Hi everybody! Finally I've got my line back and I can communicate with you again ...
I spent my first week at the University and I liked it, there're a lot of new things to do and probably the best one is 'Paleography' (recently I had to transcribe the first part of Dante Alighieri's purgatory from an ancient illuminated version of the famous Divina Commedia - late XIV century). Now, I just hope to find enough time to study what I missed during the past month and everything will be OK. =)

40 minutes by train are acceptable, those surroundings are not as stressful as Milano; the lake is a very relaxing place and there're a lot of things to do. Como is a beautiful city with a a lot of history: every single brick and stone can tell you something about its glorious and rich past. (I promise to post some photos in the next future).

Meanwhile I want to show you these:
The faculty of Law and Jurisprudence is located inside an ancient monastery, close to the romanesque abbey of St. Abbondio (built in 1050). I'm kind of jealous because my section is located inside an horrible complex built during the '70s ... Anyway, they're still restoring a good part of that medieval monastery, and I really hope they'll move my faculty (Cultural Heritage and Arts) over there! XD
 
If you don't know where Lake Como is, just take a look on googlemaps. BTW, there're around 45 km (28 ml) between Como and Lissone, which is the city with the nearest train station.

If you've ever been in Las Vegas, the name "Bellagio Hotel & Casino" should be familiar to you ... ok, near Punta Spartivento you'll find the original town of Bellagio, one of the most beautiful cities around. However, if you're more interested in celebrities, Laglio is the right place for you: over there you'll probably find Mr. George Clooney walking downtown; they say he's a nice and simple guy and I hope to find him someday! XD


That's all for now folks! See you next time! ;D

Hi everybody! I missed you all in these days!!!
It was a strange vacation because ... there was no vacation for me :P

Well, I have to say that I really enjoyed my cousin's wedding. BTW, I know he's planning to spend his honeymoon in California; so, I asked: "Ok, just be sure to have an empty bag ... It'd be a good hiding place for me!" XD
However, I had no time to relax because (*drum rolls*) I finally found a new university in Como! I'll start in November I suppose, when I'll back in Italy - Art Sciences and Cultural Heritage: which includes history, history of arts, archeology, literature, languages, etc. I'm pretty happy, but really tired after all of this.

Ok, now it's time for some photos (I hope to post more of them); this is a short session about the wedding with me, my parents and ... a lot of cold starters. =)
( Photos under this cut ... )

I hope to have news from you; I haven't red anything yet, I don't have much time unfortunately.
Now I've to go, let me know if you're still alive guys! ;D See you soon.

Hey! I was cleaning my digital library and I found these photos I took in the ex-royal gardens of Monza; we were working on a short videoclip called "Star Worse" ... it was so funny! XD eheheh
I was the commanding officer or something, and for that occasion I used my father's uniform. =)

I thought to add a peculiar touch to my character, using one of my sun lenses and a little chain on my glasses. ;) Now I think I look like Big Boss from Metal Gear Solid III … vaguely. :P

I’m an one-eyed man too! XD

Ok, in these days I designed a sundial ... it's incredible, but real! XD
I turned out pretty well, anyway I think it's not as good as I expected; they (my friend and his father) didn't assmbled the lower part very well.
It was a nice experience after all, now we just have to add a latin phrase I found: "Veritas Filia Temporis" (Truth's the daughter of Time); everybody will able to see it from the street here in town, and that's a really good thing! =)

Here's how it'll be ...


... and this is how it looks right now.


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Talking about other things, I bought a new Tea-table ... it comes from Morocco! ;)
It's a bit 'unfinished' but I like that inaccurate look. I love it! =D


Arabic things are love!!! XD Ihih ... I'm so happy right now! (More news later)

Yesterday I bought a new wooden walking stick at "La Pedrera" in Barcelona! (17 Euros)
I like it very much, I'm so happy! =)

Ok, starting from these photos I want to create a photo-meme: "Can all that stuff (inside my room) describe myself?"
Just take a couple of shots of your room or around your house (at least 4, 3 minimum) and ask if people can actually identify your personality behind the objects you have; You can put a short description as well.

If you're going to post this meme, please, leave a comment and let me know; I'm curious to see what you're going to do! =)
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The notes I'm going to write down here are not necessary; in this particular case I want to underline the new things I brought from Italy.
Well, here you can see my room with a couple of additions (click here to see how it used be until Christmas - there were few changes, but probably you can notice them).

