tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78166942024-03-13T01:08:55.007+01:00Sicilian Odyssey"This island was deadly beautiful, very old, most powerful and strange." --Theresa Maggio in The Stone BoudoirMaryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.comBlogger211125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-80170469993357266542009-03-19T21:09:00.007+01:002009-03-20T23:24:13.297+01:00Castello Ursino<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDajqEEgtCaGuF7aqLkcM9v5OgVVW5aw6LL7Xh0D_LzPUO55ss0HPtjLIDQWWvN8rLuAEbQocM2x_oyQFujnqzXaSmju93faqiW31KG-9u1Td7pgaJdJn1KoteBIiK_cANZPlzmw/s1600-h/UrsinoParkView.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315390470452875282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 354px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 280px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDajqEEgtCaGuF7aqLkcM9v5OgVVW5aw6LL7Xh0D_LzPUO55ss0HPtjLIDQWWvN8rLuAEbQocM2x_oyQFujnqzXaSmju93faqiW31KG-9u1Td7pgaJdJn1KoteBIiK_cANZPlzmw/s320/UrsinoParkView.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div>It only took me four and half years, but I finally got to see the inside of Catania's Castello Ursino. The interior is a museum of sorts, although the randomness of the collection make it hard to say what it is supposed to be. Nonetheless, the architecture of the interior just by itself is quite interesting, and old, old, old! Originally, it was on the sea, but the centuries of destruction and rebuilding of Catania have changed the shoreline so much that now it is nowhere near the water!<br /><br />The castle was built in 1239-50 by Riccardo da Lentini for Frederick II. It is a unique square castle with four matching towers at the corners and a full moat. It has been used as a royal residence, the seat of parliament, and a prison. Primarily, though, it was defensive, part of a whole string of castles that included Motta, Paterno', and Adrano, all very close to me. This one, though, is the most impressive and best-restored of them. You can't imagine anyone penetrating its walls.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gbKipWR1Q9y3grs1Bx4tjx2wyCw5qE3DN5GZ5PO6fVGcBGOvEOlbkQh66fSsZpH1JNasJqPDI7vCv7_Rk5RZzFOEIpA2b-P9Raf8bIalseCnDj2QmqElEPw_jOfufw76sbZdAA/s1600-h/UrsinoTowerStar.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315390238810397890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 318px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 231px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gbKipWR1Q9y3grs1Bx4tjx2wyCw5qE3DN5GZ5PO6fVGcBGOvEOlbkQh66fSsZpH1JNasJqPDI7vCv7_Rk5RZzFOEIpA2b-P9Raf8bIalseCnDj2QmqElEPw_jOfufw76sbZdAA/s320/UrsinoTowerStar.jpg" border="0" /></a>There are a few interesting details like a mysterious five-pointed star (a supposed occult sign) and a carved eagle with a lamb in its claws, the symbol of imperial power.<br /><br />It's just beautiful to walk around the entire structure, which is surrounded on all sides by a pretty buildings and a piazza, and then to do the same on the inside. In a city of Baroque and Roman architecture, this is an interesting medieval diversion.<br /><br />Go <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hdlions/sets/72157615692053244/">HERE</a> to see more photos. </div></div>Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-46131475013618569482009-03-01T12:48:00.003+01:002009-03-01T13:00:26.982+01:00Where the Dead Don't SleepThe <a href="http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/02/sicily-crypts/gill-text">February 2009 edition of National Geographic</a> has a feature on the uniquely Sicilian custom of preserving (mummifying) bodies for public viewing. The article is called "Where the Dead Don't Sleep."<br /><br />The author writes: "In Europe the desiccation and preservation of corpses is a particularly Sicilian affair. There are other examples in Italy, but the great majority are in Sicily, where the relationship between the living and the dead is especially strong. Nobody knows how many there really are, or how many have since been removed from catacombs and buried in cemeteries by priests uneasy with the theology of keeping votive corpses. The phenomenon provokes an instant question: Why would anyone do this? Why would you exhibit decaying bodies?"<br /><br />Of course, I have seen the famous Capuchin crypt that he writes about (and shows in a slide show that is amazing) many times. Visitors often ask to see this unusual attraction. In fact, I wrote about it in 2005, calling it "<a href="http://sicilianodyssey.blogspot.com/2005/07/those-creepy-capuchins_25.html">Those Creepy Capuchins</a>." And I still find it creepy! However, I didn't know that there were other places in Sicily where bodies are preserved like this. One is not even too far from where I live, just on the other side of Taormina, in a little town where they filmed part of <em>The Godfather.</em> <br /><br />"Sicily's macabre mummies offer lessons about life," says the magazine . . . although I still don't know what it is.Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-69219793447924138792009-01-18T21:38:00.003+01:002009-01-18T21:57:28.847+01:00Sicilian Driving ExperiencesHaving been here for five and a half years, I thought I had seen it all as far as driving in Sicily. In fact, I wrote about it way back in <a href="http://sicilianodyssey.blogspot.com/2004/10/road-rage.html">October of 2004</a>. Just last week, though, I was on my way to work and thought I would be clever and take a shortcut. Instead, I got stuck behind a garbage truck that was stopping at every dumpster on the one-way, narrow street we were on. A long line of cars quickly formed behind me. There was nothing to do but wait. At the third stop for trash, the truck was unable to move forward because someone had parked halfway into the road (no surprise here). Undaunted, the two trashmen ran up front and picked up the little car and just moved it so the garbage truck could get through! And these were not big garbage men, or young ones! Obviously, they were used to this.<br /><br />I drive fairly fearlessly most of the time, but sometimes even I am amazed. The three craziest instances of driving in Sicily have all happened in the past six months:<br /><br />1) The guy ahead of me wanted to pass the guy ahead of him, so he went the <em>wrong way</em> around a traffic circle to do so!<br /><br />2) On a two-way busy highway, the car in front of me could not wait for the smaller car in front of him to pass a truck, so when smaller car pulled out and floored it, this guy went <em>onto the left shoulder</em> and passed them both at once!<br /><br />3) Very recently, on my way to work on the autostrada (divided highway), the traffic began to get heavy and slow down a bit, so one hot-rodder goes onto the right shoulder and speeds up to pass everyone, right through <em>an on-ramp </em>with cars merging onto our road! Mamma mia!!<br /><br />I pray I can get my car and me out of Sicily unharmed in the next five months.Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-32600135209555173382008-12-11T19:12:00.012+01:002008-12-11T20:22:18.651+01:00My Top 10 Travel Memories of 2008 in the style of Rick StevesI recently read Rick Steves' <a href="http://www.ricksteves.com/news/travelnews/0812/0812hi.htm">Top 10 Travel Memories of 2008</a> and thought, "Hey! I can match that!" At my age, though, they may not be the "top" 10, but just any 10 I might recall! So here we go (in no particular order):<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278609816858196050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 336px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdXx356CJ5o4GD7ssaow6Q9pFTz5Zs02CKiYyu6i4nkz7X4S8KXqer0ChA_WZ63xrDw1AdiHaPwbFG60T3-xU0JtnQKd6uP-bgxIH57hrUa2_6mxjMqhzNC0GwKkXIDS6Xkt8eQ/s320/P8180127.JPG" border="0" /><br />1) Eating granita and a warm brioche for Sunday breakfast in August with friends at my favorite local bar here in Nicolosi. Technically, this is not "travel," but it is Sicily and I won't be here forever!<br /><br />2) Being taken in from a soaking, driving rain by the owner of a restaurant that was actually closed in Piazza Armerina and being given a wonderful lunch. And there were six of us!<br /><br />3) Backing out of a dead-end, uphill, narrow street in Sicily with the help of the locals who were probably thinking, "Who ARE these people?<br /><br />4) Visiting Moldavian painted monasteries in Romania.<br /><br />5) Immersing myself in the Gaudi architecture of Barcelona. What a genius! He had to have influenced Hundertwasser!<br /><br />6) Slip-sliding on the Rodelbahn in the Austrian Alps. Why did I never do this before? Thanks, Bob.<br /><br />7) Being charmed by Chattanooga with its unexpected treasures . . . the riverfront, the art.<br /><br />8) Touring the Thousand Islands mansions on the St. Lawrence by boat with Alison and Randy. And finding out where Thousand Island dressing comes from.<br /><br />9) Taking fifty students to the Greek theater in Siracusa to see an original Greek play and returning with the same students.<br /><br />10) Returning to Erice and still not finding the Phoenician carvings. But we did see a green dog! :-)<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278610320084485746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Nuwh5iPOXApdwUb4Uxe25eTOGbQ2qkau7sjkK8H7A9-HT-7NzYkJHmpTTxpz4YSnkMg4Y82m8HqhXrXsOsA6IioO3lcyokmbUCh2cv3030zyQxtQyuprJdR_NvtkD9SZbJtuTA/s320/PA270143.JPG" border="0" /><br />There you have it! Let's see what 2009 will bring.Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-77677696984220930212008-10-19T20:42:00.014+02:002008-12-07T14:15:11.259+01:00The Catania-Bucharest ConnectionOver the Columbus Day weekend, I flew with my friend Michael to Romania, a place neither of us had ever been. It came about like this: I was looking for cheap airfares from Catania and on <a href="http://www.myair.com/">MyAir.com</a> I found roundtrip tickets to Bucharest for <em>less than ten euros each!</em> In the end, with taxes and fees, each ticket came out to 69 euros, still slightly less than $100. I had always wanted to see the painted monasteries of Romania, so here was my chance!