Some news from Italy for your Sunday reading pleasure:
- Okay, now I think Italy’s PM Silvio Berlusconi is the biggest practical joke ever pulled by Punk’d or something, because it’s not possible he’s as stupid as this: he called President Obama suntanned again – and included First Lady Michelle this time. Now we just have to sit back and wait for the big “you’re on Candid Camera” reveal, right? Right?
- A mudslide in the area around Messina, Sicily, caused by heavy rains has killed 14 people and injured 40. A state of emergency has been declared.
- Here’s an easy way to save money and the environment at the same time – drink the tap water in Venice. Not only does it cost less for you, it costs less for the city in terms of trash removal for plastic water bottles, so be sure to ask for Acqua Veritas when you’re in Venice.
- Some of you may remember when I visited with Rene of Venice Kayak this past June. Well, it seems Rene’d getting even more good press – Teresa Machan did a feature on him and his kayak tours of Venice last week on the Guardian’s website.
- Police descended upon Rome’s Termini Station late last week, arresting 8 people and “dismissing” 150 others, in an effort to clean up an area long known as a favorite haunt of drug dealers, prostitutes, and pickpockets.
- Witness testimony in the murder trial that’s been dominating the news coming out of Perugia for the last couple of years has finally wrapped up as of last week, but a verdict isn’t expected for another several weeks.
- Part-time Italy resident, “Entourage” star (and current contestant on “Dancing With the Stars”) Debi Mazar talked with USA Today about her life in Italy.
- Even if you’re not a fan of Italian soccer like I am, if you’re into Italian culture and the language you might find this Italian-English soccer vocabulary dictionary useful (or at least interesting).
- The trial of Americans and Italians who were allegedly involved in the CIA’s “extraordinary rendition” of a Muslim cleric in Milan in 2003 is winding up, with the prosecutor having delivered his closing arguments this past week.
- The Italian film “Baaria” has been chosen to represent the country for the 2010 Oscars in the foreign language category. The five finalists for the prize will be announced in January.
- Berlusconi recently celebrated his 73rd birthday, and chose to do it in the town of L’Aquila, hit by a deadly earthquake earlier this year.
- It looks like the American real estate investor won’t be taking over the Italian soccer team after all.
- A town in Campania has broken the world record for the longest mozzarella braid with its 78.8 meter braid. Whose record did they break? Their own, set back in 2007 with a 42.8 meter braid.
- One of the best parts about visiting Italy in the fall or winter is warming your hands with a bunch of roasted chestnuts. Learn more about this cold-weather treat in this article.
- One of the bloggers I know in Rome has listed a few of her favorite spots in Rome for eating and drinking, and because she’s not a trust fund expat you can rest assured these places won’t take up your entire travel budget, either.
- Will you be in Rome later this month? You might get to do some star-gazing of the Hollywood variety, as Rome’s International Film Festival runs from October 15-23.
- Have you ever noticed that the fall colors in Italy aren’t as bold or varied as they are in some other parts of the world? I hadn’t, but I’m sure someone had – and thankfully some scientists have explained the reason for Europe’s largely yellow autumn leaves. (Thanks to Madeline for the pointer to this article!)
- This list went up a few months ago, but I just found it – so thought I’d pass it along, since WhyGo Italy is featured on it! It’s a list of the top 5 sites for Italy lovers, and WhyGo Italy (under its old name of ItalyLogue) comes in at #3, though they note “it should probably be first for its depth and all round knowledge of Italy.”
>> Quick note for those of you who like dreaming about living in Italy someday – you’ll need a place to live, right? A blog I found recently by two expats living in Umbria might be worth looking at, especially as they’re looking to sell their current house in an Umbrian hilltown.
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