August on the beach

On 12 August I am joining for one week my parents and will stay at their (new) holiday house on the Adriatic coast, in the same complex where my uncle/aunt and cousins have their house, in the resort of Porto Recanati, a fisherman village very close to the holy Loreto, the pictoresque town of Sirolo and its dramatic scenery from the Conero mountain (see photo on the right), renowned for its red wine (Rosso Conero). I know this area very well because my dad has worked here for 20 years commuting to our hometown every weekends and I have mixed feelings and recollections about it: memories of fun as an infant; and of boredom as a grumpy teenager. These days I am more than happy to go and enjoy a bit of beach life!

After many years of absence, I will be celebrating with my extended family and friends (some of which live there and others who will come to visit) the 15th of August bank-holiday according to the tradition: eating fish at the restaurant, playing water games and going dancing in one of the many outdoors clubs in the area.

Digression: the city of Recanati which lies 20km away was the birth-place of a famous Italian poet, Giacomo Leopardi, who wrote a poem in the name of Silvia. Hence my name...
Apparently this name, which sounds to me perfectly normal, conventional and common, has inspired many artists, including my friend's boyfriend, Paul, who has just composed a lyric dedicated to Silvia. Odd.

UPDATE: the suitcase is nearly ready: four swimming costumes (one of which is proudly shown below), one hat, a few silk scarfs, running trainers (for some morning jogging) and trendy trainers; two denim mini-skirts; three white cotton shorts; one beach towel; my red and yellow tops; white flip flops; silver sandals and pumps; a book; two magazines; two beach dresses; a pair of jeans; a pair of sunglasses; a plastic bag and a leather bag; my i-pod; some jewelleries; sun cream; some make-up; shampoo etc. and a few of tees. I am still debating whether to bring along this dress or not.

Rosa Cha range by Speedo. Needless to say that on me it looks slightly different, but never mind. It is still a wicked piece!

"Glamorous, sexy and indulgent are all word that perfectly describe the costume."
by fileaves.co.uk

sun sand & rock n' roll

july in valencia:

sunbathing on the beach -- free
culture at the ciudad de las artes y ciencias* -- £20 (two-day pass)
music at the festival internacional de benicassim** -- 150 euro
four romantic days in this hotel with pancottino -- £100
four fun days in a tent with other ten mates -- free

&

the occasion to practice spanish -- priceless

* the complex includes:

~ museum of the sciences (museo de las ciencias)
including sports science, the genome project and astronomy through interactive exhibits, fascinating displays and live presentations.



~ oceanarium (l'oceanogràfic)
to understand the physiology and behaviour of whales, dolphins, seals, and penguins as you watch them in reconstructed habitats in europe's largest aquarium. you'll feel as if you're submerged under water as you marvel at the thousands of mediterranean species on display in massive aquariums.


~ planetarium and IMAX theater (L'hemisfèric)
journey through time and space. Let the plantarium, laserium, and IMAX theatre reveal the secrets of earth and the universe.


** festival of international music, art, fashion and theatre.


full line-up:

12Twelve + Ainara LeGardon + Aldo Linares + Alex Smoke + Alexander Kowalski + Archive + Art Brut + Babyshambles + Beth Orton + Calla + Chris Brokaw + Cocó Ciëlo + Codec & Flexor + Coldcut + El Columpio Asesino + Corazón + Depeche Mode + dEUS + Dionysos + Dominik Eulberg + Dominique A + Echo and The Bunnymen + Editors + Ellen Allien & Apparat + Erol Alkan + Franz Ferdinand + The Futureheads + Garzón + Green Velvet + Grupo Salvaje + Le Hammond Inferno feat. Namosh + Dj Hell + Howe Gelb + 'Sno Angel + Humbert Humbert + Isolée + Ivan Smagghe + James Holden + Jay-Jay Johanson + Jennifer Cardini dj + The Kooks Lou Barlow + Madness + Manta Ray + Matt Elliott + Matthew Herbert & Dani Siciliano + Michael Mayer + Miss Kittin + Mojave 3 + Morning Runner + Morrissey + Ms. John Soda + Nada Surf + Nadadora + Nathan Fake + The Ordinary Boys + The Organ + Pixies + Placebo + Poni Hoax + Queens Of Noize + Radiosoulwax Presents Nite Versions live and 2manydjs + Justice + The Rakes + Rework + Rufus Wainwright + Scissor Sisters + The Secret Society + She Wants Revenge + Sr. Mostaza + The Strokes + The Sunday Drivers + Superpitcher + Teitur + Tom Verlaine with Jimmy Rip + Venus + The Walkmen + We Are Scientists + White Rose Movement + Yann Tiersen + zZz +

