Ziatitina

Something rather curious just reached me from Bolzano...and my brother received it from a friend of his. Apparently it's called "Kaffeestock" in German...  It doesn't really matter, fact is it's very similar to those chain e-mails you get with loads of questions and answers - difference is obviously that it is on a blog and that it deals with coffee.... Let's see how I can translate this the best? I found it rather funny......and considering the massive "coffee culture" we have in Italy I could not resist temptation. Let's go!

1. When do you drink the first cup of coffee of the day?

Aound 8.30 in the morning, after I have arrived in the office. If I'm there before, I'll have it earlier....the day can't start without coffee!! Clients and colleagues will confirm that, I can hardly say a word beforehand. Very sad, I know.

2. How many cups do you have a day?

Hard to say. We've got nice big mugs which are perfect for the first morning coffee, even though they are empty way too quickly. One of those with that new fantastic filter coffee we now use, or a Cappuccino with Illy beans in the morning, sometime one half morning and if I fancy it a little Espresso mid-afternoon...why not?

So, summarizing...approx 2-3

3. Coffein-free or Beans?

Apparently my brother's friend wrote " You can't mean this seriously?" I fully agree.

4.Sugar, Milk oder Cream?

First and second, never cream!!! Espresso black or with a little of warm milk making it a "Caffe' Macchiato". Oooh, italian coffee, you can't really beat it!

5.Which preparation do you prefer?

Fresh ground coffee with a proper Italian Coffee Machine. They never switch off, that's the secret for a brilliant aroma. And if that's missing....a Mocca after a few runs.

6. With who do you enjoy your coffee the most?

Friends. There's nothing better than catching up over a cup of coffee.

7.Favourite Brand?

Illy or lavazza. Even though the filter coffee in the office is fantastic as well....Brazil Fazenda Cachoera, I can only recommend it!!!

8. Where do you prefer enjoying your coffee?

Best Place is a Bar outside somewhere, when the sun is shining and you don't have to run off anywhere anytime soon. Perhaps even a newspaper on hand....mmmm.

9. How does your favourite cup look like?

Can't find the picture at the moment, but it's a set from Bodum with glass espresso cups. That's just class.

10. Espresso, Cappuccino or Latte Macchiato?

Depends where I am, London: Cappuccino or Espresso, Milan: Espresso, Germany: can't remember, but I guess it's got to be Espresso, on holidays: whatever coffee I can get my hands on even if it's not the best.

11. Favourite thing to do while you are having coffee?

During the week I just like to read the newspaper (online), chat to my colleagues catching up on the latest gossip or read my e-mails. Weekends...it's all more relaxed, I don't really know.

I would love to send this on to someone, but the only people I can think of right now is Michele in Shanghai, and my brother who originated this whole madness. Happy Coffee everyone!!!

Tine ( who needs one desperately because she is falling asleep...and still looking like a Panda!)

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There is no other way to tell you about Lucy's & my weekend in Nice. From the moment we left the office on Friday afternoon direction Heathrow it has been a sequence of brilliant moments. Being back home, after 2 days on the Cote d'Azur, it all feels a bit surreal now...but let me start from the beginning.

We arrived in sunny Nice on Friday evening and headed to our Hotel, the Beau Rivage on the Promenade d'Anglais. The trip by taxi from the airport, which lasted no more than 15 minutes, was unique enough...splendid weather, gorgeous blue sea, palm trees and a sequence of rather interesting buildings along the promenade. The first french words with our taxi driver were a bit of a mission, but we still managed to understand in which direction the old town was and which part ot avoid, because of construction. Looks like the french lessions did actually help :) The hotel is very nice indeed, its back faces on to the promenade and the sea, but this is certainly just a pro, otherwise I guess it would get too noisy. Recently refurbished, it has a very modern design and is just 2 minutes from the old town and the market that takes place every morning in the Rue Saleya. And you should seriously look at the flooring in thre bathroom. Still massively impressed by that.... After a brief fresh up we headed to the beach straight away and enjoyed a wonderful sunset....

An hour later we strolled down to the harbour, checked out the "small" yachts that lie there ( how about this: 3 floors and a massive plasma screen with the Chelsea game! Would not mind that at all....), visitited the Monument Aux Morts nearby and returned to Rue Saleya for a really nice dinner, taste some french wine and try out our basic French. It was really nice and warm all evening, and there were lots of people out and about.

The next morning the sun was out and we headed for a little cafe' for some cafe' au lait near the market. Everything was so colorful, spices, fresh fruit & vegetables, and flowers were everywhere and we could have spent hours sitting there watching people. But... time was short so we went exploring the old part of town....

These last 2 pictures show Lu and me in Place Rossetti near the Cathedrale Ste-Reparate, where we stopped in another little cafe around lunch time for a glass of Rose and lots of sun :) ABSOLUTELY GLORIOUS! We even had the honour of some improvised live french chansons, could it be any better? Another long walk later we returned to the Promenade and found a lovely spot in one of the small beach restaurants, called Opera. Here is Lucy, ready to indulge in a speciality from Nice - salade nicoise....obviously accompanied by some chilled rose'.