<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258951882030090274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDxscHtEYp3-E_pcPY3Wz344z_aqmXfhGChAmVRY77OsX1CEiqiXMqELROswVA2vV8HawaRP9Rau5oL8BX_uAPTvQc6OK3H3gydHCA_fxJwbO7HGhZyNsCBM3qYmM_geNDjHGLQ/s320/Saints.jpg" border="0" /> </div><div align="center">See <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hdlions/sets/72157610755778481/">ALL PHOTOS HERE<br /></div></a><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Next, I went online and found a private tour agent who would arrange everything--airport pickup and delivery, car and driver, three nights' accommodations, and all sightseeing for a very reasonable price. This lucky find was Fernando and his wife Elena at <a href="http://fernando-hideaway.blogspot.com/">Fernando's Hideaway</a>.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258952673537022866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="268" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQAv3WL6xZvX9hUMMJNXISvcMpK4lmkEE3Vdthe5Zz95NwbbWr2vLOUpt9vlc-_ailtgK2Wfw3iYBTMMJEqsGJ_sgpEXUNYTzhUv9whyphenhyphenJabUui8d7i8XRd_yvdgN1PkBV4buywQ/s320/MichaelFernandoElena.jpg" width="357" border="0" /><br /><div>I wondered why and how MyAir could have flights to Bucharest from Catania every day . . . it seemed very odd. Our flight was jam-packed on a Friday afternoon. We later learned from Fernando that many Italians have investments and businesses, even large factories and corporations in Romania. Why? One reason is the cheap labor; Romania is in the EU but not yet on the euro currency. Designers and producers of Italian clothing and accessories are finding it very convenient and cheap to have them made in Romania. Secondly, the Romanian language is the closest language to Italian--they are <em>very</em> similar. Even I could read and understand much and make myself understood pretty much! Amazing! Romanians also love all things Italian--food, clothing, shoes, furniture. Like America, if it says "Italian," it's a sure hit. </div><div></div><br /><div>Although there was a lot of car time, Fernando did a great job of driving and his new vehicle is very comfortable. We stayed for two nights in their country home built specifically for visitors in the countryside of Moldavia. The house was built on a historic pattern of a house in their village and all built in the old, traditional ways--log structure with mud, sticks, and plaster, a wood oven/furnace and wrap-around porch. Their only concession to modern times was the installation of two large, modern bathrooms. Many of their rural neighbors do not have indoor bathrooms. We got there very late, but their elderly neighbor had come and made the fire to heat the house, and everything was immaculately clean and perfectly arranged for us. We found we were the first guests to stay in their new house! </div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258952508148022658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="247" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHE363cwi1aFwAigm0OD8A8fkyPM_I4-eqwQYPMrhp6Nde_8X31BKtLLqQdMUQQ6VAUNs1zZrnxhzfQqx_jkzEGLT6pSh0m51A8ztxhMyaAPLw7nGjS5Fxno2x-mwAHbdMYS7FQ/s320/FernandosHoue.jpg" width="338" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>Because of Fernando and Elena, we learned everything and more about Romania and its culture, history, geography, politics, economy, and religions. We were able to see three of the most famous painted monasteries, all UNESCO sites, and that alone was worth the trip for me! They are indeed international treasures! We met Elena's mother, who made us delicious sandwiches for lunch and pressed upon us a bottle of wine and another of Romania blueberry liqueur. We visited with an elderly but lively Romanian nun, now retired from her administrative position at her monastery, and admired the beautiful rugs she now weaves. We spent time with a pair of retired Romania teachers who have established their own award-winning ethnographic museum of Romanian artifacts and art, filling several buildings. Because of Fernando and Elena, we got a private tour complete with demonstrations and funny stories given by the wife. </div><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5vvPCDtO9-TK9xK45avzO2ivRelWmejVtshyphenhyphenPLsDGnV7Ra2TM03qyh8qm9Yrp9-gOIjAnNieLqrwu-KXat9bbsCFTCVO5-ScQ8tAn4gj-vH5OEV6DO5rucYyeFv5Jt2xIKedKw/s1600-h/MEInsideMonastery.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258952346783219138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5vvPCDtO9-TK9xK45avzO2ivRelWmejVtshyphenhyphenPLsDGnV7Ra2TM03qyh8qm9Yrp9-gOIjAnNieLqrwu-KXat9bbsCFTCVO5-ScQ8tAn4gj-vH5OEV6DO5rucYyeFv5Jt2xIKedKw/s320/MEInsideMonastery.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>I ate some of the best soup I've had anywhere in the world in Romania. Every day I tried a different one--capon with cream, vegetable-meatball, and borscht (beet)--all fabulous. The food everywhere was plentiful and comforting and cheap! The wine, both red and white, was also surprisingly good. </div><br /><div>My own paternal grandparents came from this part of Romania about one hundred years ago. I shared what I knew of them with Fernando, who is a bit of an expert in the various groups that settled in northern Romania--Hungarians, Poles, Ukrainians, Germans, and Jews. He has promised to help me continue to research my grandfather's ancestry, as he was a soldier in the Austro-Hungarian army of Prince Ferdinand and later a farmer married to a German settler before they emigrated to the United States. I came to know how it was this all could have easily happened in this area, which was surprisingly diverse and peacefully so, so long ago. </div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258952139152932770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 374px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 290px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="257" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrHqtSy81GLERKJAjF99ozniH-XXtSOLvBdxPg-qy17NB0XJOUkyHmXuPBOmnE2ZdHsXeAy4fE7QUjG5zVa17_7n828WeVKKOq1uyG9CXju8cBl6jT-d84ZB76R5rbgXbDke5bA/s320/LadderOfTemptations.jpg" width="348" border="0" /></div><div></div><div align="center">I will return to Romania. </div>Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-24558641080128116622008-10-19T15:55:00.003+02:002008-10-19T16:24:39.155+02:00Alison's R&R Lunch at Lisa and Onorio'sWhen Alison arrived in Sicily for the start of her R&R from Iraq, I was in Romania, so my friends took care of her for the afternoon. Kendra picked her up at the Catania airport and whisked her away, top down, of course, to Lisa and Onorio's house. It was Lisa's birthday!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGGPxQaBFRPf-r4rQHPyKnvZT4HcVo-8BrTZFBcfL5uDyUEV8iKQcDsocRrof8-hhGF2wNzZZEr6101oHxuJmmRdGd_0KN6dyOEFewwU-DjbZ2dY_yZPwh_A8h_hkSZV7jmTFzA/s1600-h/DSC00048.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258867895216927922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="335" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGGPxQaBFRPf-r4rQHPyKnvZT4HcVo-8BrTZFBcfL5uDyUEV8iKQcDsocRrof8-hhGF2wNzZZEr6101oHxuJmmRdGd_0KN6dyOEFewwU-DjbZ2dY_yZPwh_A8h_hkSZV7jmTFzA/s320/DSC00048.jpg" width="254" border="0" /></a>Here is Lisa's description of the lunch: "Well, we started with a prosecco. Onorio was out grilling the beasts we were about to partake of. They included the following: two Florentine steaks (extremely thick), two large turkey thighs, eight sausages, one salami, and one whole chicken. (This for four people, mind you.)<br /><br />"In addition, he made the Florentine special called Fetunta. In Sicily, they call it bruschetta, but ours is brushed with a garlic cloves, grilled, and then olive oil is poured over it with some salt. Then, for veggies, it was a tomato, onion and zucchini salad, and then my famous beet salad. For dessert, it was cannolis as they couldn't make my birthday cake . . . .<br /><br />"Then, we made our way to the digestivos . . . which your daughter tried them all. :) ,then coffee. I forgot to bring out the blueberry pie and Onorio forgot to bring out the antipasto . . . which was prosciutto and salami. I thought we were missing something when we were drinking the prosecco. Oh, well.<br /><br />"Then, I put her in the shower. I didn't know what kind of water pressure you would have at home, so I told her that she would see Jesus in my shower with such hot water and super-duper water pressure. She did say that she saw Jesus."Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-37535036501884095582008-10-05T12:21:00.021+02:002008-10-05T14:26:56.238+02:00Sunshine and Seafood in Scoglitti<div align="left">Some of my friends have been after me for quite some time to organize a roadtrip to Scoglitti, on the southeast corner of Sicily, a sleepy little beach town where our friend and auto mechanic Tony owns a restaurant. I had been there once before and told them how much I'd enjoyed it. Finally, we settled on a day and arranged it with Tony, who would meet us near Ragusa and guide us around the area before having lunch at his restaurant in Scoglitti.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left">After about an hour's drive from Sigonella, Tony met us "at the second Tamoil" on the highway to Ragusa. (Tamoil is the biggest gas station chain in Sicily.) We drove through Comiso and past the now-abandoned U.S. Air Force base there (brand-new school, closed). We stopped for a coffee and the best little ricotta "cream puff" with a crunchy crust I've ever had. The area is famous for ricotta made from cow's milk (usually it is sheep's). I hope to return to try the Sicilian breakfast of warm ricotta sometime.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left">Tony took us to his son Anthony's new house, still under construction, and Anthony gave us a tour of the whole place. He is currently laying tiles and stones mosaic-style in the entire front yard, quite a large and ambitious project. His wife studied art and it helping design it. Like many Sicilians, Anthony is doing all of the finishing of the house himself with the help of family members. This saves a lot of money but takes a lot of time. He's going to have a beautiful place when it's all done.