this will be the second time i will be seeing morrissey and depeche mode performing live. i saw morrissey at earls court in december 2004 and i am going to see depeche mode at the O2 wireless festival in hyde park on june 25. last year O2 wireless festival was for me so miserable! we went to see new order, but i was knackered from work, it was raining and i was not covered enough. for the all duration of the concert i sat on an inflatable chair very far away from the stage, wet and all cuddled up to repair myself from the cold. plus, i did not really know their lyrics, which spoilt most of the enjoyment. i really hope that the weather is more clement this year. in any event, i shall go more prepared and in a better disposition this time.

i feel very adolescent these days with all these gigs lined-up. is it not hilarious that i feel that way this year that i am turning *three-zero*? i have to admit that during my teens i have never been to a proper concert or never enjoyed it as much as i did recently. london has opened up a new music panorama to me and the i-pod has made it accessible.

Berlin rocks

... as ever.

To seal our passage into the thirty (dirty) world, we have finally chosen the destination: here and finally booked the flight (do not ever undervalue the difficulties in conciliating seven young ladies' brains located in four different countries).

For me it will be a going back, for my other seven girlfriends a first visit. I am absolutely honoured to act as their (hopefully not too logorroic) Cicero and share with them some unique memories. It took me six years to drag them to the most inspiring city of Europe, but I succeded at last...
And they are coming with me!

Paris c'est toujour Paris...

After a rather light day at work, softened by a nice team lunch at the local Lebanese Restaurant and by the relief of sending for press a huge book, I got the Eurostar of 5.40pm on Friday night. The tube was crowded due to an earlier signal problem. The train was full as well, but it is always a pleasure to travel from the heart of one city to another. I didn't bring along any magazines, book or music; I was determined to sleep during the journey to get fresh and rested to Paris. Every time the train manager informs us that we are about to enter the tunnel, I always feel a sense of apnoea. At 21.17 I was at La Gare Du Nord, punctual and quite excited to meet Magali, who I hadn’t seen since the end of July. And there she was, lovely and warm as ever. While we were queuing up to get tickets, I got metaphorically assaulted by two heavy hands on my shoulders: it was Federica, my Italian friend, who was not supposed to be there. Oh no, she was supposed to be in Perugia where she lives. Bewildered (and of course very happy of this surprise number one), I asked her whether she was real. She was, and looked in great shape: longer hair and relaxed smile.

We went for dinner into a nice Brasserie and ordered a mixed cheesy salad with French dressing and French wine (of course). We started our conversation mainly based on frenetic Q&As about everything, to make the time apart up. In fact, I had seen Fede for my birthday in August, but very briefly. So, we did have topics to talk about. Maga kept repeating how happy she was that the three of us finally reunited, if only for a weekend. Like me, both Magali and Fede used to live in London, but unlike me (and my persistence), they eventually moved back to their countries. At the time we used to go out together very often, mainly for drinks, meals and exhibitions.

On Saturday morning we all purposely overslept and had breakfast before heading for a shopping session to Les Marais. We got to the L’Artisan Parfumeur shop where we found a very caring and chatty shop assistant who covered us with eau de parfumes. I felt a bit disadvantaged because my French, compared to Fede’s (who speaks it fluently) and Magali’s (who is French), is rather basic. I did my best to try and understand everything he said though and I eventually bought my favourite scent: the extract of Fig. We then stopped for a coffee in one of the stylish bars of the quarter, and there I got a message from Steve informing me that our offer to a flat we recently saw was likely to be accepted. We got all excited, and I was glad to be there and share that important moment with two real good friends. After some more walk and a visit to the wine shop to buy a celebrative bottle of champagne, we headed to the Pompidou Centre for the DADA exhibition (review to follow in the Art Section) where I found the Man Ray's biography for half price. Finally, we went back home for a domestic dinner kindly prepared by Magali: potatoes with strong melted cheese and dressed with mixed salad. Lush, both in taste and calories. After dinner we decided to have a late night tour by car to enjoy Paris by night. I loved it. We got to the Eiffel tower and stopped right in front of it to admire it in its splendour. It was quite atmospheric because the fog hided the top, and I thought it looked a monster about to step towards us at any time. Fede reminded me its origins: the fact that it was built for an exhibition and due to be unassembled after it. Funny anecdote considering that it is now the symbol of the city (like the Pompidou Centre, as Magali observed), and not only: it is the symbol of another way of perceiving art and reality. I pointed out how some people still find it horrible and that Verlaine used to change route in order to avoid it—the same remark I do every time I come to Paris. But the wonder was not over yet, because the tower suddenly started spitting sparkling diamonds. I was amazed—surprise number two. Apparently, it does so every hour for ten solid minutes. I didn’t know it and missed this spectacle last time I was there. We saw the show also from the top of Montmartre with even more sensationalist effects.

