Tuesday, August 31, 2010

SIX-LEGGED FIRE-SPITTING DOG

This is one of the main gas stations in Italy ... the animal is a six-legged fire-spitting dog. 

Monday, August 30, 2010

MT ETNA MERIDIAN

Mt. Etna is 15-degrees (1 hour) east of Greenwich.  Here is the meridian marker by the main visitor area on the south side of the volcano.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

FLOWERS IN GANGI

One of the walking streets in the center of Gangi is lined with these flower pots all about eye-height ...

Thursday, August 26, 2010

SICILIAN PUPPETS OR PUPI

Here are some of the local puppets (the Italian word for puppets is "pupi") ... these things are HUGE!  Each of these three is close to 4-foot tall and around 125 - 150 pounds.  They represent the medieval soldiers who forced the Moors out of Sicily.   Most of the puppets in this collection are about 150 years old. 

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

BELPASSO STREET LIGHTS

The street lights went up for Ferragusto (the assumption of the Virgin Mary) which is the major celebration in Italy during August.  August is also the European holiday month with just about everyone taking at least some time off.

Monday, August 23, 2010

CHECK OUT THE OLD FLOWS ....

It's clear enough that you can pick out some of the different flow paths ... the line of buildings mid-way up the slope are the vistor areas and bottom fo the ski lifts.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

IT'S AUGUST AND THERE'S SNOW ON MT ETNA?!

Last week we had a few days with a bit of rain and cloud cover ... ended up with a touch of snow on the peak.   

Saturday, August 21, 2010

INSIDE THE MANIACE CHURCH

As you can see, it's a really modern church ....

Center of the altar painting
Stain glass under the roof line

Overview of the interior

Friday, August 20, 2010

CLOSE-UP ON OTHER CHURCH DOOR

Two panels on the other door into the church ... 

The "Alpha and the Omega" (beginnng and end) and Jonah being swallowed by the whale...



Wednesday, August 18, 2010

MASSIVE CHURCH DOOR

Isn't this a marvelous church door?

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Monday, August 16, 2010

FLAT PEACHES

One of the cases of peaches DH and I bought at the Maniace Peach-Pear Festival.  They are a big around as regular peaches, but only about 2-inches (5-cm) thick (look at the one in the top-right corner).  Slightly different flavour than the regular ones - really good!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

MORE IRONWORK ...

A gate in Maniace I saw at the peach-pear festival ....

Thursday, August 5, 2010

CHEESE and SALUMI FOR SALE

Fresh (wonderful) cheese and salumi for sale at a local festival.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

RAGUSA LION

DH and I took part in this year's WorldWidePhotoWalk on 24 July. 
This lion is one of two on top of a building bordering the Piazza Duomo in Ragusa.
Until I looked at the picture on my computer, I couldn't tell if the lion had a mustache or a hair-lip.   Love the crossed paws.

Monday, August 2, 2010

WHERE HAVE ALL THE YOUNG MEN GONE?...

As Peter Seeger's folk song goes....

Where have all the young men gone? 
They've gone to graveyards everyone.


 





Sunday, August 1, 2010

AGIRA CEMETERY








This cemetery is on a hilltop ... a quiet place to think and reflect ...