</div><br /><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4YLMFTgyiipvVldITK1g3XcOV9t60rx_VxjWYGUcowZr-ADrqUyGokRj-zlkGCaQ83MKX8qrojus1qAKwL0TT2md7YAMMytcOEDOwxNaYw4fcQwwIa2tjIOCkiFbrO8251v9Hw/s1600-h/P9280056.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253638738714448642" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 272px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 183px" height="206" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4YLMFTgyiipvVldITK1g3XcOV9t60rx_VxjWYGUcowZr-ADrqUyGokRj-zlkGCaQ83MKX8qrojus1qAKwL0TT2md7YAMMytcOEDOwxNaYw4fcQwwIa2tjIOCkiFbrO8251v9Hw/s320/P9280056.JPG" width="289" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLe6ClBVvSILM3xDlNPzpriGgX3RtRjluLobDeoN1-JnUElFmeHb2rMXdyMAPlv7NhaxpHcdC2_okEy-8GpNiSrI2rNzmKfYTBAHVeQrhEMlRMX2PESGdUvP4BuaAH6naICVFUbw/s1600-h/P9280055.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253638534532221410" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 182px" height="198" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLe6ClBVvSILM3xDlNPzpriGgX3RtRjluLobDeoN1-JnUElFmeHb2rMXdyMAPlv7NhaxpHcdC2_okEy-8GpNiSrI2rNzmKfYTBAHVeQrhEMlRMX2PESGdUvP4BuaAH6naICVFUbw/s320/P9280055.JPG" width="276" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Next, we went to the famous Sicilian <a href="http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~loxias/sicily/donnafugata.htm">Donnafugata Castello</a>, a popular destination for both locals and tourists in the area. This is not where the wine by the same name is produced, but it is a nicely situated and attractive palace that has been somewhat restord for tours. We enjoyed the various rooms--the standard "hall of mirrors," banqueting rooms, the bishop's rooms, the painted ceilings, suits of armor, statues, chandeliers, hand-painted wallpaper, antique furniture, and the surrounding gardens. Photos are not permitted inside, although we sneaked a few. </div><br /><div align="center"> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253642050309236818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="276" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcS_eM7d16D7HjyE20ZgscshqyOYhsPq0PLNy48NGILZEf4G2riRaNJwz-vt4W6jGtUAByKyISTeVBiNvFWT9bISL6uMpbBiCL4VwoXIh2UZ-y8GuMfQ4sdCix7tQ1bfCGIdTqew/s320/P9280090.JPG" width="381" border="0" />By then, we were all <em>starving,</em> so we proceeded on to the little fishing/beach town of Scoglitti (sko-YEE-tee) and the restaurant run by Tony's other son, John. Along the way, we passed the Greek archaeological site of Kamerina, where 100,000 people once lived. John wasn't quite ready for us, so we took a little walk across the piazza and down to the seaside, which has a great esplanade and fisherman statue along with a view of the fishing boats and beaches. The palm trees and sunny day combined to make us all happy we had come to see "Tony's World." Scoglitti by the way, was the site of the Allied invasion in 1943, although today there is not a trace of it. Below are Lisa, Pat, Kendra, and me.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253627995923617538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="258" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbA9hYAnGBZiCCKyOSWOvlBkhFAEWv9S-V-2dZuX3s7GL_4EMRaMDc6VBDmjMKOj6MmMbJoByV3uySAh1iDxHR6eDkLrvoEIwb9UQ149pw6ZmMeO0iwSU-2iG8ZnWw7zfAOomPg/s320/GirlsInScoglitti.jpg" width="353" border="0" /> Finally, we settled down to a fine lunch at Pizza in Piazza prepared by John for us--cold seafood salad, pasta with lobster and salmon, mixed salad, and a whole fresh fish for each of us. We ate every bit, washing it down with bottles of the local Cerasuola wine and followed, of course, by expresso.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253637331774209458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="275" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicy1MNKqOgbuXyFrnlXibtgU5KRU43rERnF0Hz9xE2A_-SbbfBdWfi_l5mnQ_Q45If6s7AqTflJPTuCA6xrrOyecXX-xwot9ZjoKM8v6D1gBzoploimbwYvZmfQ2GKVllhWXrXg/s320/P9280124.JPG" width="353" border="0" /> Fine food, fine friends, and a fine day for all. Life is good!<br /><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253636721518734962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 379px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 275px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="256" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQ4LQkLkUBFgzFCU5BcILcc6ER-lwhJMjGvpJVHlqy6J2r7Xli_ARyhw4vAZ8JVNMKeQfWsFjK2Q0jcMQiuNrz_mCkDGOFM3WIdEQO-2dzqNIVFdYN6LIpZ3D36KeGCQlQtZkEA/s320/P9280126.JPG" width="346" border="0" /></div>Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-73218126766701778762008-09-17T20:19:00.007+02:002008-09-17T20:42:27.688+02:00I'm back in town!<div><div><div>I'm back! I have been back in Sicily for a month, but frankly, I did not have a thing to write about because I didn't <em>do</em> anything. That was mostly because of the heat, which was in the 90s and even 100s almost every day, and work, which always gets in the way of fun.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247061945233598562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3Z_En4ZfVxdSVNVWgAbO3kcOl-1M2VzRqqFB-L96j_ockmhwSbHvLUXcHyewIGovqso0X14jIuAhcLKS1y8ID4_vdqSk817Xqs5THZAkQK1KlWRzWEcsrTDlwbTbinBN6fbVnw/s320/RepeatLavaTable.JPG" border="0" /> <div></div><br /><div>The heat isn't the problem as much as the sun. I've developed a nasty sun allergy since I moved here and have to pretty much stay out of it between 10-2 and cover up or use extreme sunblock all the time. I wasn't very careful, so I did have some itchy blisters and re-learned my lesson. The heat itself is very dry, very low humidty, which was a nice change from the USA. It was dry as dust here . . . lots of dust, dust everywhere, grass all burnt out. It's very dehydrating . . . one could shrivel up and become a sun-dried tomato in no time at all. See Repeat above, trying to stay cool.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247060092089206418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2O5YLmayNU9fJ1Ihpe-BTdbTHyXx88MhBrlsT_KyZPiOF4S8Fz9tfaqGCIgsF2VRXFrfrBQCW3m_lVUoHyr1G7tQ4Qd5Dy8HuoRGfkc4RXUxllyGQQ5f0bK9zgdOdc9PVqFGyw/s320/P9130039.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Finally it cooled off with a shocking, damaging hailstorm that dented my car and caused a swath of damage over the volcano and down to the sea. The hail was huge (see photo above)! The town of Pedara, neighbor to Nicolosi, seemed to get the worst of it--broken car windows, street lights, rooftiles. My friend Rose said that most Sicilians she knows do not have insurance for that kind of thing, either. That sounds very Sicilian. Luckily, she did, because the hail put some holes right through a fiberglass overhang on her house! Crazy weather but now it's cooled off.<br /></div><div></div></div></div>Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-38223838658792503552008-06-16T10:06:00.009+02:002008-06-16T10:36:48.620+02:00Two Three-Legged Sicilian Cats<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNeYOX1UuIxYJSMseIsR0_LekoiWAbOXVVlin5qquPGglLO6oA1XE6j04WNGxJdwE-XmfKDnSTBTJO6fCKWn3RLSJ2FeCJXSZy5GgxiBU4f3eJMFfccBqzaf_BX9GlEsQ6NapnA/s1600-h/PeteUpClose.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212391134401898706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 174px" height="196" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNeYOX1UuIxYJSMseIsR0_LekoiWAbOXVVlin5qquPGglLO6oA1XE6j04WNGxJdwE-XmfKDnSTBTJO6fCKWn3RLSJ2FeCJXSZy5GgxiBU4f3eJMFfccBqzaf_BX9GlEsQ6NapnA/s320/PeteUpClose.JPG" width="274" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TaMIP4qs185OL4rknBmULlffbhVjo5g8g_Z47KCdLKNVWE2RxX8PX4qPWJ4atLRowjp9Kd9mR_N7djZUirxVielx52LWvnoGvIY877BRHi9YZpnhsSE_qVriYI1HybZXfDUtYw/s1600-h/RepeatUpClose.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212391424253932354" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 257px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 179px" height="212" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TaMIP4qs185OL4rknBmULlffbhVjo5g8g_Z47KCdLKNVWE2RxX8PX4qPWJ4atLRowjp9Kd9mR_N7djZUirxVielx52LWvnoGvIY877BRHi9YZpnhsSE_qVriYI1HybZXfDUtYw/s320/RepeatUpClose.JPG" width="295" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I am referring, of course, to <em>my</em> cats--Pete and Repeat, above left and right. Yes, they are still around after almost four years and pretty much thriving. A Sicilian friend here has called them "the luckiest cats in Sicily." I don't know about that, because I do make them live outside most of the time; however, they seem to like it that way. They only want to come in to eat and visit a little each day. They have a double-fenced and gated yard which is safe for them and a great hunting ground for lizards, tiny rodents, grasshoppers, and an occasional bird. I am a little worried because they seem to be getting more and more "crooked" due to their three-legged status. Unfortunately, do not have an extra $10,000 to have prostheses made for them at that fancy clinic in the States. :-(</div><div><br /></div><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7_2cfI9UTkg6VfaXfMTjYlCdKArpx-ZPKqlCP4Hy-648fOxfHY-WMEq8h7a86HYCX8AFgceI_e5IuTInSf7Oqqd6EjgSHdtAweA50_nOI7J5eNLOma2m6v10WjCO3SFOw0wHWg/s1600-h/SarahKittensDay1b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212390426397050002" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="241" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7_2cfI9UTkg6VfaXfMTjYlCdKArpx-ZPKqlCP4Hy-648fOxfHY-WMEq8h7a86HYCX8AFgceI_e5IuTInSf7Oqqd6EjgSHdtAweA50_nOI7J5eNLOma2m6v10WjCO3SFOw0wHWg/s320/SarahKittensDay1b.jpg" width="199" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2mkkjwtU_mroA1ndXZnQ9nbhr46wiudcgGlowWEMjaBxQidb1iDglQM3z-YD3pM__mnIdNJ0BT5nI1zyfcMl0Ns1wXDd-s-kDG35eNeF1wQm5l26az1Jy_iunJKri7AbcB3-Bw/s1600-h/SarahCats.