Sogni di Sicilia

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...

After a relaxed start to our morning, Joe and I took off for Catania, to go to the Mercatini -- the Christmas Markets! There are six of them; I planned to hit three or four. Most are walking distance from each other. Parking on via Garibaldi, all we had to do was walk toward the landmark elephant statue, way down the street in the Piazza del Duomo . I grew up in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, where it was almost compulsory to have a concrete white bear sculpture somewhere in your house or yard. In Catania, it's the elephant. They're everywhere, but it all began with this fella. I feel I can only photograph an elephant from this angle for the next four years, out of disgust for the Republican party. A little background excerpted from Etna Experience , because I know how much y'all love history: ********** “The Elephant” is one of the legends about Etna. The elephant is the official symbol of the city of Catania, thanks to an old legend. During the Upper Paleolithic Times, a dw...