What the World Needs Now-

Valentine's Day fluttered in on Cupid's wings with more of a whisper of a breeze than the gusting winds of previous years here at Casa Chilenne; however, as this pink and red and heart embellished holiday passes on I can't help but think about what this holiday is really about. It is the "Festa degli Innamorati" here, the "holiday of lovers", but I want to reflect further on what this festa chock-full of roses and chocolate really is or should be.

Maybe it should be a celebration of Love in general, love of our family, ourselves, our planet, our neighbors. A reminder to find something worthy of our passion and invest our love in that person, cause, idea and hopefully make this world a better place for a friend, a lover, a child, the environment, the world, our animals, our neighbors, society in general.

Overly optimistic and naiive? Probably. Unrealistic and preposturous? Maybe. But I just can't stop believing in that romanticized notion of the Power of Love which when channeled in the proper direction can right some of the wrongs (big and small) of our world. Love ourselves, Love one another, Love our world and maybe we'll live happily ever after...

Cortona's Got Talent!

Congratulations to our friend Francesca Pallini! It's always a pleasure when someone's dream comes true and eight year old Francesca has taken a big step forward toward her dream to be an entertainer. This winter Francesca participated in a talent competition organized by our local television station Teletruria called "Talenti alla Ribalta". She had participated the year before, had fun, but failed to win. This year Francesca triumphantly swept away all the awards.

There's always been something special about Francesca since she was a tiny little baby who would sing along with her mother as she strolled along in her pram. The choices of songs for the competition are hers and they surprise the judges and public because many are popular Italian songs which harken back to the 40's or 50's. One of her favorite artists is Renato Carosone who made "Tu Vuo' far l'Americano" popular in the fifties. I am going to post here a link to videos from the transmission of Francesca performing "Io, Mammeta e Tu" which is a comical story/song about a man obliged to bring his girlfriend's mother along on their dates as a chaperone. This song was sung both by Domenico Modugno of "Volare" fame and Renato Carosone.
The second link is Francesca's interpretation of Renato Carosone's "Torero" in costume!

Brava Francesca!! May all your dreams come true!
Click on or copy the links below to your browser, one at a time, to see Francesca's performances.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utA2QLhT5Vc "Io, Mammeta e Tu" and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiQmeQcnXjQ&feature=related "Torero"

Viva la Mamma!

Many of you already know about the biggest news in Casa Chilenne for 2009. It was the arrival of 4 pups on October 22. Carlotta bravely brought 2 boy and 2 girl puppies into the world. More bravely she diligently cared for them and raised them to become healthy and hearty pups who have gone out into the world with new loving families. The exception being the runt of the litter, Daisy, who has firmly instated herself in Casa Chilenne as the Queen of Everything. Carlotta is loving, patient and kind as any model mom would be, she doesn't break the bubble of illusion that Daisy has surrounded herself with.

Daisy proclaiming herself the queen of everything to her baby sister Gioia.

The first puppy to make his way into the world was a little boy. He arrived feet first and just couldn't seem to make his way out. Jeanette watched as he struggled to free his head and his little feet wriggled, then slowed as he fought his way out to face the world. Miraculously his head finally appeared, he needed some massage to get him breathing properly and get a healthier pink color to his tiny body with relief we heard a bleating cry, all was well, he had blazed the way for his siblings and during the time we had him we called him Scout.

Thinking the worst had passed it was evident that we would need to hold our breath again as another even tinier pair of hind paws appeared. The tiniest pup had started her way into the world, again, this one was determined to hit the ground running. Little Daisy was born at 4 pm, 40 minutes after her brother and weighing in at a miniscule 126 grams !

She was followed by an enormous head that belonged to a whopping 156 gram puppy boy Jake who followed and another half hour later the last girl puppy, arrived head first. Before she had been fully delivered she latched on to start nursing and we knew then that the best name for her was Gioia for the joy of life she was already demonstrating.


To announce their arrival we proudly (and a bit ironically) displayed the blue/pink/blue/pink ribbons outside our door and were surprised by the steady stream of visitors who came to visit Carlotta's pups with flower homages!

For over two months we watched in wonder as Carlotta cared for her puppies and they grew and flourished.

