SICILY ABLAZE

PEACEFUL SOLITUDE AND POETRY 'NEATH SUN AND STARS. "MY SICILIAN BEDROOM".

2012-01-29T05:51:00.026Z

Unobtrusive the SP52 quietly snakes along seawards in the distance.

You can see the "bedroom" fencing noted in the poem.

LEFT CLICK on one of the above images to greatly improve visibility and detail.

These varied photographs together with the poem MY SICILIAN BEDROOM relate to an extremely peaceful spot along the Strada Provinciale 52 (SP52) a quiet country road that I walked on numerous occasions. It takes one from Bivio Comunello (see here) northwards all the way for about 30 miles (50 kms) to the northern Sicilian coast at peaceful Polina Marina. Usually, beyond the SICILIAN BEDROOM location, I would fork right at 6kms after reposing briefly at BIVIO CALABRO and climb the 9 kilometres up up and up to ST MAURO CASTELVERDE. I enjoyed legging it along these incredible peaceful summertime roads immensely. Strictly speaking this countryside area is to the east a little outside the MADONIE GEOPARK REGION itself.

With sufficient food, water, groundsheets and a sleeeping bag I'd stay put for the occasional single night at this location, and on one occasion (in June 1997) I stayed put for two nights just relaxing and very very greatly enjoyed the beauty of the location hence the poem MY SICILIAN BEDROOM. The days here progressed through amazing sunshine into clear starry peaceful nights - of course sometimes the skies would cloud over dramatically as per one or two of the above photos.

It was along this road in 1995 heading on further north (beyond ST MAURO CASTEVERDE) that I was utterly GOBSMACKED when - SEE HERE - a large winged beautiful blue butterfly flew straight into my momentarily opened mouth. And on yet another occasion high up on the climb to ST MAURO feeling tired in the baking heat I took shelter for a while naked to the waist and lo and behold a similar butterfly came and settled on my bare right shoulder - which caused me to go pretty boss-eyed to see him without making any movement that might scare him. It wasn't always enormous sunshine up to ST MAURO - in late September 1992 I was pursued closely by a very very violent tempest and had to sleep the night below ST MAURO in an old fortunately accessible family tomb.

For a full chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE page titles click HERE.

For a full A to Z indexed MADONIE REGION locations map click HERE.

For a full A to Z indexed NEBRODIE REGION locations map click HERE.

Still to come - eventually - "FROM GANGI TO MISTRETTA" - branching off along the SP52 from BIVIO COMUNELLO well before reaching ("MY SICILIAN BEDROOM") and legging it onwards by way of GIOVANNI NAPOLI's WOOD to MISTRETTA.

MISTRETTA IN THE RAW. TAKE YOUR PIC!

2011-08-04T21:43:00.025+01:00

Three women early on Sunday 3rd July sweeping the main streets. There is a prison dead central in Mistretta - one wonders if this was an assignment. Anyway a surprise.
Mistretta rooftops.
Via Anna Salamone - skin flic 1.

Via Salamone - skin flic 2.
Heading eastward beyond the Madonie Mountains, before reaching those of the Nebrodi, we have the township of MISTRETTA just inside Messina Province. It has two highly regarded and very well cared for lovely Public Gardens. I have no idea how USA proselytizing Mormons fare in Italia but two such females in their early twenties button-holed me in one of the Mistretta public gardens - they weren't heavy going so we spoke for a while and they were under no illusion at the end of it that Mormonism for this South London Freethinker was not on the menu. It's remotely possible that in that hot sunshine in my shorts with brown legs they mistook me for Warren Jeffs - be very brave and click HERE to discover why. Shortly before the July 3rd 2011 chance Mormon interlude I'd wandered along a picturesque narrow Mistretta backstreet and lo and behold homesteads almost opposite one another in the same Street had the above displays of contrasting nudity on show. It was Click click take a pic! And then 'twas a hey and a ho and on we go. The Mistretta rooftops shot was taken through the peripheral public garden trees. Mistretta is a nice looking slightly curious town and well worth a visit. It has been featured in this blog before click HERE for details. .------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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For a full A to Z indexed MADONIE REGION locations map click HERE.

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"ICE CREAM DEATH WISH" - A POEM!

2011-05-16T12:16:00.014+01:00

CLICK once then again on the above POEM IMAGE to

enlarge to an easily readable text size.

For a full chronological list of ALL blog pages click - HERE.

For a full A to Z indexed MADONIE REGION locations map click - HERE.

For a full A to Z indexed NEBRODI REGION locations map click - HERE.

GEOLOGICAL. PETRALIA SOTTANA 230 MILLION ANNI FA!

2011-01-14T09:14:00.018Z

Click on above image to ENLARGE the detail.

According to London based World Renowned STOCKWELL GEOPARK's Research Department the Sicilian Madonie Geopark Mountains were under the sea 230 million years ago. Not basking in summer sunshine or winter snows like in modern times. The above image of Ultra Ancient PETRALIA SOTTANA shows it in all its deeply ancient historical CRABINIERI diversity.

For a full chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE page titles click HERE.