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212390725100555186" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 243px" height="282" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2mkkjwtU_mroA1ndXZnQ9nbhr46wiudcgGlowWEMjaBxQidb1iDglQM3z-YD3pM__mnIdNJ0BT5nI1zyfcMl0Ns1wXDd-s-kDG35eNeF1wQm5l26az1Jy_iunJKri7AbcB3-Bw/s320/SarahCats.JPG" width="215" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Anyway, this entry got started because Kendra's daughter Sarah is visiting her mom here in Sicily for a few weeks. She is now about to enter her junior year in college in Michigan. She was the one who held the kittens <a href="http://sicilianodyssey.blogspot.com/2004/10/how-i-acquired-two-special-needs.html">the day we found them</a> and brought them to my house. We decided to try and recreate the original photo from that day. Pete and Repeat were having NO part of being held quietly in Sarah's lap, though!</div><div><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212390103776006738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="272" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7Pyw0u655SdMPGv_OMW6Gh92oQWSI0aq2eWMWRrRfFezlbc3yV71ikN32_IDjbodMyTV1lIP6Lvin1EQTn_q5s9Y-m9EmfczQw6QWg12gxgoHiaRHwjJ49Z3EVH1CCVRh4dpHg/s320/SarahPetsCats.JPG" width="365" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div>Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-709783779335599292008-06-13T19:10:00.020+02:002008-06-14T14:10:01.026+02:00Caltagirone, #1 for Sicilian Ceramics<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8F2oKlLURsqFxo0Be3Zmt3CGC82MeZQCwpPFliaQegP06AoibJAKZFzpmzIysgkEy8ez3q-5f0ACe22updewGQ4-I_qXSWRn09Ydlq70ZQvQiSsTwRAg13DSVJe4BFCNbr-PAQ/s1600-h/RiserFaces.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211456522016978082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="136" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8F2oKlLURsqFxo0Be3Zmt3CGC82MeZQCwpPFliaQegP06AoibJAKZFzpmzIysgkEy8ez3q-5f0ACe22updewGQ4-I_qXSWRn09Ydlq70ZQvQiSsTwRAg13DSVJe4BFCNbr-PAQ/s320/RiserFaces.jpg" width="334" border="0" /></a> Sicily is famous for its beautiful, hand-made ceramics, and <a href="http://sicilia.indettaglio.it/eng/comuni/ct/caltagirone/caltagirone.html">Caltagirone</a> (KAHL-tuh-gee-RO-nee) is the most famous "city of ceramics" in Sicily. And, lucky for me, it is only about thirty miles from Sigonella, making it an easy shopping destination. <div><div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211457632728032882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="129" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hCIje412qG7f__PonHGFc_cbJMv5jkEuqQFtPL-aqKgBmcoB6nZDWv91ojpMfJf1Zp7BA2HPXNVxrKJMvm5BINmKEDAuUKWXlQNZJFalDYQfAgGihdIDRsnuLyECztIjm9MscQ/s320/RiserKing.jpg" width="339" border="0" /> <div></div><div>CERAMICS R US! Everywhere you look, you see them. It's a hill town, and even driving up the hill to the town, there are ceramics decorating the walls. They are on buildings, on walls, in the Museum of Ceramics, and, of course, in hundreds of little studios and shops. Every piece is hand-painted, and many of them are also created in clay by hand. Everyone, I mean <em>everyone</em>, in Caltagirone seems to be an artist. It makes me wonder--is the art of ceramics-making genetic?</div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211457771899723618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 351px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 102px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="92" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQCX0r0eR2KZhs986faiF_9l1HAgn0vSA1taG7E8OU1EkFmZScKztMeOzWJ9NKIN7e5BW5Bk77YTn1XsZGEZVrwI-GSIS4v09IOhgd8CeeZUByOuHl9HyzuO81FJXZiOUzHPr8A/s320/RiserDancersChurch.jpg" width="341" border="0" />LA SCALA! That is the name of my favorite restaurant in Caltagirone, but it is right on THE stairs (la scala). It's at the bottom on the right, as you head up. The stairs are extraordinary--worth a trip to the city even if you never buy a single thing! The official name of the 142-step monument is Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte, and it was built in 1608. The coolest thing is that the riser of each step is decorated with hand-decorated ceramics in different styles, old and new, by artists of the town. I have never been to this town when I <em>didn't</em> climb the steps. It's an activity that is physically demanding, shopping-productive (many shops on each side), and aesthetically pleasing. Coming back down with heavy packages is a challenge, but there is the restaurant La Scala waiting below. I <em>always</em> eat there and highly recommend it. It's decorated with ceramics, of course, but also has some archaeological interest (look through the glass-covered sections of the floor).<br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211456137221668850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="126" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvxYpO_wyQdt7Tq8GmcD-2YaB1TiK45-EDUJ6BRPw2UOlRYYTM-p_DsskY85xLlWuJU5kfJ4aIijkVpiweQyHnX1PpqeTbYQtfMWROPqykxv7ORSL3IsltZJZ_G3O_aT_AkgSTg/s320/RiserEagleFlag.jpg" width="343" border="0" /> The way to enjoy Caltigirone is just to wander, marvel, and take your time. There are so many workshops, shops, stores, and even a "supermarket" of ceramics, that you can never see them all. And each season, the designs and products change slightly. They make literally everything you can imagine in ceramics: tiles, figurines, pots, plates, tables, lamps, mirrors, kitchens, key holders, jewelry, and on and on and on. The dominant colors are blues and yellows. You can watch artists at work, often in the back room of a tiny shop. (Hint: If you see something you like in Taormina, look for the artist's name on the bottom of the piece and look him/her up in Caltagirone. Usually you can find them with Google. You'll save a lot of money this way.) I own a significant collection of Sicilian ceramics after just four years here. <div><br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211455844877987954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="136" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYjmzPnT_rf7kQuidDdHVYSQBcA_cMP3Fiq0EX9eRFZl8zkzFehdbCcPWkcSaJyrMzXe1gbofOQlzGA8CJlA93Y3aeJzZ1c1eK64CeJF9VmgFTn96cuBZF3HB7YteZvlXM6fVOg/s320/RiserNaggingWoman.jpg" width="349" border="0" /> In addition, there are zillions of photo ops, Baroque architecture galore, churches, Italy's largest nativity scene (so they say), and glorious views of the surrounding countryside and Etna on clear days. This hill town is 600 meters high! Like so many good Sicilian towns, it was founded and named by the Arabs, inhabited by Greeks, Ligurians (northern Italians), Byzantines, Normans, and a few others. There is a definite influence by each of these in the designs of the ceramics. See more <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hdlions/sets/72157601276747907">PHOTOS</a> here.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211455639651111106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="97" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5j201uqbkOvmTgDYOMLzMcMohEhQ5qSJ5_X9Toj-bF2_QG20WfLq5Dsgu-IyMbinQW2LZVieGvBso6ajtDoUttE29p82F9xR3UNPNnTNepOymCmNe-lXVhYFu7nFOeTWS90N3A/s320/RiserSicilianCart.jpg" width="344" border="0" /> The Museum of Ceramics may be interesting to artisans and perhaps historians. I found it to be not very interesting. Lots of dusty pots. However, the building itself and the surrounding park, which is decorated with ceramics, is very nice.</div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211455295263780018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="119" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsde4QcR0toTNyClMYp4qEP8UwKT7tuwFOQhjnGdh4YVLYLfbmkURVNNu4yhyUxfRlGs-5XFYvP8XZH5foTy1mmOw4hf7FFBig7pfAIRLNZQ-2d9C1OWW6RL7XaAl9QCEKmfw9w/s320/RiserPaisley.jpg" width="360" border="0" /> Credit cards are pretty much accepted everywhre, but there are ATMs all over town. Good thing.<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211454719908950722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="341" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6S7CfK8zWj-tWtBVT231dXOrRpdO9diLVQRcZ71VSunZDk6U6uytndPTs0QsrL-MPColXK2E_0lxFqlCTJrPOIweUDS44N0mNlu8cuwXJQi1xIrZ5DcAOcBUyXQwKaGZJcE3TA/s320/MESteps.jpg" width="254" border="0" /></div></div></div>Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-15784758723768942202008-06-07T20:56:00.017+02:002008-06-08T14:05:33.576+02:00Cheap Seats at the Greek Theater<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-XdjvhHI6XSPyKw3QmwEGWUyTwu5KMTVqsoFdy0izO3BvtQ-Tf606F-VLe05DVdZLXh6sLOmJUhqwg0BJ0GpZt5lYrCk2sITq6rQ0DdxhtsvoWIDf0kdoEZuW0PpmkNyveapHQ/s1600-h/Agamemnon.jpg"></a>For some crazy reason, I thought it would be a good idea to take my AVID students on a fieldtrip to see an ancient Greek play in the ancient Greek theater in Siracusa. You want culture? You want a unique experience? This is IT. I had been there twice (<a href="http://sicilianodyssey.blogspot.com/2007/01/trojan-women-in-greek-theater.html">first</a>, <a href="http://sicilianodyssey.blogspot.com/2007/06/hercules-goes-mad.html">second</a>) and enjoyed the experience immensely. Of course, I had been there with adults who were friends, we had great (reserved, padded) seats, and it was a civilized event.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209470669378954130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="263" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6oXkhyphenhyphenLDLeEJoJ5vNv80NGGbYJSf97evZPIQeVJdNhg9B5zNSGEpQu55c3rJVaUf1ELBoTX6uAXpvutaMZ_v4xFyPW0h7YiIdVNQCkwm0AqSS-sTcdt587tba3KW5acrWchK92g/s320/P5280020.JPG" width="346" border="0" /><br /><div><div><div><div>We raised enough money to buy tickets for all the high school AVID students, tutors, and teachers, over $1000. I then got lucky and teamed up with our Italian Italian teacher, Sal Iozzia (below), for this event. He liked the idea so much, he asked if his students could join us. That's how we ended up with a group of fifty-two. He purchased the tickets for us (with a great deal of hassle), the bus was approved, and all was set. In class, our very own AVID tutor Kathy Vary spent several class periods prepping the kids by reading the entire play, <em>Agamemnon</em>, by Aeschylus, with them. Every single kid brought in a permission slip and they actually were excited about going. </div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209472836428312786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHA6RC2GHAtUktkSYOgDgJJsyh_tyuZXrQ4528jc5TmJo4od7vbFmba4vFctLHWVgNsbOSThaVv45ja5HPAqFldV-nCdCPwq42O6T6IEON7YQwOmyewF-mgPw7xgHJqAK_FghsjA/s320/SalKendra.