The city of Lucca has always been my favourite. Not only because it is only 25 minutes away from our home and I go there at least two or three times a week, but also because you do not feel like a "tourist" there.
Gala Placidia's activity
Questions Asked
In this icy cold weather, hot drinks and comfort foods are a must. Preparing and consuming them are good ways to spend time when we cannot venture outdoors.
Wed, 02/08/2012 - 06:10
The cold weather is affecting most of Italy and creating difficulties concerning energy supplies. Russia, the most important supplier, has been reducing the provision of gas up to 30% due to increasing demand in their area.
Tue, 02/07/2012 - 02:22
The San Francisco Chronicle publishes today this most interesting article:
Sun, 02/05/2012 - 12:45
Whenever we are in Italy, we love to visit antique and vintage markets and fairs, looking for that special piece that we would love to have. Sometimes, we find it...
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 02:47
One of my favourite activities in Italy is to visit those markets that sell antique and vintage items.
Tue, 01/31/2012 - 06:38
Some members may have noticed that I have been fairly quiet for the past month and a half. The reason for this was that we have been visiting our daughters who live in San Francisco (CA).
Fri, 01/20/2012 - 02:59
The new ½ûÂþÌìÌà government has been announced and it is obvious that we will have a fight between technocrats and politicians.
Wed, 11/16/2011 - 14:24
A lot has been written about the dangers of overheating Teflon coated cookware. Toxic fumes can be extremely dangerous for our health. Personally, I have never liked that type of cookware and I do not buy it anymore.
Sat, 10/29/2011 - 06:24
In another thread, we were discussing Tuscan herbs and "funghi porcini". Tuscany is a paradise for herb lovers and many varieties, such as rosemary, sage and "nipitella" grow wild.
Thu, 10/27/2011 - 11:23
Comments posted
 Normally, warm weather cannot be expected until the end of May.
 Saint Swithun is very effective in case of a drought. You pray to him if what you want is a good shower. Keeping in mind what regularly happens in the UK, he is a very busy saint! I thought that we were praying for fair weather. In the case of electrical storms, Saint Barbara should be invoked for protection... Possibly they are having some fun together.
 I understand that autumn is the right time of the year for transplanting. Anyway, here is an article with very precise instructions.
Is British citizenship compulsory, or is it an option? That would be the question to ask. The newborn child would have an ½ûÂþÌìÌà Birth certificate, which would be then accepted by the British Consulate if you decide to register him/her in order to have the British nationality. Section 3 would apply to people over the age of 18 only. At least this is what I understand and would also follow current legal requirements in other EU countries. What about dual nationality? This is quite usual nowadays. I have dual nationality (not ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ, but Australian and Spanish).Â
 Great Anne! I loved it! Thanks.
 Penny, I think that your child is entitled to ½ûÂþÌìÌà citizenship by birth and sections 1 and 3 that you are quoting relate to naturalization only. As far as I know, ½ûÂþÌìÌà citizenship by birth is granted to: 1) A child with an ½ûÂþÌìÌà mother or father 2) A child born in Italy to unknown or stateless parents 3) A child born in Italy to non-½ûÂþÌìÌà parents providing that they are from a country where the law does not impose adopting the citizenship of the parents 4) A child of unknown parents found in Italy without proof of citizenship or identity This is the law which is applied in most EU countries
 Cilla, it is always hard work for both teachers and students. The rewards are great but it takes a lot of patience and perseverance. Keep on learning, you are lucky to have a very patient teacher and someone who is keen to help. Only very young children learn languages quickly because their brains are like sponges. Once we are over 12 years of age, it becomes increasingly difficult. But you can make it.... I had students of French in their 70's and they made it into university....Keep on trying and practice as much as you can.
 Very funny, story, although it may not be "historically" correct. Franco had been agonising for many months. His son-in-law, the Marquis of Villaverde, who was a heart surgeon tried to keep him alive all this time as members and friends of the dictatorial regime were afraid of what may happen. So his agony was unmercifully prolongued. In the end, nothing happened and Spain regained its democracy.... with a few hiccups...but the transition was smooth and bloodless. I only found quite interesting that both Franco and Skorzeny died a few months apart. Actually, Franco may have been technically dead before Skorzeny and Perón also died around that time.... Can´t remember the exact date. Perón was also an unconditional admirer of Mussolini. Both Hitler and Mussolini helped Franco during the Spanish Civil War....
 A fascinating story, Postmac. I read about it a long time ago, but it had faded.... An interesting detail about Skorzeny, he came to live in Spain under the personal protection of Franco. He was a multimillionaire and resided mainly in Majorca; however, he was found to have a tumor and died, as you said in Madrid on July 5th, 1975. His "protector", Franco, died on the 20th November of the same year. Skorzeny was also an adviser to Nasser.
 Wrong saint! That is St Médard, a French saint whose festivity is in June. According to customs, if it rains on his day, it will keep on raining for 40 days..... That's what they say. Now, the patron saint to pray against cold weather is Saint Maurus, an ½ûÂþÌìÌà Benedictine monk born in Rome in 512 of a patrician family. He is the one who protects against the cold weather... so he may be more helpful, being ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ... Only problem, taking into account the EU, it may be a good idea to pray to both saints.... There is also a German saint, St Sebaldus. Perhaps the three of them could get together!