For a full A to Z indexed MADONIE REGION locations map click HERE.

For a full A to Z indexed NEBRODI REGION locations map click HERE.

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NOW WHICH WAY???? - CROSSING THE NEBRODI IN 1990.

2010-11-17T12:16:00.024Z

CROSSING THE NEBRODI "A" to "N" -

(1993 NOTEBOOK insert!)

CROSSING THE NEBRODI "NOTEBOOK" 1990 (plus translation).

CROSSING THE NEBRODI "NOTEBOOK" 1990 - (plus translation).
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DOUBLE CLICK on the above IMAGES to ENLARGE.
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Back in 1990 there were no good maps to find your way across the lovely NEBRODI MOUNTAINS. I'd tried in the late 1980's to cross eastwards from the west - from PORTELLA FEMMINA MORTA to FLORESTA by way of BIVIERE di CESARO and BOSCO MANGALAVITI but the map I had was not detailed enough, and so the detail that did exist led me astray.
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So I tried crossing in the opposite direction. From FLORESTA heading westwards. In the end I made it but I still got lost a few times - beyond a certain point after heading west from FLORESTA. All I'd had to rely on - because the road just ended - was a compass. Trouble with a compass is that it can tell you a direction but sometimes heading in the correct direction proves very very difficult because of the way the land is in the direction you need to travel - sometimes it proved difficult t0 find a route because of obstacles etcetera etcetera so there were diversions and improvisations.
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My NOTEBOOKS came in very handy - and above are just a few page examples from my 1990 Notebooks - beneath each page of scrawl and scribble I have recently translated my words etc., and have re-used this information to make an illustrated postcard or two for friends just for amusement.
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Some of the above terrain I re-visited again this summer (July 2010) but some of it because of my increasing age now I will sadly not be able to pass along again. Also, there have been a few landslides that make certain very very solitary spots too dangerous to visit again.
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In a subsequent blogspot I will shortly feature one very lovely location in the vicinity of MONTE MALLARO - the latter is very much at the centre of the scribbled notes from the above 1990 Notebook pages.

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For a fully indexed MADONIE REGION locations map click HERE.

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For a fully indexed NEBRODI REGION locations map clickc HERE.

PETRALIA SOTTANA - LIFE AFTER DEATH OLYMPICS!

2010-08-03T11:29:00.011+01:00

DOUBLE CLICK on the above IMAGE to ENLARGE text.

Of course among religious communities both in Sicily and the UK one encounters notions suggesting that after we die our spirits ascend to heaven etcetera etcetera - in Petralia Sottana such notions are widely disseminated especially during the summer season when religious festivals abound.

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Being an unbeliever other musings quietly predominate and during the early hours of 17th September 2009 I suddenly awoke and penned the above - it pleased and amused me greatly so much so that once I'd jotted it down I got up and made a cup of tea to celebrate its creation.
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When I die there will certainly be over time a MAGGOT OLYMPICS - the worms and maggots will perform their natural life-after-death chores. We may not much admire their activities but its part of raw nature just like innocent flies had quickly descended on newly laid human faeces at the beautiful Nebrodi BIVIERE DI CESARO parkland in 1994 as described in my earlier blogged poem SICILY ISN'T THE MOON.

(Up-date - HERE - is something extremely relevant - just published on 16 May 2011).
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For a full chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE page titles click HERE.

For a fully indexed MADONIE REGION locations map click HERE.

For a fully indexed NEBRODI REGION locations map click HERE.

CAMERON SURPRISE - FLORESTA 5th JULY 2010.

2010-08-01T12:23:00.012+01:00

I arrived in FLORESTA - Sicily's highest altitude commune (1275m) - late in the afternoon of Monday 5 July - after not having visited this location for five years or so. I stayed only an hour or two then set out to make a 2 day walk to re-visit the Nebrodi mountains (via Portella Mitti) from where I continued onwards towards Bosco Mangalavitti.

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My primary intention was to re-visit a very quiet pasture I'd not visited for several years where in the immediate vicinity of a deserted delapidated cottage (where I'd holed-up occasionally in previous years) there had always been peacefully grazing beautiful animals.

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A blogspot about this latter Monte Mallaro location will follow later.

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I reached the said location and then returned to Portella Mitti. Then I walked down to the sea passing Rocca San Marco, Ucria, Sinagra, Ficarra and onwards to Brolo - again a walk that I'd very enjoyably made in previous years.

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However the "surprise" at FLORESTA when I'd arrived on 5th July was seeing the above item hung out in the peaceful Nebrodi sun at a local bar where I'd taken light refreshment. The item photographed above is actually in the Scottish CAMERON tartan and so it was an especially heart warming and welcoming sight for me.

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For a full A to Z indexed MADONIE REGION locations map click HERE.

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For a full A to Z indexed NEBRODI REGION locations map click HERE.

PORTELLA FEMMINA MORTA (NEBRODI PARK) CHARCOAL BURNERS ENCAMPMENT 1994.

