It may seem strange, but today, for the first time, I’m flying from Maastricht Airport, the airport closest to home. It’s one of the few airports around here (read: Eindhoven, Düsseldorf, Brussels…) with a direct flight to Bari in Puglia, and that’s exactly where I’m going this August. But before I leave and my blog and Instagram …
Weekly blog #144: Off to Puglia! But not before doing a little recap first… Read More »
Last Thursday, it was the sixth of January, a day we know as the day of the Three Wise Men. For Italian children, it’s a joyous day because La Befana comes along, the kindhearted witch on a broomstick who, on that dark and cold January night, pays a visit to the houses of all Italian children and fills their stockings – hung by the fireplace – with sweets. Well, if you …
Weekly blog #114: Fare il ponte, what is it and how do Italians do it? Read More »
Fifteenth of August, the laziest day of the year. Even more than at Christmas, the whole country is at a standstill. Shut down by that one holiday, Ferragosto, which for many Italians means the start of the summer holidays. The whole of Italy shifts down to the lowest gear. The whole of Italy horizontal for …
Today, on the 26th of July, I am having a little party. It’s La Festa di Sant’Anna, which means that it is my onomastico, my name day. I think Anne, like Anna, is a beautiful name. Simple yet melodic because it begins and ends with a vowel, a classic in so many languages – from Italian to Russian …
Italy has entered ‘phase two’ today, after weeks of being locked up in the house. The lockdown measures have been eased a little, but to temper expectations right away: not that much has changed yet. Schools are still closed, just like the restaurants, and everyone still has to fill in a form when going outside. …