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May 11, 2011 12:56 pm

ITALY – THE LEANING TOWER OF PIZA

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by admin    in Language Learning

Here we were, with all of the other tourists … looking at one of the Seven Wonders of the World Today … The Leaning Tower of Pisa.  It is located in a city called Pisa in northern Italy.  The day was sunny with blue, blue skies overhead.  We came by car ourselves, but big tour buses were parked all over the parking lot.  There were crowds of people everywhere.  It was hard to take any pictures without having people we did not even know in our pictures.  One of the favorite shots seemed to be people positioning themselves with their arm out as if they were holding the Tower up by their arm, thus saving the Tower from falling over.  It did seem to lean a lot to the side.

It really does look like it is going to fall over because it is leaning too much to the side.  Engineers have built stilts or poles to keep it from falling.  The Tower of Pisa is a freestanding bell tower of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa.  It is located right behind the Cathedral and is the third oldest structure in Pisa’s Cathedral Square.

The Tower is 186.02 feet high on the high side and 183.27 feet high on the low side.  That creates a significant lean.  It really does lean a lot.  The lean has been caused by unstable ground.  The width of the walls at the base is 13.42 feet and at the top is 8.14 feet.  Its estimated weight is 16,000 tons.  The Tower has 296 steps, but the seventh floor has two fewer steps on the north facing staircase making that side 294 steps.  Before restoration work in 1990 and 2001 the tower leaned 5.5 degrees.  But today after the restoration was completed it now leans at 3.99 degrees.  This means that today at the 3.99 degree lean the Tower from a horizontal position leans out 12 feet 10 inches from where it would be if the Tower were perfectly vertical.

There were three steps to the construction of the Tower.  It took 177 years to finish.  The marble campanile began on August 8, 1173 during a prosperous period for the military.  The Tower began to sink as construction progressed to the third floor in 1178.  This was due to unstable subsoil and a flawed design from the beginning construction and so construction was stopped for almost 100 years.  This stoppage was caused by all of the military battles Pisa was involved in with Genoa, Lucca and Florence.  This allowed the subsoil to settle.  The seventh floor was finally completed in 1319.  

There are seven bells in the Tower, one for each note of the musical major scale.  The largest one was installed in 1655.  The bell chamber was finally added in 1372.

To see this wonderful edifice was worth the effort and the trip.  It truly is a Wonder of the World.

Tell us about any Wonders you have seen in this world.

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April 8, 2011 11:06 am

ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND – WHAT A PLACE

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by admin    in Language Learning

International flights into Switzerland usually arrive at either Geneva or Zurich airports.  Geneva is the second most populous city in Switzerland.  It is also a global city, a financial center, and a worldwide center for diplomacy.  As I looked around I could pick out people from Japan, China, India, Italy, France, Germany and many other countries.  Listening to them speak was a real treat … a melody of languages.  Both of these airports are very convenient to traveling to Zermatt, Switzerland, a gateway to the Matterhorn.  But don’t miss taking a little time to visit the azure blue lakes; Lake Geneva and Lake Lucerne with their castles.  Then it’s on to the Matterhorn, Switzerland’s most famous mountain of 14,692 feet; the mountain that movies have been made about.  It is located in the Penninie Alps on the border of Switzerland and Italy.  In German “matte” means “meadow” and “horn” means “peak.”   It is the tenth highest peak in Switzerland.
There were seven of us, four adults with three children, in our Honda Odyssey making our way towards the Swiss Alps.  The morning was sunny with a few white billowy cumulus clouds making their way lazily across the wide expanse of blue.  The road was very straight most of the time with a few curves intermingled.  Looking out the window, we saw green fields dotted here and there with acres of yellow flowers that looked like sunflowers.   The beauty took my breath away.  It was so picturesque, just like in the travel magazines I had seen.
Off in the distance, I could see mountains rising up from the green plains we had been traveling through.  At last I could see them … the Swiss Alps.  This was the home of Heidi, my favorite childhood novel.  I can still remember some of her adventures.  Her grandfather lived here and cared for her in these wondrous mountains.  The Heidi book is among the best known works of Swiss literature and well worth reading to your children.
As we drove into Zermatt, a beautiful, little tourist town at the foot of the Alps, we parked our car on the outskirts and walked from there.  No cars or big tour buses allowed in the village.  The train stops here and goes no further. This is one of the great ski and climbing centers in the world.  This deep valley is nestled between two steep, sculptured mountains.  The air is crisp and clean with an Alpine flavor.  Summer flowers drape themselves from each building along the way.  Its cobblestone streets and pathways take you back in time to a simpler way of life.  It is beautiful.  It is exhilarating.  It is special to be here; to see this great mountain and walk the cobblestone streets of Zermatt.
The Matterhorn is truly a magnificent mountain.  A dream comes true, just to be here.

