Sicilian old timer

his stoic man owns and tends the farm from which many images I gave posted.

A real view

This view is the real deal. It's not "The View" seen on American TV hosted by a bunch of aging faccie brutte who are hanging on to life by the chirurgical thread of their face lifts. It's a view that makes you realize that in spite of the Earth's nastiness as witnessed by recent catastrophic events, it still has beautiful places. You can see all the way to the Thyrrenian Sea.These shots are from the villa of My dear friends Nene and Antonella La Torre. Truly wonderful people that show Sicilian hospitality at its legendary best.

Old facades

These classic building facades, that were ubiquitous throughout Southern Europe have been replaced mostly with more modern ones that lack character.There is now a movement to return to this classic style when rehabilitating old buildings. These images are from the paese's many old building awaiting such rehabilitation.

Sicilian oranges

These two photos show early stage oranges and the white flower is called zagara. It has a very unusual but pleasant perfume. It's almost orchid like in texture.

Panorami siciliani

These are Sicilian panoramas very close to town. Here going to the country means driving a few kilometers

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Street scene

This shot is in front of ls Mancina, a truly convenient "convenient store." Mrs Mancina tends the counter while her husband sits outside in the shade. He only gets in the way when he tries to help. As is obvious, at this time of the year, cauliflowers are in season along with superb bulb fennel.

The town is quiet

With only a handful of tourists still around, some even going to the beach and swimming, the town has assumed a quiet and at times somber look.

The Sicilian Cuisine Blog: Sicilian November tradition: "frutta di Martorana & pupi di zucchero"

The Sicilian Cuisine Blog: Sicilian November tradition: "frutta di Martorana & pupi di zucchero"

All Saints Day in Castellammare

It's unbelievable how pleasant and almost summer like the weather is here, It was about 76 degrees here with a pleasant breeze. The photos show what it looks like.

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Back to the future

The Italians produced the car of the future in the middle fifties. It was the FIAT 500, or the famed "cinquecento." It had a two stroke 500 cc engine in the rear and a very spartan interior. The original had a real metal bench in the rear that was soon replaced with back seats. The originsls had doors that opened rear to front or what was called the suicide door on some American cars that had tried this on rear doors. It was very economical and it basically motorized Italy and made it on of the nations that has the largest per capital number of cars. Today, the "cinquecento" has gained a cult status and yearly, people come from all over the world on their cinquecenti" to meet and exchange pleasantries. Of course the new FIAT 500 that is seen in the US is a modern version of that car. It has a physical resemblance to it but it's larger and very high performance. It is not the Spartan and economical car it's predecessor was.
This near mint model was parked here in Castellammare where many can still be seen. Not bad for a 60 years old car. It gives new meaning to the phrase, they do not make them as they used to.