Winterthur Wonder in Switzerland

/ Karina Pinella / 9 Comments

Home base: Zurich

Image: Google Maps

About a half hour away via train from Zurich, Winterthur is known for its numerous world-class museums and large pedestrian-zoned Old Town. As we went through Old Town, we went inside some churches and visited selected museums. Another wondrous day of art appreciation, as we drank in impressive and rare collections of paintings, sculpted works, and photos from the likes of The Kunst Museum Winterthur; the Oskar Reinhart Collection, displayed in his residence ‘Am Römerholz’; and Fotomusem Winterthur.

Oskar Reinhart (1885-1965) came from a long line of traders from Winterthur. His father, Theodor Reinhart, had built the family business, which was one of the first trading houses in Switzerland, or in Europe, for that matter. Both father and son had an interest in art, with Oskar eventually becoming a full-time art collector after leaving the family business at the age of 39.



After spending a good part of the day at Winterthur, we headed back to Zurich to enjoy a cruise on the Limmat River followed by a hearty meal of schnitzel and rosti at a beer hall.

Spellbound in Switzerland

/ Karina Pinella / 19 Comments

I recently returned from a wonderful vacation in Switzerland, where I was spellbound at every turn. Traveling by high-speed rail, I used three beautiful cities as my home base, often exploring other sights and stops nearby.  This is the beginning of a series of selected locales I had the pleasure of enjoying during my stay there.

First Stop: Zurich

Image: Google Maps

We hit the ground running, so many sights/sites to see. Started at the Kunsthaus, Zurich’s world-class art museum, which houses the largest collection of Swiss-born Alberto Giacometti’s work, among so many other well-renowned artists/sculptors:

Vincent Van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, Oskar Kokoschka, Wassily Kandinsky, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Edgar Degas, Auguste Rodin, Marc Chagall, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Pablo Picasso, Franz Marc, Francesco Napoletano, Jacopo Palma Vecchio, Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, Jan Roos, Ferdinand Hodler, Johan Christian Dahl, to name a few!

We ended our day at a lovely restaurant called Raclette Stube in Old Town. The restaurant is known for its cheese fondues. I had the Fondue Fribourgeoise, which is half Gruyère, half Vacherin cheese with wine and Kirsch, served with bread and potatoes, along with a side order of cold, sliced sausage from Vaud.  And, the evening just began . . .

Six Haiku Poems: Thou Shalt Not Steal

/ Karina Pinella / 9 Comments

Another fine collaboration with my blogger friend, Rose, the Poet Rummager. This is a reminder of what not to do when you see a neighbor’s fruitful tree.

Poet Rummager's avatarPoet Rummager

Enlight87.JPG Illustration by Poet Rummager

I grabbed the apple.
From the neighbor’s tree, it hung-
too ripe to ignore.

I see you there, thief.
Mr. Jones’ silhouette flinched.
He grasped his cane tight.

En av brødrene til Miguel Nuñez slapper av hjemme hos seg selvPhotograph by Otto von Münchow

Oh, this juicy treat!
Where can I conceal my sin?
My mouth whispered, Here.

Parted my mouth wide
with tongue wrapped around the orb.
The snake in me cheered.

Enlight88 (1)

Slid down my throat whole –
enlarged my Adams Apple.
Damn that Granny Smith.

I heard my skull crack.
Mr. Jones wiped his cane clean.
No more stealing fruits!

Haiku poems by Karina Pinella and Poet Rummager

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Karina Pinella has an extraordinary short story published in this anthology…

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Published!

/ Karina Pinella / 44 Comments

That’s one small step for my kind,
A giant leap from pen to published pages.
Boston, I have no problem shouting out my excitement:

Scribes, artistes, readers, people of the world,
Please consider reading Massachusetts’s Emerging Writers: An Anthology of Fiction
Because a short story of mine just got published!

Although it is “only” a short fictional piece, the publisher contacted me and asked if I would like to submit an entry. Legitimately a wonderful opportunity. I was approached unsolicited and my piece was chosen among others for final publication.

Do check out my story; and see what else Massachusetts has to offer:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1724729209/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1533750719&sr=8-1&keywords=Massachusetts%27s+emerging

OR

https://www.zpublishinghouse.com/collections/modern-anthologies/products/massachusettss-emerging-writers-an-anthology-of-fiction?variant=8126055743603

Love Lettuce

/ Karina Pinella / 11 Comments

Image: Pixabay

Leticia loves looking at Lenny while they lunch in the library lounge over little bowls of lettuce. She thinks starting with the Iceberg lettuce will help break the ice. Her friend, Rose, recommends she follow up with a robust salad laden with Romaine lettuce to get the romance rolling. Alternatively, she could offer a plate of spicy arugula as Lenny is anything but a “regulah” guy. To match Lenny’s Boston accent, Leticia finds she has to offer a bolder fare. Let us hope that endive makes the perfect ending to their growing love for each other.

Crapper John

/ Karina Pinella / 7 Comments

Inspired by various events

When sh-t happens,
Crap hits the fan;
No ifs, ands, or buts left unsoiled.

Hell breaks loose,
Time is squandered;
Stress levels up the wazoo.

Comfort comes at a premium,
Think Charmin vs. a generic product;
The john the only source of solace.

Downpour

/ Karina Pinella / 10 Comments

Image – Pixabay

Wind lashed like the claws of a cat,

Rain poured without regard for the dead,

Bodies six feet under surfaced and floated,

Ancient ones were decayed,

The recently buried seemed freshly bloated,

So marks the beginning of monsoon season.

Horsing around with Charley

/ Karina Pinella / 3 Comments

What a spaz,
Like an escapee from Alcatraz,
Wreaking havoc,
Going manic,
Twisting muscles,
Making me call out, ‘uncle,’

Cramping my style,
While raising my bile,
That Charley horsing around again,
What a pain!

Image: Pixabay