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March 14, 2011 12:49 pm

I LOVE CHINA TOWN

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by admin    in Language Learning

Have you ever been to Polish Town, Czech Town or Korean Village? 

Sounds strange, doesn’t it.  So why are there so many China Towns around the world?  How about a nice Danish Roll, a French pastry or some Baklava? 

Speaking of Baklava, I can almost taste the thin layers of phyllo dough, with chopped nuts in between those paper thin layers, with a little honey added.  I love Middle Eastern pastries and the Balkan cuisine.  Let’s have some Chocolate Bavarian from the Normandie Café, one of my favorite French pastry shops.   Is it any wonder my weight keeps going up?  If I add “rich buttery flaky dough that Chania Townturns pastries into a sinful delight,” my Danish for breakfast doesn’t help my weight a bit.

Sauerkraut, Danish meatballs, pizza, Thai noodles, Kung Pao chicken, sesame oil chicken wings, stir-fry, bok choy, Moo Goo Gai Pan to name a few more favorite foods that keep me thinking about food.    

Don’t’ you just love to eat?  When I go out for the evening or even for lunch, I seem to choose German, Italian, Chinese, French, Thai, Indian/Hindi, or a Japanese restaurant.  We have any and all kinds to choose from.  We can pick different countries, different foods and all within a few miles from where we live.  I don’t have to go far to feel like I am in a different country clear across the world.

Every restaurant has something special about it.  Different restaurants have interwoven within their walls different foods, colors, languages, customs and some great people. 

Developing their recipes has taken eons of time.  We now experience the best a country had to offer in taste and drink.  It is like having our very own “Sunday Dinner” with them.  They offer us the best they have. 

I have wandered through China Townes across the world from San Francisco to New York and from Singapore to Yokohama.  What an experience: the sites, the smells, the people, the food.   As we walk down a narrow street together in Shanghai we look through the window and start salivating as we see some of the best food we have ever laid our eyes on.  Look at those bright greens, heaps of snow white sticky rice, bowls of steaming soup and those pieces of chicken and beef, browned to perfection.  I can’t   contain myself.  How about you?  Of course we go in … are we stupid?

We would do the same thing, if it had been a Polish Town, Czech Town or a Korean Village.  It is just that most of the time it is a China Town, Italian Village or a Thai restaurants.  Each culture has its culinary delights; we just need to find them.  So let’s just keep looking.   

Lunch time … see you later!

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March 25, 2010 10:31 am

WHERE TO DINE IN ROME, ITALY

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by Pimsleur Method    in Language Learning

            Who doesn’t enjoy great food?  There are a number of popular tasty cuisines to choose from all over the world.  And who wouldn’t love to eat pasta or pizza?  Italian cuisine is undeniably part of every city around the world in the form of a pizza or pasta restaurant.  However, there is so much more to Italian cuisine than what is seen everywhere.  Spaghetti, ravioli and lasagna are simply the tip of the iceberg compared to what truly is Italian cooking.  For a true taste and feel of the Italian cuisine, here is a list of some of the most recommended restaurants that every traveler shouldn’t miss in the capital city of Italy, Rome:           

            Alvarro al Circo Massimo This restaurant has a very homey and inviting ambiance.  Its environment is relaxed and comfortable and its staff is also friendly and welcoming.  The specialties of the house are tagliolini with truffles and roasted turbot with potatoes. 

