EvainSicily

 It's windy, rough sea...lower temperature... I don't like this weather to go to the beach...   it's better to do something else like... visiting a good pastry shop! ice-cream cones .."mignon"

  La Locanda del Colonnello, in the heart of the elegant Baroque in Modica Alta: where the flavours of our Sicilian traditions meet the art of a young but already an excellent chef and his brigade (Accursio Crapraro) It's the perfect place to relax , in one of its four rooms or in the lovely open courtyard of an XIX's century palace,testing authentic food in a friendly but elegant atmosphere. Execellent the service.  Among the products carefully selected by the Locanda del Colonnello , I'm glad to find the wonderful olive oil produced by my friends The Mastri di San Basilio! The plate of the day was Macco di fave con polpo al profumo di finocchietto selvatico -  broad beans soup with octupus at the wild fennel flavour other specialities: scacce - local rolled stuffed pizza typical from Modica coniglio a stimpirata - rabbit with vegetables in sweet and sour sauce pasta con le sarde e mandorle - pasta with sardines and almonds gelo di li

 57 days later the 20th anniversary of Falcone and Borsellino, I found in FB , among my friends this note that touched me deeply it's the way I feel, it's the way I think... Grazie Damiano. I tried to translate into English.. sorry for mystakes MAFIA FROM A POINT OF VIEW by Damiano De Simone Born ,by Fate, in a reality with ancient traditions where Honour, Respect, Family are the most important values at the   basis of the Sicilian society… Peering among some    popular   districts you can see the other side of the medal that   labels   this land of sun   as   Mother   of the spoiled   phenomena called Mafia A cancer that founded colonies where ,in the name of a Revenge,   its people   as brave soldiers where ready to fight   against   the Italian subversions to defend  its land and the Sicilian gold It was people that     used to live on values which   echoed the notes of marranzano , who could see the golden wheat, the blinding an

 An unexpected old red doorway. I like it! usually you can see green gateways ... .  or light blue doorways by the sea...

To me: a lipstick ( for the hundreds of kisses she 'll give) kleenex (possibly  for her tears of joy) a mobile phone (I hope not!!) what else? ------------- Cosa ci sarà nella borsetta della sposa? un rossetto (per tutti i baci che darà?) kleenex ( per le lacrime di gioia?) un telefonino? (spero di no!) che altro??

 Yesterday a very nice tour with my American tourists : starting from Marina di Ragusa, to Ragusa Ibla and then luch in Modica and from Modica in the tiny but picturesque fihermen village of Marzamemi and then to Noto where , in its beautiful Cathedral a wedding had just been celebrated.. Looking at the couple making  the "offcial photoes", looking around at the wedding guests....and then waiting the groom and the bride coming out from the church. To my American people all this was amazing and it sounded more interesting than the Baroque in Ibla, the sunset in Marzamemi or the dark choccolate of Modica... .. Why not? This is also Sicily! A question? They got married on Monday! Do you celebrate weddings also on the week days and not only in the weekends? Yes we do, every day BUT never on Sundays. They're  around making photoes as memory of the day it's the turn now to make photoes with " i parenti più stretti" - the cl

With this heat (yesterday 45 C.) it's really impossible to work!!! much better relaxing ......at  least for today! "I don't want to do anything"..... this was the case when my mom told me in Sicilian : 'A valìa ti mancia viva" that is in Italian " La volontà(di fare qualcosa)  ti mangia viva!"  engl : Will is eating you  alive

 At 7.00 p.m is still really very hot.... impossible to stay at home or sitting in the cafè.. Why not to play cards by the sea? He has "carte Liscie" , not winner..

I couldn't stand under the sun..sleeping......... I'm getting..older, maybe, but  this year I've bought one of those light coloured sun-umbrella for the beach...

  Dicevi ca L’amuri miu è galera Ora si ‘ncatinatu ‘nta sti ranni vaji Non fu pi dinaru Ne’ pi dispettu Focu di raggia a lu pettu Raggia Allura dimmi tu Dimmi dimmi com’è? Fossi fossi pirchì Avi la vesti stritta Ca ci avvampa , maliritta! Allura dimmi tu Dimmi dimmi com’è Fossi fossi pirchì ‘nte minni ventu furria e ‘ntra li cosci mavaria Pinsannu a tia Passu li me jurnati Sula dintra stu lettu abbruciu ju Lu cori to’ è marturiatu È ‘ntrubbulatu Idda ti ferma lu ciatu Raggia Allura dimmi tu Dimmi dimmi com’è? Fossi fossi pirchì Avi la vesti stritta Ca ci avvampa , maliritta! Allura dimmi tu Dimmi dimmi com’è Fossi fossi pirchì ‘nte minni ventu furria e ‘ntra li cosci mavaria

Tomorrow evening: After a few years, after a partial reopening, the Villa Romana del Casale  (in Piazza Armerina, near Enna) shows  her new look offering her jewels under a new roof and a new display and lights! The most famous and extented  mosaics of the late Roman period, today Unesco's heritage, are one of the most visited sites in Sicily In the future, new excavations in the area after the discovery of another  large room  of about 80 sq metres with interesting mosaics . Another villa, part of a group of luxury residences in the area? This is Sicily..still something new coming from our great Past!

... and these tiles, from Caltagirone, could be on the staircase of my house! ..but I have no stairs to decorate! uffa!

At Nicolaci Palace ( Noto): these is the only floor dated XVIII's century. Gorgeus! I like these tiles... It was produced in Vietri (in Campania , on the Amalfi coast) -------------- Adoro la ceramica siciliana, anche se sono di parte non dovrei dirlo! Ma questo pavimento in blu,l'unico originale del XVIII secolo all'interno di Palazzo Nicolaci a Noto,  fu prodotto  a Vietri (Campania). Proprio bello.

After Scipione the Afrikaner, Caronte has arrived........hot hot hot! Why not to invest in the building of  iglù villages?  We, guides are ready, also with snowboard and skiing very well. Buona domenic a