2010-05-24T07:32:00.030+01:00

POSTSCRIPT ITEM - a trap of sorts found in 1995 amongst the debris of the 1994 encampment - see details below - this trap now labours under 15 plus years of London dust. On its rear end wall just visible through the wiring there is an illustration of a large spider and the SANTA CLAUSE laid inside was a 1995 addition found elsewhere during my MADONIE and NEBRODI walking excursions that year. It was a proper primed if somewhat small trap contraption.

Nebrodi Woodland 1994 Carbon Burners Encampment remains in July 1995.

Another July 1995 shot of the 1994 encampment.

One of the encampment structures under construction in June 1994.

Two of the fellow Carbonai Group.

The same two Carbonai jovially toasting their joint efforts.

Taking a break for a glass of vino!

Ongoing Carbon fire preparations.

Products of the Carbonai Group Labours - shot 1.

Products of the Carbonai Group Labour -shot 2.

Products of the Carbonai Group Labours - shot 3.

Showing me the ropes!

Getting things together - another shot.

Carbon fireside scene.

Further Carbon work in progress.

Sat resting in one of their newly built shelters.

Shot of the Nebrodi Woodlands Carbonai Group

who made me so very very welcome.

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DOUBLE CLICK on any of the above IMAGES to ENLARGE.

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In the 3rd week of June 1994 I took a Sicilian 2 weeks Parco dei Nebrodi and Parco delle Madonie excursion and after arriving by air at Catania then took a mid-day coach that travelled via CESARO so as to be able to drop me at PORTELLA FEMMINA MORTA. From there I struck out on foot as I had done in earlier years towards LAGO MAULAZZO and LAGO BIVIERE DI CESARO. Not very far down the winding inviting peaceful roadway towards the above destinations (and before the MONTE SORO bivio) in woodlands to the right hand side were folk who to my recollection were from (relatively nearby) SAN FRATELLO and SAN AGATA di MILITELLO - all these named places can be found on the NEBRODI locations map linked at the bottom of this page. These folk had just about begun to establish their above temporary CARBON production encampment. Basically as I understood things they'd chosen a section of the woodlands where they'd prune the trees, build fires and accomodation shelters (as above) and produce Carbon. Apparently the work that these Sicilian CARBONAI do is "CARBONAIO". They were a truly unexpected novelty for me and maybe hailing from the UK solo I was for them too. Certainly they made me very very welcome indeed and gave me food - pasta, meat, fruit and wine. It remains one of my very memorable encounters.

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For a full chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click HERE.

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For a full A to Z indexed MADONIE REGION locations map click HERE.

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For a full A to Z indexed NEBRODI REGION locations map click HERE.

LASCARI SALINELLE 1998 - "THE WAY IT SEEMED AT 4am" - a poem.

2010-04-08T16:21:00.034+01:00

GOOGLE EARTH AERIAL SHOT OF LASCARI SALINELLE BEACH

AND ADJACENT FIELDS - BEACH AREA PUBLIC SEATING

OVER TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE.

Un-useable badly damaged Salinelle beach area seating - summer 2009.

Beachside fieldscape 2009 cleared for car parking.

Summer 2009 beachside fieldscape.

Sole wooden post remaining (2009) from earlier times - see below.

Salinelle beachside nearby fieldscape before modern clearances.

Beachside nearby fieldscape 1980's through 1990's.

Fieldscape "high wirings" featured in 1998 poem.

"High wirings".

"High wirings" from which a night-time "Star" was toppled.

THE WAY IT SEEMED AT 4am

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Imagination had

a faintly

fishy smell,
a clear sky, lit

by a thigh high

almost full moon

was slowly but surely

sinking to its knees,

waves crashed,

rolling and receding

along the nearby shore.

In the distance

a dog barked.

Right above me

balanced on a very high wire

that truly I could see

a Star was toppled

by a single puff of passing cloud.

Nobody moaned out loud

(as only nobody can)

"Oi shut it man

d'you know

what time it is".

I.C.

Lascari Salinelle.

6 July 1998.

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The above poem came through at 4am on the night in question when sleeping in the open I awoke just briefly from my summer slumbers amid the fieldscape shown above. In those days it was somewhat helpfully comfortably overgrown with vegetation. That vegetation has all now been removed as have all the wooden upright posts and also of course the "high-line wirings" that so suprisingly crept into "The Way It Seemed" poetic imagery on that summer's night .

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The fieldscape in question, which runs immediately adjacent to salinelle beach, has now been entirely cleared and is used during the summer season for car parking. Just one of the old wooden post survives - now on the horizontal - as shown in one of the above foto's.

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Over the 1987 - 2003 period I peacefully slept out at Lascari Salinelle on some 40 occasions altho' not always in the above fieldscape - there are also quiet peaceful woodlands in the relatively nearby Salinelle area.

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The beachside area nowadays is not as invitingly hospitable as it had been hitherto - for example one of the above foto's made in the summer of 2009 shows that almost all the public seating was smashed and un-useable. To update this smashed seating comment having very recently (late Sept 2010) returned from a Lascari re-visit the seating has now been repaired.

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Anyway it is pleasing to acknowledge that I mainly have very nice memories of my numerous LASCARI SALINELLE visits some of which have already been featured in previous SICILY ABLAZE blogspots - see - HERE & HERE & HERE .