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgqXto8VDTlHQeR2waz3mhwl3Ja3VlwKndtX4zO9Fp0hSonGFbLJR_Op0PHoSzr2tSx3EV0Gq3AFqDPYFAStw0WGpFKHVOkpO65Mvkoy9jH8XEDLS0tw900d2XC6APSLrAfMH9g/s1600-h/Clythemnestra.jpg"></a>Sal had told me it was "open seating," but I didn't fully understand what that was until the day before the event. It meant that NO seats were reserved--it was first come, first serve. The 2,400 year old theater seats over 10,000 people, so I didn't expect it to be full. It certainly wasn't the other times I went.<br /></div><br /><div>We were running late in spite of starting early. Traffic and slow service at McDonald's put us on the wire to even make it in on time. We finally pulled up to the park, jumped off the bus, ran down the path and entered the theater . . . only to find it absolutely mobbed with kids--teenagers and colleges students! We felt the excitement and knew we were at a rock concert, a real event, <em>the place to be!</em> No seats were to be had, but we found places way up on the grass and rocks above the seating and everyone spread out and settled down for the performance.<br /><br /><em><a href="http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~loxias/agamemnon.htm">Agamemnon</a></em> is one of the few remaining plays by Aeschylus. It is as old as this theater. In fact, Aeschylus himself had traveled to Sicily, which was filled with Greek colonies at the time (4th century BC), and even perished there, at Gela. The play is indeed tragic: Clytemnestra, Agamemnon's wife, has been waiting for ten years for the Trojan War to end and for her husband to return. However, it is for all the wrong reasons. Her anger at him for sacrificing their beloved daughter to the gods so he could get wind to sail to Troy has been seething for all these years. No one knows this. He finally shows up, and, to make matters worse, he has a woman "slave" with him, a war trophy, whose name is Cassandra. She just so happens to be a prophetess, and she predicts Agamemnon's and her deaths at the hand of Clytemnestra, the wife. Sure enough, they are murdered (offstage, where all violence occurs in Greek places) and then Clytemnestra and her new boyfriend, Aegisthus, leave the stage triumphantly in the end with plans to rule the Greeks together. Aegisthus, by the way, was also getting even with Agamemnon because his father was served his own children to eat by Agamenon's father (except for Aegisthus, who was an infant and spared). All in all, a very dramatic, bloody, and tragic play. It was staged brilliantly, as it always is in Siracusa, and well-acted. In addition, there was music and chanting, which I had not seen/heard before. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hdlions/sets/72157605494068104">See more photos HERE</a>.</div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209469778672038754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="252" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhot0E7OsSRmPVSnv8k3Ha2oX64OW1fM31VkjC9B3jpI9OkwClxqg_2gv7PzpsL3V_ZU_Bv0_b9AZ1D2PetpoDy8EbOF4fBEeT7Os6mDc7yCNDoVziwSkhDyD2KAXQLlUsatzdLOA/s320/StageView.jpg" width="337" border="0" /> <div></div><div>The kids really liked it, too, even though they were only able to understand and follow it minimally, since it is done in Italian.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209469039727524306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 366px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 258px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="243" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PWj6-UwpPFzbubqC7l3utP52c18-QHC3paterbAtSuNkFghnybCgQcWvn6FAJ7ND-CgXWtlOD6gmKYor7q6up1N5wdwtCpcmM-WRqondiWoqoR43DKmklhpN7m0MppKZMKM4FA/s320/CrowdEnd.jpg" width="353" border="0" /><br />The biggest "adventure" came afterwards, because we stupidly had NO plan for finding the bus or even each other! Imagine all those people exiting the theater at once. Somehow, though, a <em>miracle</em> occurred and all fifty-two of us somehow found each other AND the bus and we all came home safely! In that mob of ten thousand, I am still amazed and grateful.<br /></div><br /><div>Ok, so I've been there and done that . . . next year I'm going to go again, but with adults. AND, I will have reserved seats and seafood and wine afterwards! </div></div></div></div>Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-57769719323910646622008-06-04T21:41:00.009+02:002008-06-06T06:26:13.278+02:00Signs of the Times in Sciacca<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbvYdMJb4-Otm9jjz4mgu0evvqpQ8dFxQPs1S8UKDy8sB0-w_CYdNCNvVOhn5v7jHqSPJg0AAdgDOPE_mNMkykaEU0oEdXBdFxRLCgIZ09qycjkJWyamyxL-zrV3Ctf7ytFgfHQ/s1600-h/PalazzoGraffeoSign.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208114823599852258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbvYdMJb4-Otm9jjz4mgu0evvqpQ8dFxQPs1S8UKDy8sB0-w_CYdNCNvVOhn5v7jHqSPJg0AAdgDOPE_mNMkykaEU0oEdXBdFxRLCgIZ09qycjkJWyamyxL-zrV3Ctf7ytFgfHQ/s320/PalazzoGraffeoSign.JPG" border="0" /></a> I recently went with my friend Michael to visit our friend Steve Jonas (of <a href="http://www.sicilianmama.blogspot.com/">Sicilian Mama</a> fame) in the Sicilian city of Sciacca (SHAH-kuh), which is located about 150 miles away, on the south coast of the island west of Agrigento. <a href="http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~loxias/sicily/sciacca.htm">Sciacca</a> is a pretty little town that is known for a famous carnivale parade in February, for its ceramics, and for its beaches and vacation homes. It gets very crowded in the summer, but now, in early June, it's just very charming and pleasant. Even the light of the sun is different there. I think I took some pretty nice <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hdlions/sets/72157605437993101">photos of the beautiful city of Sciacca</a>.<br /><br />We couldn't eat the fabulous seafood as I have in the past, because the fishermen are on strike, protesting the high cost of fuel (who isn't?), but we had marvelous pizza and great wine inside the ancient walled part of the city. Other than that, we shopped for ceramics, saw all the major sights, sat on the piazza and struck up a conversation with a man who had been a barber in New York City for 25 years and then moved back to Sciacca when he retired.<br /><br />Sciacca had some interesting signs, which you'll see here. Above is one of the historical markers found throughout the city for buildings of interest. Notice that it is made of ceramics and wrought iron, two artisan specialties of Sicily.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208114271231212434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNFp8L9WPF23xlgKwcJGPxN0CL-ekXIdPn4N_TSV8CVpDa8lQUZkYPBV5GSip2llrLzJg2SWyualfF9zSJQIiNak9d-G7oBgeRQqChk61_o2FzRro6q63CqIxgi3FwGC8SXIHDQ/s320/GinecologoSign.JPG" border="0" />This one amused me . . . you can figure out the Italian specialty of this doctor. And look at his name! Perhaps a relative of Sonny's?<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208114061644145010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFScoNei75IhQ3IYevosBHhH8i2G2rXRN0Rbja-AssqJywhCBznIIBmXAeorsDFZa4d127TvdpR1HYbrNxrASDyuieuMhCqH3B5tXd-Hm-dcghpDVMeU0b4HYT7qIA4YGh5IdMJA/s320/AssassinationPlaque.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>This one is much more somber . . . a marker of the assassination by the Mafia of Accursio Miraglia, a communist trade union man in January 1947. There is a novel and a movie about this event called <em>The Day of the Owl. </em></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208114399119475938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWEkMTRqBZxxol_7r83l_V2XnIYqwOJeMNbelDm4-4RE7t7oO2WiCvtseC7PGc7Tp9paDRkpSivb3h78Nnz4LJ7aLxMLzjANj-mIHtsSWNJtUA-UzJ3Gl67Vk8APvM51vKmNVtg/s320/NoDogsSign.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Let's end on a lighter note . . . sorry, dogs of Sciacca, you can't go in the ice cream shop! </p><p></p>Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-23252186079786892482008-05-19T18:40:00.002+02:002008-05-19T18:46:38.402+02:00BBC Video of Etna's Latest EruptionLuckily, this is taking place on the opposite side of Etna from where I live!<br /><br />"<a href="http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?cl=7815254">Mount Etna Flows Back to Life</a>" from BBC News, Wed., May 14, 2008<br /><br />Europe's most active volcano, Mount Etna, continues to spew lava for a fifth day since erupting on Saturday.Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-84712491576764004102008-05-17T21:20:00.005+02:002008-05-17T21:31:15.348+02:00Under the Volcano<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201429077891114434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="257" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiergeqj5VoB5yTGqEG5xD3oa24dfhFgdllombAKt_FTIEeHXrsQ8gONyV4hdSNf7yRTCs2yygITt3s7IzvJplL114thsrpIjV-6Yt02zZrTKjeHczeF0JWHmxiaVzttNzQrCboRQ/s320/May14AM2008.jpg" width="341" border="0" />All the earthquakes tremors from the past several weeks really were a prelude to some volcanic activity on Etna again. These photos were taken this week. (How many photos do I have of Etna? Hundreds! And I keep taking more!) Above is a morning view of the top I took on the way to school on Wednesday morning. It had rained and turned cold, producing a lot of snow. But notice the dark gray cloud on the left? That's ash.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAjaJnQAvf_BS05JGGu5YuEOdq1djY_Vz0WKf3oaz2VCepKu-NDzRlJaodSzDez9qYbo5FCRcnk_c2mRXw1swLVO-O7jnHkdUi5CSVEGDhFi_hFT9YLy8QAUnUmHWH4nluKguKA/s1600-h/PatrickVolcano.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201429249689806290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="247" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAjaJnQAvf_BS05JGGu5YuEOdq1djY_Vz0WKf3oaz2VCepKu-NDzRlJaodSzDez9qYbo5FCRcnk_c2mRXw1swLVO-O7jnHkdUi5CSVEGDhFi_hFT9YLy8QAUnUmHWH4nluKguKA/s320/PatrickVolcano.jpg" width="342" border="0" /></a> Imagine playing your high school soccer game in the shadow of an erupting volcano! Here are the Sigonella boys vs. Aviano this afternoon. See the cloud of ash at the top? That kept happening all day long.