shout out!

Proud of this guy,

with these guys for doing a great tour in the UK right now. First stop was in Liverpool at The Cavern, where The Beatles played, and continuing on tonight in Manchester at Factory 251. Carry on boys! 

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pasquetta

Let's rewind a bit! One of the best things about Italy are the random holidays, like Pasquetta which is simply the day after Easter! We celebrate with beer! This year the location was close to last years, but this was at a hunter's house! Perfect for a vegan right? You don't even want to see the photo's and mounted "decorations" inside! However, our lovely friends grill the veggies first, before the meat, and made the most scrumptious pappa al pomodoro and ribollita. We got a little rained out in the late afternoon, but a great start to spring, one of the first days without our winter coats! 

The then, mamma to be, who is now a mamma! Hi Viola in there!

Not too shabby a location, huh?

Beer and rain equals random low quality photo time!

five

Happy Anniversary, amore!

Five for us, and thirty for my parents! 

india

A little pre-anniversary celebration. Yesterday afternoon we strolled through the Parco delle Cascine which runs along the Arno river, and during the day is a beautiful place to picnic, play, or just enjoy as is. Unfortunately, after-dark it is not the greatest place to be, as it is pretty much left unguarded by any kind of security. I have read that there are some plans to revitalize and clean up the area a bit (great place for concerts, we have seen Radiohead and Blonde Redhead there) which would be a great move as it is one of the greatest spots in Florence.    

We walked until Ponte all'Indiano

Lonley planet informs us about the "monument to Rajaram Cuttiputti, an Indian maharajah who, while holidaying in Florence in 1870, came down with gastro-enteritis and died. His retinue was surprisingly granted permission to cremate him by the river. Four years later a statue and memorial were designed by British artisans."

Poor guy.

Some baseball and soccer games

For dinner we finally ventured to Ristorante India on the hill of Fiesole. May I just say yum yum yum yum? 

We thankfully fared much better than the maharajah.

graduation day

Another day in Bologna! We went to watch our friend Giovanni present his thesis and graduate to earn his medical degree (the first step, now 5 years of specialistic study). The very intimidating day includes presenting your research in front of a panel of your professors and an auditorium full of students, family, and friends. Then you are required to answer follow up questions. After all the students are finished, the professors convene for a few minutes, they announce your grade, and you are done! A process I'm oh so glad I did not have to go through. I do, however, approve of the eating, drinking, and celebrating after.

Oh, and the new guy in Rome stole my husband's name!

Announcing their grades

He did very well, and the owner of the characteristic "Trattoria Annamaria" honored the graduate with a pen!

They were amazed with the advances in modern medicine.

caffeine

Where or where would I be without my morning and afternoon dose of iced soy latte?

christmas in march

Part of my Christmas present from Francesco was tickets to see Beach House in Bologna, and the day finally came! We made a quick stop in a lovely photography store, Arcobaleno foto, to pick up some film, followed by aperitivo at Swine Bar. The concert was everything we had been waiting for since the last time we saw them a few years ago, opening for Vampire Weekend at the Hollywood Bowl. Aesthetically (even if not captured through iphone photos) the stage was one of the best I have seen in a while, clean cut with perfect lighting. The incredible vocals of Victoria can do no wrong. We left as very happy campers! Happy Sunday!

Swine Bar

Projection from a bar which blasted the accompanied bluesy music

Rainy Bologna 

Pear Chutney

Seitan Tajine

Beach House at Estragon