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No Catania, Giordano's last day, Scandura dining

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Crudi del mare Up early today, I should have captured the sunrise, but here are pics of the moments shortly after. Etna was wearing a fuzzy gray stocking cap this morning. Baby pink sky Etna's plume behind the rooftops, through the balcony screen. As we arrived at the vineyard to switch cars for our trip to Catania, we learned that Giulio has a well-baby check up, so Elena and Mariella are using the available car (the Clio is soaking wet inside, from windows being open during the storm) and Luisa and Ciro were having their last lunch here today. We switched plans, and decided to hang out at the vigne, and reschedule Catania for Thursday, when less is going on. We had some time to kill while at the vigne. Joe was able to work from his phone, and I went for a walk. Last night's downpour cleaned the air, but left slushy puddles of volcanic ash. I shuddered in recollection of college time cigarette-smokers' ashtrays, except the liquid then was beer in the ash, not rain. This ve...
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Sicilia Outlet Village

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Part of Sicilia Outlet Village Last night, at the reception table, Elena asked if we wanted to join them to go to Sicilia Outlet Village, smack in the interior of Sicily, and about an hour's drive from Biancavilla. I swear Joe is losing it, or deaf, or had too much vino, because it took so long to explain this proposition that Marisa started fanning my armpits from observing the effort. And this morning, although an understandable mistake, he thought we were going to Centro Sicilia, which is only a half hour away, instead of this place further afield. I guess I have been putting him through a lot! Some poor old woman's gate, that we thought was Marisa's place. We had to pick up the Clio, so we left the apartment at 8:05, to leave time to get it and then meet at Marisa's house. As we were turning into the vigne house driveway, I got a text from Rachi, in English: "Mariella said lets see at marisa’s house,the car is at marisa’s house;" which I took to mean we...
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Il Battesimo

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THE DAY Morning Activity: The men sit outside, discussing cars and soccer, while the photographer takes photos of Giulio, Elena, Giuseppe, and boys. Etna "Edda" is framed in the clouds  that later cleared. The kids are dressed and looking dapper. Cousin Iside, in yellow, joins the fun Rachi watches over the boys Beautiful family  Matteo's attitude shows off moreso in a striped suit of pantelloni corti Rachi is good at herding kids ...and keeping them clean The Church Service: Vincenzo and Maria Teresa look on as Alessandro takes the pulpit Giulio contentedly waits The boys are sweet with their little brother Giulio is taken into the baptismal font room; there was no way to see everything  Lion King moment He grimaced, but didn't cry Alessandro is the best Giuseppe's sister Piera, in hot pink and 5" silver stilettos, is the unofficial godmother. Godparents are "outlawed" in Sicily (maybe all of Italy?), as it became more about who had money and influ...
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