New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day, Capo d’Anno, the first day of 2020. Probably I ought to have finished yesterday: reflections on the...
From Moshi, 2 April 2013
We were four days on the island of Zanzibar, two days at a bungalow hotel on Jambiani Beach and two...
All Saints’ Day
Tuesday was Tutti i Santi, All Saints’ Day. Schools, shops, and offices close for this annual day of solemn remembrance,...
Fireworks!
Siamo in Italia! It means “We are in Italy!” People here often say this to us when they cannot explain...
The Good Neighbor, or Everyone Knows That Guy
There is a fire burning merrily in my bedroom fireplace, a fire of fagus logs. I ordered the wood this...
Carnevale
Tomorrow is Martedì Grasso (Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday), and the last day of Carnevale. Here in Mondovi` we have been celebrating since 24...
The prescience of magpies
Snow arrived mid-morning, shortly after the last magpie deserted the tall maples, leaving bare branches to catch whatever they might...
In the blue shadows
Snow all day on Saturday, beginning just as we left for the big market down in Breo and continuing until...
Piccola castagnata
There’s always something food-related going on here–in Piemonte it seems the seasons exist to bring on the next good thing...
Historic Synagogue, Mondovi
Sunday, 29 September 2013 was designated “la giornata europea della cultura ebraica,” or European Day of Jewish Culture. On this...