<br /><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201429455848236514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="258" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipERtHTIW4P-aH3LS3LKctqNIzflU8EPp09cx8XqEAYX9eXd8kYtcPGk8fu9qJvwnRvKaD-fsbho2JamjwLoNCAHbRG4iGRMa_OtKSE3oGPab82ATyBlkDmRqrW3nJJ8_uHbXakg/s320/May17FromBelpasso2.jpg" width="341" border="0" />Here's another puff of ash that I captured on my way home this afternoon, from the nearby town of Belpasso. There is a strong lava flow, which is clearly visible at night, but it's on the sea side of the volcano and not seen from my side (this side, the south side). </div></div>Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-42187037005779055772008-05-10T22:50:00.008+02:002008-05-11T17:15:19.344+02:00Sicilian Cart Parade<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQv1wZdeBuOqUexYqki6UXU-y4ag3mgAK_j8qlYmvBNY8LbDp10N6Vk1RH_Uh11BL_0K2Hd6_nA90qzZzqd_jWqZaK_Be3O1XzfoJ2oR1V3G33bgdAX_R2lH2alg6jdVn3U0UpA/s1600-h/HorseBand.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198855184555214962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="254" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQv1wZdeBuOqUexYqki6UXU-y4ag3mgAK_j8qlYmvBNY8LbDp10N6Vk1RH_Uh11BL_0K2Hd6_nA90qzZzqd_jWqZaK_Be3O1XzfoJ2oR1V3G33bgdAX_R2lH2alg6jdVn3U0UpA/s320/HorseBand.jpg" width="339" border="0" /></a><br />Our Italian-American friend Rose took us to the nearby town of Trecastagni to see a whole parade of painted Sicilian carts this weekend. I had seen single carts occasionally and randomly before, but this was a real parade with about 15-20 of the beautifully painted carts complete with decorated horses and musicians playing old Sicilian folk music with flutes, accordians, and tambourines all the way.<br /><br />We were caught a little unaware as we stopped in a bar for a cappucino and suddenly saw a cart pass by the window. "Who ever heard of something starting on time in Sicily?" said Rose. So we rushed outside and enjoyed the long and lively parade a couple of times as they circled the town square more than once, went all through town to the main church (where the real action of the festival was happening), and then back through the square again. So basically we saw them three times throughout the morning.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_MOz6VYXfFgejMX_n1rj4xCvoYVtvHCdSJEmFnsjpcy_djTBz4pfUI65OwxtSwL0ZpfLn-VDFc_HyiZieZ9L0QidQo9gzwL8vrlLF9N7F6bshjThcOE3ry8wG-kvuRklkXYOPQ/s1600-h/CartCloseup.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198854712108812386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="263" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_MOz6VYXfFgejMX_n1rj4xCvoYVtvHCdSJEmFnsjpcy_djTBz4pfUI65OwxtSwL0ZpfLn-VDFc_HyiZieZ9L0QidQo9gzwL8vrlLF9N7F6bshjThcOE3ry8wG-kvuRklkXYOPQ/s320/CartCloseup.jpg" width="342" border="0" /></a>The beauty of the carts is in their painting--they are covered with coloful folk designs on every square inch with motifs that seem to be primarily medieval (Crusader knights fighting the Arabs) or religious with a few mermaids thrown in for fun. Not content just with painting, they are also carved with gargoyles, mermaids, angels, flowers, and all other kinds of designs. Underneath the carts, it was pointed out to me, hang such things as the cartman might need--an umbrella, a jug of wine, a bucket, etc. </div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198856198167496834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillzwcKXgibEdkKSeuLOnKaJqSG1jDmGfroURmmDBregb2jY4U43KfFAFKc4CwJCanH9nyd_iaM-JSD-e6zHeLsM4VpZg6GdqNoqOblyFeo_Hm07I7TLq2ZGguNxG97jgt_nhjSg/s320/P5100145.JPG" border="0" />Nowadays, the carts are only used for show, but the government considers them an important part of the Sicilian culture and subsidized their upkeep. There are very few people who still do this kind of painting, and even fewer who build them. No longer used for produce and farming, they have been replaced by the three-wheeled trucks, some of which are painted in the back in the same style.<br /><br />All of this was part of a huge religious festival in Trecastagni honoring the town's three brother martyr-saints, the most famous of whom is Saint Alfio. More on that in another entry.<br /><br />Compared to the rest of Italy, there isn't much (framed and hung) art in Sicilian museums, but, to me, it is more than made up for in the stunning mosaics, ceramics, and these painted carts. Art of the people, by the people, and for the people. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hdlions/sets/72157604996956552">MORE PHOTOS ON FLICKR</a> <div></div>Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-4588542092589918032008-05-03T08:39:00.006+02:002008-05-03T22:46:53.217+02:00Think your gas is expensive?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiFqejrSevYmxMQz1EEwOhmnVQwMcoNmNbKsUm_7H7yQifaiIggJ_MrOUOBaP1hJcvkpOBF7igqUepLVOTjZz0UuB8tiWX-x2ZvyXuSgwwdn3_ssmPCcppROnR6W0iTRKdF-ixg/s1600-h/P5030043.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196254815994263506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 327px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 241px" height="209" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiFqejrSevYmxMQz1EEwOhmnVQwMcoNmNbKsUm_7H7yQifaiIggJ_MrOUOBaP1hJcvkpOBF7igqUepLVOTjZz0UuB8tiWX-x2ZvyXuSgwwdn3_ssmPCcppROnR6W0iTRKdF-ixg/s320/P5030043.JPG" width="290" border="0" /></a>Today's price for gas per gallon in Atlanta, GA, is $3.30 for regular and $3.63 for premium. Everyday I hear or read about Americans complaining about these prices. It has even become a campaign issue.<br /><div></div><br /><div>Whatever the reason for the prices, it's unlikely they will come down. They never do. </div><div></div><br /><div>But Americans, count your blessings! Everyone else in the world pays a lot more, especially Europeans, and especially Italians. Even we Americans in Sicily who can buy gas coupons on base are paying $4.16/gallon (that's $111 for 100 liters). It now costs me over $40 to fill up the Mini!</div><div><br /></div><div>But Sicilians are really taking a hit. Sold by the liter, today's stations were showing 1.459 euros per liter, which, coupled with the lousy dollar rate, translates to <span style="font-size:130%;">$8.81</span>/gallon! Who can even afford to drive? Even a little Fiat 500? And they have no regular or super here, just one type of unleaded.<br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>The moral of the story--things could always be worse. Let's just hope they don't GET that way. </div>Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-1380898882184337592008-05-03T08:31:00.001+02:002008-05-03T08:35:06.655+02:00Another shake-up in Nicolosi ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^From <a href="http://www.lasiciliaweb.it/index.php?id=4644&template=lasiciliaweb"><em>La Sicilia</em> </a>(translation by Google). I felt this is as I was playing on-line Scrabble last night. My whole house shook violently. See reference to Nicolosi in first and third paragraphs:<br /><br />Trema Etna<br /><br />Three aftershocks, the last one recorded in the afternoon at <span style="color:#cc0000;">Nicolosi</span>, on the northern side of the volcano: no consequence. Mild earthquake also between Lipari and Salina.<br /><br />CATANIA - A swarm of seismic forty shock was registered last night on Etna by seismographs of the national geophysics and volcanology. The two aftershocks of the earthquake most significant respectively of magnitude 2.9 and 3.3 on the Richter scale, were located on the northern side of the volcano. Both seismic events, which have not been felt by the population, have originated about one kilometer deep in an area five kilometers north east of localities' Pizzi of Blacks'.<br /><br /> In the afternoon, around 18.30, was reported a shock third and fourth Etna in Sicily: second instruments of national geophysics and volcanology, the shock of magnitude 1.7, was recorded in the town of <span style="color:#cc0000;">Nicolosi</span>, in the province of Catania. The quake was slightly felt by the population. From the checks carried out by the situation room Italy Department of Civil Defence not damage to persons or property.<br /><br />A seismic shock was registered in Messinese at 3.26, with a magnitude of 2.4. The area affected by seismic phenomenon, according to a press release refers the Department of Civil Protection, is the sea near the islands of Lipari and Salina. From the checks carried out by the situation room Italy department are not, at present, damage to persons and property.<br /><br />02/05/2008Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-68575335730688665312008-04-22T21:00:00.003+02:002008-04-22T21:17:14.237+02:00Sicilian Green Hairy Monster<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOiEO15rE7I7-FKQtaDRWzkXp3OBaNXUXZC7N3E_at0FbRA3ZbuYIclK2U1XkbUK7eUziuziVKbUFWiU_zZGN_pBLT2OSg56FLrti5G0iFB4f0Q1JShPGkO47ZKEe3S5_uFs8MA/s1600-h/Artichokemobile2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192150373447514034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="285" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOiEO15rE7I7-FKQtaDRWzkXp3OBaNXUXZC7N3E_at0FbRA3ZbuYIclK2U1XkbUK7eUziuziVKbUFWiU_zZGN_pBLT2OSg56FLrti5G0iFB4f0Q1JShPGkO47ZKEe3S5_uFs8MA/s320/Artichokemobile2.jpg" width="357" border="0" /></a><br /><div> It's that time of year again--artichoke time! All over the streets and in the markets, you'll see these little 3-wheeled trucks loaded down with artichokes, which are sold in bundles of like . . . twenty-four! You can't just buy one, or even ten. And they are cheap, something like three or five euros for that many ($4.50-$7.50). These green, hairy artichoke monsters can be seen all over Sicily. <br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192147401330145170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="255" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYGgAhIVo1CW2afoYUaJi4GFq8tVhRe7KbtYJzMTWksU2yinALGf2C0teqKcMaI3Gaf-UxIEtlubmakI3yxY6hyphenhyphenaug1BPR7j7XxyiESNwe9zCzMlgqUQasgidbhU8ST8OfYiYng/s320/Artichokemobile.jpg" width="355" border="0" /></div></div>Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-15540250450130602182008-04-20T14:32:00.011+02:002008-04-20T15:28:21.792+02:00Earthquake in Nicolosi!