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For a full chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE page titles click - HERE.

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For a full A to Z indexed Madonie Region locations map click - HERE.

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For a full A to Z indexed Nebrodi Region locations map click - HERE.

PARCO DELLE MADONIE ON BIVIO MADONNUZZA ICE. WAS NO CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME!

2010-03-28T14:57:00.024+01:00

CLICK on the above image to ENLARGE it

and evaluate its message more easily.

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"AT-CHRISTMAS-EVERY-DAY-OF-THE-YEAR"

The genuinely amazing ancient geological story of the beautiful Parco delle Madonie countryside goes that many millions of years ago the Madonie was deep under the sea. No end of resonances may spring to mind. Nowadays away from the northern Sicilian coastal beaches - one or two locations of which have been alluded to in postings to this SICILY ABLAZE blog - there isn't any actual sea lapping around in the inland Madonie. However for the most part Madonie folk just like folk elsewhere enjoy eating fish and a curiously unpleasant passing 2003 Madonie holiday experience provided a stark reminder of that.

At Bivio Madonnuzza a locality southwards immediately beneath the hillsides upon which the township of Petralia Soprana is built there had been in the above period a smallish supermarket that had then recently moved to newer larger premises. Bivio Madonnuzza is a smallish peaceful locality and the vacated premises to my surprise had been re-opened to sell solely deep frozen fish from freezer units and ice boxes. I was shocked and unhappy by this development and still had it very much in mind when I wrote and reproduced the above poem and image as an end of year 2003 greeting.
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Of course such fish stacked deep freezer ice box outlets exist in many other places too including London and they are both hideous and haunting. I shun them big time 24/7 x 365.

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For a full chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click HERE.

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For a full A to Z indexed Madonie Region locations map click HERE.

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For a full A to Z indexed Nebrodi Region locations map click HERE.

MAMMA MIA! REGINA ELISABETTA IN VIA LUPO REALE. PETRALIA SOTTANA.

2010-02-09T07:14:00.011Z

VIA LUPO REALE. PETRALIA SOTTANA.

SEPTEMBER 2009.

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For a full A to Z indexed Madonie Region locations map click HERE.

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For a full A to Z indexed Nebrodi Region locations map click HERE.

MIO PRIMO NOTTE DORMIRE SOTTO SICILIANO MADONIE STELLE - S GANDOLFO SOTTO POLIZZI GENEROSA. LUGLIO 1987.

2010-02-07T11:24:00.008Z

Click on above image to ENLARGE details.

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On 3rd July 1987 at the end of my first ever foot-slogging

Madonie Mountains day between Caltavuturo and

Polizzi Generosa I slept like a log beside the main chapel

door (foto 2 above). I'd walked the quiet beautiful track

passing below the original elevated autostrada -

the autostrada I'd passed along by coach in the previous year

which revealed what an amazingly peaceful beautiful

countryside region the Madonie was - hence my vow

that year to somehow come back on foot - and so I sure did.

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I must have been very tired when I arrived at S Gandolfo

(I was in 2009 when I made the walk again). It was the

beginning of a real adventure as I'd no clear idea of what

lay ahead and the next night I slept above Petralia Sottana

in a very different setting.

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For a full chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click HERE.

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For a full A to Z indexed MADONIE REGION locations map click HERE.

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For a full A to Z indexed NEBRODI REGION locations map click HERE.

GERACI SICULO - FOOTBALL, TENNIS, SLAUGHTER, CEMETARY and RELIGION.

2010-01-22T10:27:00.011Z

In a nut-shell and memorable.

My preferences? Thank goodness for all those in-betweens.

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For a full chronological list of SICILY ABLAZE blog pages click here.

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For a Madonie Region fully indexed A - Z locations map click here.

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For a Nebrodi Region fully indexed A - Z locations map click here.

"LASCARI LASCARI MOLTO POPULARI" - a poem.

2010-01-17T16:01:00.016Z

ETNA.
POMPEII.
LASCARI - SALINELLE BEACH.
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I visited Lascari Salinelle beach on various occasions during my ON THE ROAD Sicilian travels. I stayed close by the sea for 3 days in early July 1998 having crossed the Nebrodi mountains on foot via Capizzi to Caronia and then caught a coastal train to Lascari. I'd previously visited Lascari Salinelle in both 1995 and 1997 so I had a good idea what to expect in terms of beach-side life, it was a very popular place though fortunately not as sardine-packed as nearby CEFALU.
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Lascari Salinelle was to change in the years ahead for the worse with parts of the beach area being privatised and in the longer term that's had a negative affect on beachside area facilities, so that nowadays it is nothing like as easy going, accessible and pleasant a place to visit.
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This poem which is infected with my own brand of dry humour seeks to attest to the great popularity of Lascari Salinelle and was written during my 3 day stop-over there in 1998.

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"LASCARI LASCARI MOLTO POPULARI"

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Domenica.

How many Sicilians

came down to their beaches

here today?

Start counting backwards

bindfolded

from the top of Etna

facing towards Pompeii.

