Sogni di Sicilia

Today started slowly, with some tidying up the house and finishing yesterday's blog.  Outside the monestary, Piazza di San Francesco got some Christmas-ing. We decided to have lunch out, trying Red Fish without ordering the pranzo completo , but ordering a tomato and baby shrimp antipasto and a grilled orato (to split) to order. Joe got a glass of house white to wash it down; I had a lovely mineral water. Orata  It was a good lunch, but I think they charged us incorrectly, as it came to twice as much as usual. It was a tough day regarding money things; I had to go for a long walk to clear my head.  The town was hushed. Although that's somewhat normal for the ora del pranzo , It was incredibly quiet today, as if everything was set on velvet. Even my footsteps seemed muffled. It was peaceful. White Castle??! I stopped in one last time at Decò, wanting to get chocolate covered orange peel for Mariella. People we're buying up poinsetta alla   misura del albero -- the s...

A morning of American coffee, the last of Elena's torta (Joe), oatmeal biscuits (me), and reading and doing crosswords, before showering and going to the market. Approaching the usual fogies congregating outside Bar Europa, Joe looks ready to walk up and join them. We ran into Fina as we arrived, and later saw Maria Teresa and Pina. Mariella had already come and gone, after her morning Pilates class. I told Joe, I'm not looking for anything, but this is where people run into friends. And I like eavesdropping on tidbits of conversation. Sometimes I learn a new phrase, or how to deal with a vendor, just by watching and listening. Best of all is seeing where the old ladies congregate--those places have the best food or the best shopping deals. Right now they're all over the Christmas stuff. People set up their own presepe at home. With Joe as my shield, I could take photos of the market unobtrusively. Too bad you can't hear what's going on--it's a joyful noise! Bac...