle of Nowhere!
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Close to Voskopoja, AlbaniaFor Ginnie... who asked if it was in the middle of nowhere... uh huh.... it truly is!
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Fill 'er Up!
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Voskopoja, Albania July 2009
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Paradise, Albania
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
We were driving in the mountains somewhere near Permeti (southern Albania) when we drove past one of the most beautiful lakes I've ever seen. It immediately reminded me of Canada... a still lake surrounded by green pines and mountains. We slammed on the brakes and backed up. There was a small building that we assumed was a cafe so we wandered down to the water and tested the antique dock and wobbly plastic chairs. It felt like heaven. An thin old man with a smile on his face assured us the dock...
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Really'?
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
First time I ever ended up here!!!!
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The Game
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Korca, Albania July 2009"There are places on the planet we belong and they are not necessarily where we are born. If we are lucky- if the gods are in a good mood- we find them, for whatever length of time is necessary for us to know that, yes, we belong to the earth and it to us. Even if we cannot articulate this intense physical sensation, even if language fails us, we know what home is then, in our very bones."~ Elizabeth Huggan ~From one of my favourite books: Belonging
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Spring Has Sprung!
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Interresting ? 0Wonder
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. ~Walt Streightiff ~
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Summer
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Near Elbasan, Albania (July 2009)Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscapeLay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow~
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Rest
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Near Elbasan, Albania (July 2009)Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.~J. Lubbock~
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Girl
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Korca, Albania (July 2009)My eyes are an ocean in which my dreams are reflected....~Anna M. Uhlich.~
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The Magic Instant
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
By Paolo Coelho"We have to take risks. We can only truly understand the miracle of life when we let the unexpected manifest itself.Every day ? together with the sun ? God gives us a moment in which it is possible to change everything that makes us unhappy. Every day we try to pretend that we don't realize that moment, that it doesn't exist, that today is just the same as yesterday and will be the same as tomorrow. But if you pay attention, you can discover the magic instant. It may be hiding at...
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Yes, It's Been a Month!
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
I have a new toy... a beautiful Canon EOS Rebel xsi And I'm learning to use all the bells and whistles!Today we went to the historic St. Lawrence Market in downtown Toronto. The first job I remember my dad ever having was in this wonderful old market. He was a butcher here and I still remember the smell of the sawdust they used to soak up the blood and other drippings on the floor. I looked everywhere today but couldn't find any sawdust anywhere. These beautiful smoked bones caught my eye- such...
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Red Star Monument
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
In the middle of nowhere... a monument remembering the heroes of long long ago. There are countless monuments of this type scattered all around Albania and they fascinate me to no end. I think I'm going to look for more.
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Oh Yes!
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 1 times. Similar articles
This is pretty intense but Ohhhhhhhh it IS what poetry should be!
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The Real Beauty of Berat, Albania
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 1 times. Similar articles
Interresting ? 0The Secret's Out!
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Hummmmm.... I think it's time to let you all in on a little secret----- we just finished MOVING house-- yes -- again!!! We're still in Tirana but after two years in a cold house we decided to find somewhere else to live and so we are now VERY happily living in an awesome new apartment in the city. It's wonderful and we feel so at home here. I'm still unpacking --anyone interested in a HUGE collection of baseball/hockey cards'?? -- (just kidding P!).Today is the wonderful Albanian holiday called...
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Just Give a Straight Answer!
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Go read Chelsi's post and then come back here :)I just want to add a couple more of these interesting conversations that happen in Albania...1. "Your dog must have been expensive. How much did it cost'"2. Regarding a gorgeous (mid 30's) Albanian friend: "Oh she (pointing at my friend) USED to be really sexy when she was young!"3. Sitting at coffee with about 5 Albanian ladies: " Eda- you really need to colour your hair., it's ugly like that." And Eda has lovely salt & pepper natural hair...
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The Kids of Shkodra, Albania
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Do you think YOUR kids would be so happy to go to the cabbage patch on a chilly day in February and pick a wheel barrow full of questionable looking cabbages, and then push them all the way home across the river and up a very steep hill' It's Carnival time and these boys are still celebrating! Aren't they adorable' I wonder what these boys are discussing on their way home from school' No school buses for these kids.... they have a long walk home in the cold. And the girls- like kids...
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Oh Happy Day!
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
My birthday lunch with my wonderful hubby Peter... and a very creative photo which he took of me basking in the weird and funky 'stained glass' sunshine streaming in through the windows...Then off to the French Bakery where my girlies were gathering to share my day with me... Oh I received such beautiful cards... almost everyone was handmade... And some wonderful, and truly thoughtful presents... ...new palette knives from Jean, my left-hand painting partner... And a new book that looks really...
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Albanian Daffodils
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
I have a couple of reasons to toot my own horn this week:One of my photos from last week's daytrip to a small Albanian village is now being hightighted on a lovely website all about daffodils. Who knew there was a site devoted only to these delightful spring flowers'? Go check out my photo-  Daffodils in Krajen, Albania . I guess my photography course is already having good results!And last week another website asked to use two of my older photos which I took during our driving...
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The Shepherdess and Her Sheep
From Stepping Stones, 3 year ago, Read 0 times. Similar articles
Near Lezhe, Albania
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