Back from holiday

Italian lessons start again after holiday and to report the days spent on the mountain or the seaside...

Dove sei stato in vacanza?: where have you spent you holiday?
Ho passato le vacanze (ferie): I've spent my holiday

in montagna: on the mountain
al mare: on the seaside

Ferie/Vacanze: it is almost the same thing, the only difference (not always underlined) is that usually the word Ferie is used to indicate a pause during work.

Andare in vacanza:to go on holiday



The picture I've taken is from Lago di Ledro, a very nice place not far from Garda Lake, near the Alps. I really love mountain, probably because I live quite near the sea and when here it is very hot, all I can desire is a bit of cold breeze...

leave you with a song, hope you've enjoyed your holiday!

My favourite sport

...though I cannot practice it as much as I wish!
The first time I have ridden I was 3, I can barely remember it. My uncle has a horse, and since I was a child he tried to teach me how to ride.

There is something special in riding a horse, it is not only a matter of open air and wind in your hair, there is a relation between you and the animal, and first of all you need to understand how this relation works. And in the same way the horse need to understand you. So in the very first phase you need to understand how you can communicate and how he answers. You define a contact, explaining that you (are supposed to) control the situation, and then a great part of your energy is dedicated to understand his reactions.

The gratest thing is when you realize that you're no longer thinking about it and everything is going on. This thing of being in relation with nature in such a way makes it magic. I'm not sure I can render this idea... There is not only a way to move or to do things, it is something more complicated, and thus much more enjoyable.

I'm really lucky, because anytime I go and visit my uncle I cn ask him to let me ride, and I started when I was so young that even though I fall down, and I experienced some "dangerous moments" I've never given up.

L'epifania tutte le feste si porta via

Well, tomorrow Christmas is definitely over, as my granmother used to say. And so the template will change and I have no excuse for my studies, no more lunch and dinner to prepare, presents to buy, or people to visit. Back to routine, and to my worries for this coming exams...

But, a new year to fulfil my dreams and to find my way, remembering all I have reflected on during this Christmas time.

I hope I can find more time to post this new year, because I'm becoming a little lazy with my blog!

Those few who come intentionally here, keep an eye on me, please, I need your help as you well know!
Anybody "new" who come across this message in a bottle in the huge sea of the Web, leave a comment, it will be an encouragement to do always my best!

A merry Christmas

My sister did her best to arrange the tree and Presepe! She did a good job indeed!

A merry Christmas, full of laugh, of people, children happy to receive so many and wonderful presents, friends smiling and joking, my family joint together, delcious food prepared with love, new traditions to carry on... That was my best Christmas present!

What about you? did you have a Merry Christmas?

Love and peace be in your heart in these days of Joy!

Buon Natale

Some hours in Rome...

...not even a day! I had time just for a walk, starting with San Peter.






Passing by, because I had no time to stand in a queue...












Then I passed by Castel Sant'Angelo, and I stopped few minutes in the park, just to read my map and decide the next target...

















Which could not but be Trinità dei Monti, and to reach it I went along a street, where I could see Bulgari, Cartier, Buccellati... and I was wondering what kind of place it was... The to decided the next stop of my trip I realize that I was passing by via Condotti!!


















It's almost impossible to take a picture without people in it, when you're in Rome...


I went up the stairs, and up there I decided the next stop...













...can you guess where I am?!
I thought I could sit for a moment, bu when I reached Fontana di Trevi I realized that it was too crowded!

So, I stopped just a minute to watch the tourists taking picture of the wife/son/daughter/boy-girl-friend throwing a coin...







Then through unknown ways I arrived in Via Venezia from where I could see Altare della Patria, but I didn't dare go up the stairs here! (once in a lifetime, and I had already done it!)













When you're there you cannot avoid to see Colonna traiana and Foro di Traiano, of course!


















And if you go up to reach Piazza del Campidoglio you can see the whole city (almost)...













And then you can easily recognize Marco Aurelio when you arrive...

So far I was almost tired (it is a really long way...) but I thought I could take a bus to come back, so I decided to go on (Colosseo is so near...)

















...but I just managed to reach Tempio di Vesta which is just opposite La Bocca della verità! Then I had to come back, no more time, and no more energy for my quick trip in Rome!

simple and cute!

Saturday I went to a marriage. We have a little choir for friends, usually, but this time was for people we didn't know. They are friends of a friend of ours... Anyway, when we went to the church Saturday morning we could see little sunflowers everywhere! Such a beautiful landscape for this marriage! Sunflowers were surrounded by little green and pink meadows...

These 2 guys are really fantastic, he is from Colombia, and she's Italian, they have been living together for 5 years because they were married in Colombia, and now they are in Italy too.
She cut her hair at the beginning of September in order not to have problem in hair dressing and he was so nervous before she appeared that Saturday...

So sweet, and so simple...
After the ceremony we were allowed to steal a sunflower! Unfortunately it won't last long... but they were so cute!

As I promised

here there are some images of my holiday!













As you can guess I don't feel like putting my guys' pics here,




















so, enjoy the landscape!































We couldn't bath here unfortunately, too cold!
















But so beautiful!
















And that's the best way to keep you warm!

and now...

...I'm back home! the climate is hot again (and wet!), no more marvellous landscape around me, and my head full of worry for my next exams.

I enjoyed so much those days with my guys, lightening a fire every night, and somehow going back to what is really important to me. What I absolutely need in my life, and what i don't!

It is so strange that ten days make my life somehow so different, it is not only a matter of contact to nature, probably is due to the people that were with me, the feeling you have when people surround you and are ready to help you...

I spent 10 wonderful days, I've been so tired this week, and now I know I have so many things to do... but I'm ready and back home!

P.S. I'll post some photos in the next few days, the thing is I didn't take them with my camera, so be patient (as I am!!).

Ready?! Go!!

I'm going to the mountains! I'll leave on Sunday morning. Me and 20 boys and girls from 12 to 16 (and some other adults with me of course!!) 10 days sleeping in a tent, lighting a fire to prepare lunch and dinner, and living in what is really Nature.

One could say that is not exactly holiday, no rest (definitely) and taking care of other people. But I really enjoy this 10 days (I do this kind of holiday every year!), even though some mornings I'll wake up wondering why I decided to go there, and some other I won't be able to get up, some days I'll be discouraged by the weather or what else... But when back, I'll be so happy, and smiling, and tired, of course, and I'll remember my guys' smile during these days...

So, ready??!! Go!!