Jolie and the Castle Part 2

Forgotten Palazzos

 Though once a medieval borgo, Rapallo was most popular at the turn of the century. Much of the hotel and sea front architecture is from this time. Many of the pastel colored pretty palazzos have been abandoned. I walk by them everyday and wish someone would lovingly restore them back to their heyday conditions, but then I remember that in Italy even some of the ancient Roman ruins are forgotten about.

Cook Off!

 Pier and I had a sort-of a "cook-off". We both made an appetizer, I made main dish and Pier made the dessert.

Here is what we made.

My appetizer: Asparagus and Fontina Tart

Piers appetizer: Salmon and Cream Cheese Stuffed Crossiants and Pancetta and Fontina Stuffed Crossiants

My Main: Roast Beef with Potato Rounds

Pier's Dessert: Homemade Pastry "Ravioli" stuffed with sweet ricotta and chocolate..and some dry champagne

We couldn't determine whose was better but we had fun eating seconds to try and decide.

Amanda Knox on Lifetime Made For TV Movie

Did anyone see Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy?

I found it interesting. They did have a few scenes where they would present both sides of the defence and prosecution which gave an appearance of not being too heavily biased. The ridiculousness of the Italian justice system is highlighted and in fact could have been highlighted even more because is is true that for every law in Italy there is another law that contradicts it. Plus the press can actually influence the jury who are never sequestered. At the end of the film I still couldn't decide if I thought she was guilty or innocent. I hate to believe that an innocent person would go to an Italian jail, as a foreigner in Italy it is my worst nightmare.
What did you think?

Door Series #37

Jolie and the Castle Part 1

The adventures of Jolie and the castle! (new story idea).

What Spring? Nonna Wears Her Fur Coat In the Summer.

 I have mentioned before that the ladies of Rapallo, and most of Italy in general, love the fur coat. Now the days at the seaside are getting warmer and warmer as spring comes fast to the riviera, but this fact has eluded the fur loving ladies of Rapallo who seem to want to wear their furs until....well, I think they will still be wearing them in the summer. 

Decades of Lighting

 Our house in Rapallo came already furnished. Everything had already been chosen by Pier's grandmother year's ago, probably in the 60's when they purchased the house. Therefore it is a mixture of antiques and mod styles which is no more evident than in the lighting. No two pieces are alike.

TV room:

Guest Room:

Hallway:

Master Bedroom:

Office:

Living Room:

Kitchen:

Front Doorway:

Do You Know the Name of the Pasta You are Eating?

Follow this guide and you will always be in the know! (click to make it bigger)


What kind of pasta is on your plate? by Charming Italy

Death By Butter

File this story under, "Only In Italy":
P.S. What's next? Death by Nutella?

Sicilian Couple Commits Murder with Butter

(Found on Italymag.co.uk ,words by Natalie Aldern)

 Death by butter” might sound like a delicious and decadent way to go, but for one couple in Sicily butter seemed like the perfect sinister murder weapon.
The Sicilian pair believed that they could get away with murder if butter was their weapon of choice. Their victim was the woman’s ex-husband. She and her new beau hatched a plan to asphyxiate her ex-lover with butter, which would then melt away, leaving no trace of the murder weapon.
Calogero Lo Cocco made the fatal mistake of visiting the home of his ex-wife in Campobello di Licata, in Southern Sicily. The wife and her boyfriend attacked Lo Cocco in their home, suffocating him with butter. When they turned the body over to police, they claimed that Lo Cocco had assaulted them so they had been forced to tie him up, when he suddenly collapsed and died.
Their evil but inventive plot was uncovered when an autopsy revealed butter in the victim’s airways.

What's Out My Window

 What was out my Torino window Sunday was a parade celebrating women! Thousands and thousands of women, some men, and even a few dogs, gathered in Piazza Castello and marched down Via Po singing the praises of National Women's Day. I, of course had the best view of just how big it was and how much fun everyone was having from my window high above.

