The History of Rome

The five-year project "The History of Rome" is now ready & waiting for you in the form of 179 podcasts on iTunes (via Open Culture). It's an excellent resource for anyone but particularly for those who did not study ancient western antiquity at university. GG's editor is biased but (we think) if you don't understand ancient Rome, you don't really understand the the world now. Such a statement is one of an academic, to be sure, but we really do believe it.

If you want to entertain/teach children about the ancient city, the BBC Primary History on the City of Rome is for them.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph by Giampaolo Macorig)

Audrey a Roma

We're running late (as usual) on this Monday. If you need an espresso break (yes, please), check out the Audrey a Roma tumblr & exhibition site. The exhibit runs through 4 December in Rome at the Museo dell'Ara Pacis. If you can't be there, you can at least check out the photographs & site. Funds raised will benefit UNICEF in Chad. The book from the exhibit is not available in English (yet).

Here's an excellent comprehensive-but-short article about Audrey & Rome, a description of the exhibit & information about the Audrey Hepburn Children's Foundation.

ciao-rushed-meow/GGCM

(photograph by Pierluigi Praturlon)

Wisteria Lane

Thanks to Barbara Goldfield & the Italian Notebook for a post on the gorgeous wisteria in Italy. Possibly this is why we're running so late today. Barbara owns Savour the Sannio, a travel consultancy for central and southern Italy. It's most definitely worth your while to visit her. French Film Fun just might be...on Saturday.

ciao-rush-meow/GG

(photograph by Cherry Blossom Girl from her chic Roman vacation)

Wednesday Wishes - Sott'er Celo de Roma

...or On an Evening in Roma. If you want a little blast into the past, play this song & dance about.

Click on the video & watch Audrey & Mr. Peck set to the song by DrSamoora. If you want to plan a trip to Roma, see Italian Notebook for some excellent tips from expats. For many laughs, visit that wacky Roman family at 2 Kids & a Dog. As always, Giampaolo Macorig's photographs are wonderful. Here's his Rome set for your viewing pleasure.

ciao-sigh-meow/GG

PS: Giulia is whipping up a classic Roman Insalata di Cipolle con le Sarde & making an absolute mess. (Well, what can you expect from a cat?)

Sunday Sojourns - Roma

So today Giulia & her editor are sort-of in beloved Roma. OK, well we're in Washington, DC. But we're looking at our photographs of the Villa Borghese & the website of the museum (bella!). Tonight's dinner is cacio e pepe with real pecorino from Lazio. (Try Lidia Bastianich's recipe - it's the real deal)

Buona notte, bambini!

(Giampaolo Macorig's bella photograph)

Italian Holiday Notebook

Have you visited Italian Notebook yet? It's written by an amusing bunch of expats in Italy. These photographs are by GB (in Rome). The modern LED fairy lights are rather a clash of modernity & the ancient but Rome is trying to find a way. Here is a message from Caesar Santa Claus (!) via the website.

ciao-bella-meow/GGCM

Villa Ada

This is one point of view, Giampaolo Macorig's, from one of Rome's largest parks. You can take a little visit, here. As for GG--she's sleeping in her little townhouse & she won't come out. Do we need to remind anyone that pouting is unattractive? Have a great evening.

ciao-meow/GG's put-upon editor

There's No Place Like Rome

Giulia always gets the last word; she'll be by later. She's rearranging the Christmas tree ornaments to suit her questionable taste right now. Merry Christmas, Buon Natale, Joyeux Noël from GG's editor.

[photographs by Enzo D. & Giampaolo Macorig via flickr]

Autumn Wall - Week's End

Lovely winding vine-twine from Giampaolo Macorig in Rome. A good weekend to all.

On Autumn - Week's End

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?/ Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,
--John Keats, complete poem...

Keats arrived in Rome (via Naples) 21 October 1820; the ship was quarantined & he did not arrive in Rome until 15 November. Though he did not write poetry in what were to be his last months, he wrote one letter, to his friend Charles Brown. It's heartbreaking, especially the last two lines. "...I can scarcely bid you good bye even in a letter. I always made an awkward bow."

The photographs are from the Keats-Shelley House near the Spanish Steps; the salon & Keats' bedroom. In these very rooms & at the Protestant Cemetery, GG's editor has disgraced herself several times with squeaky sniffs. Once, she embarrassed a younger sister & has not yet been forgiven. Ever after, she has visited alone. (Though GG is keen to visit & lounge on Keats' grave...as a few Italian gatti do. We doubt he'd mind--they must be discussing poetry, no?)

A lovely weekend to all. (Sniff.)

ciao-meow/GG's literary agent

[Lungo Tevere by Giampaolo Macorig via flickr; Keats-Shelley House photographs by frattaglia via flickr; Protestant Cemetery, Keats' grave by Piero Montesacro via wikimedia commons.]

Un balcone in Trastevere

[original post from 19 November 2008. Check out Really Rome's two-year archives, it's really funny & all things Roman.

