See More Worlds: sea

Showing posts with label sea. Show all posts

Wednesday, 19 September 2012

Who is the lucky one in this picture?

Who feels nicer here...the seagull?

Who feels calmer, the people on the boat?

WRONG!!!!

I am the one who was lucky! I got to admire the whole thing, the bird flying above the sea and in the picture with the little boat, AND the lovely scene and the warm day, and the people (whoever they were) enjoying the marvelous day in September, just last weekend.

I AM THE LUCKY ONE!!!

I got it on film, well, on my digital camera, and here it is, for me and others to enjoy.

It's like, when someone has a beautiful house, and even on the outside it's beautiful to see.

Sometimes, it is nicer to have a beautiful house to admire from your house, that might not be as beautiful, than to have those people in the beautiful mansion look at YOUR house. Get the picture, don't you?

I've changed my mind, I think all of us were lucky, the seagull, the people on the boat and me.

The people enjoyed one of the best days they had in September, the bird also enjoyed his flight in perfect weather, and I too, got it all, just by standing and watching.

(Moral of the story.....

if you are NOT the one enjoying the experience,

be happy that others are enjoying themselves,

even that is an experience)

Monday, 17 September 2012

Peace

Did this girl

laying on the sand that was rising high in the middle of this water at the sea

realize

just how relaxed I would be looking at her

and how her photo

would always come to mind

perhaps in the wintertime, when it's cold and rainy, or in the autumn when the wind is blowing.....

did she have any idea at all just how wonderful she looked, and how peaceful and calm

just laying there

without a care

with no one near her

only me taking her picture

and putting it on my blog here

for all to see.

Weekend at the sea

Something amazing about totally changing temperature, totally changing your clothing -- going from chilly to warm, from a sweatshirt to a bathing suit.
That is what I did on Saturday. And what a treat!!
Whenever these wonderful moments happen I keep thinking that perhaps the Indians, or some people that are philosophical, more than we are in the Western world, are able to remember these moments, keep them so that when you need to remember them and feel relaxed and feel SUNLIGHT on your face, you only have to think....and you are there, in that moment, at that place, enjoying once again the peace and quiet and lovely nature that you enjoyed in that day, at the moment.
Anyhow, it was wonderful.
I rode a bike again, it was so much fun. The wind on my face, the view of a wonderfully blue ocean, and the crisp air that then turned warm, it was just wonderful!!!
Here is a bike parked in front of the beach that we spent the day on.
You know, in Italy there are BAGNI, where they rent you a lounge, a chair, and where you can change your clothes, use the bathroom, and have something to eat at the bar. We were guests of my very close friends, and so we had a place to hang out at.
It was great
It is over

But I just hope I can remember the sun, and the color of the sky, and the warmth of the air, and the swimming and the bike riding.....what a nice warm memory.

Sunday, 22 July 2012

Follonica on the Tirrenian Sea, Italy

Yesterday, this was the view from a little trattoria on the shore of Follonica on the Tirrenian Sea, Italy.
The colors of the sky were very dark and beautiful, and the choice of these colorful umbrellas, well, it was absolutely beautiful to see!
Here I am, back at home, a cloudy and cool sky in Perugia, but this is what photos are for....you can just pretend you are still there, in the warm air, in the cool water, looking at these magnificent views of the sea, awaiting a storm that never came, enjoying the beauty of nature.

Friday, 20 July 2012

Going to the seaside.......

Better get moving and away from this computer!!! Can't wait to relax at the sea for two days.

Here is a picture taken at the lake, can't find my sea pics right now....gotta run!!

HOW TO SPEAK ITALIAN...in 60 seconds

Cavolo...means cabbage BUT you can use it when you want to say WOW!
Non so. So simple, and it means, I don't know. The word no, is no (easy) AND the word so comes from the verb sapere which is to know. So is used for I.....io so, I know. But in this case it is so simple...forget the I, and just say NON SO. Everyone will know what you mean, that is that you don't know!!
Raffreddore -- it means, a COLD. Like a fever, a cough, like what I feel I may be coming down with right now. If I want to say that I have a cold, I say "Sono raffreddata". That translates that I have (or I am) with a cold. You can also say "Ho un raffreddore" which means, I have a cold. Anyway you look at it, you will have to stay in bed or around the house, until you become....guarito or guarita, which means that you are cured!
IMPEGNATA!!! That is what I have been lately. BUSY! Lots of IMPEGNI (appointments, things to do, tasks, chores, you name it!) Actually I should say IMPEGNATISSIMA....meaning very very busy. And to tell you the truth, that is exactly how I like my life!
Per favore.....it is a nice way of asking someone "please" do this or that, or take one, or asking a favor. BUT you can also use it with hands wide and saying PLEASE!!! Stop it! Don't! Be quiet! It is all in the way you say it, and your body language. PLEASE!!!!!
Lo.......this is used when you have a noun like Spagnolo.....you see, this word means a Spanish man. Lo is used because the word starts with sp and you have to use lo rather than il, probably because it makes it easier to pronounce the two sounds....lo with sp rather than il and then sp lo sp, not il sp......When, on the other hand you need to use plural, that is Spagnoli, you must change the lo to gli and then say gli spagnoli. Oh my, this is difficult even for me. Signing off now, will be back with an easier lesson next time.
If you know Spanish, can it help you to know Italian?? YES!! Do I know Spanish? NO! But when I hear it, I can understand lots of it, and I am SURE it's because I know Italian.
Differente....it is easy to see what it means. But the hard part is the ORDER you put this word in. You don't want to use it like in English BUT to put it after the noun that you are calling different. Like I want a different book. Vorrei un libro differente. See, it is AFTER the noun, that is how you use adjectvies in Italian. And don't forget to say the letter E at the end....different - TAY.

