A Biancavillan week
Today marks a week here.
This morning, I started simmering the rinsed ceci (chickpeas) I soaked overnight. They doubled in size!
Still in our bathrobes, Joe got a text from Vincenzo saying Padre Giuseppe was at his house, does he want to come for a caffè? Joe said Vincenzo just sent the text to him, but I understood 'just' as 'only,' instead of 'just now,' so I said he most definitely should throw on some clothes and go say hello to Padre.
I set to washing a few things by hand, hung them outside on this gorgeous day, and jumped into an express shower. I'm trying to give my hair a rest from excessive washing and styling, though it's vanity suicide. I don't have durable hair.
As I finished putting on makeup, Joe came up and said, Oh! You're here? Padre had to leave but we were waiting for you.
Ugh! I can't even understand English these days!
Joe then took a quick shower, and we walked to Artigiana for more caffè. I saw some cookies that fit the internet description of Sammartinelli, the San Martino biscotti, so I asked the singing, dishwashing barista what they're called.
"Rama di Napoli," he chuckled, muttering that we're in Sicily yet have these Naples-style cookies. I said, ok; there's a shared connection with Naples anyway, back to the Kingdom of Two Sicilies, so it's ok. A singular eyebrow shot up, and he laughed; Ah, you know about this history? Brava. Sometimes I get it right, I guess.
We took a circuitous walking route from Artigiana to via Taranto, to check out the building that houses a room named for Nonno. Lots of small town Sicily atmosphere in the labyrinthian back streets: old women leading older women by the elbow, dressed in clothing styles from the turn of last century; air perfumed by fragrances of lunch to come, and elderly men gathering on nearly every bench, always having something to emphatically discuss, always with a ringleader.
"Nonno's" building is renovated, clean, somewhat modest, and next to a lovable pile of ruins.
We passed Mariella's favorite spot for fresh pasta along the way, and I love the whole building, laundry included.
We seem to find a new vista of or from the town, and today offered beautiful views of the hillside and farmland, from a truncated street.
Venturing home, we were greeted by Giuseppe, who lives on the corner around the corner from us. He's a sweet and handsome older gentleman, whose legs have failed him, so he spends time on a chair in the doorway of his small but lovely house.
Every time he sees us, he tells us we're a beautiful couple. He has never married; his nephew in Catania checks in on him, and neighbors seem attentive. As we were long into conversing with him, a younger (than me) woman headed toward her car and greeted him. Giuseppe asked if she could please, next time she's at the nearby fruit vendor, pick up a tarocco for him (the blood orange), and she agreed with all smiles. You can tell he's beloved. He's so kind and gentle.
We were about to leave, when a little bomb of energy, in the form of a tiny bald man in a hat and sport coat, walked up. He introduced himself, and we soon learned he is a magician. A real character. He gave us a card with YouTube information for looking up his act. After a few more minutes of pleasantries amongst the two friends, we bid buona giornata, and walked home. FYI the YouTube video is pretty long.
I prepared a variation of pasta e ceci, this time with passata, tomato sauce, from a pretty glass bottle.
Musing about Giuseppe-on-the-corner over lunch, I asked Joe if he thought Giuseppe stayed single because of his bad leg. He's so sweet, smart, and handsome, but I wondered if during the courting years (which would've been many years ago, perhaps in the '60s or '70s), there was some stigma toward the physically disabled. I have no idea if his condition is from birth or from an accident or illness. Joe agrees there was probably an unfortunate dating taboo way back when. Corner Giuseppe seems happy and unbothered, however, and I adore him.
So kitchen clean up and blog writing gets me to now, 4:30 this afternoon.
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I took another walk. I've discovered I love watching sunsets from various parts of the town. It's nothing like the Aurora Borealis displays I've sadly missed the past two days in Minnesota, but sunsets are a beauty of creation all their own, regardless. I saw the sunset in the west, of course, but also enjoyed its pink glow onto Etna in the east.
Joe and I recently wondered if one of our favorite spots, Pinto, had shut down. Then I recalled something about them being open limited days of the week. Thursday appears to be one of them.
I read in Biancavilla Oggi that the longtime co-owner and stalwart box office attendant at Cinema Trinacria (shuttered since 2000, still standing, but empty) died, and her visitation was in the theater today (I thought around 4 or 4:30). I walked by to see if I could get a glimpse of the interior, but I had either the date or the time wrong. Nothing happening there.
Some other random photos:
As I got to our front door, I saw Elena on the front steps. She was waiting for Giuseppe to bring the car around so they could go to their well-baby check together.
From our apartment, I hear Matteo (I think) wailing, but I'm not sure who's with him; Rodi or Maria Teresa, most likely. I'd know if it were Mariella.
Now, at 7:00, we'll take a walk to have a glass of something to drink, with its usual accompanying snacks. We had a big lunch, so there's no dinner needed, other than this.
Joe suggested Scandura, and that was a perfect choice. We ordered drinks, knowing the Scandura accompaniment would hit the spot. Their pizzette are perfect, and top-notch olives, along with arancini, rounded out our "dinner". Cheers! We had a good nosh, and a nice stroll.
We received greetings from Alessandro as we approached the front door and he was moving Maria Teresa's car in front of the house.
Now, a bread stick and a wee additional nightcap help wind down our Thursday night.
Perfect way to end the day.
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