( Read more ... )

Hi everybody! Finally I can take a couple of minutes to tell you how my short vacation was ... =D ;)
I really enjoyed it, and I have to say that I'm really happy to see how Italy is working; Mr Berlusconi is working in a pretty good way, his allied parties are fixing a lot of "historical" defects and our economy is in good health after all. Yes!!! Italy is not suffering this global crisis (at least not that much); the basic difference between Italy and other countries is the non-existent lack of money, problems are 'simply' caused by a bad administration of capitals on the highest spheres. Here in Spain there're a lot of problems for example: People and banks are running out of money ... factories, big companies, construction sites, shops and restaurants are closing; in Italy only few companies are suffering these problems, it's a pretty restrained crisis for now. :P ;D

Anyway, let's talk about about other things:
I spent a lot of time with my friends and I finally had the occasion to watch The Dark Knight, Madagascar 2 and Il Cosmo sul Comò (The Universe on the Dresser); The Dark Knight is a spectacular movie, I'd give it 10 points over 10, but I didn't like it that much ... it's a wonderful movie, but it's not a comic anymore; personally I was expecting something different, I'd have appreciated it in the right way without Batman Begins. BTW, Madagascar 2 was absolutely hilarious ... those penguins are the best!!! XD

( Part n.1 )




( Part n.2 )
(Sorry for the lack of translation, but I'm a bit lazy at the moment; if you want
to know what we're saying, just tell me what part you want ;)

Translation: "Santa Claus comes earlier this year ..."
I've just received a couple of gifts from my dad and from my grandfather; I'm really happy because these are two things that I really wanted!!!  =D

N.1 - A new screen for my old desktop computer, a flat one at last!!! XD
N.2 - A good book: the "Historia Langobardorum", an ancient latin chronicle written around the 8th century. :P

Probably somebody remember how my desk was set ...


This is how it looks now ... (Sorry for the dark photo)


... and this is my new book; I've already started reading it, I love to know more about my culture, my history, my ancestors. =)


I'm so happy! I can't express how happy I am right now!
BTW, I can't wait to come back in Italy to see my old friends again ... soon, soon anyway!

Big hugs to you all!!!

Ok, say my name three times and I'll appear in front of you! XD
(cause I look like Beetlejuice here)

I've just found I nice track I was looking for: Incense and Peppermints from Austin Powers Soundtracks. =)
I feel rather crazy in these days and I don't even know why I'm writing this post! :P XD ;D =)

Anyway ... I love this song! ;) and I feel nutty like Austin Powers!



This is just because is the only photo I found right now with me making a crazy expression - It's an old one, taken at Covent Garden, London :P

1. Stop talking about politics for a moment or two.
2. Post a reasonably-sized picture in your LJ, NOT under a cut tag, of something pleasant, such as an adorable kitten, or a fluffy white cloud, or a bottle of booze. Something that has NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS.
3. Include these instructions, and share the love.

BTW, I was in point to post just this shot I found on the net cause I already post a lot of photos about my adorable pet ... but  she's so cute! ;D
I wanna share tastes and love at the same time. =)

Diva is so beautiful! I love her so much! =D


... and this, of course. Knockando is the best Whiskey EVAH!!! ;) XD


PS: Tomorrow I'll have to drive my parents to the bus station in Reus at 4:00 AM!!! (I'm gonna die) then I'll be alone for 12 days and when I mean alone, I mean ALONE: my uncle and aunt will be in Italy with our friends Nicola and Renata as well, my cousin will go I-dunno-where for vacations with his girlfriend ... NOBODY! =(
Does anyone of you want to come down here for a visit? I'll cook for you!

-Zeno

Very well ... some "Art" more or less ;D I promised to myself that I'd have drawn the medieval castle of Monza, and here we go.
The castle was build around the 1325 by Galeazzo I Visconti, Lord of Milan, to protect the city and then Galeazzo II enlarged the building adding a ditch and using the water of the Lambro River. The castle was sadly known for its prisons called "I Forni" (The Ovens), the prisoners were dropped in dome-shaped cells in the main tower-keep foundations.
The castle was center of many sieges and battles ... until the 1527, when the oppressed citizens put a mine in the building foundations and partially destroying the main tower; The building was abandoned and then completely demolished in the 1807 (the reasons are a bit unclear - I didn't find many documents; probably the fault goes to the Austrians because they used bricks and stones for the Royal Garden walls), the only part left is the smallest tower, the tower of the drawbridge built on the western bank of the Lambro River.

