Facebook Fascination in Italy

November 20, 2008 · Filed Under Italians · 2 Comments

At the start of this year I often made a point of mentioning Facebook to my new master students, especially those doing marketing and media relations masters, but not only.

I noticed at that time that quite a number of these students had not even heard of Facebook and really had no idea what it was all about.

Well, that has all changed now, but not necessarily for the best. Read more

Moratti v The Prostitutes

November 19, 2008 · Filed Under Milan · 3 Comments

Letizia Moratti, for those not in the know, is the Mayor of Milan, Italy, and she’s at war. Yes, she’s battling the city’s prostitution problem.

In Milan, aside from the dog poo, and the graffiti, once of the first things I noticed when I first came to Milan many moons ago was the number of sex workers, or ’sex professionals’ as some like to be known, on the city’s streets. To say that the prostitution was overt would be something of an understatement.

At night time you would often drive down a main street and find it lined with the ladies and part ladies plying their trade. No longer though. Mayor Moratti is clamping down on the problem, finally. So, what has Milan’s first lady done? Read more

Gomorrah - The Book and the Film

November 18, 2008 · Filed Under Italy · Comment

Roberto Saviano

Roberto Saviano’s almost surreal book about the Italian camorra mafia has been made into a film. I’ve seen the film, and I’m reading the book.

Both are shocking, and make you wonder just how Italy’s mafia problem has got so out of hand.

Actually, I was interested to see how Saviano’s book had been turned into a film, seeing as it is a patchwork of accounts relating to Saviano’s own experiences, which are mixed in with related events and many other bits and mafia related bobs. Not really the stuff of a great plot. Read more

Italian Food

OFoods for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

This is a great cause and I’m happy to spread the word:

Lasagna and Tortellini

Italian food is supposedly well known the world over, but the world’s knowledge of Italian cuisine is somewhat limited.

Good Italian Things

Photo Yellow Pages of Italy

Wow, this is excellent! How about a 3d, sort of, yellow pages? Well, one exists, and appears to cover most of Italy.

I can even see my house on the map!

Take a trip on the virtual side!

Renato Brunetta’s Bright Idea

For those not in the know, Renato Brunetta is Berlusconi’s Public Services minister, and he seems to be doing a good job.

A big problem for the state sector in Italy is absenteeism, which, of course reduces efficiency and wastes taxpayers money.

Italian news

Alitalia the Zombie Airline

A bit like some recalcitrant zombie, Alitalia just will not lie down and die. The stuttering saga of Italy’s national airline wobbles on, and does not appear to be coming to an end.

Just the Ticket for Tricky Truckers

Travelling on Italy’s autostrade, or motorways, can be quite an expensive business, for example for truck drivers the cost from northern Italy to to costs around 70 Euros, but in another classic Italian fiddle, budget tickets were made available.

Italians

Healthy Savings in Italy

Others, not just myself have noticed that Italians are healthy, but also rather obsessive about their health. They will resort to antibiotics at the drop of a hat.

Italy - Land of Cliques Part 1

Yes, it’s true. Italy is riddled with cliques. It’s a very cliquey nation. Cliques are everywhere in Italy when you think about it, as I have been doing after having met up for a beer with an American friend.

Of Interest

Bella Baita B&B

Looking for a unique “off the beaten path”, homey accommodation offering a balance between complete independence and being a part of the family?

Coda di Rospo in Il Quadrifoglio

We’re pretty lucky really. There are quite a few interesting restaurants dotted around the area of Milan in which we live. Indeed, there is an excellent little place literally two minutes walk from our house.

Roccaraso, Abruzzo, Italy - Skiing off the beaten piste.

I have several friends from the south of Italy, but I was rather surprised to learn that one of them, Ciro, is an avid skier.

The Gorgonzola of the Gods

Sometimes in your life you make a discovery. For me, this discovery was made yesterday at the Via Paolo Sarpi street fair here in Milan.

Sant’Ambrogio and Christmas shopping in Milan - Updated!!

Every year in Milan there is the Sant’Ambrogio holiday on the 7th December. Sant’Ambrogio is the patron saint of Milan and to celebrate the day dedicated to the Milanese Saint there is the ‘Oh Bei, Oh Bei’ mercatino.

November and the fog that isn’t

About five or six years ago, maybe longer, I can’t remember exactly, I bought one of those rather daft, but very practical Russian style rabbit skin hats - very similar to the one in the picture: