Day Opening - January 16

Villa Monticello was built by the counts of Orsolini at Avenza, Tuscany, Italy, in 1766 as a small country retreat. In the late 19th century, it was acquired by French Dervillé family, who did some renovating by adding grand flights of steps at the front and back, as well as loggias (balconies or entrance porches) on three sides of the villa.

Today, Villa Monticello is owned by Marzia Vanelli Dazzi, who lives there with her husband and children.

images: Taschen

Day Opening - December 16

The Amalfi coast is maybe the most beautiful areas in the world I've travelled to and through.

Its extraordinary coastline, mixed with the beautiful Mediterranean sea, and its extra ordinary views, makes this part of Italy a 'go-go' place.

The Amalfi coast is often used in famous movies...we can mention some big names..))

Its' fun to drive there, but be sure that you drive on the right side of of the road. Some British tourist are sometimes so confused because of all the beauty...they take the wrong lane..

One of the most beautiful points.

Can you live here?

I have amazing pictures of the Greece Islands. But too bad, not that many of the Turkish touristic areas, which are polluted, spoiled, and desolated by their owners.

Rome is it.

“You cheer my heart, who build as if Rome would be eternal.” - Julius Caesar (63 BC - 14 AD)

I think Rome might possibly be better than Paris. I know. Those are fightin’ words. Maybe I’m still under the magical spell of one of the most amazing cities EVER (Rome, that is), but for the life of me, I can’t help but wonder why the hell on earth Paris is the most visited city in the world, while Rome is in a distant 5th place? That totally baffles the mind. Rome RULEZ - and Paris is totally overrated!

I hear gasps worldwide coming my direction. Pfff. Bring it on…
This opinion is based on my many stays in Paris and Rome - while I actually have spent much more time in Paris as a resident. Perhaps if I lived in Rome, I might have the “honeymoon is over” syndrome? Who knows. For now, this is what I think, and I’m sticking to it.
Rome is better than Paris. Why? How?

- Much much more history in Rome.

- Stunning monuments and ancient ruins practically everywhere you go in Rome.

- Friendly locals in Rome. Um, Paris? hahahaha.

- Better coffee in Rome, hands down.

- The weather in Rome kicks Paris’ ass. So very much.

- The Pantheon, The Arch? THE Originals are in Rome!

- Rome has less POO on the sidewalks.

- Rome doesn’t smell like pee probably because guys in Italy use the toilets instead of walls and alleys.-

- The food in Rome was consistently excellent. Yes, you heard me correctly.

- Happier atmosphere.

- The ocean is nearby.

- Beauty is everywhere.

- Italian is prettier than French. hee!

- Rome is more relaxed.

- Cafe waiters are nice! OMG what a concept, right Paris?

- Cars stop for pedestrians in Rome.

- The Slow Food movement was founded in Rome.

- The Coliseum in Rome was built in 8 years. How long would it take in Paris?

- No bisou politics. A simple one kiss on each cheek in Italy ‘cept starting on the left side.

- Italians love the Dutch, especially those with blue eyes and blond hair...hehe

- Oh please. This list would take me years to complete.

In defense of Paris, I’ll offer these things: 1) Paris is quieter; 2) Paris has more wifi access; 3) Paris pastries are better except perhaps a simple panna cotta ai frutti di bosco; 4) transportation is more extensive but so what; 5) Paris’ marketing is better, which is why so many more people around the world have been brainwashed believe it is the most beautiful city on earth; 6) Parisian women dress better than Roman women; 7) Paris has more cheese.

But not that much as in the Netherlands.

In the end, I am still a cheese head...

Day Opening - November 30

Tuscany, Italy.

Day Opening - November 15

Tuscany, Italy.

My time

Finally, Lancia start selling their cars in Turkey. For me are these the most beautiful cars. Perfect Italian design: exterior as interior as well. In Italy they always drove me around in these cars. So now for me: shopping time!!!
And I will be the Dutch Devil of Istanbul..))

A talk show about Turkey on Italian TV

Last night on one of the Italian TV channels, La7, in the program called L'infedele, conducted by Gad Lerner, they talked about Turkey, Iraq, PKK and the Armenian issue. During the whole day in our mailing lists for Turks living in Italy we received mails asking for Turkish people (around 5 people were asked for) living in Milan who would like to participate in the program as part of the audience to represent the Turkish side. The program was supposed to be on air at 21.30 and the audience was called for 20.30. The problem is, if they were really sincerely willing to have some people representing the Turkish side they would have made this call days before so that people would get ready/cancel appointments etc. to be able to attend the show. When you receive a call just hours before a live talk show it is not easy to say immediately 'OK, I am available'.

