mosaic road

Lights, camera, action

It seems the small main square of Pienza is the ideal location for filming a gory movie scene. We watched the gruesome creation of what is set to become an onscreen beheading.

 

Up, Up and Away

Who buys all these balloons being sold in the square in Marrakech ?? Does anyone ?? At the weekend the balloon sellers were out in force. I did not see a single sale. But maybe the sales run rampant in the evening as currently there is a big International Film festival on and a huge movie screen is set up in Jemaa Elfna. It could be that there is a showing of the Sponge Bob Squarepants Movie ( Splonge Bob to my children !!) and souvenir balloons will be snapped up. Who knows, expect the unexpected, it's Morocco after all !!

Three Coins in a Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is iconic, plus beautiful, plus crowded. It was a highlight of my recent trip to Rome and yes I threw in coins, three coins thrown in are meant to bring you a safe trip, love and a wedding in no particular order !!!!! The Fendi fashion house recently refurbished the fountain at a  cost of $2.2 million . They did not use the money thrown into the fountain as to steal the coins is illegal, a crime that you can be jailed for .  In fact each night the coins are collected and donated to a charity. The fountain dates back to Roman times and the first water spilled out of the spouts in 1743. It is 85 feet tall and 65 feet wide, sorry don't know this in meters but its huge !!! The water pumped through is recycled and once a vandal put dye into the fountain causing all the water to run  red !!! So if you go on a Roman Holiday put the Trevi on top of you list. Buy a gelato and sit near the edge and soak up the Italian ambience.

Pass the Popcorn

There was a matinee showing of  The Assassin (in French) on the day I did a quick tour of this very Art Deco theatre in Tangier, Morocco. It was built in 1938 and called Cinema Rif and then renovated in 2005. It originally had 500 seats but now has two theatres, one seats just 60 and the other 380. The French designer in 2005 created an amazing thing in his detailed renovation and the two projectors can project outwards to the market square, Grand Socco. This enables open air screenings for 4000. It shows mainly art house films, is a cultural centre and has a cafe and library. Such a unique thing for the Tangerine community to enjoy.

 

Ferris Bueller on a Moroccan Rooftop

There were certain things I envisaged when I moved to Morocco like eating tagines, wandering the souks and crossing chaotic roads. Not once did I see myself on a rooftop, flanked by enormous satellite dishes, on a balmy night watching Ferris Bueller's Day Off projected on to the wall via a lap top. But hey, this is Morocco and I always say expect the unexpected !! It was BYO chair and drinks and the first movie I have seen in a year !!

The Trip to Italy - fun movie !!

 

This movie was a total escape and I spent a couple of hours laughing uproariously with tears running down my cheeks. Yes, the scenery was divine and the food looked exquisite but it was the dialogue , the hysterical banter, that I was swept up in. And wow what hotels !!! I would take a night in the Greta Garbo suite like a shot !! Who wouldn't ??  

This movie gets 10/10 from me.

Movie Recommendation

I have put off watching this movie for so long as I thought it might be too sad. But I showed a touch of patriotism as it is Australia Day and watched this Aussie movie and of course loved it. There are little sad moments but the overall theme is of joyful canine love plus a pretty sweet storyline plus incredible outback desert scenery. So to anyone who loves dogs or just loves movies I can only say don't put off getting this DVD.

Fabulous Film

I loved it - just saw it tonight !! I am a big fan of Judy Dench and Maggie Smith and they are so, so good in this. There are some very funny moments that made me laugh out loud. India looks marvellous and tempting.  And aside from the film being marvellous I do love heading into the cinema and being able to sit back with a glass of prosecco in hand. i just don't get to do it often enough !!

 

Photographic Walk thru Pie Night

The following photos of our family Masterchef event were taken by my sister M, always the official photographer and brilliant at her job.

Here is S having a serious talk with the canine judges !!

 

S, K and A laugh and joke before the serious stuff of pie eating occurs.

 

The pies are set out, finishing touches applied and fingers crossed.

 

The chefs present their culinary offerings, alliances are formed, glasses of wine are poured .

 

The judges, forks poised, commence their serious and calorific task after the professional pie cutter wrestles and endeavours to get pies with stubborn crusts out of their dishes.

 

The winner is announced after we line up bravely, with Lucydog as canine support, awaiting our placements in the competition. L presents me with a "most improved" certificate. More wine is drunk !!

A Little Indian Soiree

Last week we went to a little one hour event, part of the Melbourne festival. It was "A Live Installation with Edible Interludes". It took place in a huge hall, an old meat market, an ex old meat market that is.  The room was vast with about 12 tables of eight, well spaced. Huge screens flanked each wall so no matter where you sat you could watch the marvellous , sometimes grainy, film footage. We went to hear a storyteller , Motiroti, and during the 2 interludes  sampled some amazing little Indian hors d'oevres like these star fruits adorned with sweet chilli, sumac, avocado and lavender.

The soiree was titled Journeys of Love and More Love and Motiroti told the story of his childhood in India, then a move to Pakistan and then a move to England in a soft and lilting accent. To see a little of how the evening unfolded click here and you will be enchanted.