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Notebook 1998 (p79).

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For a full chronological list of SICILY ABLAZE blog pages click here.
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For a Madonie Region fully indexed A to Z locations map click here.
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For a Nebrodi Region fully indexed A to Z locations map click here.

HOLIDAY FOR A KING - SHORT NEBRODI POEM - SUMMER 2001.

2009-11-02T12:04:00.012Z

I'm scrunching thro' the cucumber

I'm munching thro' the cheese

I'm listening to the Sicilian Sirrocco

rustling thro' the leaves

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Cow bells are making music

tiny birds do quietly sing

I'm here in the NEBRODI

A HOLIDAY FOR A KING!

Notebook 2001

For an indexed Madonie Region locations map click - HERE .

For an indexed Nebrodi Region locations map click - HERE .
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For a full up to date chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE blog page titles click - HERE .

SUMMER 2009 IN PETRALIA SOTTANA - IAN CAMERON and COLONEL GADAFFI.

2009-09-29T05:03:00.013+01:00

-----------------------------SAXUM PUB SHOT.

---------------- "COLONEL GADAFFI" -- CHILLIN' OUT

----------CLICK CLICK on the above IMAGES to ENLARGE and view in detail especially Gadaffi's foot.

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Its not every day you find COLONEL GADAFFI in profile taking a bevy in the Sicilian sunshine.

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For an indexed Madonie Region locations map click <here>.

For an indexed Nebrodi Region locations map click <here>.

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For a full up to date chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE blog page titles click <here>.

OK GOD GET YOUR FICARRA FINGER OUT!

2009-08-05T17:45:00.025+01:00

----- AQUELLO CONCETTI and RICCARDO BERSILIO.

CLICK on individual images to see in much LARGER detail.

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Quite a big surprise to find the tiny community of FICARRA featuring in the >British press<. Desparate national lotttery obsessed times. I passed by back in the summer on 2001. FICARRA is in Messina Province on the relatively lower mountain hillsides towards the sea a little beyond the Nebrodi Region. The Madonie and Nebrodi mountain roadsides in my experience have a fair sprinkling of losers lottery cards. Hey ho and on we go!

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For a full up to date chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE blog page titles click <here>.

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For an indexed Madonie Park Region locations map click <here>.

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For an indexed Nebrodie Park Region location may click <here>.

PARCO DEI NEBRODI - 1995 BURIED TREASURES!

2009-07-29T21:12:00.021+01:00

Yet again bella LAGO BIVIERE DEI CESARO raises its lovely blogspot head for this short historical SICILY ABLAZE 1990’s excursion. Here is a link for an earlier SICILY ABLAZE brief BIVIERE blogspot.

In June 1994 I passed thro’ the NEBRODI and stopped off and slept near the LAGO BIVIERE – in the mid Nineties the beautiful flamenco tree you see photographed above stood dancing in the summer sunshine – alas this "flamenco beauty" is no more having sadly perished in the wintery stormy weather.

In 1994 as per previous excursions my backpack tended to get heavy with small accumulations and so on passing by the LAGO BIVIERE early-on during 1994’s trip (and intending to re-pass that way again later during the 3 week trip) I off-loaded and buried some food items under a stoney patch fairly local to the BIVIERE.

Alas the BIVIERIE “re-visit” did not materialise during that year’s excursion. However it sure did the following summer, in early August1995. So I also re-visited the actual “buried treasure” spot. The photographs above are shots of the foodstuff items exactly as they were after being un-earthed.

For an indexed Madonie Region locations map click <here>.

For an indexed Nebrodi Region locations map click <here>.

For a full up to date chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE blog page titles click <here>.

"SERPENTE BERLUSCONI" IN PETRALIA SOTTANA.

2009-07-05T05:34:00.007+01:00

Serpente Silvio at the acqua posto on via garibaldi. Ospedale and ventinario very close by.

For an indexed Madonie Region locations map click <here>.

For an indexed Nebrodi Region locations map click <here>.

For a full up to date chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE blog page titles click <here>.

"ON "H" IN SICILY" - a poem.

2009-06-30T20:21:00.007+01:00

July 17. Nicosia - central Sicily.
Confession time!
I've been on "H" for nearly a month now.
There have been ups and downs.

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Some peculiar “side effects” too.
I was warned about that.
It’s summer, and I might add
a typical scorcher.
It started in Rome
(right from day one).
I was about a week on "H" there.
And I definitely wasn't the only one.
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One of the “side effects”
unless I'm hallucinating
is that my arms, legs and face
have all changed colour!
My “cooked” judgement is that
this “side effect” will continue.
Oh, and I've started losing weight -
a very sure sign of being on "H".
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When I've been "very high"
(a local Sicilian expression is "sopra Capizzi")
hoping to chill out
I've been using "G" too.
No point in keeping it secret.
I've tried "Coke" too.
Coke is OK but basically the bottom line is
"H" is better, it’s the real business.
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I'm hooked - hook, line and sinker
hooked good and proper.
No getting way from that.
Don't get me wrong
I don't want to get away from it!
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I don't hold the Italian or Sicilian
“mafia” responsible
for my being on "H" or "G" or "Coke".
The curious truth is that
even though I'm NOT a victim
I am kinda hoist by my very own petard.
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Nobody “pushed” this situation in my face,
there were no “peer pressures”.
I decided for myself what I wanted,
when I wanted, and in what amounts,
and at whatever cost
I was going to have it!
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A nice long “H”oliday
“G”elato a-plenty
with the occasional COKE
thrown in, just for good measure!
Double dangerous . . . . . oooaaarrrr!

