welcoming new friends..and saying goodbye to others

I guess Autumn really is the time of transition. You buy new clothes and put away summer shoes.
You change the food you put on the table and the number of layers you have on your bed.
I love it, maybe because it gives you the chance to reinvent yourself a little and bring new good things into your life.
Unfortunately it also means you have to give up other things..This Autumn, I said goodbye to a dear friend who went back to Kenya (after 5 years of living in Rome). I know I will see Patrick again, hopefully sooner than later, but saying goodbye was sad.

A few days before, I had welcomed, along with circa 200 other people,the new American Academy of Rome fellows at a really nice party.

I am lucky, I am surrounded by wonderful people.

Sunny London Rainy Rome

This weekend I went to London. I left Rome early in the morning on friday, and the sky was looking grim.
I landed in London and found a surprisingly pleasant temperature, with a shy sun that later turned into a bright, beautiful sun. I walked the street of London, North to South, visited places I had never seen before and learned about things I had not imagined could exist in London (like a little sculpture of a golden boy that looks a lot like one we have in Rome.
London is fantastic, with new things waiting for you at every corner, and at the same time it can be extremely calm, relaxing and peaceful.
The shopping here is incredible, even in these days of financial crisis and economic unbalance, in London you are prone to spend and buy. I was fortunate enough to be taken to a beautiful outdoor market, in Columbia Road. The area was packed with fresh flowers, interesting people and the smell of delicious food from the nearby gastro pubs!

September: new month, new start

I promise I will be more organized, more efficient, more on top of things.
I will eat better, exercise more, train for another marathon, do volunteer work.
I will embrace the season, will spend more time with my family and friends.
I will shop less and save more.
I will strive for perfection..and start with a haircut and a pedicure.

divas on the beach

time off- aka weekend with dear friend

The sea has a regenerating effect on me. Takes away the stress and brings back energy, stamina and good mood.
When Imogen arrived from Athens for her 5 days stay in Rome before going back to London, we decided to head south, towards sea and sun. We drove 8o Km away from Rome and reached the lovely San Felice Circeo. We had booked a room at Il Faro , a beautiful 50's styled hotel perched on cliff. As soon as we arrived we put our bikini on and headed to the sea.

The place was beautiful, even though populated by some plastic surgery bimbos and Mr. muscle men. Luckily we positioned ourselves next to a distinct couple of Italians in their 70s.
The day went by quickly, between an ice-cream and a caprese salad.

Exciting times

In January, during a short trip to California, my friend Torry and I finally came up with a way to put our brains together for a good cause. From there, with the help of the organizations we work for, we created the Context- St. Hope fellowship. This is a Travel fellowship for economically disadvantaged youths . The fellowship includes travel and accommodations in Europe, plus a week-long study trip with the scholars in the Context network. The program is intensive and includes six days of seminars, classes, workshops, and other programs, capped by a writing project. The first student for 2008 has been selected and will arrive in Rome in August.
Read more about Katie, winner of this year 's fellowship.

summer bbq

August in Rome can be quite fun. Even though some shops are closed and the heat can be unbearable; AC , friends and a good dose of food can make this time of the year just about perfect.
Leave alone the fact that there is no traffic, that the streets are strangely quiet and shops are selling things at 1/4 of their original price, a good BBQ and the right group of people can really make your August special.

Just like the past few summers, this August I have been dog-sitting for lovely Pico. Pico lives in a great house, the perfect apartment, in the center of Rome, with cable tv, super comfortable beds,
a great bathtub and AC. I have wonderful memories linked to this place.
For the first time this summer, the house was not complete. Pico's mommy decided to redo the kitchen so Pico, myself and my boyfriend were "stuck" with a no-sink,no-kitchen house (still a pretty nice house, nevertheless). Luckily we dicovered a portable BBQ on the terrace. This functioned perfectly, and it ended up being the mean of many delicious dinners in the house.





Among other ingredients for the riuscita perfetta of the BBQ, were the organic tomatoes kindly donated to us by our friend Sienna. She had just returned from a holiday in the countryside, and brought back these wonderful vegetables!