Scoprire la bella Firenze

I have 3 words for Florence and that is: Firenze è bellissima!! Together with Cinzia we took ourselves off on road to Toscany for 3 days. We stayed in hotel Baccio placed in Montelupo Fiorentino and it took us approx. 30 min driving to reach Firenze every day.

Firenze is the capital city of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. The city lies on the River Arno and is known for its history and its importance in the Middle Ages and in the Renaisssance. Especially for its art and architecture. It was the centre of medieval European trade and finance, and the city is often considered as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance; in fact, it has been called the Athens of the Middle Ages.

Some hot spots of Firenze that we have sight-seed;

-The Santa Maria del Fiore, known as the Duomo, which was built by Filippo Brunelleschi.

-Bartolomeo Ammanati's Fountain of Neptune, a masterpiece of marble sculpture at the terminus of a still functioning Roman aqueduct.

-Ponte Vecchio, with the most striking feature of the multitude of shops built upon its edges, held up by stilts.

-Church of San Lorenzo

-Basillica of Santa Maria Novella

-Uffizi Galery

-Dante's house

-and last but not least Michelangelo's tomb in Santa Croce

Besides Firenze we also went to San Gimignano (Siena), a town which is famous all over the world for its medieval towers. Inside the town there are several small museums, as always a number of churches and interesting restaurants. And not to forget gelateries to die for.

It was also worth a look to visit the potttery and other arts and crafts where the artists were selling their work in the open air near the Rocca (fortress).

And the winner is................................... MATTEOO :-)

Matteo Becucci has won the second edition of X-factor. He sang Impossible composed by a Belgian songwriter Udo also known as the winner of X-factor 2005 of Belgium.



And a picture moment during the evening where we had great fun together. Thank you guys!

Speciale X-Factor 2009- La finale

Tonight I'll be watching togheter with Cinzia to the finals of X-factor (9.30 PM), although I am not a fanatic follower I am curious which one of the groups/individuals ( Juri, Matteo or Bastard Sons of Dioniso) will win.

By the way, last week when I was in Navigli I saw Morgan (right guy in the picture) together with his friends
:) though did not walk up to him.

Car keys in the washing machine BRAVAA!!

Last week Tuesday morning when I had to go for work it ended up a bit hasty. And you know what they say haste makes waste. Before I intended to leave the appartment I looked once again in my bag for the car keys, a ritual check-up of mine or probably like everyone. This time however I could not find the keys, it took me approx. twenty minutes to find the merda keys and then I realised I forgot them in the pocket of my jeans. Which I throw them in the washing machine and I just activated it before going to work. So there was nothing for it but to wait till the machine stopped. Called up my colleagues and told them I would run late.
Once entered the office a nice suprise followed. My dear colleague Gianluca had prepared my desk with a lovely drawing and sticked this on to my PC.

What can I add more, COK IYI FATMA :-)))

Still waiting & where is everyone??!!

Okey, now the clock turned to 07.21 PM but this person in matter is still waiting and trying to loose some time on the Internet... Unbelievable, when I need people around they are nowhere. I am telling you, the Diablo Rosso is somewhere very close to me today...

Well, I hear my stomach grumbling so I say goodbye to you and have my last pizza for the coming two weeks.

Cheers,

The feelings that arise when you miss your plane

Well today it is my "lucky day". I am honoured to tell you that I have missed my flight for the second time of my life. And in this case the second time was worst...

The first time I missed my flight was when I went to Istanbul together with my friends. I decided to spend in the last week some time with family and friends in Turkey. I went to my family in Bursa. I had a great time with them and really did not want to finish the vacation that soon.. so deep in my thoughts I asked God ..pleaaaaassse let me stay some couple days of more...well can you imagine that my prayers have been heared???

Apparently, the time on the ticket was not correct and I did not checked it 24hrs before which was obviously very clever of me. Eventually, I could stay some couple days more in Turkey which was GREAT.

This time however, I woke up at 6.00 AM cleaned my house, packed my stuff and went on road. My colleague Gianlucius adviced me to park my car in Lambrate as I did not want to spend money on the LONG parking in Malpensa. Anyhow, I went to this place and what do I figure out? YES, not any parking place left free. Thank God the place of my friends was in the same area so I parked over there, where I am not sure whether I can park there for 2 weeks as there are the streetcleaners who clean that place once in a week.Probably I will receive a ticket... the diablo is in my surrounding I just feel it. So next step was the subway. Took the subway in Lambrate to the Central station where I arrived approximately around 11.00 AM bought my ticket and went straight to the ShuttleBus service Malpensa. Finally, settled safe and sound in the bus. However, a huge traffic in Milan gave me the nerves and it I knew that it would take some hours to my final destionation. Also did not know that we had to stop first at Terminal 2 and I needed to be at Terminal 1. And here we go another lost time. I exactly arrived at 1.00 PM and my flight was scheduled at 13.40 !!!!!!!

I hurried to the check-in and what did I found out: counter AIRBERLIN CLOSED !! I just could cry it out and was so pissed off that this was happening again to me. I directly went to the Information desk for what I could POSSIBLY do to still catch the flight, the friendly lady advised me to go downstairs to the gate where the security officers, maybe they could help me out. The friendly security officer wanted to help me and I could feel his sincerity but unfortunately his chief denied his request. So you are asking me what happened next? Fatma got in total 273 EUR lighter for another flight at the same date :-/ where she has to wait for the next flight that is around 08.30 PM and will arrive in Dusseldorf around 09.50 PM ... A hell of a day or not?

Therefore my grateful thanks goes to:

-Shuttlebus Service Malpensa, for getting me on fashionably late at the airport

-Milan Traffic, for providing me the nerves

-American students/tourist who were in the shuttlebus and just could not stop talking the whole road ( really one girl had this annoying voice and talking like.. i was like .. it is like...)

-Friendly lady of the Information Counter

-Friendly signor of security for calming me down

And last but not least

- AIRBERLIN

In commemoration of Gallipoli War 18 March 1915

Today it is the commemoration day of Gallipoli War, Canakkale Savasi, the World War I battle for control of the Dardanelles that was straight fought on Turkey's Gallipoli (Gelibolu) peninsula, with appaling casualties. Around 100,000 were killed and 400,000 wounded during the nine-month campaign (1915-1916).


The British navy (under the command of Winston Churchill) wanted very much to get its battleships through the Dardanelles and attack Istanbul to knock the Ottoman Empire, an ally of the Central Powers, out of the war. Invading armies and navies have coveted the strategic Dardanalles strait since the days of the Trojans because it controls the sea traffic between the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, and the Aegean/Mediterreanean. At only 1,2 km wide at its narrowest point (Kilitbahir), and over 100 meters deep, it is also the key to Istanbul: warships could conquer the city if they could get through the Dardanelles.


Ottoman forces, some of whom were commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Kemal (later Ataturk) knew that if the British would get through the Dardanelles, it meant the conquest of Turkey. This war was reclaimed in high spirits by the Turks and showed great courage in defending the Dardanelles and every year at this day it is been commemorated.
The result of the Dardanelles failure has put an end to the British Empire's apogee. From then on Britain's influence in her dominions had gradually declined and in in 20-30 years time, the British Empire has came to and. The British has sailed for the world sovereignty but the Dardanelles campaign has misled their route.

Today, the Gallipoli battlefields are silent, preserved as a national park strewn with marble and bronze monuments, among the most emotionally touching places to visit in Turkey.


Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives..you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets where they lie side by side here in this country of ours...You the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. Having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well

--Mustafa Kemal Ataturk 1934