[Difficult for Italians, more difficult for immigrants. No easy solutions, but this sure seems like the wrong thing to do.] By ELISABETTA POVOLEDO MAY 15, 2015 ROME — The bulldozers pulled up after some of the residents had already left for work. They lumbered through the encampment, methodically mowing down corrugated tin walls, laminated sheet roofs and concrete blocks. They razed the camp’s ramshackle lodgings, as well as its whitewashed prefabricated dwellings, indiscriminately crushing their contents: … more →

I met up with sister-in-law Kim Shaw who had a rough first day in Rome – no phone, no cell. She couldn’t connect with me or with her AirBnb host. When we finally got together around 6 pm she was dogeared. A little Rosso di Montalcino, Da Bucatino’s famous carciofa alla piastra and pasta amatriciana, a walk along the Tiber and through the Jewish Ghetto, a cappuccino (and for me amaro averne) at Marenaga’s, and … more →

[Author unknown] The foundation of Rome appears wreathed in myth: after Troy collapsed under the force of the Greek attack, the Trojans, lead by Aeneas, at last reached land, disembarking in the area of Latium on the banks of the river Tiber. Many years later, Ascanius, son of Aeneas, founded the city of Albalonga. He was succeeded by Numitor, whose wicked and envious brother Amulius wanted to reign. He had Numitor imprisoned and force Rea … more →

The Italian State Police informed the U.S. Embassy that today, March 12, a demonstration sponsored by High School student organizations to protest against the Italian Government school reform will take place starting at 09:00 and ending at approximately 14:00. The demonstration will have the following route:  Piazza della Repubblica – via delle Terme di Diocleziano – via Amendola – via Cavour – Largo Corrado Ricci – via dei Fori Imperiali – Piazza Venezia – via … more →

From Paolo Caravani: Michael let me give you a couple more tips on the (perused) topic of italian cuisine: you ought to try, when you have a chance,  a simple pasta dish called “Paglia e Fieno”.  It’s an assembly of  narrow strips of fettuccine of two colors: yellow=Paglia=Straw and green=Fieno=Hay. Usually dressed in white sauce with parmigiano cheese and black pepper.  If well done they should be creamy and light. If you like the genre, … more →

For my Italian friends: help me understand, why on a day when it is sunny and 65º F/18º C is everyone in Rome – and I mean everyone – wearing a down or heavy coat, and many are also wearing scarves and wool hats? I was sweating so much in my light sweater than I had to take it off, and even walking around in a light shirt – probably fashion-inappropriate – I was still … more →