2 hours later and I was a lobster....could have thought about that earlier, but I would have not imagined the sun to be that strong.... A quick pit-stop at the farmacy for some after sun, and some retail therapy later ( what? that old thing?? Bought it years ago!!! )we decided to explore the promenade towards the Negresco and beyond. The Negresco is the most famous hotel in Nice, and has a very particular style with a pink dome. Not really my cup of tea, but it certainly dominates the beach front impressively.

Walking makes hungry and thirsty, and after seeing the sunset from the hill we picked up some cocktails followed by a really good seafood restaurant. MMMMmmmm....Linguine alle vongole. Not something I would eat every day in London, really! By that point  I was looking like a Panda and fell into bed shortly after...not without bathing in after sun and hoping not to look like a total looser the next day. Ha, as if... it was a heart-attack wake up this morning. if Panda's could be red and white rather than back and white...that would be me :)

Here we are, at Nice Airport, waiting to board our flight to London Gatewick.

2 days have gone way too quickly, but it certainly has been glorious, in every way! Lu, when are we going away again????? :)

Panda - Tine

How can one not love this??! Spring is finally here, the sun is out and it just brilliant!! :)

Maren and Mark arrived from Germany on Friday morning, ready to hit town in a tourist-marathon and they truly did. After the first part of the marathon had to take place without me (work obviously) I took them around London on Saturday and it was sunny sunny sunny!!!!... Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly, Marks & Spencer at Green Park (don't ask!!!!), St James' Park, Buckingham Palce and the change of the guards, Victoria, Embankment along the Thames to the Millennium Bridge, Tate Modern, back along the Southbank to Waterloo... and at that point I could not walk anymore, so I decided to strike and drag them back to Hyde Park for a nap in the sun :) It was only a short visit, but I am very glad they could both make it....mostly because I had not seen Maren in about 3 years and we have known each other since 1st grade. Yup, lots of old stories got told these 2 days, but there are more and we'll hopefully catch up soon.

And for the rest? Well, more park and more sun obviously! Lacking a beach one has to be happy with the next best thing..no, I am not complaining, it was perfect and I am a proud owner of a little sunburn as well. Ha ha ha :) I will hopefully be able to work on my tan a little...next Friday Lu & I are off to Nice for a weekend at the seaside. Fingers crossed, it should be a really nice short break. Yay, France here we come!!!

But for now it's making the best of a lazy Sunday evening with Gray's Anatomy and facing a new week. Have a good one!

Tine x

HAPPY EASTER everyone wherever you are!!

Please don't expect any tales, I am taking it easy this weekend. The sun is shining and the sky is blue, or was at least this morning... 4 free days and good weather. Do I need to say more? :)

Tine

After a very long anticipation it was finally Friday evening and... PARTY TIME!!!!

The venue was a lovely little spanish Bar called Salvador & Amanda near Leicester Square where Helen and I booked an area for about 40 people. Not sure how many would actually show up, we spent the last 2 days counting and re-counting people and getting really worried we would not have enough space. What was all that worry for? NO IDEA, the party was a success and a real good laugh. A BIG Thank You to all that joined us for some drinks, some tapas, lots of laughs, even more crazy dancing and an overall fantastic time.

For me it was even more special, because some really good friends arrived from Rome on Friday to attend this occasion and spend the week-end in London. Unfortunately one of them could not make it last minute, but my thoughts are with her. Aida, I am sure we will catch up soon.... it is my turn to come to Rome to see you now! Love you. And to the rest of the roman gang, thank you so much for taking this trouble and coming over here. It really meant the world to me. As we all know...pictures speak more than words, so here we go.....

Please swing any additional pictures my way and then we'll see if they are worth adding to this "Wall of Fame" as well :)

Well, the weekend certainly wasn't concluded there....after a boozy night with lots of San Miguel, chupiti, G&T, wine and other random alcoholic stuff we obviously had to hit the road onSaturday and explore the city in good tourist style. Sometimes I am really glad that I have lived here for quite some time.... at least I have some sort of idea where to take visitors. While the others had already covered the National Gallery, I only managed to drag myself out of bed later on and joined them in Trafalgar Sqaure around noon ( with a hangover). After a lovely lunch at Wagamama, and a quick espressio we walked around Covent Garden, went to Camden Town, cruised the market (love it!!!!), went back to St James Park and passed out on the grass for an hour or so, while a few went to see Buckingham Palace. Just a quick break at home and for 8.30 pm we were back in town for a gorgeous libanese dinner at Noura, a short exploration of Soho until ending up in a random Pub in Old Crompton Street. Brilliant, I was so tired by the end of it, that I didn't even finish my beer ( yes, I know.... not my style!) Well... Sunday was here way too soon, and it was British Museum Day.

Question: how hard is it to resist the temptation and the onion smell of the improvised Hot Dog stands? Answer.... see below! :)

I just couldn't face it, but the hot dogs went down a treat. I am sure you are still digesting them now while I am writing this!!!! :) One recommendation I can give you if they are still a bit too heavy on the stomach: Coca Cola :)

A big thank you to Dani, who has organising this whole trip from one day to the other. Sei un mito.

Tine