Last two days of the Autumn

Starting this week, I will be in Rome for job two days, which are the last two Autumn days. This morning I enjoyed two Philip Colbert's art works along one of the most elegant streets of Rome. They were made early this year with painted aluminium. Their names are "Lobster shark" (above) and "Lobster" (below).

I needed a hot lunch today in Rome, as weather was (and still is) cold. That's why I had pizza at "Crazy Pizza" (picture below) ... obviously, I also needed a jacket or a coat :-)

https://crazypizza.com/rome/

With regards to small town where I live (60,000 inhabitants, 70 km North from Rome), I noticed that long streets in the vicinity of the center are places about which city officials care most during the Christmas period.

The surroundings of the main buildings and the small urban green spaces are easy to decorate

Have a nice week!

Snow in Northern Italy

After the II world war Piaggio SpA, an Italian motor vehicle manufacturer, made the first model of a three-wheeled light commercial vehicle. Since its 1948 introduction it has been offered in a series of body configurations. With more than 70  years of history and success, Piaggio is a brand recognised in numerous areas of the world. It is the absolute market leader in India in this specific product field.

This morning a friend of mine, who live in the Alps mountains (the Northest part of Italy), has just sent me a photo of his house covered with snow. Actually, it is not the view of Italy that first comes to mind. 

Have a nice weekend!

Christmas decoration are still on road

According to tradition, we should take our Christmas decorations down on January 5th 🎄

Today, in the late afternoon, I walked fast 45 minutes in the dark. While I was walking through the urban environment of my town,  I noticed many people are keeping their Christmas decorations up longer this year.

Happy new year!

Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas!

Happy New Year

This is my first post of the new year. It shows Vatican Square in the morning ...

... and the same Rome's landmark at night.

Happy New Year!

Christmas shopping

I've just finished walking through shopping centers and Christmas markets in Rome and surroundings. I've just  finished doing Christmas shopping :)

Consequently, our Christmas tree is surrounded by Christmas gifts. 15 people will be at home at Christmas, that's why you see a lot of gifs around the tree

Happy Christmas to all my blogger friends!

Back home to Naples

My two daughters did the Christmas three two weeks ago and this morning I'm also doing the crib. We are going to Naples on December 24th and we'll stay there one week.
My mother, who had left the rehabilitation centre on December 13th, came back home in Naples last week. So I took her home to Naples last Sunday. She learnt the appropriate way to walk safely with two canes on level surfaces. Of course she will continue the physio therapy there in Naples, at home. 
I'd like to show you a picture of  our crib with its central figures of the nativity scene. This time we made a small one.

Could you tell me the correct English word of that oldest Christmas traditions? is it crib or crèche? Maybe crèche is a French word but it is also used in the U.S. and Canada. With regards to linguistic innovations related to blogging communities, I've noticed the evolution of an even more abbreviated language. Reading blogs' comments gives me the opportunity to learn some abbreviations such as LOL, GR8, ASAP, F2F and C%L (sic!). Those abbreviations can be circulated at an unprecedent rate through comments, emails and sms. Fortunately, Christmas wishes' abbreviation  doesn't exist ... I hope :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

The Earth has another three billion years

A new year begins soon, in spite of the end of the Mayan Calendar which finishes on December 21st (or 12nd), 2012 ... and nobody seems to be worried about the theory and its hypothetical cataclysm :) The prophecy was a mistranslation that has been portrayed in the media. As you know, people tend to be sheep! The planet is going to go on and has another three billion years. But we will have to deal with other issues: unemployment and pollution in Western countries, human rights and wars in the muslim part of the world such as Syria, Egypt and Nigeria. We, people who live in the Northern emisphere of the world, have taken everything for granted, particularly fuels, commodities, environment and that sort of things. Anyway, I am reasonably optimistic although we have got to be careful: the ecological footprint of nations shows that humans are horribly depleting the world, but I think there's an optimistic future!

The photo above was taken two weeks ago when I went to Rome for shopping. It shows the big Christmas three which was set up in Vatican Square.

Happy New Year to Everyone!

