Anyone who has suffered listening to me rhapsodise about Italy, and in particular Rome will know that I have skirted around the edges of learning the italian language for about twenty years. I've listened to language tapes, gone to classes, bought various text books and generally been full of enthusiasm without the necessary follow through.
Twelve months ago I decided to get serious about learning italian and bought the Rosetta Stone software, which is an 'immersion' program that promises to deliver a level of fluency. This doesn't work on its own (not for me, anyway) but in addition I discovered the Michele Thomas language tapes, and also found two language tutors who've been helping me learn the basic grammar. I've struggled with masculine/ feminine nouns, verb conjugation, past/present/future/gerund/ imperative tenses and started to form rather clumsy sentences.
Next step towards fluency is three months real immersion in Italy and I'll be taking a full term with the Leonardo da Vinci Scuola here in Rome until the end of March. Jim is joining me half way through and we're hoping to enjoy a few weekend excursions out of Rome to further the language exposure (and food, wine, architecture and all things italian). Cross fingers I'll actually nail the language this time :-)
So here I am, back again in my favourite city and staying in the Trastevere district. My apartment is on a little square called the Piazza San' Egidio and it's a very comfortable, one bedroom book-lined and wood-beamed space that looks out over the square. Down in the square are two restaurants, a museum and a bar. Around the corner is the Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, which is very picturesque; lined with sepia-tinted buildings, it has the requisite important fountain, and course houses the ancient church of Santa Maria in Trastevere. I can hear the church bells from my apartment sitting room window.
On my first evening here, I took a walk through Trastevere, past the Santa Maria church and on to the Ponte Sisto bridge. The sun set at around 5.30pm, and the Tiber, and St Peter's in the distance took on a rosy sunset glow.
The christmas lights are out in abundance. Along the Via Ballauri strings of lights and stars can be seen stretching some way towards the Campo dei Fiori. I passed on through the Campo Piazza, said hello to the Bruno Giordano statue and crossed over the Corso to Piazza Navona. The square is packed with stalls for the Christmas market, and especially the little figures of the witch Bettana in time for Epiphany on January 6th. In fact, the piazza is so crowded with stalls it's almost impossible to see Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers.
Thankfully the Pantheon square is free of merchandising and people were still milling about at 6.30pm, getting a last glimpse of the interior before the doors close at 7.30.
By now the long day has caught up with me and I'm back at my apartment, central heating on, enjoying being comfortable with a G&T and a simple dinner. It's very exciting to be here and school starts on Monday, which means a little revision on the weekend and some more walks through the city.
Hopefully this beautiful clear weather lasts - its cool but not cold and my tweed coat has been too warm for walking today.
Buona notte all :-)
Twelve months ago I decided to get serious about learning italian and bought the Rosetta Stone software, which is an 'immersion' program that promises to deliver a level of fluency. This doesn't work on its own (not for me, anyway) but in addition I discovered the Michele Thomas language tapes, and also found two language tutors who've been helping me learn the basic grammar. I've struggled with masculine/ feminine nouns, verb conjugation, past/present/future/gerund/ imperative tenses and started to form rather clumsy sentences.
Next step towards fluency is three months real immersion in Italy and I'll be taking a full term with the Leonardo da Vinci Scuola here in Rome until the end of March. Jim is joining me half way through and we're hoping to enjoy a few weekend excursions out of Rome to further the language exposure (and food, wine, architecture and all things italian). Cross fingers I'll actually nail the language this time :-)
So here I am, back again in my favourite city and staying in the Trastevere district. My apartment is on a little square called the Piazza San' Egidio and it's a very comfortable, one bedroom book-lined and wood-beamed space that looks out over the square. Down in the square are two restaurants, a museum and a bar. Around the corner is the Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, which is very picturesque; lined with sepia-tinted buildings, it has the requisite important fountain, and course houses the ancient church of Santa Maria in Trastevere. I can hear the church bells from my apartment sitting room window.On my first evening here, I took a walk through Trastevere, past the Santa Maria church and on to the Ponte Sisto bridge. The sun set at around 5.30pm, and the Tiber, and St Peter's in the distance took on a rosy sunset glow.
The christmas lights are out in abundance. Along the Via Ballauri strings of lights and stars can be seen stretching some way towards the Campo dei Fiori. I passed on through the Campo Piazza, said hello to the Bruno Giordano statue and crossed over the Corso to Piazza Navona. The square is packed with stalls for the Christmas market, and especially the little figures of the witch Bettana in time for Epiphany on January 6th. In fact, the piazza is so crowded with stalls it's almost impossible to see Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers.Thankfully the Pantheon square is free of merchandising and people were still milling about at 6.30pm, getting a last glimpse of the interior before the doors close at 7.30.
By now the long day has caught up with me and I'm back at my apartment, central heating on, enjoying being comfortable with a G&T and a simple dinner. It's very exciting to be here and school starts on Monday, which means a little revision on the weekend and some more walks through the city.
Hopefully this beautiful clear weather lasts - its cool but not cold and my tweed coat has been too warm for walking today.Buona notte all :-)
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