A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With ... Too Much Luggage

I love coffee, I especially love Italian coffee, and I especially, especially love espresso and cappuccino in Italy. This means that to really bring Italy into my home, what I need is a good Moka Express, or Moka pot, the stovetop espresso maker that is a staple in most Italian households.

We all know the original:

Nothing wrong with that at all. But there have been some cool, new variations. In fact, when I was in Perugia in September, an entire store of coffee products from Bialetti, the original maker of the Moka Express, was just opening its doors. And some of the designs were fantastic!

I very much liked this cow-like creature. It's called the Mukka Express, both for its patchy appearance (like a Jersey cow) but also because the name "Mukka" is a pun on the Italian word for cow, "mucca."

In fact, this new product, the Mukka Express, is actually a step beyond our old friend the Moka Express and is apparently a full-on stove-top "cappuccino maker." Okay, it's not authentic cappuccino. But according to Bialetti, the Mukka combines the traditional stove-top style of the original coffee maker, with a larger-size pot for heating the milk at the same time. Interesting idea. Apparently, the water goes in the bottom of the pot as usual, with the coffee in the centre and the cold milk on top. As the water boils up and through the coffee, its steam rises up to heat and froth the milk. Ingenious!

Continue reading "I'd like a cow with my coffee" »

My ceramics have arrived from Umbria and I'm very, very happy with them!

I bought these dishes in Deruta about two months ago, at a wonderful shop that I visited with fellow blogger and art expert Mary T. (Reflections on My 39 Years in Umbria.)

I chose the patterns that I liked, placed my order and waited. Each piece had to be specially made because, of course, I had fallen for patterns that I found in large bowls and chargers, but that were not available in the shapes and sizes I wanted. But no matter -- Gialletti Giulio Ceramiche custom makes what you want and ships it.

Mary very, very kindly kept me informed as to their progress, checking in with the workshop often. She even helped me expand my order, because as soon as I returned to Canada, I realized that it really was silly to order four plates and only two bowls (how awkward!) Shipping is almost a flat rate, so extra dishes wouldn't cost any more to ship in the same order, but certainly would if I ordered them later. There were a few delays, apparently some items had broken coming out of the kiln and so on. But I didn't mind; I had fully expected even longer delays.

And they were worth the wait! These pieces -- and other ceramics that I've admired -- are so beautiful, so evocative of Umbria.

Continue reading "Chuffed About Ceramics (II)" »

My week has not been going well and like Galatea, I would love to hop on my sea-shell chariot and flee.

Unfortunately my dolphins are in the shop, getting their teeth cleaned (look at the bite on those bad boys!)

So, although I cannot literally flee, I can mentally run to my happy place which is, of course, in Italy.

And since one of the many Italian art calendars on my office wall shows this Raphael fresco of Galatea, that is where I'll go!

Continue reading "Galatea...or, this is how I'm feeling this week" »

When I was in Perugia in September, I spent a few hours in and around the Chiesa di Sant'Angelo, a very cool little church that is believed to be one of the oldest in Perugia. It was built in the 5th century, likely on top of the remains of a Roman temple, during the last days of paganism.

The early Christian church of Sant'Angelo is also called the Tempio di San Michele Arcangelo.
According to BellaUmbria, it has typically Roman characteristics. The two inner areas, the ambulatory and the central presbytery, are separated by a circle of sixteen Corinthian-Roman columns.

Given their variety of measures and materials, they were probably carried into the church from another building, as was customary at the time. The two adjacent chapels at the church's external sides give it a Greek cross layout.

I took the above photo of Sant'Angelo from high atop the adjacent Porta Sant'Angelo, the largest of Perugia's medieval gates which was re-built in 1326. Its tower has been beautifully restored (more recently, of course) and now houses the Museo delle Mura e delle Porte di Perugia -- the city's museum of historic walls and doors. Etruscan and medieval models, that is, and pretty interesting. That's it, in my photo below. The viewing area is at the very top of the tower.

This museum gives a fascinating look at the history of the city, and from the top of the tower, the views are fantastic!

Still, I'm especially partial to the round Chiesa di Sant'Angelo down below and on this trip, was able to finally get inside for a good look around.

Continue reading "Chiesa di Sant'Angelo" »

Today is October 29th and last night, more than 10 centimeters of snow fell -- almost 3 inches of snow. I'm not pleased about this. It's far too early in the season. I mean, it's not yet Halloween.

The top photo is from the spare bedroom window, looking at the neighbor's yard.

The lower photo is of a neighbor's parking lot.

Across the river in western Quebec, roughly twice that amount of snow fell last night. And the wind is bitterly cold.

I cannot live like this. I really need to get a gig somewhere else. With less snow.

Maybe somewhere like this?

Or this?