Monthly Archives: January 2015

My Australia Day Weekend

29 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by in Australia, Australia Day

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My family lives in a beautiful area on the north coast of NSW.  This area is often called “God’s country” as it is just so unspoiled and lovely.  It is the northern rivers area and is about a 3 hour drive south from my home in Brisbane.  NSW is the state south of Qld where I live.

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For this Australia day I chose to spend the long weekend with my family in this lovely area.  It is tradition for families to get together for this special day.  The day usually includes a good Aussie bbq with family and friends and if you live near the coast it often involves time at the beach.  For me, I was lucky enough to have it all plus more.

We spent the Sunday out in the boat on the Clarence River which runs out in to the Pacific Ocean. The day was spectacular. We cruised up the river calling in to several beaches for many swims as we needed to cool off.

We tied the boat up in front of the local pub in Iluka and stopped for a couple of cold beers before enjoying our lunch of locally caught fish.

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On the actual day, Monday 26th, friends and neighbours joined us for an Aussie bbq, Aussie beers and swims in the pool.  The day was casual, very casual because that is what suits our climate and that is how Aussies like to have fun.

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Australia Day is on January 26 and commemorates the establishment of the first European settlement at Port Jackson, now part of Sydney, in 1788.   The First Fleet was led by Captain Arthur Philip. He established the Colony of New South Wales, the first penal colony in Australia.

Australia Day is a public holiday in all states and territories. All schools and most offices are closed. Stores are often open, but may have reduced opening hours.  It is an opportunity for Australians to come together to celebrate their country and culture.

Many people have a day off work and use the day to picnic in a park, have a bbq with family and friends, go shopping or to play or to watch sports events.

In some towns and cities, citizenship ceremonies are held on Australia Day. These are ceremonies to welcome immigrants to the country who have been granted Australian citizenship. Although official, these ceremonies often have a festive atmosphere.  In addition, the Australian of the Year Awards are presented. These are awards for Australians who have made an outstanding contribution to their country or community.

The locals enjoying their Australia Day lunch

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My reasons for travelling to Italy – Series – the Food

22 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by in Italian Food, My reasons for travelling to Italy

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Italian food has been one of my favourites since I was a teenager so you can only try to imagine how happy I am when I visit Italy and enjoy the local Italian meals. Italian cooking is among the world’s richest and most varied, with dishes perfect for every occasion.

Italian cuisine is regional with the variations being much more local, also the cuisine is seasonal making sure that you are able to eat the freshest and most delicious fruits and vegetables.

Eating a leisurely Italian meal is one of the pleasures of travelling in Italy!  Italians take food very seriously.  Food in Italy, varies by region so be sure to explore the regional specialties where ever you go.

Each region, and sometimes even a city, will have regional specialties that they are very proud of.

There are many types of places to dine in Italy. If you just want a sandwich, you can go to a bar. A bar in Italy is not just a place for drinking alcohol and there are no age restrictions. People go to the bar for their morning coffee and pastry, to grab a sandwich, and even to buy ice cream. Some bars also serve a few pasta or salad selections so if you just want one course, that’s a good choice.

A tavola calda – serves already prepared food fairly fast.              

 Pizzeria – although known for baking and selling pizza, they often offer pastas, salads, main meals and desserts. It is very rare that I eat a pizza in Australia, however I enjoy them several times a week when I am in Italy. 

Osteria – this was once a very casual eating place but now there are some more formal ones.

Trattoria – also a more casual eating place but can often be the same as a restaurant.

Ristorante – restaurant

The traditional Italian menus have five sections. A full meal usually consists of an appetizer, first course and a second course with a side dish. It’s not necessary to order from every course, but usually people order at least two courses.

Italian Appetizers – Antipasti:  Antipasti come before the main meal. One choice will usually be a plate of the local cold cuts and there will probably be some regional specialties.

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The First Course – Primo:  The first course is pasta, soup, or risotto (rice dishes, especially found in the north). Usually there are several pasta choices.

The Second or Main Course – Secondo: The second course is usually meat, poultry, or fish. It doesn’t usually include any potato or vegetable. There are sometimes one or two vegetarian offerings, although if they are not on the menu you can usually ask for a vegetarian dish.

The Side Dishes – Contorni: Usually you will want to order a side dish with your main course. This could be a vegetable (verdura), potato, or insalata (salad). I sometimes order only a salad instead of the meat course.

The Dessert – Dolce: At the end of your meal, you will be offered dolce. Sometimes there may be a choice of fruit or cheese also. After dessert, you will be offered caffe or a digestivo (after dinner drink).

Italian food is as varied as the land and the people, and this means that there are a great many delights to be discovered.

