Archi di Pane—A Street of Bread, and a Detour.

 


Up and at it right away this morning; Joe and I checked out, while Mariella and Vincenzo will stay another night. We went to the other BnB for breakfast, full of lively conversation—Marisa and Carmelo crack me up—and the women wanted a photo of me with them.

B&B view

Regenerative fire

Solar panel “lake”

Engineers, head doctor of a hospital, a commercialista, and me, Mariella, and Marisa, who balance the group.

Now a drive through breathtaking landscapes, to San Biagio Platani. 





From Festa di San Giuseppe until about now, this little town celebrates the season by decorating their main street with bread art. Everyone there seems incredibly friendly.











Real (unshellacked) bread for the mules to eat

Bread trinkets



Angela and Elisa

Mariella and me


Santa Lucia, patron saint of eyesight 

Crop art

Crop art

San Biagio, patron saint of throat health


And, of course, we had to stop in the church.



Luckily it’s hard to photograph through glass. 
San Felice doesn’t look too happy (felice means happy).



And, since many Sicilian towns have a belvedere, we walked to this one.




Side street

Rooster art at belvedere



Town view

A gust of wind
A beat of wings
Liberty

War memorial 

It’s funny that it’s in English

At about 11:30, the group invited us to join them at the next stop, some thermal gas eruptions in mud pools, but we declined, saying we’d like to get back soon to pack. Vincenzo said, softly, even I don’t really want to go to those.

The bright side—we left enough time to get lost. The down side—A three hour trip is now entering its 5th hour. I think it’s my fault? It sounds as if it’s my fault.

But, as I’ve said before, it’s a beautiful place in which to get lost. It’s just poor Joe, driving, with a terrible navigator. We have issues with this situation when things aren’t going the way we or GPS thought they would. I’m sure we’re unique in that, as a couple (har hat). It’s a terrible job on either side; driver or navigator.

11:30, pulling out of San Biagio Platani.

Hey, Barb & Suz! And Piero!



Full service stop in many ways.

Nice scenery at the bathroom 

Cows

Mr. Patience

It’ll be a relief to get back. But look who’s in sight; we can’t be far!

The Etna is looming

I let Elena know that our detour took about as long as their drive will be from Chicago to St. Paul. It can be done.

We saw Giovanna on our way into the building. She was coming to watch Ettore. This made me happy, because she’s wanted to do that for a really long time. We briefly saw Ettore and Elena, as we went up with Giovanna. Elena and I will take a coffee together in the morning.

Tired and home, Joe rightfully collapsed into a chair, while I walked to the pharmacy to get the antibiotics Lilliana recommended. Mariella and Vincenzo magically procured the cortisone I needed during our time in San Biagio Platani, and handed it to me during our long, many hugs goodbye with the whole group. I told them I love that they each person in the group is very unique, living diverse lives, and yet that all have a common Biancavilla root which binds them together. They’re a magnificent population of friends with which to surround oneself.

As I was heading out to the farmacia, I noticed a small jewelry box on our entrance table. Andrea had left a pretty pair of earrings as a “piccolo pensiero,” a little thought, for me. She is such a beautiful creature.

Antibiotics procured, I packed aka stuffed my two bags, and had to add a small duffle to check. Three total, and needing to check one? Never! What did I buy, anyway?! We’ve been given a few beautiful things—I guess some of them take up room.

I made a simple pasta puttanesca tonight, using fresh tomatoes. I stopped on the way back from the pharmacy to our ortofrutta/salumeria, to get their mouthwateringly delicious olives for this dish. Mr & Mrs weren’t there, but I may try to get back tomorrow to say goodbye.

And, most importantly, praise the lord and pass the firecrackers—because one of my ears can finally hear them! I’m so grateful for this halfway step. I’m hopeful the other ear will be there soon.

In the meantime, a few last things to finish before our Biancavilla goodbyes and our Puglia/Matera hellos. Usually it’s Ettore who’s hard to say goodbye to (and still will be, I’m sure), but for some reason, I’m really going to miss Elena in a super big way this time. And of course, my dear, sweet, sister-friend, Mariella.

But that’s tomorrow—no crying, remember?? Basta!

Nice juxtaposition of BMW, Jaguar, and crumbling building with layers of color

Artist Lou Ferreri has inspired me, with his finding beauty in the peeling exteriors of Havana. I’ll send him my Biancavilla versions


See you soon, via Trapani

And thank you, Dr. Lilliana!


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