Umbria Holiday Rentals www.THISOLDCONVENT.com: March 2011

Salve Tutti,

I'm heading back to Umbria and Il Convento Mincione after a fabulous NYC 'stay'cation and feeling very mixed emotions.

I'll be bringing you the latest of what's up in our region as soon as I get settled.

In the meantime, keep your eyes posted for our mini-advert in Brides Magazine UK (print edition), which will appear on your news stands (if you live in the UK) on March 30th.

We also have have a new 'Special Wedding Preview Offer' running until June 17th. Check it out on our web site http://www.thisoldconvent.com/.

And now, here's a special treat for you before I leave my computer. Our neighbors raise Chianina cattle in the fields around Il Convento Mincione. They run what you would call an 'old-fashioned' family business. On my way down to Umbertide one day, I stopped and spoke to the owner of the herd and his wife and son. She apologized for raising animals for slaughter, but assured me that they really love them and treat them well while they are in their possession. Here they are - mothers and children.

A presto!

Ciao for Now,
Joan
Reference:
Chianina Cattle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chianina

The Italian Notebook - "The brief, FREE, daily taste of Italy read by thousands of Italy lovers world-wide!” features an article on Carnevale in a small town in the province of Puglia today. The Italian Notebook gives you insights into lesser known facts, events and opinions which are brought to you in English by contributors who really know the country. And, what’s more important, they know what you want to know as visitor, since they were practically all born out of the country themselves. These glimpses of Italy are shared along with photography that is divine. My personal friend, Anne Robichaud (Go Packers! - Remember Anne was born in Wisconsin -"Annesitaly.com"), contributes often and introduced me to this gem. I can’t recommend it highly enough! (Link Below)

Carnevale celebrations are held all over Italy from Venice and Milan down to the small villages and towns of Puglia, Calabria and Sicily with many of the biggest celebrations on Martedi Grasso or Fat Tuesday, which is March 8th this year (and that is why if you are really quick there is still time this year.) Carnevale is the last celebration before lent which begins on Ash Wednesday, March 9th and will continue for 46 days until Saturday, the 23rd of April. Lent has historically been the time before Easter, April 24th this year, when many Catholics deprive themselves of something they enjoy.

Did you know that Carnevale was first celebrated in Venice in 1094 and has been officially sanctioned in that city since 1296? In Rome, Carnevale gained popularity in the 17th century. And, until the 1880's Carnevale was celebrated with a riderless horserace down the Via del Corso. After numerous accidents it was decided this was too dangerous and the city began celebrating in more traditional ways. (See reference below.)

(Too bad authorities don't do anything about the notoriously audacious (and dangerous) modern Italian drivers; most of whom, it seems, are still trying to get nose-to-nose (or other body parts) in a horserace. If you have ever visited, you will confirm my notion that, in Italy, tail-gating seems to be a sport or a God-given right. Now, I know this practice of tail-gating is not officially sanctioned, because Roney and I (a licensed US driver for 40 years and with only one accident to my record - which was absolutely not my fault – I got hit in the back by a school bus – I was driving a Chevy Suburban at the time) both attended driving school in Umbertide and had to pass both written and practical exams in order to be able to own and drive a car. To pass the written exam one has to study a whopping 9,000 variations of questions on everything from traffic and road signs on down to how to when and where to abandon your car on the road, if a light on your computerized dashboard flashes red. Sometimes the lights flash red, but it is nothing more than a computer malfunction, but I really can’t blame that on Italian bureaucracy. One of my American friends, who also passed the exam, said, "It is harder (the Italian driver's licensing process) than getting a college degree." And, by the way, it was costly, too. Euro 600.00 per student.)

(By the way, if you are wondering where all the beautiful photos that I usually try to weave into my blog posts are, please be patient. I've got something special for your today. And, please go the Italian Notebook for lovely photos, when you are finished here. I do not get any monetary compensation for the publicity that I am doing for them. In fact, there are people on that website that publicize other venues in Italy.)
Carnevale in Italy was traditionally a period when roles were reversed - men and women (I know that few wait for Carnevale today.), nobility and commoners. Today the period of Carnevale is a time when people put their daily lives on hold to laugh at themselves, their leaders and their world. Sounds like a good idea, n’est-ce pas? Carnevale in Viareggio, on the Ligurean Sea, is well-known for its parades. They have elaborately decorated floats and people wearing paper mache masks that lampoon politicians and famous people. (I bet the Berlusconi Float is a doozy!)

Easter, is very late this year. I keep saying "this year" when I mention the dates - and you know why, but do you know why it is 'very' late this year?

Well, this year is a leap year in the Hebrew lunisolar calendar ('lunisolar' that’s a new one for me, too!) and the Hebrew calendar adds a whole month, not just a day, when they have a leap year.
Passover is April 18th - 26th also quite late this year. (See Reference below).

Whichever holiday you enjoy, just be sure to enjoy it - preferably with family and loved ones. In general, “Enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think.”

"Enjoy Yourself" was a popular song published in 1949, with music written by Carl Sigman and lyrics by Herb Magidson.(See Reference below.) I think you may have gathered, from my song references, that I am part of the baby boom generation...actually a very early baby-boomer - and some places I have read that the baby boom officially started in 1946 - the war was just over when I was born in NYC in June of 1945. How come I was born in NYC in 1945? Most men were still serving in Europe or Asia in 1944. Have patience. I'll get to it.

Joanie and Daddy - Sheepshead Bay Roof-top - 1948

Joanie and Daddy - 1948

Most woman would never tell you their age. They hem and haw and skirt around the issue. I, on the other hand, like my father (whom I resemble in both looks and character), flaunt my age. I enjoy my vantage point.

Speaking of my parents, have I shared with you, my friends and readers, that I am piecing together the story of my parent’s escape from Europe during World War II? Yes, I am in the process of transcribing the audio cassette tapes of the memories that my mother and my aunt, Sophie, had shared with me on many occasions (and that I had the foresight to record in 1997) right now. It seems like a long time to wait to actually get started with the writing now in 2011, but with the extraordinary amount of information that has become available thanks to the internet, I am now able to integrate all the names of the people and places they mention with facts drawn from many sources. This process has opened my eyes to the remarkable courage and physical strength they had. My mother always thought of herself as a weak person. NOT SO! I will share more in the future.