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Post by judypatooty on Aug 3, 2010 18:50:44 GMT
Did I say "Better than Rufus?" I think not!  I do think that Marco is "not bad" but it's not possible for any man to be hotter than Mr. S.  |
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Post by germanlady on Aug 7, 2010 8:48:03 GMT
it's not possible for any man to be hotter than Mr. S. Hi Judy, you are just plain right. What else to say ? |
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Post by wichiwoman on Aug 16, 2010 13:35:05 GMT
Poor, poor Rufus. Yet another beautiful co-star to add to his list. www.imdb.com/title/tt1618371/Here he is, in Rome, surrounded by good food, beautiful city, and beautiful women. One is a devoted fangirl whom he hugs AND kisses AND visits her twice. Poor guy. I better hop on a plane right now and console him. ;D |
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Post by rufluvr on Aug 20, 2010 21:18:32 GMT
Just started reading End Games. Want to drag it out--hate for the series to end. Dibdin was such a unique, observant, irreverent author. I just always wonder how much of his description of the people/government in Italy is true, or hyperbole. Is it truly that bad? There doesn't seem like there's a lot of kindness between strangers (or people in general) in his novels, and I had always believed most Italians were very warm people. The first and second generation Italians I knew growing up in NJ treated me like family whenever I was at their home. And I know my brother just adores visiting Italy more than any place on earth. But when reading Zen novels, you get a different picture, for the most part anyway. It seems like a scary place. By his telling the legal and political system there is so completely corrupt it's a wonder any justice is done. I thought maybe he was using quite a bit of artistic liscence, stretching out the cliches for effect...but then I started reading an article about Berlusconi and am thinking art must be closely imitating life in these Zen novels. I just don't know what to think. Italy may be that wonderful/horrible combination nation that defines the U.S. in many ways. Having never been there I'd love to be set straight.
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Post by peach on Aug 28, 2010 2:10:56 GMT
rufluvr, I have been to Italy at least a dozen times. My dad was born there. I agree with you Berlesconi is a joke, but hey what politician isn't. Just look at the US Senate and Congress. It's a wonder anything gets done at all. I registered to vote on my 18th birthday, couldn't wait to do my civic duty. I have become quite disillusioned with our form of gov't but what did Mr. Churchill say about democracy being the best form of gov't? How many Cubans are hammering to get back home?  ? I go to Italy b/c I feel like I am home. I am first generation American and proud of that, as I am of my Italian and Spanish heritage. When I visit Italy I go not as a tourist but as a local. I don't wear the ubiquitious jeand and sneakers and berate the locals b/c they don't understand English, I try to learn the language with just enuf to get by, it's always appreciated. I go with my eyes opened, I marvel at the history, the architecture, I marvel at the antiquity and I think that my country takes things for granted. We think it's old let's tear it down. Let's put up another cold and heartess glass tower, so uninviting. La Dolce Vita is truly the case upon your arrival. Leave the politics behind and let your mind and body embrace all that Italy has to offer, I promise you'll not be disappointed. I read all of the Zen books this summer along with many other amazing books, in reading them I was transported to Italy, I pictured every city, both the good side and the bad and was completely swept away, and like you I did not want to put that last one down. What a fantastic journey. Wherever you are Mr. Dibdin, thanks for the journey. |
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Post by rufluvr on Sept 17, 2010 0:03:56 GMT
Thanks for your informed response, Peach, I really appreciate it. And I very much welcome more comments from those who have travelled or lived there. I realize Dibdin was writing fiction, and because it was crime fiction he was dwelling on the darker side. Still, it just made me wonder what was life like for the average person there. Was the government bureaucracy a big hassle on an on-going basis, did it make it hard for people have freedom or to realize their dreams ect ect. I'm guessing like everywhere else on earth, life is very different there for those who have a lot of money and those who don't. Dibdin's book just brought up a lot of images and thoughts that I never wondered about before when I think of Italy. Like I said before, it is my brothers favorite place, and if I could choose to travel to only one place in the world, Italy would be my first pick.
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Post by dreamer on Sept 17, 2010 11:32:21 GMT
You know I'm living here in Italy, yes?  This is a wonderful country, for many aspects, but with the worst government of after war, but many italians are blind, untill the catastrophe will be complete... then... maybe... we could rise again! |
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Post by francesca on Sept 24, 2010 18:06:18 GMT
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Post by numbat on Sept 25, 2010 6:56:45 GMT
Early 2011? I thought it was autumn - isn't it autumn up there now??? Or maybe they meant MY autumn........... (Did i mention that's it's spring here? 28 degrees today, not a breath of wind, blue sky, the promise of a glorious summer ahead, sigh.......) |
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Post by dreamer on Oct 6, 2010 15:30:20 GMT
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Post by stama on Oct 6, 2010 17:48:47 GMT
Thanks Glo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by nell on Oct 6, 2010 18:49:49 GMT
Cheers Glo - I'm loving that pic !
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Post by veerke on Oct 12, 2010 10:28:09 GMT
Belgian television is negociating the purchase of Aurelio Zen  Keeping fingers crossed!!! (not easy to type though ) |
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Post by hippinschick on Nov 6, 2010 23:37:51 GMT
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Post by GreenEyesToo on Nov 7, 2010 0:44:09 GMT
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! It's actually on 22 November, and I'm in London that day........with friends at the O2 watching tennis! Oh, this is not fair.  This is the second time I'll have been in London and missed him. (And no, I can't get out of the tennis - everyone knows what a tennis nut I am, and no excuse will be believed. Wahhhhh!) (Thank you, though, HC, for the info) |
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? I go to Italy b/c I feel like I am home. I am first generation American and proud of that, as I am of my Italian and Spanish heritage. When I visit Italy I go not as a tourist but as a local. I don't wear the ubiquitious jeand and sneakers and berate the locals b/c they don't understand English, I try to learn the language with just enuf to get by, it's always appreciated. I go with my eyes opened, I marvel at the history, the architecture, I marvel at the antiquity and I think that my country takes things for granted. We think it's old let's tear it down. Let's put up another cold and heartess glass tower, so uninviting. La Dolce Vita is truly the case upon your arrival. Leave the politics behind and let your mind and body embrace all that Italy has to offer, I promise you'll not be disappointed.
This is the second time I'll have been in London and missed him. (And no, I can't get out of the tennis - everyone knows what a tennis nut I am, and no excuse will be believed. Wahhhhh!)