Blogging In Italy

What a Difference a Year Makes… Well, Five Years!

Five years ago, Chicagoans braced for what was soon to be known as Snowmageddon or Snowpocalypse. In 2011, 21.2 inches of snow fell, making it the third largest total snowfall in Chicago history after the infamous 1967 and 1999 Chicago Blizzards. Over 900 cars and busses were stranded on Lake Shore Drive.

On our walk the next day, we found this:

2011 ©Blogginginitaly.com

Today, the sunshine brought 40° temperatures and on our walk, the scenery was quite different. The ice on the lake was nowhere to be seen,

©Blogginginitaly.com

and walkers and runners were enjoying the day.

©Blogginginitaly.com

Admittedly, February 1st isn’t the beginning of spring and is a bit early for boaters and beach goers, but we did spot this twosome taking a swim in Diversey Harbor.

©Blogginginitaly.com

As an old Proverb reminds us,
No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.

Ciao,
Judy

Tags: Early Signs of Spring

Comments 2 Comments
Categories Chicago, My Blog about Italy

Say it Isn’t “Snow”

24 Jan

With much of the eastern part of the U.S. blanketed in snow, Chicago has been quite lucky as the storms only waved as they passed by our city. That said, it’s still quite cold, so I have been happily anticipating spending a warm spring in Sicily. As I was making our car reservations, however, I kept noticing warnings in the fine print about renting snow chains through mid April:

Note: Winter Equipment
For most Italian provinces, there is the requirement to fit winter tires or have a set of snow chains on board specifically for the type of vehicle hired in the period between November 15th and April 15th.

Certainly, they must be referring to northern Italy, I surmised. And then this week, I saw an article in The Local, an online Italian newspaper: Sicily shivers at first snowfall of 2016

Per the article,

Sicily might be famous for sun and sandy beaches, but on Monday morning residents awoke to the sight of the island covered in snow.

Snow fell on Sunday night, leaving Mount Etna and surrounding towns covered in the white stuff, along with several other towns and villages of altitudes around 600 metres.

While snow on Mount Etna and its environs isn’t unusual, residents of the Aeolian Islands, including the volcanic island of Stromboli, and towns near the Madonie mountain range, also experienced deep snowfall, with many of them taking to Twitter and using the hashtag ‘#nevesicilia’ (snow Sicily) to share their photos.

Ferry services to the islands have been suspended, with a 35-year-old who went into labour on the island of Lipari on Saturday night having to be flown by helicopter to a hospital in the Sicilian city of Milazzo, Ansa reported.

La Stampa reported that schools were closed in several Sicilian towns, and warned of the dangers of icy roads – particularly in more isolated communities – as temperatures dropped below zero degrees.

photo by Marco Triolo

Looks like we’ll be renting snow chains after all. Just hope we won’t need them!

Ciao,
Judy

Tags: Snow in Sicily; Sicilian snowfall greets 2016

Comments 11 Comments
Categories Italian countryside, Italy, My Blog about Italy, Sicily

The Adventure Continues

19 Jan

You might think I have given up on writing, but actually, I have been knee-deep in planning our 2016 adventures. As spring unfolds, we will be heading to the south of Italy, exploring the areas where my maternal grandparents were born, around Napoli and Salerno. I know many cringe at the thought of Napoli, but as Benita found two years ago as a student, it’s so worth taking the time to visit.

We’ve already been to the Amalfi coast, Capri, Pompeii, Herculaneum, etc. This trip is to see and experience Napoli, (beyond the graffiti and dirt), and especially its people. And of course, pizza making and eating are high on our to-do list.

Then, after an overnight ferry to Palermo, also recommended by Benita, we will work our way around Sicily, a first for Len and me. My Sicily travel board looks like this:

©Blogginginitaly.com

Travel planning is such a great way to learn about an area before heading there and why we like to do our own planning. We always welcome advise and suggestions from others and then couple that information with our own research to map out our trip.

We have spoken to each of the proprietors of the places we will be staying, all who have been extremely helpful. Only one speaks no English at all, but surprisingly, his Sicilian Italian was not difficult for me to understand. Watching all the Montalbano shows has paid off! And speaking of Montalbano, yes, we will visit the many sites where the filming occurred.

All of this, of course, will provide incredible photo opportunities and stories I look forward to sharing. If you have suggestions from your own Napoli or Sicilia travel experiences, I’d love to hear about them.

Ciao,
Judy

Comments 8 Comments
Categories My Blog about Italy

Happy New Year – Felice Anno Nuovo!

31 Dec

From our home to yours,

Photo by Bill Capraro ©Blogginginitaly.com

we wish you a very Happy New Year!

May it be filled with the love of family and friends,

good health, good deeds and peace.

And a big thanks to all who made this year the best ever for blogginginitaly.com…

2015 Stats:

13,000+ views from 87 countries!

Ciao and Happy 2016
Judy

Tags: Happy 2016, Happy New Year

Comments 8 Comments
Categories Chicago, My Blog about Italy

2015 Christmas Moon and Christmas Lights

26 Dec

The first Christmas Full Moon in nearly 40 years was seen worldwide, including over our heads:

2015 Christmas Moon ©Blogginginitaly.com

And this spectacle, which we also saw on our after dinner walk, was too good not to share! Click on the panorama image to enlarge and enjoy.

