TGIF

We had a great start to our morning, doing a few things before walking to Artigiana for our first "breakfast" there. Cappuccini, and a cornetto for me; a brioche for Joseph.

As we walked up the steps, we heard the rise and fall of female gaggle, indicating a large group of women had gathered at Artigiana this morning. It brought to mind our Moroccan friend's comment about how you could tell which hammam entrance was the women's and which was the men's. We sat opposite the table of conversing females, and I silently applauded them. What a wonderful community of women, and a wonderful tradition of gathering together over caffè on a Friday morning.

After Artigiana, we strode to Trentacinque Gradi, the specialty liquor store we like. On the way, I stopped to take a picture of Paolina Ponticorvo's dad's grave at the cemetery. This is the woman in my online Italian expat group who, last year or further ago, asked if anyone were near Biancavilla, because she wanted to clean up her dad's grave, and I helped her out. It turns out, we just missed each other here. She had wanted to connect, but she left before we made it to town. I took the photo to let her know I'm thinking of her.

Kiosk

Grave

Outside the cemetery walls, I was pleased to see the long-empty caffè kiosk now occupied with a florist! Bursting with everything Christmas today, I can imagine they do a great business for those wanting to buy fresh arrangements for their deceased loved ones, just steps away.

We got to Trentacinque Gradi, but they were closed. On a Friday. I saw an Affittasi (For Rent) sign taped next to their door. Are they out of business?

I was going on to get a few more things, while Joe turned and went home.

They don't celebrate Thanksgiving, of course,

but have embraced the Black Friday concept. Any Friday.

I stopped at Vesti Bene to find some lightweight tops -- it's hot here -- then moved on to the 'Chinese Store' for Scotch tape, wrapping paper, a ladle, and a frying pan, then to Deco for celery, bread, and, since I just got word we're eating seafood at Mariella's today, a lovely bottle of Grillo.

I lugged home the groceries, saw Mariella at the front door, followed her into her kitchen to put the wine in her freezer for a few minutes, then ran downstairs to rinse my sweaty pits and tits, apply deodorant, change shoes, and put on a T-shirt. And brush my hair. Then up to the loft to get Joe, then back to Mariella's for what might be one of my top ten lunches of all time: linguine with tons and tons of mixed seafood. OMG.

Vincenzo was in rare form. We covered everything, from communism to socialism, Marx and Nietzsche, the fall of the Berlin wall, cruising the Volga river, Gorbachev vs Putin, Lilliana as a three-year-old, the pilgrammages of Portugal, diets and food around the world, and more than I can remember. His constant upbeat nature is inspiring, and Mariella is his muse.

After lunch, upstairs for riposa, with Mariella reiterating that we, along with Padre Giuseppe, will meet at Elena's tomorrow morning to decorate her tree.

Now my usual heading out time, 4:30 or so, I asked Joe if he were interested in a walk. He wanted to get some liquor so, to my surprise, he said yes.

A lawyer passes a bar!

Grapes for sale, right here on the road, in back of the van.

Biancavilla or Hawaii?

Joe suggested we look at Lidl (he's on a quest for gin), but I had low expectations. I still needed carrots, however, so it won't be a total loss. But my hunch was right-- no potable gin.

We stopped at the Sicilian version of a dollar store, and found a 1€ ice cube tray for Joe, and a coffee mug for me (I broke one earlier today).

For what was supposed to be a light supper, I used the remaining chick peas to make an insalatone together with tomatoes, olives, cucumbers, Sicily's fragrant celery, fresh fennel, and tuna. Delicious with pugliese style bread and some wine. But I ate a lot.

A little trip planning, investigating options, garbage out, dishes done, and *poof* it's bedtime!