From Really Rome, now archived. It's the author's favorite balcony & it's easy to see why. In the Piazza San Calisto in the Trastevere section of Rome (a favorite place of GG's editor, too). Bella. Here's the What's Cooking Wednesday? recipe section from Bleeding Espresso, a wonderful blog from Italy. There's something here for everyone. Happy cooking & laughing!

ciao-meow,
GG Central

Intervallo (intermission)

GG Central is a more than under-the-weather & downhearted (a bad combination). So this lovely photograph by the oh-so-generous Roman Giampaolo Macorig is most welcome. It's from his Intervalli (minimal or relaxing) set & it is just what we need. If only. This photo was taken in San Giovanni, near Rome. Would that we were there.

We hope you will visit Darfur Peace & Development Organization & Enough Project for updates. Things are seriously grim & there is only worsening news to report. We aren't convinced that many people care, really. We still care but it is taking a toll for which we were not prepared. Scheduled posts from last summer & autumn to run during the week. We will check our email when possible. Thanks so much.

PS: Also, please check in with our blog links; they are group of highly talented & lovely people...

If you think about it...

...there's a lot you can do. Please visit humanitarian links on this site...photograph by the lovely Giampaolo Macorig in Rome. xo/gg

Roman view - Week's End

Please visit humanitarian sites here or elsewhere. That scream you hear is GG's editor tossing the computer out a window! (photo by the incomparable, surreal Giampaolo Macorig, grazie, signore)

ciao-meow/GG/mgmt

On Angels - Week's End

day draws near/

another one/
do what you can.

The last three lines of Czeslaw Milosz's poem, On Angels. In case you're thinking, "I can't do anything because there's too much to do & I'm freaking out at all the bad news." We sympathize. We're not leaving you for the week-end (& who knows how long if the computer crashes) with an image of Bashir, Mugabe, Kony, et al. No. Something from Rome .Somewhere GG & her editor love. To the "...but I can't do anything..." Yes, you can; it's not that difficult. Listen, Milosz was very smart. Read him. And then visit the Enough Project, DPDO, Raise Hope for Congo, & other sites on the right sidebar.

Also, if you can, owning a copy of Carolyn Forchés anthology Against Forgetting: Twentieth Century Poetry of Witness is helpful. (Of course, Carolyn is also a wonderful poet.) It's a tragedy that a new edition with the 21st century will be necessary. But, like Scarlett, let's think of that another day. Meanwhile, have a great week-end, no matter where you are, what you do.

ciao, bambini
GGCM

(We decided on shots from Giampaolo Macorig; to those of you snickering that Rome is the last place to look for real angels, yes, well, point taken. But you can find just about everything in Rome:)

Details, details, details

Doors, windows, walls, addresses, too. Details? set from Giampaolo Macorig of Rome. Giampaolo seems to wonder if they're important...yeah, we think so. Darfur events & things-you-can-do coming Thursday. Meanwhile, visit Enough! & their orange-y website. You want details about Darfur, South Sudan, & more? Well, that's where you should go. Please.

xo, GG/editor

Worlds collide...

We can't bear to put a photograph of Bashir of Sudan on the site today; we have to look at photos of him every day. As anyone who reads this knows by now, the ICC issued the arrest warrant this morning. This is a new chapter starting; it may take a long time, but he will be in the dock to have a fair trial--someday. It is complicated but here is a link to Nick Kristof's blog on the New York Times; you will find it very concise & succinct & updated as of this afternoon. Nick has been several times, so he knows whereof he speaks. Also, as always, Enough Project.

good night, buona notte, baci...
GG/editor

(The Rome photograph is from Giampaolo Macorig's fabulous flickrstream.)

A Home in Rome

GG's eye view of where she'd like to live. We'll take it. Under threat again of high wind gusts & so we hope to see you later. Meanwhile, check out Giampaolo's Rome flickrstream, here.

ciao-meow,
GG's windblown editor

La Dolce Vita, in blue

La fontana di Trevi is hiliarous in its own way. If you've not been yet...you hear it before you see it. That's saying something for noisy Rome. GG's editor has been many times, usually pulled there by someone intent on ticking off their "I've been to Rome" list. Yes, you imagine Fellini & company shooting the famous dawn La Dolce Vita scene. (How could you not?) But the amusing thing is how out of place it is in a tiny square--completely ridiculous. You wind through the streets, hear the water (especially at night), & turn into the the piazza (which is a piazzetta as far as we're concerned). And then you will yourself to ignore how corny it is & toss the damn coin in the fountain, just a little embarrassed. Just in case. We leave you in Rome this afternoon, awake in Venice with a photo in the morning. (Carnevale has begun!)

Must prepare for conference call on Congo tomorrow, so...

Meanwhile, buona sera, buona notte & thank you to Giampaolo Macorig for his fabulous shot.

ciao-roar-meow (that's the full extent of GG's contribution today)
GGCM

Buona sera, buona notte

Yes, just an excuse to run a Rome photograph. We admit it. Giampaolo's February sunset along the Tevere. Bella. Sigh.

ciao-meow,
GG Central