©Blogginginitaly.com

Ciao,
Judy

Tags: Christmas Full Moon, Christmas Lights

Comments 4 Comments
Categories Chicago, My Blog about Italy

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday

25 Dec

On this blessed Christmas day, I am thankful that my ancestors came from Italy and that their traditions are in my blood; that my parents were born America, and that they continued the traditions plus added new ones; and that throughout the year, I am able to celebrate, continue and expand these family traditions surrounded by the love of family and friends.

Len’s BD, a few years ago! 3 generations

June ’15 Benita’s Graduation – 4 generations

Thanksgiving 2015

Christmas Eve 2015 “Adult Table”

Christmas Eve 2015 “Kids Table”

Christmas Breakfast 2015

To family and extended family members, (pictured and not), who bring so much joy to my life, and to friends we have made over the years who have enhanced our lives in so many ways, I wish you a most Blessed and Merry Christmas!

And to our beautiful and amazing daughter Benita, I wish you a very Happy Birthday! And ditto to my super nephew Will!

Benita 23. Cousin Will 22

Couldn’t resist! Benita age 2 years 4 months

Buon Natale! Buon Compleanno! Auguri – Cheers!

Ciao,
Judy

Comments 6 Comments
Categories My Blog about Italy

Lincoln Park Zoo Lights

22 Dec

Another tradition we look forward to each year is seeing the city sparkling in lights for the holiday season. There is the traditional Michigan Avenue lighting ceremony; flipping the switch on the city Christmas tree at Daley Plaza; the wreaths on the lions gracing The Art Institute; and so many others. One of my favorites, however, is always Lincoln Park Zoo’s annual Zoo Lights. Each year, the displays seem to get better, and this year is no exception.

Lincoln Park Zoo, a leader in animal conservation and care, is a 35-acre zoo located in Lincoln Park in Chicago. The zoo was founded in 1868, making it one of the oldest zoos in the U.S. It is also one of a few free admission zoos in the United States.

Like so many others last night, we basked in the unseasonal warm weather as we enjoyed the spectacle at the zoo.

©Blogginginitaly.com

Best of all is seeing the smiles and hearing the giggles of the many children, although at the zoo, everyone seems to find the child within, including Benita and me with our little friend Noah who was nice enough to pose with us.

©Blogginginitaly.com

Zoo Lights runs until January 3. If you are in town, don’t miss all the fun things to see and do… incredible light displays, animals from around the world,

©Blogginginitaly.com

live ice carvings, delicious food, hot spiced wine and unique holiday shopping.

And there’s even an ice skating rink for those so inclined.

Happy Fun!

Ciao,

Judy

Tags: Lincoln Park Zoo Lights 2015

Comments 7 Comments
Categories Chicago, Family

Christmas Traditions and Pizzelle

17 Dec

Italian families love their traditions, and our is no different. Each Friday after Thanksgiving, we buy our REAL tree, then spend the rest of the weekend decorating it and the house.

©Blogginginitaly.com

Then, a few weeks before Christmas, Benita and I do some baking. One of our favorite things is making pizzelle, a traditional Italian waffle cookie.

Pizzelle were first made in the south-central area of Abruzzo in the 8th century. Two small towns each claim to have originated the treat, Salle, in the Province of Pescara, and Cocullo, in the Province of L’Aquila.

Although they can be made with various flavors, we happen to love them loaded with anise.

©Blogginginitaly.com

While the pizzelle are delicious, the best part for me is our tradition of making them together. As for Len, he’s our tester, making sure we have just the right amount of anise.

Click Christmas Pizzelle for Benita’s post as well as the recipe.

©Blogginginitaly.com

Ciao,

Judy

Christmas Pizzelle

Tags: Italian Tradition, Pizzelle

Comments 2 Comments
Categories Benita Noelle, Family, Food, Italian Food, Italian Hospitality

Christmas Greetings from Cortona

12 Dec

What is Christmas like in Cortona? Christmas in Cortona makes me feel as if I am still there. Such fun seeing so many friends who live and work in Cortona and make it such a special place. Thanks, AF Travel, for putting this together.

Christmas In Cortona, Tuscany ©AF TRAVEL

Click here and enjoy: Christmas in Cortona

Ciao,

Judy

Comments 9 Comments
Categories Cortona, Cortona Restaurant, Cortona Trattoria, Food, Food shopping in Cortona, Italian Charcuteries, Italian Food, Italian Hair Stylists, Italian History, Italian Hospitality, Italian Post Office, Italian WIne, Italy, My Blog about Italy, Piazza Life, Piazza Signorelli and Piazza Republicca, Renting in Cortona, Tuscany

Sharing Cortona with Family and Friends

7 Dec

As you probably know, Len and I spent nearly three months in Cortona this fall. It was a time to be with local friends, make new ones, and share our “second” home with visitors. What we love about sharing is that when people leave, they always say the same thing: “Now we get it!” Seeing Cortona through our eyes and meeting our local friends easily answers any questions about why we return year after year.

Something that made me especially happy is that each of my siblings has now visited us in Cortona. In 2012, my brother Bill and his family visited Len, Benita and me,

©Blogginginitaly.com

as well as son Michael.

Then this year, my sister Alexis and her family came for a special birthday celebration.

And a week later, my sister Florence and her husband stopped by after a trip through the Dolomites.

Several Chicago and Austin visitors came through on their way to and from other destinations:

There was the usual contingent of friends who frequent Cortona,

plus new friends we made this year:

And finally, there were those we missed who were with us in spirit:

This ancient city and its history are incredible, but what really brings us back are the local friends who have welcomed us into their lives and into their homes, truly allowing us to feel as though we are no longer tourists but Cortonese.