Happy Christmas

Since yesterday  Santa Claus has been hitting the bookshelves and since then we have seen a pleasant Christmas atmosphere in our living room. We have planned a short vacation this month from 22nd to 27th. We will spend Christmas time in  Naples, where my mother, my two sisters and their families live.

There is a small town called Tolfa and located in the hill, 20 km North from my town, where I went yesterday for job. Children made a Christmas tree on the main square of Tolfa using recycled plastic bottle. 

Happy Christmas to all my blogger friends! 

New Year's Day

I didn't run since December 21st to December 27th because, firstly, I had had a temperature as I mentioned in my previous post, and, secondly, the weather was rainy and cold enough. On december, 26th, beautiful live nativity scenes started in the historical centre of the town of Tarquinia (20 km North from my town). It was really interesting and the event was well organized. You can see some scenes in the first two photos here posted.

On December 31st I did 15 km relaxing run and this afternoon I didn't follow my running group because I finished working late.

Anyway, I hope all you blogger friends had a pleasant New Year's Eve celebration.

We enjoyed the dinner to celebrate New Year's Eve which we had with friends and other families. The photo above shows my friends with their children who enjoyed New Year's Eve fireworks in the streets:  I'm sure that similar scenes took place from New York to Hong Kong.

Lentils and pigs' trotters are traditionally eaten in Italy on New Year's Day as a symbol of good luck, because many cultures believe that round objects symbolise money.

May all my blogger friends have an Happy New Year!

Liberty Run Christmas

After I had followed a running program  (tempo run and repeats workouts twice a week  for more than a month), this morning I didn't run the first edition of the Liberty Run Christmas 10 km race :( Two days before the race I had had a temperature so I didn't run this moning although I fell a bit better.  On  Wednesday, December, 14th, I went  to a small village called Civitella for job. That's a small town of 2000 inhabitants, situated on the hills in the middle of the Italian peninsula. The weather was rainy and I stayed there with no umbrella and no waterproof boots because I left my house on a sunny morning. So I wore wet socks all the day. That's why I had had a temperature until yesterday.

Moreover, that small town wasn't pleasant and the buildings were very old and badly maintained as you can see in the third photo.

On the other hand, in that village there was a good thing only :) it was a Christmas cake made with walnuts, orange, chocolate and pumkin! The photo below shows that characteristic Christmas cake.

This morning I felt better, so I decided to see my friends on the starting line although I was a bit angry because I couldn't run that race.  I'm addicted to running! I enjoyed seeing the race and taking photos.  Stefano  ran this Christmas race too and he will write a race report on his blog (I sent him two photos). The two photos here show the runners while they were running the 3rd km.

Meanwhile, in my house Santa Claus hits the bookshelf :) ... as you can see in the photo below.

Happy Christmas and a wonderful holiday season to all my blogger friends!

10 km race to help charities

On Sunday, December, 18th the Liberty Christmas run starts in my town. It's its first edition and it will be organized to help many charities. I hope that hundreds of runners will run this 10 km race although in the same day another Christmas race starts in Orbetello (Tuscany).
Today I ran with the group along the race's track which is situated around the industrial area in the northern side of the town.
After the warm-up (25 mins) we did 8 x 5 mins repeats at a average pace of 5.10 min./km. It's a good pace considering that the track was hilly and it wasn't easy. At this point, I would need to lose weight, 3 kg at least. It's always the same problem before every race. So, I'm going to increase healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables ... and of course, less both red wine and beer ... in the Autumn I love having red wine with chocolate and chestnut :) Moreover, carbs (bread, pasta, pizza and potatoes) are really dangerous at dinner. Although I enjoy the kitchen table, I'll try to monitor calories ... until Sunday, December, 18th :)

On the political front, while economic newspapers in the world are writing that Europe stands on the brink of disaster, in Italy there are people who predict disaster, quite routinely, in order to justify the distruction of social security and other popular programs: I hope that conservatives in the world don't exist any more. And if they were to resurface today in the policy world they would be taken seriously by no one. 

The second photo shows the Mignone river, situated 100 km North from Rome.  Last week I was here for job.

