The weight of Sicily’s history makes it an inherently sad place, like all places with long human histories she laments her past glories which in turn give her a unique melancholy. Yes, Sicilia is defiantly as feminine as her beating heart, Etna. Sicily’s infinite stories shape her own sorrowful character which are absorbed into…
Continue reading ➞ How history shapes Sicily’s character
As much as I love Taormina I never get the chance to experience it is as I wish. We are always in a rush visiting with guests, walking up and down the main streets and doing souvenir shopping as that’s what all tourists want to do. If you have time you should be doing things…
Continue reading ➞ Exploring Taormina in five photos: Enjoying the view
Even if you hide from the tourists they seem to pop out from everywhere at Taormina. It’s great to close your eyes, block them out and imagine no one is around. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have the place to yourself, enjoy that Picasso exhibition at the suggestive Palazzo Corvaja in calm and serenity.
It is impossible to take photo’s during the day at Taormina, someone is always in your shot no matter what perspective you take it from. There is nothing you can do about it, you need to live with random people in your shot. Such is the curse of living in such a popular tourist destination,…
Continue reading ➞ Exploring Taormina in five photos: Duomo
I always look out for locals in Taormina, whether they are the shop-keepers, delivery guys, chefs and waiters taking five minutes to smoke a cigarette and occasionally sitting down for a coffee. My husband thinks I snapped two foreigners here at the suggestive Bar Etna, but they were speaking Italian and were distinctly un-rushed and…
Continue reading ➞ Exploring Taormina in five photos: Bar Etna
Thanks to Pip from Sustainability Soapbox for nominating me to do the five photos/five stories challenge. I’ll be sharing five images from Sicily with particular stories attached to them. This summer I found myself visiting Taormina twice after having two different groups of guests to visit who both expressed a desire to see this famous…
Continue reading ➞ Exploring Taormina in five photos: Santa Caterina
I am constantly sitting down and planning out trips to do through Sicily. Often I don’t do everything on my list as I run out of money but I am generally happy if I do one of the trips every year as they are based on my experiences living here on the island. Sicily is…
Continue reading ➞ Things to do in Sicily
There are literally hundreds of water fountains all over Italy gushing with water, Baroque details and sculpture. Often we are mesmerized by the immense works of art without seeing the cute little details. This grumpy little water god got my attention when he blew in my ear as I walked by the old…
Continue reading ➞ Postcards from Sicily: the spirit of things
Often beauty is in the fine detail. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the immense works of art all over Italy, yet while trying to take in the whole you often miss the subtle aspects. This detail above the main door at the Duomo of Messina is as magnificent as the entire…
Continue reading ➞ Sicilian impressions: beauty in the details
I love all things Vintage so I was so happy when I came across this vintage souvenir from Messina. In the series of postcards the landscape of the city, the port and the mountains on the other side of the strait at Calabria are always the same yet the infrastructure is ever-changing.…
Continue reading ➞ Vintage Messina
A few weeks ago I shared a photo of the impressive bell tower near the Duomo of Messina and was surprised by the level of interest in this landmark, hence this post. I’ve been taking people to visit the bell tower ever since moving to Sicily. The mechanical aspects of the tower are a little…
Continue reading ➞ The clockwork marvel at Messina
Daphne’s house: Giardini Naxos, Castelmola and Taormina Taormina is a beautiful town to explore but it is terribly touristy and there are many other things to see in the vicinity. Be sure to visit Casa Cuseni an historic house which became like a real character in one of the best books around about Sicily…
Continue reading ➞ A Sicilian wish list for the summertime
I've always loved Sicilian churches prolific use of mosaics. Last summer I got to the church of the Madonna of Tindari (ME) and managed to sneak a shot of this beautiful image of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. These mosaics are like living breathing operatic scenes filled with life and drama. I think I'll…
Continue reading ➞ Postcards from Sicily: Gethsemane
This year I was fortunate enough to get to San Leone’s ‘festa’ at Longi (20th Feb) which I find is generally more traditional and particular then the one celebrated at Sinagra (even if I love them both!) I liked the solemn religiosity and playfulness of Longi’s interpretation of this Saint’s celebration. Not only does the…
Continue reading ➞ E viva San Leone … E musica
If I were an artist it would be perfect to sketch out these winter landscapes that I see in the countryside.
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