Author Archives: SkyeB

Roman Playground – The anti-person guide

I never really decided to take a hiatus from posting; I merely slipped into my mundane routine: getting up early, skipping breakfast, dashing to the metro, changing to a rattling bus at the Piramide stop and ploughing to work every day. I am a notorious people pleaser and, at times, I find it hard toContinue reading “Roman Playground – The anti-person guide”

Day 3 of Tuscia – Under the “Tushian” Sun

I have been distracted of late with “red zone” restrictions “suddenly” being foisted upon us. To be fair, it was about time, but I am painfully aware of how this is crushing small businesses here who already pay hefty taxes. To all my Australian friends who wonder why a lockdown did not occur earlier here,Continue reading “Day 3 of Tuscia – Under the “Tushian” Sun”

Day 2 of “not Tuscany” Tuscia: Tuscania and Marta

Tuscania If you have gone through high school in an English-speaking system, chances are you studied or stumbled through Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”. More than this, if you were one of those kids who “preferred to watch the movie”, two versions were most likely on the cards: the one directed by Zeffirelli or the modernContinue reading “Day 2 of “not Tuscany” Tuscia: Tuscania and Marta”

Tuscia – Not Tuscany – Day One: Viterbo

MANY people say that teachers have great holidays. I am not here to stand on my soap box and tell you about all the times I spend my holidays working. I am not doing this because, this time round, I prioritised that millennial notion of “self-care” and did nothing. Nothing. Well, nothing except leave RomeContinue reading “Tuscia – Not Tuscany – Day One: Viterbo”

Hidden histories around the Colosseum

8 January I don’t blame people for coming to Rome for the sole purpose of seeing the Colosseum. Just for your tourist ears, it is also known as Anfiteatro Flavio, which is the surname of the Roman emperor who commissioned its construction. I should probably get around to writing about this iconic Roman stadium. MaybeContinue reading “Hidden histories around the Colosseum”

To Trastevere – literally “beyond the Tiber”

7 January 2021- Do not fritter away your time perusing this post if you envision the wonderfully romanticised Trastevere of a pre-COVID world: the kind where, for some reason in everyone’s imagination, Spring and Summer are the only seasons. The streets are vibrantly splashed with bohemian Italians, market stalls and tourists thinking they have foundContinue reading “To Trastevere – literally “beyond the Tiber””

Piove- It’s raining

Before reading this post, I want to set up a mood: Have a listen to this to this folk track by Roman artist Mannarino (“Me so’mbriacato – I got drunk”). No, I will not be blogging about alcohol induced adventures, but the song was in my head as I wandered around the streets on aContinue reading “Piove- It’s raining”

Pre-lockdown promenades

Italy has been declared a “red zone” for the Christmas (Natale) and New Years (Capodanno) periods. This means you can only leave the house for “essential reasons”. I knew this was coming and, although not daunted at the prospect of spending the big holidays indoors, I did make the most of the days leading upContinue reading “Pre-lockdown promenades”