I hope all you blogger friends will have a nice week and a happy running!

Naples' San Martino Museum

At first, thanks to everyone for the kind Christmas wishes. When I wrote my last race report, on December 19, I couldn't show the photos of the Orbetello's 10 km Christmas race.

Fortunately, I've just found a photo through the web. I'm with the number 29 near the Black Knight .

Yesterday my family and I came back from Naples where we spent our Christmas holiday. Although the weather was rainy, we visited the  Naples' San Martino museum, which contains a number of particularly special exhibits of inlaid marble and many splendid paintings, interesting collections, costumes, ship models and other Italian curiosities.

After Christmas time the training is always harder than before and this afternoon I ran 10 km. Of course. I tryed to burn off a few calories :) The photo on the right shows a Christmas present. My wife gave me those winter running clothes :)

Happy new year to all my blogger friends!

Orbetello's 10 km Christmas race

This morning I ran the Orbetello's 10 km Christmas race  along a tongue of  land projecting westward into the Orbetello's lagoon. The organization was good and while we were running we saw a beautiful scenery.
It was a sunny and cold morning: perfect for winter running. I finished in 45:26, 3 minutes later compared with the previous 10 km race that I ran in October. But I think it was a good time taken considering that since October I haven't followed a specific running programme and I haven't done a tempo run every week. Next year I will try to do a tempo run every week because we  are running the Ostia's 15 km race in January.
Stefano ( Black Knight ), who is writing his race report, ran a great race this morning. As request by Julie, from Maple Grove (Minnesota), I  show below a photo which has been taken before  the race, while I was doing the warm up.

Congrats again to Christina from Phoenix (Arizona) who ran the 5 Km Jingle Bell Run and was first in her age group! 

Tomorrow we are going to Naples (South Italy) where we'll spend our Christmas holiday.

I think that I belong to a wonderful  running community :)

Happy Christmas to all the blogger friends!

Mental imagery

Two weeks ago I wrote something about those shoes which are designed to strengthen the back and improve posture.
Char from Brisbane (Australia)  wrote that she has been curious about them. She'd like to know if those shoes do what they're supposed to do. So I decided to write Cindy's  comment: "These shoes really do what they say. I worked for a shoe store that sold them so have several pairs. They help tone up the legs and relieve pressure from the knees and back. I know some people that have run in them but don't think I would do that." 

Anyway, since the 18th of November we've worn those shoes for walking, shopping and working. It's OK ... until now  :)

The 30th of November Ewa wrote a post about motivation and it ispired me this small post. I am thinking mental imagery. Can it help our race result? When I'm hurting or tired I often run thinking I can't do it or I'll never finish. I'd need to make an internal perspective. It can be positive, for example, to be a little excited before a race rather than feeling dread.  In the photo you can see the happiness of a runner who was running the Grosseto's 12 km in October. Somebody suggests to inhale strenght and confidence through our nose and exhale nervousness and tension through our month.

Today we've made our Christmas tree and  next Sunday we are making the nativity scene.

Nice running to all my blogger friends.

The crèche and the magi

While I was in Naples last week I went running once only. Unfortunately, after this training around the Royal Park of Naples I had a Bronchitis (I had a shower and I quickly got out while the weather was cold) and consequently I didn’t run the Neapolitan 10 km. race which started the 26th of December. But I saw that race while my friends were running it (photo above posted). Now, if I feel good next week I will begin likely training again.

Here, in my house in Civitavecchia near Rome, the crèche or creb was constructed three weeks ago. The crèche is a depiction of the birth of Jesus and its main part is the nativity scene. But it consists of other characters from the biblical story such as shepherds and the Magi, who will reach the nativity scene the 6th of January. In the Gospel of Matthew, the only one to describe the visit of the magi, it states that they came "from the east" to worship the Christ, "born King of the Jews”.
Although Matthew does not mention their number, because three gifts are recorded as having been given to the Christ Child, traditionally there are thought to have been three Magi. The two photos above posted show the nativity scene and the Magi. You can see crèche’s sheperds in the other images below posted.