Curiosities of Italian Life

VERY curious indeed, this Italian life. On the OUTSIDE it looks like people have loads of money, buying expensive iphones, cars, clothes and even eating out and spending money here and there. BUT on the inside, we are all having troubles with paying bills, hoping our children find jobs (most want to leave Italy now, lots do anyhow). So, the curious thing is that Italians look like they are having an easy time, but believe me.............
Moods........hmmmmmmm......when I am on facebook, I see the difference of the mood here in Italy and the mood in the States. There is a huge difference. People here are moody, due to the politics, especially. We just don't have the fun-loving thouughts and moods of the people in the States. Of course, I am from there, so I have a pretty happy mood most of the time. But being in the middle of complaining and low moods makes it even harder to stay up. Grrrrrrrrrr!!!
No shopping list. What do I mean? I mean, when you go to the market, you don't always need to have a shopping list....you see what looks fresh, colorful and good, and then buy what excites you. I have often had guests for dinner without really knowing what I am going to make. I see zucchini, or tomatoes, or something else and then the idea comes to me. That's how it is in Italy, the visual gives one the idea of what to do next.
City streets.....why oh why are there so many HOLES in the streets!! They just wrote about them the other day in the paper, and there are hundreds (or thousands, don't remember) of holes of all dimensions all over this city. And that means uncomfortable driving that is for sure!! Bump bump bump! The rain opens them up more and then they get bigger. They fill them up sometimes but not well enough. Another of Italy's problems, beautiful country, but we have a large share of things that need to be improved.
Politics. Read on!! In Italy, no matter what the occasion, dinner parties, tv shows, meeting people on the street, watch out, because politics and talking about them is what is in store!!! People just can't get together without talking politics. It is a BIG part of Italian life. And talking about it often can get you in trouble IF the people you are talking to think differently than you do. If they are of another viewpoint, watch out!! If you ever saw two Italians with differing views, you will know what I mean.
SNOW....will it or won't it snow? If it does, the curious thing about snow in a small town, is that everything just about STOPS all of a sudden. They are very slow in cleaning up the streets, but in a way it is nice because you can go out and walk all over the place without any cars around, and then, it is very very beautiful and quiet. So.....into bed I go and perhaps tomorrow it will SNOW!!

EATING and other things....in Italy

TOMATOES -- it is easy to talk about tomatoes in this country. And easy to eat them. They come is such a variety, the ones for sugo, the ones for salad. Ones you can cut into little pieces, or lay out flat with oregano and oil and vinegar and salt.....They are so good, they get lots of sun, and people love to use them in cooking. If you don't know how to use them, just ask an Italian mamma in the store. She for sure can tell you everything you need to know.
Good parmesan, bad parmesan. You know, here in Italy we have wonderful parmesan. It is really really delicious. I once heard that in the States they take the waxy part of the parmesan and even use that to be ground into the stuff you can buy in a box. If that is true, that is really terrible!!!! It would be like eating candles!
Lemons. Why lemons? Because you can squeeze them in water, add sugar or honey; you can squeeze it on meat or fish or salad, or use them to decorate a plate. You can use the peel for flavor in a cake, or to decorate the top of a dessert. You can even use half to put into the dishwasher and make things come out sweeter. Why lemons you ask???
Wintertime weight gain. Yes. Easy to munch on cookies, or almonds or parmesan!! Or a glass of wine and nuts, or a bruschetta! Hard to take off that one or two kili.....that means taking a walk, and today it is going to rain, so wouldn't it just be easier to stay inside, with a nice glass of hot milk and coffee and a few cookies??
JUst how sweet do you want things? In Italy, sweets are sweet but not as sweet as in England, or the States. A cake may have something on it, but not as gooey and sweet as in other places. Salt, on the other hand, is used more freely here than perhaps in the States. Foods can often be very salty, though very good too. Sugar and salt, each country has their own way of using them.
Honey.....it's the time for honey lately, because it is cold, and in the evening is a good time for camomilla tea, or some other hot drink. I like to use honey, good for the throat, and tastes so good. The hard honey is the best, easier to bend a spoon getting it out, but better for you and more "real" and usually biological, whereas the liquid might just have some sugar in it, or not be quite as natural.
Sweet potatoes. If you love American sweet potatoes, the ones they serve on Thanksgiving, be prepared to NOT find them in Italy. It is very hard to find them (actually I just heard a Chinese market has them) but the ones they have in the normal markets are white on the inside! Sweet but white! Isn't that strange!
RED WINE (vino rosso) goes with meat, and WHITE WINE (vino bianco) goes with fish. But wine is so good in Italy, especially the really good ones, any wine is fine most of the time. Room temperature (reds) and white chilled.
CELERY?? When I was a kid, we ate celery sticks all the time. With salt, without, in the lunchbox, or at home in a glass of cold water. I think I have never been served a piece of celery like this in Italy UNLESS they served it with lots of other vegetables to create a vegetable platter to dip in oil and salt, and that dish is called pinzimonio. (better check my spelling on that one, and I will let you know!)
I am going to cook when I get to L.A. BUT it won't be as good as in Italy (see my last post under curiosities of Italian life). I try the best I can BUT the ingredients just aren't the same. And the cuts of meat are different too.

See More Worlds

Wednesday, 19 September 2012

Who is the lucky one in this picture?

Monday, 17 September 2012

Peace

Weekend at the sea

Sunday, 22 July 2012

Follonica on the Tirrenian Sea, Italy

Friday, 20 July 2012

Going to the seaside.......

WHO AM I??

Double images....

What's the weather like now in Perugia?

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