Experience a truly enchanting holiday in one of my Tuscan Villas
Hello Kitty the Show will be in Florence on 12 to 14 march at Teatro Verdi.
It’s a musical dedicated to 35th anniversary of ideation.
For informations and tickets: www.teatroverdionline.it
TEATRO VERDI
Via Ghibellina 99
Firenze – Tel. 055 212320
The second year of this new wine show which runs in the main square and in the Chiostro Sant’Agostino.
More than 100 producers.
27 -29 march.
Etichette d’Autore as a part of this wine festival the Chiesa Sant’Agostino hosts a show of designer wine labels commissioned by major wineries from leading European artists.
16.00 – 19.00, 24-26 march and 10.00-19.30, 27 to 29 march.
Official web-site: www.wineartfestival.com
Burlesque Garden 2010
Cabaret, vaudeville, vintage market.
Lessons in seduction. Fire and magic show. Come dressed in 30’s, 40’s, 50’s outfits!
At the Centro Congressi Principe di Piemonte Hotel, Viareggio Promenade.
Entrance euro 20,00 – two evenings for euro 35,00
More info tel +39 347 2325304
Starts 21.00 on 12 and 13 february.
More informations on Burlesque art: www.burlesque.it
Hello, Everyone! My name is Otis. I am a perfectly smart and talented dog. Some people think I am a just sock-dog, but I am so much more.
In 2006, the year of my creation, I was adopted by the most wonderful family. I sat in a pile lof socks just waiting to be discovered.
I think someone saw some real potential in me. And then, wow, did I come to life. In my few short years I have had many adventures. I will be sharing some of those with you all soon.
Where do I begin? I think we should start just outside of Lucca, Italy, in the little town of Vorno.
Here stands the glorious Villa Boschiglia. Samuele, the cool Villa owner, is my special friend as he allowed me to stay at the Villa, even with the no dog rule.
But, again, I am not just a dog.
Sam is pictured here in front of his fireplace. My family and I had our first two week stay here in 2007. Believe me, we were all treated royally, especially me.
I had a glamorous bedroom that was color coded to me, I am sure.
Fresh flowers were brought in to my room and my bed made every day. We had a crazy chef named Bartek. He says he is a donkey, and I agree. But my whole family loved him.
His girlfriend, Maika, who helped at the Villa was much more normal. That is them with me. But he did feed us beautiful meals, and I got the head chair at the end of the table.
Here is a picture of the Villa, and that is me looking out my window. This is a picture I took of my family on the Villa steps! You can click on the icon to the left for a full description of the Villa.
In each blog I will try to tell you of a new day’s adventures and we had a lot.
One of the less wonderful elements o fan italian summer is bug life. Even if you are staying high abd dry little creatures will find you. One summer night around midnight in a pitch-black country house i awoke to what appare to be the light of a cigarette slowly approaching mu bed. Shuddering in fear, i turned off his. What a relief to see that the silent intruder was a firefly and not a man! The next day i had my bed enveloped in a “zanzariera” gauzy white mosquito netting. Ever since, i’ve enjoyed the safety and beauty of sleeping under netting. Mosquito nets are sold in town at Texnova, Lunata.
People often ask me what to do about mosquitoes (zanzare), so i took a survey and here are some othe solutions:
Windows screens: while not 100% effective they to help. On the other hand, they collect dirt and obscure one’s view of the world outside.
Wind: mosquitoes don’t like fly against the wind, so a fan blowing across one’s bed on a hot night i san effective deterrent.
Smoke: my father, an inveterate smoker, swore that leaving a cigarette burning during barbecues would keep insects at bay.
he learned this during his years in the Navy and Coast Guard, many of them spent in the South pacific.
Citronella candles are also effective. Green chimica spirals (zampirone) work even better but should only be used outdoors.
Organic: alloro or waxy laurel rubbed on the skin in the chosen solution of my contadina neighbor, but years ago when her husband raised vegetables in the paludi he rubbed down vith winebar. Eating garlic or pesto also helps, in my opinion.
Animal friends: geco make welcome house-guests since they dine on mosquitoes and othe insects. Bats eat insects, as do sswallows.
Prevention: standing water attracts mosquitoes! So doeas the organic garbage which the city, inexplicably, only picks up two or three times a week. To avoid both odors and insects, you can freeze your organic trash if it won’t be collected for a few days.
Skin products such as Autan come in spray and stick form, but they contain chemicals. Special doseges are made for babies and small children. Wash hands after application. Anti mosquito wipes ( salviette antipuntura) containing eucalyptus and citronella are available in grocery stores. Easy to carry when you travel.
Electrical devices: with containers for chemicals work well. These diffuse low doses of poison into the atmosphere..In the old days entire towns were sprayed with DDT, but unless we are inveded by zanzare tigri probably that won’t happen here.
Electronic zappers attract bugs and suck the minto their deadly trap. Good for industrial-level usage,outdoor picnic areas, etc.
If mosquitoes become unbearble, you can head for the beach, plunge into the waves..and watch out for the medusa! But that’s another problem…