The Glory of Italy “For 30 years under the Borgias, they had murder and terror but produced Michelangelo, Leornardo and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had 500 year of democracy and peace—and what did they produce? The cuckoo clock.” Harry Lime Vulnerability Italians have been victims of invasion and domination—Arabs and Spaniards (in the south), Goths (Germans) and French in the north. It has had a brutal effect on their national psyche, especially … more
Author Archives: mdelapa2
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This gallery contains 4 photos.
Lunch today with David Lane, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Agencies in Rome, and Dallas County Administrative Judge Clay Lewis Jenkins and his family. Wide ranging discussion of Italian, American and Dallas politics, Bob Dylan, Bono, food, and agriculture. Ambassador Lane was a charming host
Shush.se – Watch TV Shows and Documentaries Online
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Shush.se – Watch TV Shows and Documentaries Online
Friends coming to Rome, having been to Rome, or hoping to someday to visit return to Rome:
Here’s a link to watch the HBO/BBC series Rome. You can safely stream all of the episodes for free except for the last one — a message appears asking you to click to “download Java,” which is almost always a really bad idea. I bought the last episode on iTunes just to be safe.
More here on Wikipedia about the series. While it’s historical fiction, it follows actual history pretty and historic figures pretty closely. The characters, acting, sets, and costumes are incredible — so good, in fact, that two seasons was all HBO/BBC could afford.
Beware: lots of nudity, sex, and violence — I’m told about what might be expected from that period of history, but startlingly graphic (and certainly intensified for television and ratings). Definitely not PG (and at times not even R). Rumor in Rome is that the set was burned down because people here were so upset by how Romans were portrayed. You can judge that for yourself.
By the way, if you’re interested in this period of time, you might enjoy The Twelve Caesars: The Dramatic Lives of the Emperors of Rome.
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Wonderful day with Charlie, Paolo and Pietro Francesco in Calcata and Anguillara on Lake Brocciano
Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Demonstration on Thursday – March 12, 2015 in Rome, Italy
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
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This gallery contains 6 photos.
My so-called Italian haircut. As my birthday gift to my wife, I went today to La Barberia Di Riccardo in Testaccio for my first Italian haircut. Riccardo asked me how I wanted it cut. I said shorter, not realizing one shortness fits all. Can’t argue that I didn’t get my money’s worth – electric razor, hand scissors, single edged blade trim all leading to big balls of hair on the floor. Love it or hate it – … more
Another year, another (less) beard
The annual migration of hair, a marking of time and space. Beard of my 58th year is gone, clean-shaven face of my 59th now in place. (Pre-haircut)
A Tale of Two Galleries
This is the tale of two galleries, both profiled in the New York Times’ story 36 Hours in Rome: Galleria Lorcan O’Neill (the first and second photos and experience) and Dorothy Circus Gallery (the third photo and those that follow). I entered the Galleria Lorcan O’Neill through an incredibly unmarked courtyard. It wasn’t easy to find. From the street, I saw the lovely Roman fountain and then a small sign advertising the Gallery. The Gallery is showing … more
Gallery
This gallery contains 10 photos.
Two galleries, both profiled in the New York Times’ story 36 Hours in Galleria Lorcan O’Neill (the first photo) and Dorothy Circus Gallery (the second photo and all of the photos below it). Story to follow on separate blog.
Proposal for Putting a Face to Poverty
Here’s a pitch I made to St. Stephen’s School today for a service learning project. Proposal for Putting a Face to Poverty, a journalistic series (starting with a trial article/poster) Goals Convey empathy and compassion: Personalize poverty and the impoverished in the St. Stephen’s community; make it real by putting a face and story to it Teach critical thinking: Understand that poverty — its causes and solutions to address it — are complex Improve writing: … more