Soon Jake was twice the weight of Daisy yet they were inseparable. Daisy would nestle for her naps a top her big baby brother and growl and yap him into shape when he disobeyed her orders. Our vet was amazed at how well Carlotta did at nourishing them and her puppies continued to grow and flourish.

Thanksgiving and Christmas were especially joyful as our little ones filled the house with good cheer.
When the holidays were over they went to good, loving homes and received new names as well. Jake is now Pato, Scout has become Lapo and Gioia has a new name Jolie.
Probably the hardest part was saying goodbye to our pups. They are all in loving homes where they bring joy to new families. We wanted the best for Carlotta's pups and worried that she would suffer when she was separated from her offspring. But again we learned something from the animal world, the greatest satisfaction for a mother is to see her children go off into the world and thrive, it is the affirmation that even without an instruction manual that she has done her job right! Happy Mother's Day to mom's all over the world who give their love, care and nourishment to their children so that they may become thriving adults. Son tutte belle le mamme del mondo.

Chicken Little

It's important that the skies be safe to fly in before planes take off. We are experiencing a few postponements of visits due to flights being cancelled from England and Ireland, otherwise life here as been pretty much "as usual". No need to worry about lack of food or supplies, nor mass exodus on our commuter trains which bring people from Florence or Rome to Cortona. No air quality warnings, there is calm- and Spring though a bit fickle this year about making a definitive commitment to staying, has been gracing us with visits. Nothing which sells newspapers and fills television news space has been happening so far.

Life is almost excruciatingly ordinary as we await visitors who will come to enjoy Cortona. The skies were blue and the sun started to warm the stones of the piazza today and it took a bit of coaxing to get Daisy (Carlotta's six month old baby!) to continue moving along without throwing herself down in Piazza della Repubblica to soak up some early spring sun. The swallows snuck up on me again this year (drats!) ; I missed again the exact day of their arrival.

Our little corner of paradise is being transformed by Spring- we're ready to welcome you home.

And We're Off!

Well! 2009 Blew by us so I want to publish this now- So many things have happened and I will post in more blogs. The 2010 addition of this car rally was over yesterday. But here are the pics of last year's race-




Well Summer is blowing by us! Here are some highlights of what's been going on around town. Carlotta has been shirking a bit on her blog work as she's been a bit busy making sure all our guests are happy.



The roar of the engines of the Epic Car Rally here in Cortona seems to kick off the flow of visitors who come to discover the beauty of Cortona. This loud cross of rumbling and whining has some sort of hypnotic power over the spectators, most often those who possess a Y chromosome, who are drawn like bees to honey. Personally, this noise seems to bring out a sort of axe murderer instinct in me. If I had an axe and was within earshot of a television broadcasting these events I think the results could be disasterous. However, I must say the cars are beautiful as far as design goes.


Most popular are the race car prototypes














But even these old beauties command attention.

25 Aprile - La Liberazione

The Liberation Day holiday of 25th April was celebrated with a parade

The city band isn't complete without Gastone and his bass drum. When they pass you look for him- I will try to retrieve the photo in my next blog. You can just see him in the background of this one.














Mayor Vignini follows the city banner, followed by the partisan survivors of the last world war









In reality it is a double liberation as Cortona was liberated in 1261 from hostile Aretine occupation on the very same day. Memory is long here.








On May 3rd there was a gathering of the ex- Bersaglieri of the Tuscan Region in Cortona (a division of the army which literally run into battle)-their unusual uniform hats decorated with glistening black/green feathers fluttering in the wind and presence of the Carabinieri in high uniform.





















More memories of 2009 to come and one of the most surprising and life changing events of last year for Carlotta to be shared with you.

The Swallows are Back!

Somehow they do it every year, all of a sudden they appear- Le Rondini- the swallows that have nests built under the eaves of our palazzi here in Cortona return. I always say that I will be more observant, because there has to be a specific day they swoop in, like the swallows of Capistrano, but they always sneak in on me and their distinctively shrill cries as they dive and and swoosh upward again against the morning and evening skies wake me up to the fact that Spring has Officially arrived.
Carlotta with our friend Mario at his flower shop
There are city "Rondoni" big, totally black birds and smaller country cousins who return to the houses in the valley below and most easily distinguished by their white feathered breasts. They are the original and unchallenged trick aeronautic show as they cry out in the morning and early evening as they daringly dive in formation then suddenly swoop to the left or right or straight upwards with their beaks open to capture their insect meals.