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I.C. NICOSIA - 17 JULY 2000.

For an indexed Madonie Region locations map click < here >.

For an indexed Nebrodi Region locations map click < here >.

For a full up to date chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE blog page titles click < here >.

NEVER FORGETTIN' GERACI SICULO, GALATI MAMERTINO's SWEET SMILIN' "KNICKERS LADY" TOTALLY TRUMPS TRENDY HOODED NICOSIA FASHIONISTA!

2009-05-07T11:43:00.028+01:00

--------------- NOT FORGETTIN' GERACI SICULO (2005)

SWEET SMILIN' GALATI MAMERTINO "KNICKERS LADY" (1989).

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---------- TRENDY HOODED NICOSIA FASHIONISTA (2002).
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CLICK on individual images for ENLARGEMENT, CLARIFICATION and GALATI GRATIFICATION!!

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The photographs speak for themselves. The Geraci foto was taken in the immediate vicinity of the S Guiseppe shrine/shelter <blogged> previously .

For an indexed Madonie Region locations map click <here>.
For an indexed Nebrodi Region locations map click <here>.

For a full up to date chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE blog page titles click <here>.

"SAYS THE HAND OF ONE WHO KNOWS" - MADONIE BUTTERFLY RESCUE POEM.

2009-05-07T06:56:00.008+01:00

CLICK on IMAGE to ENLARGE text.

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The creature at the heart of this "postcard home" poem, trapped inside a car, was rescued back in June 2005. Between the lines (so to speak) this poem harked back to the "Helter Skelter" butterfly < here > Bivio Geraci and Gangi back in July 1998. Of course with such profusions of summertime butterflies the relatively carefree colourful creatures encounter mishaps. You see many of them lifeless along the roads - anyway before death they are a relatively carefree "holiday enhancing" blessing.

"ALL POWER TO MADONIE BUTTERFLIES!"

Now there's a slogan to shout across the sun drenched fields. Tho' perhaps not when the Carabinerie are within earshot or they might think you are using intoxicating "substances".

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For an indexed Madonie Region locations map click < here >.

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For an indexed Nebrodi Region locations map click < here >.

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For a full up to date chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE blog page titles click < here >.

"...BREAK DANCING IN THE NUDE..." - A CAPIZZI - NEBRODI "ANTI-WAR" POEM.

2009-04-18T14:04:00.028+01:00

CLICK on the above IMAGE to ENLARGE text .... and join with the POPE and the College of Cardinals in anti-warmongering nude break dancing. Ah Capizzi what an inspiration!
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This poem, was written at the

S. Antonio late August 2005 Capizzi festival -

two years before my previously posted poem

"AT THE VERY LAST LAMP ABOVE CAPIZZI" > here <.

And for another click here > "DAVID ROBIN KELLY COOK"
--f-----------------------------------------------------

For an indexed Madonie locations map click >> here <<.

For an indexed Nebrodi locations map click >> here <<.

For a full up to date chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE blog page titles click >> here <<.

"SICILY ISN'T THE MOON" - A POEM.

2009-04-06T09:12:00.021+01:00

"SICILY ISN'T THE MOON"
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I squatted to answer the call of nature
in the brilliant Sicilian summer sun
with unspoilt truly beauteous countryside all around.
Moorlands, mountains, great oak forests.
The tranquil, hallowed, birdwatcher’s
Lake of Cesaro just nearby –
of course the birds are watchers too!
Etna smoking away in the far distance.
Butterflies, insects, wild flowers and
great fields of purple thistles,
in their thousands. Bella Nebrodi.
Bella Sicilia.

A butterfly spotted a small bright red patch
sewn onto my leaf-green coloured rucksack and landed.
He or she has made a gentle mistake
but I am heartened by this curious mishap.
Within seconds of my act of nature
being begun, as though from every clime,
flies have come buzzing in.

I am open minded. I am reminded.
I am moved in my emotions, pleased to reflect,
to respect the fact that nature can be so raw,
can be such an astonishing, powerful potent force
even in its unattractive aspects.

Modern city life is designed
to remove us from raw nature.
Is there Godliness in all natural things?
Where does God’s wisdom lie in this?
But Sicily isn’t the Moon.
For if this were the Moon
and one single fly came by
this would be a “World Exclusive”
the scoop of a lifetime

fit for every front page and TV screen
and I’d be rich in other ways.
When I get to the Moon
the first thing I’ll do
is answer nature’s call
and keep my fingers crossed.

I.C. (1994).