I wasn't willing to watch the show, in fact, since I get usually very angry seeing these one-sided discussions that go nowhere. But my husband while zapping had found the program and called me saying 'They are talking about Turkey again'. After finishing whatever it was I doing, I joined him. From the Turkish side there was only Yasemin Taskin, correspondent of the Turkish newspaper Sabah in Rome. Otherwise, there was someone from the Catholic University in Milan, some expert on Pakistan, a guy, whose name I don't remember, born in Turkey but of which origin he is I have no idea, an Armenian woman with the surname Arslan, an Italian economist (she seemed really well informed, and talked quite reasonably) and audience which was just watching... They had a live connection to Murat Belge of Bilgi University, Istanbul. Everything said in the program in Italian was translated to English for him, he gave his answers in Turkish and his words were translated back to Italian. The first sentence, the first translation to Italian and it was not correct, so I lost my interest and belief in the program immediately.

Once again, I am no politician or politics enthusiast, so all I can report is how everything looked to 'a Turkish man on the street'. The 'Turkish side' did not exist. Whoever was chosen to represent the Turkish side was, in fact, on 'the other side', thus it was quite a 'one-sided' discussion, again. Nothing seemed to be resolved, nothing seemed to be clearer, they tried to draw a parallel between the Turkish army and Pakistani army (!!!!), which was opposed by, if I am not mistaken, the guy from the Catholic University in Milan, Murat Belge was himself as usual, Yasemin Taskin was left alone there to give the Turkish view (the cameraman was fixing the camera on her most of the time; she is quite attractive, to tell the truth), and before I fell asleep on the sofa nobody from the audience said a word.. I don't think they said any words at all afterwards either.

Hence, another pointless discussion on TV that caused only a discussion between me and my husband. Yes, me and my husband always have some kind of fiery discussion when we watch these things because he being from the west, although quite ignorant on our issues, thinks to know everything and has the right solution to all the problems, and me being Turkish and quite a nationalist (in his eyes) have to defend myself, my people, my history. I am so fed up being on the defensive side! It is not easy being a Turk outside of Turkey. We are like fish out of the fish bowl....

The Levi-Prodi law and the end of the Internet in Italy

It looks like that soon we will miss our friend Yasemin.
Ricardo Franco Levi, Prodi’s right hand man, undersecretary to the President of the Council (Prodi is Italian PM), has written the text to put a stopper on the mouth of the Internet. The draft law was approved by the Council of Ministers on 12th of October. No minister dissociated themselves from it. On gagging information, very quietly, these are all in agreement. The Levi-Prodi law lays out that anyone with a blog or a website has to a) register it with the ROC, b) a register of the Communications Authority, c) produce certificates, d) pay a tax, even if they provide information without any intention to make money. Read more here.

This insane plan is of Ricardo Levi: "Ricardo Franco Levi, sottosegretario alla Presidenza del Consiglio e padre della riforma, sdrammatizza: "Lo spirito del nostro progetto non è certo questo. Non abbiamo interesse a toccare i siti amatoriali o i blog personali, non sarebbe praticabile".

Day opening - October 21

By day...


...at night.

Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy.

Day opening - October 9

Italy, Opera by Antonio Capuzzi

Pasta in the news

Today we have a "shopping strike" in Italy: nobody is supposed to buy pasta. Not only uncooked pasta, but the consumers are invited to stay away from the bars where it is usual for most Italians to have their morning croissant and lunch, which is usually some kind of pasta. The consumer associations urge us to show our disapproval of the expected increase in the price of pasta, bread and milk this autumn. Italy is the country where the consumption of pasta is the highest in the world. An Italian cannot survive two consecutive days without eating his pasta. The Italian families have just survived the expensive shopping period for school materials these last weeks, and they had enough of the rumors and news about the price increase in their beloved pasta. I wonder if this strike will have any effect on the decisions of the government, I have my doubts..


By the way, I once made the longest pasta with a Norwegian friend in a longest pasta making competition (!) in Bergen, Norway. Look at the photo above (the girl on the left is me). And can you believe that this photo was on the front page of Bergens Tidende, a daily Norwegian newspaper? And not only that, it was news that began on the front page and took half of the third page as well. In Norway there is something called "agurk nyheter", meaning "cucumber news", news that is quite stupid and unimportant but is published because it is summer time and the journalists do not have much to do. Yes, I was in a cucumber news article in Norway, with my longest pasta.... :-)

The Master, His funeral

His daughters..


And their father...who died too young at the age of 71.