Carmela's flowers



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This plant is on the front steps to our building ... not a clue what it is ... the pods are about two inches long ... the entire stock is nearly two feet long and will soon be covered in these pods.

Door knocker

Saw this the other day while DH and I were out for a stroll ...

Early morning sun

On the way to work recently...

Carnivale Cookie

Saw these during Carnivale at a bakery DH and I frequent.

Candy Jars

These are on a local bakery's counter - I really like the flow of the curves.

Spring's slowly coming ....

Almond blossoms ... guess Sping really is coming to the island this year

St Michael

St Michael on top the Mother Church in Piedemonte Etnea (northeast side of Etna).

What a Difference a Day Makes!

This is what I saw when I left for lunch yesterday ...

...and this is what I saw while on the way to work this morning ... snow level is not that much higher than our apt.  No wonder the cat and I are both cold!

Bear Bologna!

DH and I found this at a local super-market ....

got some just for the fun of it.

Sicilian Bagpiper in Monterosso Almo



Sicilian Christmas bagpipers are known as Zampognari. The bagpipe is traditionally made of reeds and a sheepskin.
 Now the reeds may be plastic and the sheepskin imitation .. the Zampognari always are dressed traditionally.



Christmas in Monterosso Almo (Ragusa province)

DH and I visited a living nativity in Monterosso Almo, a small town in Ragusa province. The evening opened up with Joseph leading Mary on a donkey through the main streets of the town, stopping at a few places to ask for shelter. You had to buy tickets to go through the nativity ... and your entry time was determined by the number on your ticket. We were lucky in that we were able to enter in the first hour.


This one was more than just the manager scene... you trudged up and down various streets and looked at small village life scenes ... such as men making rope. a bakery, a cheese producer and so on ... the townspeople would explain what they were doing, the history and other facts. At the end was the cave with the Holy Family, the Magi and shepherds.

This is one of the churches on the main square.

Got to figure out how to share more pictures

I've upload too many pictures  between my two blogs ... so I have to figure out how to set it up so I can share more of my life ... will be back soon!
Holly

MORE FROM THE AMPHITHEATRE IN POZZUOLI

This was both close to the ticket office ... have to wonder who was honored with a statue ... nothing left but the feet.

MARBLE DETAIL AT AMPHITHEATRE

Anfiteatro Flavio (Flavian Amphitheater) is in Pozzuoli, near Naples.  DH and I were up there a few weeks ago for the International Bazaar at base.   The amphitheatre wasn't too far from where we were staying  - so we spent a few hours exploring.  This detail was on a panel just inside the entrance.

INSIDE LORD NELSON'S CHAPEL

Here the inside of Lord Nelson's chapel from just inside the main door. 

The painting in yesterday's post isn't shown here ... the afternoon sun washed out everything when trying for that shot.    

Look to the right of the altar - see the arch behind the columns? 

 Yesterday's art is in a matching arch on the left side of the altar.  

Looking at the lower window (seen through the columns), you may be able to tell that the walls are nearly three-feet thick. 

This is still an active chapel.

SAINT IN LORD NELSON'S CHAPEL

Something I didn't know until recently was that Lord Horatio Nelson's family, even though they were English,  had ties to Sicily and owned a castle near Bronte on the west side of Mt Etna.  The original buildings were built shortly after the Battle of Hastings (1066 CE).  The castle and grounds are open to visitors (the family sold it to the Italian government only about 30 years ago ... there is a letter on display inviting the last resident and family to attend  his "cousin" Queen Elizabeth II's coronation).

This painting is in the chapel and takes up a large part of the wall on the left side of the altar.  While I thought it a magnificant art piece ... it wasn't until just now  that I took a good look at the chalice.

CHECK OUT THE SUNFLOWER

This sunflower was nearly a foot across ... haven't seen one like this before.  DH and I saw it over in Maniace while out exploring.

IRONWORK FLOWERPOT

Check out the flower pot on the railing ...I think it's so cool!  
Saw this while wandering around Militello.

PRICKLEY PEAR LIQUOR FROM MITELLO

These bottles of Prickly Pear Liquor (Fichi d' India) were at the Mitlello Prickly Pear Festival this year.  Looks like liquor can be made from just about anything ... not a clue how it tastes ... DH and I don't drink alcohol.

Pretty bottles though ... pretty colors ...

 I can easily picture one in my kitchen with a sunny window behind it.

MORE PLANT TOUPEES FROM MITELLO

           Some more of the plant toupees ....

PRICKLY PEAR FESTIVAL POSTER & OFFERINGS

This year's poster and the offerings from one of the small vendors ... something that Mitello does that I haven't noticed other towns doing, is that many of the vendors are set up in the doorways of their homes.

ADDRESS SIGN

A nice thing about small towns is not having a bazillion of different streets ... your home or business can be identified with just the unit number.  Many are decorated with flowers, fruits or designs just as this one is.

GARLIC ROPE

Garlic rope commonly found in homes and the markets ...

PLANT TOUPEE

Saw this balcony support while DH and I were wandering around a Prickly Pear Festival in Militello last weekend .. just had to laugh. 

 A plant toupee!

LA TROTA RESTAURANT (The Trout Restaurant)



Toward Siracusa is a wonderful place to eat ... The Trout Restaurant.  It is built into a series of caves and has fish ponds outside where you can wander around looking at the fish.  DH remembers going to there with his parents and sister when he was a kid (many, many years ago).  As you can guess, it features fish ... but non-fish meals are served as well.  

The main dining room ...



Fresh trout



Closing note ... freshly made ice cream