Cortona, therefore, is called back to life. Last weekend's Chocolate Festival and this Easter Holiday weekend have called back family and friends to spend "Pasqua con Chi Vuoi" - The Italian proverb meant to resolve the dilemma of where to celebrate the holidays is "Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi" that is: Christmas with yours, Easter with whom you wish.




Easter in Italy is as big as Christmas, as the priest like to remind us, Christmas is just half of the story. The beginning of the celebrations here are somber with the Good Friday procession, nearly life-sized wooden statues which represent the scenes of the Passion Week are carried through the streets by members of various service organizations. The statues, carved of solid wood in the 1600's, leave their homes in the various churches at the top of Cortona, and the bottom of Cortona , the east and west of Cortona and are brought together to visually tell the story for believers and for curious onlookers. The highlight of the midnight mass on Saturday evening is the "Volo" as the effigy of Christ Risen is run through the church at midnight. In Cortona it is said that the smoothness and speed of this "flight" through the cathedral is an auspice for the year in course.

Ilaria with face painted as a Bacio Perugina

In anticipation of the Easter celebration, beautifully decorated chocolate eggs start appearing right at the end of Mardi Gras (just to tempt those who have given up chocolate for Lent) in the windows of the pastry shops of all the cities, who proudly display their handiwork in the weeks leading up to Easter. Grocery stores stock an array of colorful, shiny, paper wrapped eggs with surprises inside. Pencil sharpeners, charms, calculators, silver jewelry, key chains, plastic toys or stuffed animals are just a few of the things that can be found in commercially produced eggs.

Gianni Banchelli getting ready for a demonstration at the Chocolate Festival. Gianni proudly carries on the tradition of Banchelli's Pasticceria opened by his grandfather in Cortona. We get our morning pastries fresh each day from Gianni.


A custom made egg from the pasticceria can hold whatever one desires, from a love letter or marriage proposal with a diamond ring, wristwatch, pens, real jewelry which lead to many an urban legend of eggs or prizes that get mixed up at the pasticceria a Easter time.

There is always a giant Easter egg up for raffle at the grocery store or pastry shops and bars. Numbered tickets from 1-90 are sold for a euro or two and the winner will be the holder of number which is drawn first from the national lottery on a specified "wheel" usually the one closest to the town, in our case Florence.





Alessio Burroni of Cocoa Chocolate Shop (left)











Sabrina, Gianni Banchelli's wife (right)











Cortona is waking up again, and although we like to enjoy having the city to ourselves for a while, a true proud citizen of this city enjoys showing it off to appreciative visitors. What's the use of having an exquisite jewel which is hidden away and never sees the light of day?




The "Rondini" are calling-what are you waiting for? Come home to Cortona, Luciano, Jeanette and of course, Carlotta are ready to welcome you home to Casa Chilenne Bed and Breakfast.

Loss of Love, Keeping the Faith and Hope

With the recent earthquake in Abruzzo, there have been emails pouring in from all over with worries and concerns that we in Cortona we're physically involved in the earthquake. Thank you for all prayers and good wishes. We are far enough from Aquila that we weren't physically affected. However, as the reality of this grave situation sinks in we can't help but be affected.

A great loss of loved ones, anyone's loved ones is always a tragedy. It is, however, heartening to witness the incredible power of humanity and charity which is pouring in from the community around us and around the world. A reminder that we are all connected. Appeals for solidarity and support for the people of Abruzzo have gone out, food, clothing and blood donations. Housing for the thousands who have been rendered homeless is being sought and offered. Rescue teams of professionals and volunteers are selflessly working gruelling hours to help reunite loved ones.

Loss of a love on a big or small scale touches us all. We must fill the void with faith in finding the strength to go on, inside ourselves, or reaching out and asking for it from others to hope for a brighter future ahead, no matter how dark it may seem.

We at Casa Chilenne send our love, thoughts and prayers to the victims and survivors of the Abruzzo earthquake.