Benvenuti & Welcome to all my Lovely Followers around the World,
We are currently enjoying a cooler few days and a little rain here, but that won’t last. July and August are subject to climate change like the rest of the world, but you can guarantee that these months will be generally hot, humid and dry. As I write this I can feel the air heating up. The countryside is typically July; fields bleached pale gold, the vines standing out in long contrasting green lines and the silver olive groves providing shade. You can often see a three dimentional view, as if looking through a telescope, which is caused by the amazing light. Artists love this time of year and can be found perched in strategic spots with their easels, wallowing in the fabulous surroundings.
Meanwhile, I don’t mean to boast, but it has been a brilliant few weeks for our adopted country. You will all know that we won the European Cup at football, but did you realise that we also won The Eurovision Song Contest, The Softball European Championship and The Top EU Web Award with ‘Visit Italy’! And, The Basketball Team qualified for the Olympics and the gorgeous Matteo Berrettini became the first Italian to reach the Wimbledon final! Matteo also more than qualifies for my Italian Hunk of the month! Foto Tennis World.
And, what else do the Italians do better than anyone else, well Fashion of Course! Italian Fashion Designers are second to none. I have just read an article in Marie Claire, where the writer looked at the top 5 Italian Fashion Brands. These include Versace, Bottega Veneta, Valentino, Moschino, Georgia Armani, Miu Miu and Etro. So I thought you might like to take a look at Etro, I’ve heard of them but can’t say that I’m familiar with their designs. The prices are not unexpectedly up with the top end, but they do have a Summer Sale on at present. I liked some of their designs, both male and female, but really fell for this printed silk dress, truly gorgeous. However, I have once again fallen for one of the most expensive outfits not in the sale. Dammit! Will I or won’t I? Check out my next blog, I’ll need to think about it…..http://www.etro.com
Anyway, I’m going to take a break now and prepare some Sunday Lunch. I’ll be back later.
Mama Mia, it’s Monday already. I slept for four hours yesterday afternoon, so sorry. Anyway, I have mentioned in previous blogs that The Florentine English news magazine for Florence is a great mag to find all the interesting things going on. http://www.theflorentine.net Now I may be a Rock Chick but I also enjoy good classical music and you will find a wonderful Chamber Music Festival at Teatro Verdi in the mag’s Lifestyle Section. It’s really heating up today so if you are visiting Florence, try and go to inside events like this one! Also, go to The Sala Bianca of Palazzo Pitti for fabulous strings as musicians from the Cherubini Conservatory of Florence feature in six evenings through to the end of July. I would love to go with you but sadly my knee is playing up. Enjoy and let me know all about it! Foto The Florentine.
OK, so lets get on with the working week, no rest for the wicked. Do drop me a line either by email or direct on my site at http://www.junefinnigan.website I love to hear from my readers!
Have great week, enjoy and stay safe.
Salute June x
The next day I thought, hurrah, we can get back to normal, ditch or plant the Christmas trees that many of us are allergic to, the shops will all be open and the post office will be functioning. How, after nearly fourteen years living in this beautiful bit of the world, could I forget that Befana also heralds the start of a week’s holiday for thousands of Italians, when many shoot off to ski destinations! Last Monday I found a note in my post box, telling me that a long overdue Christmas parcel was waiting for me at Certaldo Post Office. So I waited in the usual queue and arrived at the counter feeling pretty relaxed. “Sorry Signora” the male counter assistant said, in Italian of course, “The sorting office is still on holiday, you will have to come back tomorrow!” Take note, the date was 8th January….. I took a deep breath and walked back out into a hail storm and did not have a brolly with me! OK, grumble over, I went back the next day and got my parcel. Foto La Repubblica
And on the subject of skiing, you would love the Dolomites in Northern Italy this time of year. Very crowded mind, although from next week onwards most of the Italian tourists may have finally returned to work. Meanwhile, a little further north in Austria, our brilliant female ski team have just won the World Championship and good for them I say! Are you a keen skier? I have always wanted to ski, but never got round to it. Too many other priorities I guess. My man skied in Norway with the military; when you next see him, ask him about his experiences, he loves to talk about his wooden skis!
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