The Holidays in Rome

15 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by in The Holidays in Rome

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My friend Marina, who lives in California has just returned home from spending Christmas and New Years in Rome. Marina has very generously shared her story and photos with me for my blog.

Markets are a time for indulging in holiday treats and Yuletide joy.

Nothing evokes the spirit of the holidays like strolling through the fabled Christmas Markets, or as the Italians would say “Mercatino di Natale” of Old World Europe with a steaming cup of cappuccino in hand, as you intake the mad rush of tourists mixed in with locals all in the holiday spirit, looking for that special one-of-a-kind gift for that special person

It is a picturesque scene right out of a children’s storybook with thousands of sparkling lights strewn across stalls stacked with Christmas tree decorations, wooden toys, handmade arts and crafts, candles and ceramics. Here in Rome, the romance and magic of a traditional holiday is alive and well. The beautiful Vatican with its giant Christmas tree and nativity set which is unveiled the night before Christmas shortly before mass by the Pope.

The beautiful Colosseo surrounded by ruins with a beautiful Christmas tree nicely adorned stands out front as many stand in front for a picture or two.

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New Year’s eve…

Italians love festivals and the beginning of a new, ‘il capodanno’ is a great time to celebrate in Italy. As with most Italian festivals, food plays a major role on New Year’s Eve. Families and friends gather for a huge celebration.  Locals gather in public squares to catch the midnight fireworks as bottles of  Spumanti or Prosecco pop open. Families ring in the New Year with firecrackers and sparklers. The city of Rome illuminates with firework displays being shot up in the sky with happy Italians shouting ‘Auguri’.

The star at the dinner table is lentils (Lenticchie) symbolizing money and good fortune for the coming year, and also includes pork sausage (Salsiccia) symbolizing the richness of life in the coming year, an Italian tradition that dates back to the 16th century.

An old custom that is still followed in some places in Italy (especially in the south) is throwing your old things out of the window to symbolize letting go of any past unhappiness and your readiness to accept the New Year.

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Thank you Marina, this would be an amazing way to spend Christmas and New Years.

My reasons for travelling to Italy – the Series – Markets

08 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by in Markets

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​I am often asked by friends,
“What is your infatuation with Italy?”
“Why do  you go to Italy so often?”
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So I thought I would tell you some of the  reasons I enjoy Italy and why I return often

There are actually many reasons I do return regularly so I thought I would just tell you about a few at a time, rather than write a very long blog story.

So, here goes
One of my favourite outings is the local markets

The markets in Italy, which range from flea markets to antique and food markets, all tell an interesting and unique story. I have been to many markets all over Italy, including very small markets in little local villages to the large markets in the cities, including Campo dei Fiori in Roma, San Lorenzo in Firenze, the fish markets in Venezia, and one of my favourite markets is in Verbania on Lago Maggiore.  The atmosphere is always exciting and fun.  I always find something to buy and when I stay in the area I purchase fresh fruits and vegetables and often cheeses, pastries and meats from these local markets.

 

Going market shopping is one of the nicest things to do during your free time. But if you think you need to spend a lot of money in Italy to get real good buys, you’re wrong, as there are lots of places where to find beautiful objects and clothes for relatively cheap.

From books to clothes, from house bric a brac to jewellery and toys, you can really get lucky at the flea market and buy a treasure in charming little stalls at one of the many street markets.

Wherever you go in Italy, you’ll always find a town or a village with an open street market.

Generally speaking, towns will have one day a week when the market comes to town and usually in the mornings. They start quite early and pack up to leave just after lunch.  However, the San Lorenzo markets in Firenze are open 7 days a week.

If you’re not a foodie when you arrive in Italy, you just might be one by the time you leave.  At these markets  you don’t need to have a big travel budget to get into traditional Italian Food. Just  have a sense of adventure, and seek out the  market days where you are staying or visiting. Each and every market offers its own uniqueness selling the local produce which is in season.

While most tourists only happen upon markets by accident other people treat these markets as attractions all by themselves. They’re colourful and lively, and in my opinion a great day out.

Depending on the size of the market, you could buy just about everything you’d ever want from a hastily set-up table or from the back of a van that only pulls up once a week.

Generally in the smaller villages , the markets are usually  small and specialize mostly in fresh fruit, veges and foodstuffs. However sometimes there are vendors offering clothing and or household items for sale.  Just a word of advice,  Don’t touch the merchandise!  You don’t get to touch what you’re buying until you have paid for it. This may seem strange, because, you’re thinking, how do I know if the fruit etc is to my liking?  But in Italian markets, unless you have been given permission to serve yourself by the vendor, you’ll tell them what you want and how much of it you want and they’ll get it for you. This rule usually only applies to foods, eg fruits and vegetables.

If you are looking for a fun and interesting outing with the locals, check out their local street markets.