Click to enlarge

Medieval Castle - Monza by ~Doc-Halfmoon on deviantART
( Sketch and References under the cut ... )

What were you thinking? XD Ahah
I forgot to post this update at the right moment, anyway, here we go:

I received this wonderful, spectacular, majestic, amazing, extraordinary ... (and so on) Graphic Tablet for my birthday!!! XD I'm UNBELIEVABLY happy! I've just started doing something, but only few nonsense, random lines just to get excited at the view of the differently sized signs that I drew just changing the pressure on the active screen! XD ;)

Yeah, I'm a simple guy: I get excited with nothing! =)
I can feel the power going through my hands. *evil grin* Nobody can stop me now!
It's like buying a Porsche after finishing the driving test, but well ... I'm sure I'll learn quickly; this is an investment for my future. ;D

*Dance, dance, dance*
Isn't it beatiful? =)

( More news under here ... Take a look around if you want =) )

Recently I visited the fortified monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet ...

It's the largest (inhabited) Cistercian religious complex in Europe; Unfortunately now I don't remember the whole story, I just remember the foundation year: 1151
Anyway if you're interested I can upload more photos and explain more things! =)

It's interesting because you can see 4 different styles: Romanesque, Gothic, Spanish Renaissance and Baroque.
I like it because all the various styles are "separated", you won't find flashy adaptations between architectural solutions.

I want to dedicate this post to my Californian Friends; I always think of you all when I see the main facade of that monastery, I'm sure you understand why ;)
Well, Enjoy the photos (nothing special after all)

As I've already said, it's a fortified monastery; this is the outer wall.
Behind and all around these walls you can find wineyards, property of the monastery.


This is the inner wall; between those big towers there's the main entrance: The Royal Gate.


... and the Baroque Gate. This is the main entrance of the church; the interisting thing is that the new facade is separated from the main body of the building, there's a small nartex between the walls and the old facade: you can still see the original romanesque doorway behind it.

I suppose that many Spanish Missions in California have a similar entrance. ;)


From the cloister: The romanesque and gothic bell towers.


... and the Royal Pantheon. Here there're many important tombs of Kings, Queens and Noblemen of the Crown of Aragon; unfortunately this is not the original gothic pantheon: the original one was completely destroyed by greedy villagers (looking for treasures) when the monastery was abandoned in the 1835. This version was built "ex-novo" in the 1947 thanks to the many engravings and paintings showing how it appeared in the XVII century.


I hope that you've enjoyed this short tour.
Let me know your opinion! ;D

Just a new photo I took today in the morning ... It's not extraordinary, but I like how I could adapt it to a little metaphorical concept-title of mine. =)

(More details on DA)


Quo vadis Domine? by ~Doc-Halfmoon on deviantART

Ok ... here are the photos that some people asked for! ;)
For aylie, my street from a side ...




... and another


I live in this building in red bricks on the left, if you look at last balcony in the center of pic ... up there there's my terrace! =)

Hi everybody!!! I promised to post more recipes, so here's another one: Risotto con la Luganega (Rice with Sausage)... or Risotto alla Monzese.

As the name says, it's a typical plate that you can find in the city of Monza.
Ingredients:
- Olive Oil
- Onion
- Sausage
- White Wine
- Salt
- Rice
- Saffron
- Chicken Bouillon Cubes (one per person)




(it could cook for 9 or 10 minutes, it depends by the rice quality)
That's all folks ...
BUON APPETITO =D

Sooo ... I have a new friend at home! Well, maybe it's just a "part" of a friend ;)
It's a cat's head, a skull; I decided to call him BEPI (short form of Giuseppe - Joseph - in Bergamasque dialect) XD
Many thanks to yelth  for helping me with some suggestions about how to clean it!!! =)

(PS: this is for aylie; she wanted to see a couple of photos) ;D

Well, well, well ... Here we are!
I would like to start with a short note: it was time of elections during this month and I'm happy to see that Silvio Berlusconi won; the result was 47,3% for PDL (right wing) - 38,0% for PD (left wing) - 14,7% for the rest

On another side I find this funny photo on the newspaper: Hollywood is not longer the only one with giant letters on a hilltop! XD Here you see the "BRIANZA", a particular region in Lombardy.


Ok! Now we can start ...
With my beloved Monza (here you can read my old post with a bit of history abou the city);
First I want to show you some photos, then I'll explain some personal things.


The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist founded in 595 (VI century) by Teodelinda, Queen of Longobards (people who gave the name to our actual region Lombardy) and rebuilt during the XIII century.

(Sorry, but there's a little distorsion because I assebled two different photos)

Well, there're some little troubles here ... but I'm fixing them somehow! ;)
I spent this morning working on a funny photomanipulation using my ex-professor's face! :P ;) XD =)

Soooo ... ladies and gentlemen, I proudly present:
(click to enlarge)