Sogni di Sicilia

I washed some clothes, edited some photos, showered, and walked to the Wednesday market. I never intend to buy anything there (except produce), but it's Biancavilla's form of community church. The bustle of people and the eavesdropping opportunities are great for language learners. In fact, for the first time in 5 years, I wasn't the sole non-native. A German couple were at the fruit stand. A few familiar words from my time in Deutschland caught my ears, but mostly, I thought — what brings them to Biancavilla? Horsemeat has gone up in price The new caffè bar, Makea At the market  Preparing for a wedding.  I got a glimpse of a bridesmaid in a beautiful silk chartreuse gown. Spotting the little bread house  on my walk home I checked out the advertised new spot, closed for the ferie;  a caffè bar on viale di Europa. It doesn't appear to be anything special. Joe was at the apartment; we met and drove to the vigne. Today's lunch, pasta with pesto, and grilled flank steak...

Birthday Boy! By no means am I a "wait in line in the cold for three hours before the store opens" Black Friday shopper, but once that opened up for virtual buys, I was in. We have an advantage here, being seven hours ahead of the time in Minnesota. I'm mainly interested in travel deals and, if I can find the perfect thing, a Christmas gift or two. Skipping makeup or anything following my shower other than throwing on clothes, I went upstairs, where Ettore the Birthday Boy spied one of his gifts I was taking up to wrap.  "Happy Birthday!" He was eyeing the gift and running late for school. " Do you want to take that one now, and open the others later?" I asked, knowing the answer before he took it and ran. Now to do some online shopping. I booked a non-Black Friday deal excursion for Joe's family, for when we're all in Mexico in January: Tulum, cenotes snorkeling, zip lining through the jungle. Good to book now because a group our size is diffi...