They carried strings of yarn that connected them all togather.

Colored umbrellas were a theme.

Never underestimate the power of a women. (Non sottovalutare la forza delle donne).

Tour the Uffizi From Your Couch!

 Remember when I wrote the post on how Google Street View was in Pompeii and you could tour the whole thing online. Now they have done the same thing with the worlds most popular museums including the Palace of Versailles, London's National Gallery, and the Uffizi!

Even if you have already been it's fun to relive your favorites which you can zoom in for an up close look. My favorite room is the Botticelli room but you can go anywhere you want in the museum. Now if the could only take me back to the restaurants....

It's called Art Project Powered by Google. Click here to start your tour:
http://www.googleartproject.com/museums/uffizi

Door Series #36

Katherine Chloe Cahoon Keeps Getting Better

 KCC is still making "gems" and I'm loving her more and more with each new video. Her latest how to meet European men video includes fashion tips! My favorite part is at the 45 second mark because of the knee and hip kick combo. Enjoy.

Sick at Sundance

 So my Sundance experience this year was a bust as I received the gift of bronchitis quite early on in the festival and did not get the pleasure of attending much past my bed and a House Wives of Atlanta marathon on TV. This makes me short on stories this year guys. I had to live thru friends which is strange to be there, but not BE there. Anyways, the one story I do have is about the trip home. I, by some miracle, got to fly first class from New York to Milan. Have you ever flown first/business class international? (singing) It's AWESOME!!!!!!

I had my own seat, let's call it a Lazy Boy, with my own interactive TV, reading light, dining table, and pillow and down comforter. I was greeted with a glass of champagne and a set of noise cancelling headphones. As I settled into my seat I read over the menu. Yes a menu, with wine choices and dessert options!

The food was actually good. In the spirit of sharing my experience, here is what I had.
First course:

Pumpkin soup, salmon and artichokes, and mixed green salad with pecans and roasted yellow peppers. Whole wheat bread.

Main course:

Surf and turf, steak and shrimp with a glaze, creamy lemon risotto and sugar snap peas. Pinot Noir.

Dessert course:

Cheesecake and port wine.

Not bad. In fact I was so full from dinner that a couple of hours later when they offered breakfast, I had to refuse. Instead I settled for watching more movies using my personal remote control.

So if you ever get the chance to go somewhere in first class, treat yourself just once. If you are like me instead of playing it cool like it happens all the time, you'll end up taking pictures of everything and telling your friends about it for years to come....or should I say blogging about it.
The only down side is that I am ruined for life. I can never go back to flying coach again. Of course I will but might have the nagging feeling that there has been a mistake.....

Adventures at Sundance: Pre-Dance Fun at The Jazz Game

 So as you know I am always sparse at blogging in the month of January because I go home to Utah to visit and to attend the Sundance Film Festival. I also always try to catch at least one Utah Jazz game (GO JAZZ!!). This years game was packed full of excitement, more than your average NBA game and so I had to share two highlights.
First highlight: The best passing I ever saw in person.
Watch this behind the back to behind the back to slam dunk play that made my jaw drop.

Second Highlight:
Then a fight broke out between a Cav fan and out mascot, The Bear. The Cavs fan had brought a sign that said "The Jazz Stink" and so in my opinion he deserved it.


Utah Jazz Bear Fights Cavs Fan - Watch more Sports

How's This For A New Year's Tradition

 I have heard of many New Years traditions such as eating black-eyed-peas and kissing at midnight but, of course, the Italians take their traditions to crazy extreems. In Rome every year on New Year's Day a handful of men, dressed only in a speedo, jump off a bridge into the freezing cold waters of the Tevere River. It's called "Il tradizionale tuffo nel Tevere", the traditional jump in the Tevere. As for most Italian traditions it is to bring good luck to the jumper and the city for the coming year. The people on the news called it the "pazzo evento", the crazy event. I agree but it's fun to watch...see video below.