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Top 3 foto's are of Nebrodi Park signage - the first is modern day (so to speak) while the handwriten one's were mid 1980's. The modern sign links in passing with the Madonie Park too.

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For an indexed site map of all MADONIE REGION locations click >> here <<.

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For an indexed site map of all NEBRODI REGION locations click >> here <<.

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For a full up to date chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE blog page titles click >> here <<.

"A FLY IN THE PEAR JUICE" - A POEM.

2009-04-05T08:08:00.010+01:00

Oh dear with several more to come later (be warned) we've already had "BISHOP IN THE GRASSES" and also (so far untranslatable) "YOU CAN'T DO MUCH BIZ WITH THE LIZ" and now we have:

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A FLY IN THE PEAR JUICE

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High up on a hillside
overlooking the sea
sat eating my breakfast
neath a nice shady tree
high diddely high diddely
high diddely dee

I’m eating my breakfast
sweet pear and bread roll
watching ants, a thin column
high diddely high diddely
high diddely doll

living’ in style
a plastic bag is my cloth
I’m eating the pear …
now the bread …
scoff scoff scoff

I’m cutting small pieces
of pear, yummy it tastes SO good (!!)
the juice forms a pool
in a crease in the cloth

down comes a fly
he’s seen me I’m sure
he heads straight for the juice
alas the juice cooks his goose
he tries and he tries
but he cannot get loose

there’s a fly in the pear juice
and he can’t swim a stroke
he’s beginning to look
like a pig in a poke

he’s going like crazy
but he can’t climb free
there’s a fly in the pear juice
lift him out? – NO, NOT ME!

there’s a fly in the pear juice
he should so happy be
now he’s eating a human
guess who could that be?

he’s eaten his legs
now his arms and his ears
now he’s scrunching his head
now he’s drinking his tears

and he’s loving that pear juice
YOU CAN TELL BY HIS FACE
but he spits out my nose
he’s got brilliant good taste!
----
I.C. Sicily. June 1995.

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It's hardly surprising that when you're legging it around the gorgeous Sicilian Madonie and Nebrodi countryside sleeping under the stars that you occasionally get fascinatingly taken at close quarters by insect and other creaturistic forms - sometimes, as with flies for example, very often they ARE more entertaining and engaging than in inner city London. They can even serve to help remind you that at the end of the day SICILY ISN'T THE MOON - more enlightenment on this in due course.

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For a full up to date chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE blog page titles click >> here <<.

"FROM GANGI TO MISTRETTA" - A POEM.

2009-04-04T16:24:00.011+01:00

FROM GANGI TO MISTRETTA

The tranquil country road
from Gangi to Mistretta
whispers to your soul
gives you the kiss of life
massages your heart
opens you up
fills out your lungs

thrills
resuscitates, reinvigorates’
bathes your eyes
pats you on the back
rolls out the carpet
and takes you easily in its stride

Home from Home
the road
from Gangi to Mistretta
is THAT kind of road.

This was one of the earliest poems inspired by my Sicilian walking adventures. The road onwards from Bivio Comunello onwards towards Mistretta was incredibly peaceful, reassuring and beautiful. It was on this route that I was to discover and greatly enjoy stop overs at (previously mentioned) Giovanni Napoli's small wood.

The above sectional map is from the Madonie Regional larger map and the place names for the locations as numbered above can to be found >> here <<. At point 20 there is a small peaceful intersection road viaduct and on a few occasions when weather threatened I usefully holed up under there and let it all pass by.

For a full up-to-date chronological list of the SICILY ABLAZE blog postings click >> here <<.

FULL CHRONOLOGICAL UP TO DATE LIST OF "SICILY ABLAZE" BLOG PAGES.

2009-03-25T09:38:00.066Z

CLICK on any of the items below to view that particular "SICILY ABLAZE" blog page.

ON THE ROAD

SO NICE TO BE BACK IN SICILY

PETRALIA SOTTANA – BELLA ARIA??

GERACI SICULO – SUMMER TIME BUTTERFLY BANDITO

SICILY ABLAZE IN SUMMER

FREE HOTEL ACCOMODATION – GERACI SICULO

I CALL TO MY SOCKS – BIVIO COMUNELLO

SICILY “IN LONDON IN LONDON ”.

SUPERMARKET CAR PARK

“CHIROPO DI DOO DA”

BISHOP IN THE GRASSES

GOBSMACKED! ANGLO-SICILIAN REFRESHERS

SURROUNDED

"YOU CAN'T DO MUCH BIZ' WITH THE LIZ'" - A POEM.

SITE MAP – MADONIE REGION BLOGSPOT LOCATIONS

SITE MAP NEBRODI REGION BLOGSPOT LOCATIONS

FESTA S ANTONIO – CAPIZZI POEM

SUB AQUARIAN SICILIAN LANDSCAPE

PETRALIA SOTTANA – VIA CALZOLAI’s “DCA” – A POEM.

ALL DAY I’D BEEN WALKING – a poem ... with photo's.

GIOVANNI NAPOLI’s SMALL WOOD.

