The CESDI association (Centro Servizi Donne Immigrati) of Livorno has once again organised a series of meetings for foreign women in Livorno working as care assistants to the elderly. There are increasing numbers of women from abroad coming to Livorno to carry out this kind of work. They often come alone, leaving friends and family behind, and it can be difficult for them to make contact with other people in a similar situation.

Review of the Livornese Writer by Alessandro Ulivari

The Cover of Aspetto Che SpiovaBefore reading Riccardo D’Amico’s book entitled “Aspetto che spiova” (‘I’m waiting for it to stop raining’) I thought that the style and also the contents of this book would be quite similar to Bukowski. I expected to find some rough dialogues, scurrilous words and the genuine passion of a couldn’t-care-less attitude that are several aspects of Charles Bukowski's approach to the world. These expectations were reinforced by some statements by the author on the cover:

“I was born in Livorno on October 5th 1960 and grew up in the Livornese Bronx in a workers family, in the Shangai quarter”, “Bukowski came afterward, and was devastating. He came after the first joint and after the first kiss of love. The gambling came close behind like a cigarette coughing after smoking.” “ I dream about waking up always just after noon and finding a reason to take me back under the blanket”.

New pavement for Via Santa CaterinaThis weekend, in the historical 'new' Venezia quarter of Livorno, a short stretch of street is being inaugurated and returned to the city after a period of restoration: Via Santa Caterina is close to the church of the same name and was in fact once an area used as a cemetery, hence its original name 'via del Camposanto'. It has now been given a new look with new paving stones and street lighting. It has also been pedestrianised.
On Saturday 21st March at 4.30pm there will be a short ceremony in the presence of the Mayor of Livorno, Alessandro Cosimi, and the priest from the church of Santa Caterina, Don Giuseppe Ferrari, who will give a blessing.

Freshwater Fishing at La Bua fishing lake, LivornoFor the first time in Livorno, it is now possible to go freshwater fishing, thanks to the efforts of Claudio Filippi and his partners who have recently opened the Laghetto La Bua fishing lake in a quiet oasis not far from the city centre. Open all year round, the club aims to promote fishing in Livorno, but also to create a tranquil meeting place for families and fishing enthusiasts, a place where they can also have a drink or a meal and enjoy some time away from everyday life.

View of Livorno31 December 2008 According to the survey just published by the Sole 24 Ore newspaper,  the province of Livorno has moved up eight places in the “quality of life in Italy” league table since last year.

Livorno now lies in joint 30th position with Ferrara, moving up from 38th place last year. It is the fourth province in Tuscany, preceded by Siena in 7th place, Florence (12th), and Grosseto (16th).

Before reading the book by Alessio Gasperini entitled “Melthemi L’Ultimo Tuffo” (Melthemi The Last Dive), I thought I was faced with a book of travel: indeed this is a book full of pictures of wonderful places, waves, kite, beaches etc. But I was wrong, because in this book there is more!
Kite surfing is just the “fil rouge” of this book, a great passion of the author obviously, but also the opportunity to demonstrate the approach of Alessio to the most terrible aspects of our lives like social injustices, paedophilia, slavery in the past and nowadays; and this is, in my opinion, the most relevant aspect of this book, because we can understand through the reading the author’s sensitivity, the lively intelligence of a man (who is also a commercial manager with a Degree in economics) who tries to get back to childhood every time he rides the waves, tied to his immense wings, like a modern Icarus; and the fantastic thing is that he succeeds in doing this, through the very strong emotions that this kind of sport gives.

Calling all Montenero Gardening Enthusiasts

Will this be a Montenero in Bloom entry?For the very first time this year a Montenero in Bloom competition - Montenero in Fiore - has been launched: Montenero residents are invited to take part by embellishing their balcony, window sill or garden with an attractive and imaginative display of flowers.

For those of us who are worried about all the ecologically unsound plastic packaging which comes with many of the products we buy these days, there is good news: it is now possible to buy washing liquids 'on tap' in Livorno, at a shop called Mille Bolle Point in Via Goldoni 4 (off Via Maggi).

This welcome addition to Livorno's city centre will mean we can now take our own recycled containers and fill them up with our chosen detergents, and also hopefully saving a few cents at the same time.