I caught the train to Ely yesterday to visit this rather sleepy little town but which of course is not a town: I'm not sure quite how it works but if you have a cathedral, no matter how small and sleepy you are , you are classed as a city. The trip through the flat… Continue reading Trip down memory lane….
Author: englishthatgrows
I have been living in Italy for a long time and I'm grateful for all the opportunities this beautiful, varied country has offered, especially art and music....oh! and food too. I also work here, doing the most exciting job possible (for a people-person like me) I teach English. New people, new ideas ,new methods to investigate,what more could anyone ask for!
Just a little more about the Charterhouse
ozedfcofBefore you go do read up a little because the guide, being a monk is not an art historian. The ground plan is a Latin cross with chapels opening along the aisles; 12 square ones and 2 rectangular ones. As they are decorated by painters of the stature of Perugino, Bergognone, il Morazzone, Procaccini, il… Continue reading Just a little more about the Charterhouse
The Charterhouse of Pavia.
This time we had our cappuccino and croissant BEFORE buying our rail tickets so the start of the day was not stressful at all. We decided to go via Rogoredo because there are more trains and I was curious to see such an ill- famed place. No one else seemed to be going our way… Continue reading The Charterhouse of Pavia.
A tale of an abortive trip! – The End.
After the exhibition, we rounded the corner and found the big red "i"  we had been looking for, so remember, in Pavia information is always just round the corner! So we set off to be tourists in earnest. Off to the castle. And his lordship was out too! Closed until 230! There were two guys… Continue reading A tale of an abortive trip! – The End.
A tale of an abortive trip! – Continued …
Well, having got over the disappointment of not finding an Info point and certainly no hop-on hop-off buses we wend our way along a rather drab little street towards (hopefully) the town centre. On the way a pit stop for water and a beautifully drawn map of Pavia on the back of a small paper… Continue reading A tale of an abortive trip! – Continued …
A tale of an abortive trip! ( but with a happy ending)
My friend and I decided to take a trip to Mantova; I'd been before, he hadn't and it sounded like a very good idea, especially the easy- going, relaxed way of beginning the trip, with an excellent coffee and croissant at the "Mignon" on the Stazione Centrale di Milano. So here am I, wonderfully relaxed,… Continue reading A tale of an abortive trip! ( but with a happy ending)
My Gardening History.
I've always loved gardening and my dream has always been to have a garden of my own. Ever since I was a little girl. When I was about 6, my adored grandfather(allotmenteer,avid reader of cowboy books which he would start at the end, and bellringer. He used to bike round to the various village churches… Continue reading My Gardening History.
Thinking about the garden
I do an awful lot ot thinking about my garden! Recentlly I've been having thoughts about what Gilles Clement calls "Les vagabondes" and everyone else calls weeds. Rather than real weeds from somewhere over the fence, although that particular exchange tends to take place but in the opposite direction, I' m thinking about plants which… Continue reading Thinking about the garden
I Masnadieri
On Monday evening I went to La Scala, to see what is the last opera for me before the summer break. It was Verdi's Masnadieri. The music was instantly attractive although I don't really like these strings of beautiful arias threaded together. What is worse, it encourages the audience to applaud after every one thus… Continue reading I Masnadieri
Vernissage
Late Friday afternoon I was invited to go and see some paintings, which I liked .I wish art were more accessible for everyone, there are some pieces you'd like to live with. I'm not a big fan of artyfarty "art talk" because I think it keeps people away. There were several artists there; it's always… Continue reading Vernissage
English that grows 