BELPASSO AND BEYOND...

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Gas strike - day #7

A friend waiting for gas during this week's trucker's strike .... DH and I heard a rumor last night that a gas station (not the station in this picture) we go past most days got a delivery last night and was going to open at 7:00am this morning (he's normally not open on Sundays). So we were up and on our way by 5:30am to sit outside his station and see if the rumor was true. Another friend joined us in line ... and a few others that drove by joined the line as well. It was TRUE!! At 7am, he opened -- there were only about 5 cars in line at that point .. but everyone started calling to let others know gas was available. The attendant said he got about 2000 liters of gasoline last night ... DH heard this afternoon that the station we gassed up was empty by 9am.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Etna's gift

Etna's ash and grit covers our terraza.

Etna's cooking again!

Etna's off and going again!

Lots and lots of ash blowing around ...

it shows here as the gray covering the left and middle of the photo.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Ho Ho Ho in Nuremburg

Santa and Rudolph DH and I saw while visiting this year's

Nuremburg Christmas Market.

He gave candy to the kids whether or not he was given money.

We stopped by to watch him every night we were there

Ho Ho Ho ... Merry Christmas everyone!

Friday, December 23, 2011

Cold flower ....

Gerianum plant on the terraza had a rough time the day it snowed.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

It snowed last night!

There was a dusting of snow on the car this morning.

It gets parked at the bottom of a long driveway.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Santa Pup

Santa Pup -

DH and I saw him while visiting the Nativity displays in Mineo

(a hill town about an hour from where we live)

Friday, December 9, 2011

Street view

Looking out of my doctor's window onto the street below ...

Friday, December 2, 2011

Sunset ...

A recent sunset ... and my timing was good ...

a week later, only one water tower was standing there.

I've missed you all ... my computer died, my camera wonky ...

and work, well ...

let's just say it has been very challenging.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Via Roma in Belpasso

Looking up Via Roma (the main road in Belpasso)

toward the Mother Church (you can see it at the top of the road).

Way more traffic than you would normally see.

You can tell it's the central part of town ... lava cobblestone road.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

another painting at Garibaldi

"We are the heirs of a great history ... the future of a grand country:

1861 was the unification of Italy as a single country

Saturday, September 24, 2011

lobby picture at Garibaldi Hospital

One of many pictures in Garibaldi Hospital's lobby and waiting rooms ...

all were painted by the students at a local school.

"Brothers and Sisters of Italy"

Monday, September 19, 2011

Jester at Medieval Festival

Even not understanding Italian, he's fun to watch...

three different clips.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Jester in Motta S.A.

Recently Motta Sant'Anastasia (CT) Sicily had its annual Medieval Fest

and celebrations in honor of the town’s patron saint, Santa Anastasia.

This jester was a lead performer one night.

He's also a juggler and ventriloquist and a bunch more all rolled in one.

He was a riot to watch!

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Etna erupts again

Etna has been erupting off and on all year long ...

This was taken from th end of our street.

Belpasso is located about a third of the way up the side of Etna ..

Monday, July 25, 2011

St James candlelighting - Caltagirone

This year's luminaria design on the steps of Sta Maria in Caltagirone (Catania province).
Each year a contest is held - the winner's design is re-created for the St James Festival (he's the patron saint for Caltagirone) held the 24-25th of July.
Made for a long day ... DH and I didn't get home until nearly 2am ... but it was worth it.