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihB3ReV3ey2SDRJ8rriJlQEUv94gPuE4fmk5iLQBPsYy23wwCuJd4Iji2pHdrImb-EW4FMWVoxfnGfFRhq85VtWUCJNgZ-FreuXsF2X4YyOeLAcIDi-QXXwts7CjKitJPtZsFqoA/s1600-h/P4200011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191312451179367490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="286" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihB3ReV3ey2SDRJ8rriJlQEUv94gPuE4fmk5iLQBPsYy23wwCuJd4Iji2pHdrImb-EW4FMWVoxfnGfFRhq85VtWUCJNgZ-FreuXsF2X4YyOeLAcIDi-QXXwts7CjKitJPtZsFqoA/s320/P4200011.JPG" width="362" border="0" /></a><br /><div>As if there weren't enough turmoil in Nicolosi this morning with the Catania-Etna auto race snarling traffic and extra people jamming our usually quiet bar, a pretty big earthquake rocked our little town. Several of us were sitting out on the patio grousing about the blocked roads, no parking, the crowd of race fans and drivers at the bar, and especially about the <strong><em>noise </em></strong>of the dozens of race cars revving their engines all around us, when suddenly, an even louder noise, like thunder, occurred and the whole building seemed to drop violently and then lift and then shake for several seconds, followed soon after by a very strong aftershock! The barmen yelled at everyone to leave the building, so we grabbed our belongings and our tall glasses of Baileys that we'd just gotten and headed out to the sidewalk. Car alarms started going off and all the race cars shut off as people poured into the streets. (See photo above.) Cell phones were immediately unusable as all the circuits jammed. Despite shaking knees and pounding hearts, we toasted "To life!" and waited for a few minutes before taking back our tables on the patio. I don't think I've felt an earthquake this big here, although I have felt many tremors and even been waked up at night once. </div><br /><div></div><div><em>La Sicilia</em>, Sicily's own newspaper and website, <a href="http://www.lasiciliaweb.it/index.php?id=4274&template=lasiciliaweb">reported</a> a "seismic shock of magnitude 3.2, was felt at 9.47 this morning" in Nicolosi. "The seismic shock recorded this morning on Etna was clearly felt by the population and in particular Nicolosi, where many people have thrown in the streets and squares." (That's a Google translation, so people were not really "thrown" into the streets, but went out for safety.) My friends Matt and Christine were still at home when it hit, and <em>all</em> of their neighbors were out in the street, even in their pajamas. Apparently, that's the thing they do when there's an earthquake--get OUT of the building. Matt also said two of his cats were howling like crazy right before the quake. They say animals somehow <em>know.</em></div><br /><div></div><div>According to <em>La Sicilia,</em> no one was reported injured, although three churches in town were immediately evacuated during Mass (and one was celebrating First Communion), and "The greatest damage was recorded in the Cathedral Church, where pieces have fallen cornices external plaster and have damaged the interior plaster and two aisles." In fact, there were thirty reports of damage to houses and businesses in the town. </div><br /><div></div><div>Luckily, the civil defense was already on the spot due to the big auto race, which went on as planned. The president of the region was on hand (for the race) and gave it his approval. </div><br /><div></div><div>It's been quiet ever since this morning, but they also say that an earthquake happens before Etna erupts, so I'm keeping an eye on it. Stay tuned. </div>Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-72901507416051911252008-04-17T17:25:00.006+02:002008-04-17T17:42:40.574+02:00Greek Temples by Night<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyjsvY70TWhMrWbNRyVsnIh3LR_08HG5_VpsYghb8wWx2oJiBhPLPgqBcZzP8nYtamT3ESHN_QH3s19RcmxfRTYMMQdHE8pMuBIDmsPwQTKy8TnMIK0EQ_Bc0znnDFIWUvJM3pg/s1600-h/TempleNight2b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190237818747077170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="281" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyjsvY70TWhMrWbNRyVsnIh3LR_08HG5_VpsYghb8wWx2oJiBhPLPgqBcZzP8nYtamT3ESHN_QH3s19RcmxfRTYMMQdHE8pMuBIDmsPwQTKy8TnMIK0EQ_Bc0znnDFIWUvJM3pg/s320/TempleNight2b.jpg" width="364" border="0" /></a> <div><div>Over spring break, I again was able to visit <a href="http://sicilianodyssey.blogspot.com/2005/09/valle-dei-templi.html">Agrigento and the Greek temples</a>. They have finished all work on them at the moment, and they look great! My new Olympus SP-55OUZ did a spectacular job with the temples of Concord (above) and Hera (below) at night from my hotel room at the <a href="http://www.colleverdehotel.it/">Colleverde Park Hotel</a>. I used no special settings at all, just set the camera on a little table-top tripod on the windowsill!<br /><br />I highly recommend this hotel, which is small but elegant and perfectly located for a view of the temples at night. They are moderately priced and also have a very nice restaurant as well as great service.</div><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190237668423221794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 374px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="239" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWozgJQgmeKmnDpYGyU1Dkpe6efFisSvgEYT2BQ8KxCRmfqV-l1zYlZaK8JZ3zEmpVAnc3a7ShPKWNhwGKPr2I78r0-GR6MsRwm4N9fBDx_cw60YZ4OUy52RhskEDBakRyDXjajw/s320/TempleNight1.jpg" width="350" border="0" /></div></div>Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-2201615430004959652008-04-07T08:29:00.004+02:002008-04-07T23:55:36.578+02:00De Maupassant on Taormina<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXFhGW8Q6jK0Yp68ea6fDWTlej7KlNU3SC6LPTI-Jy5m-fNfJ7NabqASPPPC3gOSiSMWp9M8b_m0x-g1S8Cv3tZEdRyezpknFEopqTIXoILo8yi1CDOOgvk2TCskalMDF6Hrfqg/s1600-h/P4060076.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186624658860056034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="260" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXFhGW8Q6jK0Yp68ea6fDWTlej7KlNU3SC6LPTI-Jy5m-fNfJ7NabqASPPPC3gOSiSMWp9M8b_m0x-g1S8Cv3tZEdRyezpknFEopqTIXoILo8yi1CDOOgvk2TCskalMDF6Hrfqg/s320/P4060076.JPG" width="336" border="0" /></a><br /><div>"Should you only have one day to spend in Sicily and you ask me 'what is there to see?' I would reply 'Taormina' without any hesitation. It is only a landscape but one in which you can find everything that seems to have been created to seduce the eyes, the mind and the imagination."<br /><br />--Guy de Maupassant, 1885, from "Towards the Golden Skies," diary of a journey.</div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186625079766851058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="257" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2OH4gEzhdrkjqydAjO-eUC6Sp10qoDgP07uyR-IFBD8woDBCFYoni7AsspObB7NkYj4VoNSwPeFOhgaLvmSG-3m3aAbNdVMt0z4LLV5wXDVl6sgwRHJ2-u9kbfdqzdDonXGFyQ/s320/P4060090.JPG" width="338" border="0" /></div>Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-64087692810857947872008-03-30T15:57:00.010+02:002008-03-30T17:46:34.914+02:00Middle Schoolers in Catania<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUH1lI5nO9YI6I1e8BgZCRnfuI-3XL2vTIVQejiB5KbTryleXiUVa1Bsk-0tKZ_fkKVighLViOMsu9H5bFRaVUINs9bJ31cT3bB_IamGyesdd1bN-S5XwYQVEQTMgZjprNXxb2Q/s1600-h/JanBeckoning.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183559040053190034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="256" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUH1lI5nO9YI6I1e8BgZCRnfuI-3XL2vTIVQejiB5KbTryleXiUVa1Bsk-0tKZ_fkKVighLViOMsu9H5bFRaVUINs9bJ31cT3bB_IamGyesdd1bN-S5XwYQVEQTMgZjprNXxb2Q/s320/JanBeckoning.jpg" width="340" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div>On Tuesday of this past week, my colleague and fellow AVID teacher Jan Sibayan and I took twenty-some 7th and 8th grade AVID students on a walking tour of Catania. This was Jan's plan, and she orchestrated the whole thing. It's quite fun to see things through their eyes instead of adult eyes. Some go to Catania every week for the market, and others had rarely been there (and only with school or on a tour). Everyone did see or do at least one new thing, though, even me! </div></div><div><div><br />Best parts for them? Probably eating fresh strawberries <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdPVTtELlA0w_u-Vv52g4GUpMxRZWoowGwkNU5_jwqlMuAIKHdVIf3YbY1WlOGk_KskdaZU1SNEeP-fIl0PvVXX9FtVc4qW7ih2g9RXAvcA7WzpTsYIhYoZbp2WAw0NGTaj1udA/s1600-h/InspectingFish.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183556334223793506" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 184px" height="179" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdPVTtELlA0w_u-Vv52g4GUpMxRZWoowGwkNU5_jwqlMuAIKHdVIf3YbY1WlOGk_KskdaZU1SNEeP-fIl0PvVXX9FtVc4qW7ih2g9RXAvcA7WzpTsYIhYoZbp2WAw0NGTaj1udA/s320/InspectingFish.jpg" width="265" border="0" /></a>in the market, eating lunch at one of the most beautiful McDonald's I've ever seen, stopping again and eating gelato, shopping for souvenirs, and just having fun with each other. They were quite well-behaved and patient through two churches, one Norman castle, two random courtyards, Roman ruins, two bars (cafes), the fish market and produce market, one Baroque palace, several piazzas, two Bellini monuments, two Cardinal Dusmet monuments, tons of St. Agatha stuff, and lots of Baroque architecture. That's a lot of walking around . . . and no one got lost!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183558705045740930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="259" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TgUcygPiRzpSv8-2PIOom7G4YLt7UzQlDNNmHBrb9ZvqM4H-wwXIwO0ftA7nSoH93H4GZNNGxtmhBCa0VnZXrCl7a5HlPcInAU6xXSIZZiwoEwJxiPAhfeJ1w7fuUsmJgmKFQQ/s320/MEKathy4students.jpg" width="341" border="0" /><br />A new experience for me and many others was the opportunity to go down into the ruins of the old Roman ampitheater right downtown on Via Etnea. I'd seen it dozens of times from above but this was the first time I was down in it. It's obviously a whole new perspective . . . all the rooms and a few artifacts (pillars, bas reliefs) are up close and personal. See AVID tutor Kathy Vary and I sitting on original columns with some of our students? Our junior chaperone and accompanying senior, Patrick, insisted that there used to be mazes of underground tunnels leading out of there . . . until an entire class of kids were lost forever. Then they closed them off. Fact or urban myth? It's hard to say in Sicily. