I guess the title of this blog says it all. Being offline for a little, because the most precious thing we can gift each other is time, love and attention. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, no matter how or with whom you’ve celebrated. And now… let the countdown to the 2023 begin! …
And just like that, it was the Monday before Christmas. It means the beginning of a jam-packed but very cosy week every single year, but this time, it really takes the cake. Hence, I have to keep the blog a little shorter this week, although I feel somewhat sorry about that. After all, with all …
Only a couple of days left to Christmas Eve, and after a few last, sun-drenched days in Rome, the city being completely indulged in the Christmas atmosphere, I got on a plane last Wednesday. Off to the Netherlands to spend the holidays with family and friends, as I always do. With an Italian panettone in my suitcase, …
Weekblog #111: Christmas, a train ride and cultural differences Read More »
In three days’ time, it will be Christmas Eve. And for most of us, it is probably going to be the strangest Christmas ever. After the news about the strict measures in the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom was widely reported in the Italian media, the Italians were impatiently awaiting the verdict that Prime …
With both Dutch and Italian news apps on my phone, last week was a bustle of breaking news push notifications. There’s no need to even mention the cause of this stream of news messages, as we all know it all too well unfortunately. The general message in all these news updates was clear: things are not going …
#58 The Ten Christmas Lunch Commandments (English) Read More »
While the Italians are eagerly waiting for the end of the week, Thursday or Friday the new decree is expected and it will finally be clear how Christmas is to be celebrated, a tradition is broken by many at the same time. Eight December, the day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary and a national …
The best part about living abroad is coming home, and coming home for Christmas is definitely the most special thing. Chris Rea has been singing it so aptly since 1986 already: ‘Driving home for Christmas, I can’t wait to see those faces’. In my case that would be flying home for Christmas, but the feeling …
Het allerleukste aan in het buitenland wonen vind ik het thuiskomen, en met kerst is dit zonder twijfel het meest speciaal. Zoals Chris Rea het al sinds 1986 treffend zingt: ‘Driving home for Christmas, I can’t wait to see those faces’. In mijn geval is dat dus flying home for Christmas, maar het gevoel is exact …
La mia parte preferita del vivere all’estero è tornare a casa, e tornare a casa per Natale è sicuramente la cosa più speciale. Chris Rea la canta così bene già dal 1986: ‘Driving home for Christmas, I can’t wait to see those faces’. Nel mio caso sarebbe volare a casa in aereo per Natale, ma la sensazione …
He’s back! Spelacchio is back again! Who?!, I can hear you think. Spelacchio is Rome’s gigantic Christmas tree that is put up on Piazza Venezia every year. A huge square where buses, scooters and cars cross each other with loud honking and accompanying hand gestures, and with the pompous Altare della Patria marking its south side. Eight …
#6 Spelacchio, living the American Dream (English) Read More »