            Antico Arco  Antico Arco attracts food lovers both locals and tourists with its unique culinary styles. The charming setting and friendly ambiance is very inviting to customers.  The menu varies with regards to the seasons.  The chocolate soufflé with a molten chocolate center, Castelmagno, and duck breast in raspberry sauce are popular favorites. 

            Dal Bolognese  This is one of those rare, chic dining spots with food that is popular to young actors, models, and artists.  Misto di pasta: four pastas, each with a different sauce, which is arranged in one plate, is highly recommended.  For the main course, the specialties of the house are lasagne verde and tagliatelle alla bolognese. 

            Il Bacaro  This restaurant is popular for its tasty cheese.  The menu of this restaurant has been tested through out time for having flavorful offerings.  Some of its specialties are Carpaccio of smoked grouper in a tomato sauce with fresh oregano, swordfish roulades stuffed with shrimp, radicchio, and zucchini, or filet of beef in a fresh basil sauce.  Pastas are also tasty and the combinations are inventive.  An example is their spaghetti with shrimp, pumpkin flowers, saffron, and coriander. 

            Il Convivio Troiani  As one of the best restaurants in Rome, Il Convivio Troiani maintains a high standard for its cuisine and service.  Aubergine Roulade with cod, grapes and pine kernels; pumpkin flowers with porcini; and pigeon with lentils and Kumquat are examples of what’s in their menu.  For desserts, they have cream soufflé with almonds and plums flavored with orange accompanied by a hot chocolate sauce or the Semifreddo Zabaglione with balsamic vinegar and warm fruit. 

Brush up on your Italian before you go.  Listen to a free lesson.

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March 19, 2010 4:21 pm

WHICH IS THE EASIEST LANGUAGE TO LEARN

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by admin    in Language Learning

            Learning a new language is like opening-up a new culture in your life.  But if you want to learn a second language, you might want to ask yourself which is the easiest one to learn.  Determining the easiest language to pick-up could be a tough task because there are so many different factors that need to be considered.  Several factors to look at may include what is your native tongue and what other languages are related to it, do you other ethnic groups you are exposed to and have exposure to their language, the time you have to devote to practice, the grammar complexity of the language, and your desire to learn that particular language.  All of these factors are important to you in determining which language would be the easiest language for you to learn.  According to some surveys, here are some of the more easy languages to learn:  

            English: There is no doubt that this is the easiest language to learn since it is everywhere.  It can be heard, absorbed, and used just about anywhere in the world.  The ease of learning this language may be due to its simplicity and the abundance of grammatical rules that are present in many other languages. 

            Spanish:  This language is said to have the most straightforward grammar that is familiar and ordinary.  The grammar and pronunciation is easy.  Its words and their rules can also be spelled out easily.  It can also be heard everywhere and is used widely.  This makes this language much easier to learn, especially for American and many European people.  Another factor is the availability and abundance of learning materials, or the widespread opportunities that comes with the use of the language on regular basis.  The only problem noted is that Spanish people talk fast.  And I mean very fast.   One can get lost while trying to understand.  But other than that it is a great language to learn.    

            Italian:  Aside from having no cases, it also has very easy and a clear pronunciation of its words.  Its grammar rules are similar to that of Spanish.  It also has a very clear vocabulary.  Italian skills can easily be translated to French or Spanish because they all have the same root language base.  It can be heard in opera and classical music which makes it a very fun language to learn. 

            French:  It has a more complicated grammar structure but is not difficult to acquire since most of its words are also in the English vocabulary.  It has sixteen tenses and its grammar is a little twisted. It also has a very specific pronunciation that makes it a little more difficult when comparing it to the Spanish language. 

            Portuguese:  It is one of the most widely used languages in the world and it is often overlooked.  Its grammar and vocabulary are both familiar, even though its phonetics may require a greater focus for you to get used to it. 

            These are number of things for you to look at in deciding which one of these languages would be the easiest languages for you to learn.  It may even differ from person to person depending on all the other factors.  When you are ready to learn a new language, all you need to do is to narrow down the choices by considering some of the above factors.   Pimsleur Method has an audio course for all of the above listed languages and many more to aid you in your learning.

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