Sicilian diary

Sicilian saying: persistence

Categories 1,000 Words about Sicily, Detti Siciliane, Italia, Life in Sicily, Sicilian diary, Sicilian language, Sicilian Sayings, Sicily, words about Sicily, words from Sicily

  Sicilian’s are seriously resilient people in a place of great historical poverty and complex modern problems of high unemployment and a neglected economy Sicilian’s seem to withstand an awful lot. So it is only natural to see this kind of saying dedicated to the art of persistence in Sicilian dialect. Once again a typical…

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Sicilian saying: arrogance

Categories 1,000 Words about Sicily, Detti Siciliane, Italia, Life in Sicily, Sicilian diary, Sicilian language, Sicilian Sayings, Sicily, words about Sicily, words from Sicily

  I love the image of an artichoke in this Sicilian saying, the idea that an artichoke is a proud or arrogant image is astounding. So yes, obviously Sicilian’s must find the artichoke a little bit aristocratic, perhaps it’s thorny thistle nature makes it difficult to understand, it definatly isn’t to everyones taste. Sicilian wild…

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Messina: the city of mythology

Categories 1,000 Words about Sicily, Authentic Sicily, Italy, Sicilia, Sicilian diary, Sicilian History, Sicily, Travel Memoir, Travel writing

Even though Messina battles the usual problems of a big city in Sicily, it is much more cosmopolitan and laid back than the other provincial capitals. What attracts me most to Messina is the unusual mixture of mythology and legend, which intertwines with the city's history to create an intoxicating and alluring tapestry. As is…

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Creativity and mental health

Categories About me, Article, Essay, Italia, Italy, Italy in the time of Covid, Life in Sicily, Sicilian diary, Sicily, words from Sicily, Writing1 Comment on Creativity and mental health

The last two years have been tough on everyone. Our lives were disrupted, and we were forced to scale down our lives. Many people lost friends and family. Others are still suffering from stress, anxiety and depression. I don't want to harp on the negativity, but I, too, have been struggling. I have had problems…

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A Sicilian wedding baptism

Categories 1,000 Words about Sicily, Italia, Italian Culture, Italy, Life in Sicily, Sicilian diary, Sicily

It's wedding season in Sicily, which means the usual array of pretty spring brides and grooms. Many people finally get married after postponing their weddings for two years of Covid. While others, funnily enough, have decided to make Covid babies and then celebrate a wedding and baptism together. I'm sure my dear Sicilian grandparents would…

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A taste of local politics

Categories 1,000 Words about Sicily, Culture Shock, Italian Politics, Italy, Life in Sicily, Living in Italy, Living in Sicily, Sicilia, Sicilian diary, Sicily, Travel writing

This year it is election time in my small Sicilian town. I've never been one to follow politics on any level unless it has to do with a particular issue or social problem. I can never muster the energy to pursue it. Yet, I am constantly surprised at how deeply political everyone is in Italy.…

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