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTeV7Xv41GL3HDt8E-O2tkClASgAa3p-wbdWgRE7heKPm4xfXAaaJ0F00H7aMtTkbL_vygN6onRxnxZZTcTg5HCvqo4nFTGULlYBHnxEnf_06u1RLSrfC9dXcokST6uZlDqWIgQ/s1600-h/Elephant.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183558116635221362" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 210px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px" height="293" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTeV7Xv41GL3HDt8E-O2tkClASgAa3p-wbdWgRE7heKPm4xfXAaaJ0F00H7aMtTkbL_vygN6onRxnxZZTcTg5HCvqo4nFTGULlYBHnxEnf_06u1RLSrfC9dXcokST6uZlDqWIgQ/s320/Elephant.jpg" width="234" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div>We counted elephants. The elephant is the symbol of Catania, although it's not clear why. We saw a lot of them and I took a bunch of photos. The one to the right is the most visible and famous one in the Piazza Duomo. See the pigeon on his back?<br /></div><div> <br /></div><div>Jan and I are looking forward to next year and possibly adding more food stops, a kind of "eat your way through Catania" tour. Hmmm. Ummmm! </div></div></div></div>Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-32118003811765737222008-03-23T20:01:00.008+01:002008-03-23T20:38:36.211+01:00Easter Bunny Comes to Sicily!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlc2Rk16E4dydGymslJzugDqbz5NCcvNK4b6rwHFL3bbDv7Lr_KNpiJ2Y_AiyYIWFLzY-iAKwteVgG9MeGJkdS18Tua08KbLZo6E-sdkTg4W8hcZ42AhiRJpQq3yD9MUYbPA1Ofg/s1600-h/LadiesWEasterBunny.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181023136742808834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="238" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlc2Rk16E4dydGymslJzugDqbz5NCcvNK4b6rwHFL3bbDv7Lr_KNpiJ2Y_AiyYIWFLzY-iAKwteVgG9MeGJkdS18Tua08KbLZo6E-sdkTg4W8hcZ42AhiRJpQq3yD9MUYbPA1Ofg/s320/LadiesWEasterBunny.jpg" width="334" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3rk3dexInMCHIgonQBvT5T5zCoiDyDhWGwU5cMyMKIhtlwbdqG7p61RVJ0BPEufaqKR94D43jcQX5BOjgLt-fDtJ0ItmiegGBCny-peV6u_xNtDrzmUSNWgMJmvTsbEGZ0I6-A/s1600-h/LadiesWEasterBunny.jpg"></a>Guess who came to cappucino this morning at the Papaveri Papere Bar in Nicolosi? The Easter Bunny! Here he is with Lisa, Rose, me, and Kendra. And, yes, he drinks cappucino, too. Check out the latest creation from the candy maker there today--chocolate egg people!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181023471750257938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="176" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuiZZ1w9b0wMaK_JdQeWTj3yVfJE7aPKIA1lRn9aO9yjk8s4y2rbUKCam18olNsUUplKevFPMN2tJ_yNWg7QrGQ-VnuZo7aHVixTkLz_NiWBqJ_ZiNYr99VO3aDhNUskGlXp4CTQ/s320/ChocoEgg.jpg" width="338" border="0" /> <div></div><div></div><div> </div></div>Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-42158318970929736942008-03-19T20:13:00.011+01:002008-03-19T21:01:20.222+01:00Flying Saucer over Sicily<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUU9mV4ZaS-4RmwYz9SmH1meAKrZ-0Kvxi5Eqf_IqnE5-e5NYj9iAEpRa8g_ENrRsGS777jrmS7DzaVtOSyP7qjg3_REy9vjeeLx0OqoxlGM_t-BrUbs45jY4x9qOPscmEpv5WRw/s1600-h/P3190015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179544267833646274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUU9mV4ZaS-4RmwYz9SmH1meAKrZ-0Kvxi5Eqf_IqnE5-e5NYj9iAEpRa8g_ENrRsGS777jrmS7DzaVtOSyP7qjg3_REy9vjeeLx0OqoxlGM_t-BrUbs45jY4x9qOPscmEpv5WRw/s320/P3190015.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div>Yesterday and again today, I saw something over Mt. Etna that I had never seen, or perhaps noticed, before, a "flying saucer" cloud. The person who pointed it out to me said they only form over volcanoes. Well, it turns out it's not just volcanoes, but actually mountains, and the conditions have to be just right. </div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179543679423126690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppPIqZ-kcFAzX5Ur6rrUCYrwdtvRw9L_Rh_8lcW65K_4biR2X5M0wTXSU71-7_lUGrEBXYwGdDb-VHMo7o2Dj0Sn6yWzQuhs4cLag5Kkqb6SOF1C6g46kTGmxsxB9GPKvDLdgaQ/s320/P3190014.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>I did a little googling and found out that this cloud is a <a href="http://www.crystalinks.com/lenticular.html">lenticular cloud</a> and that they are "relatively rare phenomena," which made me feel really lucky to have seen them two days in a row. Lenticular means "lens-like." It was one of my eighth-grade students who told me that! Smart kids! </div><div><br /></div><div>These clouds are formed above mountains (or volcanoes) as air is lifted to saturation over the top of mountains. They are "technically known as altocumulus standing lenticularis" and are stationary and usually aligned at right-angles to the wind direction. Here are a couple of photos I got this morning on my way to work.<br /></div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179542970753522834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 365px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 227px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="213" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFbOHHfRLzGbeyMuSBRFJmudEPW66dQA8YbcF5H28JD_VoKRYlm91l74TKbgC9Szb-2nSKqufwXqFYipJo3lK-YL9NkwoWeW0rsp4pPICmI0RMxQPdGofkozz9b1gR8V-T0_I6Q/s320/P3190018.jpg" width="344" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816694.post-75069951350745415402008-03-15T16:11:00.011+01:002008-03-15T17:12:16.101+01:00You know you've been in Sicily too long when . . .I got to thinking about this yesterday when I found <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLYnjNa6bRil6_NYFCmZzuckuFnJxmW8V4viixigPrd4CCf-u67SM9f6xaWT3NHwB6YdKsmXkSStdbQ_vbAOG6HrwyQw-1X-oAw4XXtu76g5y-0t_fhbpW7RsA3NxKL03WNK_uA/s1600-h/MEAciTrezza.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177995762141656658" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 230px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 231px" height="268" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLYnjNa6bRil6_NYFCmZzuckuFnJxmW8V4viixigPrd4CCf-u67SM9f6xaWT3NHwB6YdKsmXkSStdbQ_vbAOG6HrwyQw-1X-oAw4XXtu76g5y-0t_fhbpW7RsA3NxKL03WNK_uA/s320/MEAciTrezza.jpg" width="277" border="0" /></a>myself wearing a down jacket, zipped-up, on a sunny day in 65 degree temperatures, and being completely comfortable! I've been Sicily too long! If we had this weather in Germany or Illinois I'd have been out in shorts, t-shirt, and sandals!<br /><br />Feel free to <strong>add more in COMMENTS</strong>, my American friends in Sicily!<br /><br /><div><div><em><strong>You know you've been in Sicily too long when . . .</strong></em><br /><br />. . . you find yourself passing on curve, if the road is wide enough.</div><br /><p>. . . you're surprised when your luggage arrives in Catania on the flight you're actually on.</p><p>. . . stop signs and lights are only suggestions.</p><p>. . . you always bring your own paper and don't expect a toilet seat in a public restroom.</p><p>. . . you hit a killer pothole because you're afraid of hitting a scooter in your blindspot if you swerve to miss it.</p><p>. . . you no longer think "geep" are cute, just annoying for being on the road.</p><p>. . . you have horsemeat cravings.</p><p>. . . you no longer bother to wash your car or fix its dents, scratches, and scrapes.</p><p>. . . you are missing either a rear-view mirror, headlight, or taillight.</p><p>. . . you think Italian food IS the only cuisine worth eating and five courses is normal.</p><p>. . . you don't stand in lines but push to the front. </p><p>. . . you are not upset about a guy going the wrong way in a traffic circle; in fact, you think it's funny. </p><p>. . . you are an olive oil snob.</p><p>. . . you own at least one cat or dog you rescued from the street.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177992626815530530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="200" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJprAFJ0cABv4JC8VZ7sJ0Y_Tc6BmVL2JTguUfMllvwSXblKZ3TVC4DQBMXCtb8r_oidFQ-YE3-osFAsJlKwIRheKBmNTZqhvw2_8WMA2iouxG0B8obvYRhb3W0oswrjXGIIQ7g/s320/100_3641.JPG" width="281" border="0" /> . . . you just laugh at GPSes and people who try to use them.<br /><br /><p>. . . you buy more in the market or on the street than in stores.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177995341234861634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="273" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdp2NKFSP_o217unGa59uRQc5IzTyS8qXomWZEM4Qzr9GGeC1RWiYkZ5SZ90UEskiI4cZUVxZkkNswwcUkLNoPQhwbTGwjtForoTune-87Zc9u05S4hNsbbUE25WMqIEa-O2eSw/s320/DeadChickens.jpg" width="222" border="0" />. . . you always wear sunglasses, even indoors, even at night.<br /><p> </p><p>. . . you know the Italian words for discount, sale, and going out of business. </p><p>. . . you always check to see if there is a strike or volcanic ash in the air before going to the airport.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177993099261933106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="203" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_weo5g4owTY0zp10X0jvkoJmY9jmGChRRWP5SXl3E4BfN5r33elHW27XTF-JgxuvGRQHyIrC_CjdCtwkwKOgtNGQUHhoROyRTIo8ArLB2IHB5CTIs1ajlpGpn267AmPQnfNmOA/s320/P1010020.JPG" width="280" border="0" /> </div><br /><div></div><div>. . . you have at least one good recipe for homemade limonello and have made it.</div><br /><div></div><div>. . . you'll eat black spaghetti without a second thought.</div><br /><div></div><div>. . . you don't expect to get anything done between one and four o'clock P.M.</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>. . . you can't move any of your furniture by yourself because it's all made from wrought iron and lava stone.</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>. . . you know the number for Telecom Italia assistance by heart.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Maryellen Pientahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15616933745082415951noreply@blogger.com7