After another deserved lie-in, on Sunday we went to the posh Saint Germain and admired some black+white photographs exhibited on the gate of the Jardin du Luxembourg. Later, we went to the Klimt, Schiele and Kokoschka exhibition at Le Grand Palais (another review to follow in the Art section). After it, we had a last relaxing drink in an arty bar of Montmartre before accompanying Fede to her intellectual friend in Montparnasse and saying good-bye to her. Magali and I went on to a quirky restaurant (Ave Maria) for an international meal and more chats: I chose a Himalayan plate and Magali an African dish which was delicious, although I perhaps prefer the authentic French cuisine. We concluded the evening with a drink at her friend’s bar.

My journey back the morning after went safely and smoothly except for the taxi fare: 32 euro for a ride of 18 minutes. Ouch! The taxi driver was very friendly, which would have been very pleasant if it wasn't for the time: it was 5am, I was half asleep and not really responsive enough to speak French. When he said:--Tu parles Francais tres bien, I was chuffed. But when he added:--Tu es tres jolie, I looked at the taximeter going up too quickly and I thought, that’s it, I wanna get off here as soon as possible. Sadly, all the traffic lights were red, and the last ten minutes lasted forever (what Virginia Woolf used to call the *inner time*). In London, I decided to catch the tube. I was not in the spirit to face another taxi driver.

When the train approached Waterloo station, it was a sunny morning, the Big Ben was as sparkling as the Eiffel tower and I felt at home, but unwilling to start a dull working day.
C'est la vie.

P.S. Faithful to my style, I left my camera behind. So, I am afraid, no snapshots from this weekend break.

I heart Bath (15 October 2005)

We took one and a half hour to drive up to Bath (Gloustershire) from Surrey. Located in the south west of England, in the heart of the English countryside (Cotswold), it is a world heritage site.

It was a perfect sunny warm day. We wandered for the streets of this lovely old country city, nosing into the very characteristic shops, visiting the suggestive Roman baths, admiring the Georgian architecture, the view over the park and walking along the river. If you are never been to Rome, I think that you get a good feel while walking through the ruins.

We popped into a delicious cheese shop and I bought myslef a cube of goat cheese. Hmmm, lushy... We sat for a coffee and indulged in some champagne chocolate bonbons. I bought also a cute pink French berret, although I fell in love with a 20s styl black hat. It was too expensive and I need an occasion to wear it. Finally, we had a traditional Cornish pasty*. Our reward for all that walking around.

I named Bath the nicest city in England. It's not a case that it is a world heritage site.


*Don't they look very similar to the empanadas?! Well, the basic filling is the same: meat, potatoes and vegetables. And they taste similar! How strange: two similar plates, both traditional of two so different and far away countries: England and Argentina.

Inside the Louvre

By Derek Tong

Images from Wales

by Daniele Domeniconi

My next trip to Paris

Booked! A weekend to Paris in November. No boyfriend, no travel mate, but two lovely young ladies to visit: Magali & Roxanne. In plan, champagne&French fois (but no gras!), Xmas shopping in Les Marais, Parisienne night life, and the following two exhibitions:

L'exposition Dada au Centre Pompidou. L'exposition a pour ambition de montrer ce que fut l'un des mouvements artistiques internationaux les plus marquants du XXème siècle qui a influencé de nombreux courants artistiques contemporains. C'est la première grande exposition organisée en France depuis l'exposition présentée au Musée national d'art moderne en 1966.


For the first time in Paris, at the Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais, a major large-scale exhibition bringing together four major Viennese painters of the 19th and 20th centuries: “Klimt, Schiele, Moser, Kokoschka: Vienna 1900”

[I had an Austrian professor at university who exposed me to the Austrian visual art (especially Klimt, Schiele and Kokoschka) and modern literature (e.g. Ingeborg Bachmann, Marlen Haushofer, Peter Handke, Thoms Bernhard, Elfriede Jelinek, etc.). So, when I was in Vienna (I have stayed there for one month on a scholarship in July 2001), I visited the uber-kool new MuseumsQuartier, but, at the time, the Klimt-Schiele-Kokoschka section was not inaugurated yet. Gutted.]