Other Adventures in the lives of James and Vilija
A couple of weeks ago I went to see an art exhibition by an illustrator named Emmanuel Luzzati, a Genova local. He is most famous for a character named Pulcinella (masked (masquerade) man). The exhibition began with a half an hour film of the Luzzati operas. These operas were cartoons set to operatic music (no actual words used). The first was a love story between two cats, the second was the story of the Turks in Italy, the third was the story of the Italians in Algeria, and the forth was the Birds’ revenge on bird hunters, all very cute, and very funny. I think that now is about the time when I point out the somewhat obvious – Italians are perhaps (;-P) a step behind when it comes to political correctness. The Turkish have a reputation of being lazy here in Italy. Therefore this particular opera was about a lazy Turk who doesn’t want to go to work despite his “old lady” kicking him out of the house. He (Pulcinella) urinates on a statue and the rest of the opera depicts him being chased all over town by the police for this indiscretion.
This last weekend also had its own adventures. On Friday night we went out to centro storico to watch the match between Italy and the Ukraine. We were a little unenthused given the result of the Italy v’s Australia game and found it hard to get excited about the thrashing that Italy dealt the Ukraine. After the game, walking back to our place the city was abuzz! More air-horns than you can imagine disturbed the night air, masses of people crowded the main square Piazza di Ferrari with Italian flags waving.
The next day we were invited to a friend’s place to celebrate his birthday. James and I decided that we would like to bake a cake for the occasion. This in itself proved to be a challenge of gargantuan proportions. Having procured a cake tin we set out to find ingredients such as: brown sugar, raisins, self raising flour and chestnuts. Four supermarkets later we thought we had it all. They don’t actually have brown sugar here, nor do they have self-raising flour. They have “rough” sugar – a mix between brown sugar and coffee sugar, and they have plain flour “fine flour – tipo 00” to which you have to add something called “fecola”. We thought that fecola was baking soda so added it sparingly. However, we didn’t realise that this magic ingredient actually has to be added to plain flour in a 1:2 ratio and that baking soda also has to be added?? Anyway the cake didn’t turn out the best, but I think it was a good first effort and we now feel much better informed 
Also we watched the Brazil v’s France match at our friend’s place – yay go France!!! Not that we’re bitter about Rinaldo’s comments about the Aussies! ;-P
Sunday saw us return to the Ligurian coast to Santa Margherita to continue the “mission impossible” – find somewhere to get married. We found a gorgeous area atop a hill overlooking the Mediterranean. There is a church here (perhaps a little large, and a little glitzy) as well as two beautiful buildings that are certainly reception-worthy surrounded by beautiful gardens. “Want that one!” We’ll have to see, there was no-one around to talk to, so we went for a gelato and a swim instead (yes I know we’re predictable!)
I also have a new Italian teacher this week. She’s lovely! About our age – 28/29? She’s offered to be my Genovese tour guide which is lovely! She also has a friend who started a wedding planner business a few weeks ago specialising in organising weddings for foreigners. How great it that!? Someone we can talk to about the bureaucracy 
I think we’ll try to contact her some time this week.
So that’s it for now, I think that we’ve caught up finally. James keeps teasing me that I write like a scientist – direct and to the point and that I’m not descriptive enough, I figure that if you’ve managed to read this much you’re doing well
Ciao!
Vilija
Tags: Emmanuel Luzzati, Genova, Santa Margherita, World Cup 2006