La Vita Romana

Today is our last day ... sniff!!!!

We've spent a couple of days roaming like Romans - through Pompeii and Herculaneum. Simply beyond description. It was such an eye-opener to see the level of cultural, social and aesthetic development this culture had reached.

This first picture is the area around the forum and Jupiter's Temple. This was right next to the market place - and our first encounter with the absolutely astounding frescoes - and our first Pompeii victims. Seeing them makes you so much more aware of the human side of this tragic event - an event that allows us to now enter into the every day lives of these people who lived 2000 years ago!

To be able to walk the streets so intact that the walking stones are still in place (that way the Romans didn't get horse dung on their sandals); to be able to touch the frescoes; to 'read' the graffitti on the walls (my favourite is: I wonder, O wall, that you have not fallen in ruins from supporting the stupidities of so many scribblers) - it was one of the most incredible experiences of our lives! Since coming home, we have immersed ourselves completely in 'doing as the Romans do'! We've watched the film 'Gladiator', watched loads of chapters of the TV series 'Rome' and watched a documentary on Pompeii ...

At Herculaneum (Ercolano), Joel was given a 'private tour' of the 'Skeleton' room. Herculaneum was a sea port - the hypothesis is that the residents were expecting boats to rescue them, which unfortunately did not come - they became victims of the extremely hot gases from the volcano, hiding within the portals of the city which served as the boat houses. This area was closed off because of archeological work but, as I said, Joel got a private show of the area, accompanied by a young archeological student! His description of what he saw: piles of bones and skulls - it was kinda creepy!

The link to the photo album will be operable soon. Patience please!

Viva l'Italia!!!!!

Mamma Mia! We're in Naples!

For more details about Naples, click here.

We got here last Friday and our first impressions are ... mmm ... delicious food and yikes ... crazy Italian drivers.We had a bit of a scare when Joel crossed a pedestrian street without looking. Luckily the motorbike drivers are used to stopping on a dime - without breaking their conversation on their cellphone!

Our first day here we visited two castles (the new castle built in the 12th century) and the Castle de ouvo (the Castle of the Egg). According to Virgil, the castle was built on an egg - the castle will remain standing until the egg breaks. Apparently the egg has not broken yet.Here's a view from the 'New Castle' looking at the Napoli port.

We've also visited the Royal Palace, built by Philip II when Napoli was part of the Aragon kingdom. According to Joel, it was full of beautiful things and you could tell that the king had loads of money!! We also visited the Capodimonte museum that is on top of the VERY LONG hill at the edge of Naples. And, yes, we WALKED up the hill!

To see our family photos of the first days in Naples, click here.

Two School Prizes in the Family

OK, this blog entry is going to have a bit of bragging - two members of the BBF have won school prizes!

The first one went to Joel for a short essay he wrote and which was included in the latest school collection (his school publishes students' writings twice a year). This is his second time in 2 years. The essay was a critique of a theatre piece 'El Mag d'Oz' (The Wizard of Oz, of course). It's in Catalan so I won't copy it here but I would highlight the maturity of his writing - 'the acting was good, and the lighting too; and the costumes were not missing the least detail' (my translation). This was balanced by a healthy dose of criticism: 'the Wizard of Oz' voice was not as clear as the others' and they forgot to wear their green glasses in the Emerald City!'

All in all, a theatre critic in the making ...

On that note, here's the other essay that was published last year for St. George's Day (the Catalonian Book Festival Day).

A Plate Of Peas

One day I was at the dinner table waiting for my dinner. Then I saw my mom coming and she gave me my dinner. But then I saw that for dinner I had a big plate of peas and milk. I don't like peas! I shouted. My mother said 'I don't care. You'll eat those peas even if are there all your life!'

Then I looked to my plate, grinning and thinking: I am super hungry but I can't eat this! But if I eat it I'll get dessert. Then I looked to my milk and thought: My milk is not transparent, so, I could hide my peas in there.

So, that's just what I did. I popped my peas in my milk, being careful for that my mom or my dad don't see me. Then I said to my mom: Look I ate my peas and my mom came fast into the dining room. She believed I ate my peas. Then she said: Good, now drink your milk, it's very nutritious.

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As to the other prize, one of the projects Melinda has been involved with - a project launched from the European project Melinda coordinated until last year and which is working with local primary schools - was awarded the John McDowell Prize 2007 by the Associació de Professors i Professores d'Anglès de Catalunya (APAC). If you want to see a picture of the students receiving the prize, click here.