“LASCARI CHAMPAGNE”

CAPRI LEONE – ALCARA LI FUSI “FLY BY NIGHT” BUS SERVICE

CHILLIN’ OUT

PETRALIA SOTTANA – BUSH, BLAIR AND BERLUSCONI ARRIVO!

PETRALIA PETRIFIED – ABANDONED DOGS.

ROLL UP! ROLL ON! ITALIAN CONDOMS GALORE!

LASCARI – “A WISH I WISHED”

“HELTER SKELTER HOW MY HEART SANK DOWN”

“ITALIAN CONDOMS GALORE” – PART 2.

“WHAT I NEED” – A POEM IN WORDS AND MUSIC TOO!!

"FULL CHRONOLOGICAL UP TO DATE LIST OF "SICILY ABLAZE" PAGES"

"FROM GANGI TO MISTRETTA" - A POEM.

"A FLY IN THE PEAR JUICE" - A POEM.

"SICILY ISN'T THE MOON" - A POEM.

"...BREAK DANCING IN THE NUDE..." - A NEBRODI - CAPIZZI ANTI-WARMONGERING POEM.

"SAYS THE HAND OF ONE WHO KNOWS" - Madonie Butterfly Rescue Poem.

"NEVER FORGETTIN' GERACI SICULO, GALATI's SWEET SMILIN' KNICKERS LADY TOTALLY TRUMPS TRENDY NICOSIA's ANORAK FASHIONISTA" - photo's.

"ON "H" IN SICILY" - A POEM.

"SERPENTE BERLUSCONI" IN PETRALIA SOTTANA.

PARCO DEI NEBRODI - 1995 BURIED TREASURES!

OK GOD GET YOUR FICARRA FINGER OUT!

SUMMER 2009 in PETRALIA SOTTANA - IAN CAMERON and COLONEL GADAFFI.

"LASCARI LASCARI MOLTO POPULARI" - a poem.

GERACI SICULO - FOOTBALL, TENNIS, SLAUGHTER, CEMETARY and RELIGION.

MIO PRIMO NOTTE DORMIRE SOTTO SICILIANO MADONIE STELLE - S GANDOLFO SOTTO POLIZZI GENEROSA. LUGLIO 1987.

MAMMA MIA! REGINA ELISABETTA IN VIA LUPO REALE. PETRALIA SOTTANA.

PARCO DELLE MADONIE ON BIVIO MADONNUZZA ICE. NO CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME.

LASCARI SALINELLE 1998 - "THE WAY IT SEEMED AT 4am" - a poem.

PORTELLA FEMMINA MORTA (NEBRODI PARK) CHARCOAL BURNERS ENCAMPMENT 1994.

CAMERON SURPRISE - FLORESTA 5TH JULY 2010.

PETRALIA SOTTANA - LIFE AFTER DEATH OLYMPICS!

NOW WHICH WAY??? - CROSSING THE NEBRODI IN 1990.

GEOLOGICAL. PETRALIA SOTTANA 230 MILLION ANNI FA!

"ICE CREAM DEATH WISH" - A POEM.

MISTRETTA IN THE RAW. TAKE YOUR PICK!

PEACEFUL SOLITUDE AND POETRY 'NEATH SUN AND STARS'. "MY SICILIAN BEDROOM".

"WHAT I NEED" - A POEM IN WORDS, SONG AND MUSIC!!

2009-03-24T06:53:00.017Z

----------CLICK on the above images to ENLARGE and read.

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This short initially scribbled poem "happened" at PORTELLA DAGARA in mid June 2003 in the 18th year of my Sicilian excursions as I legged it across the beautiful Nebrodi Mountains. Poems happen when they happen and this one could have happened at any time. In spirit it was and remains pertinent to both my Nebrodi and Madonie mountain travels.

It transpired that it certainly struck a chord with Madonie folk whose friendship I subsequently made - so much so that popular prominant singers and musicians based in POLIZZI GENEROSA set it to music of their choosing and with further versifications of their making and it was recorded (as above) to also include a reading from yours truly. These folk most particularly were GIOVANNI CANNATELLA and ROBERTO TERRANOVA. GIOVANNI CANNATELLA has performed the song on various occasions and by invitation I too contributed a reading at a POLIZZI GENEROSA town square festivity in the summer of 2008.

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I like the poem too but then I confess to being both biased and addicted to magical elastic band landscapes - when I need fruit I expand the landscape and when there is work a plenty to be done the land contracts to pin head proportions. What an decadent idealist I really am.

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For an indexed Madonie locations map click >> here <<.

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For an indexed Nebrodi locations map click >> here <<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE page titles click >> here <<.

"ITALIAN CONDOMS GALORE" - PART 2.

2009-03-21T12:46:00.006Z

Peter Brookes "controversial" lovely TIMES NEWSPAPER cartoon. Compliments my earlier recent "italian condoms galore" post >> here <<< .

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

"HELTER SKELTER HOW MY HEART SANK DOWN"

2009-02-24T20:40:00.010Z

-------------------Click on images to see ENLARGED.
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On a July 1998 afternoon while walking from Bivio Geraci to Gangi along the SS120 road an unexpected incident occurred which caused me to remember much happier childhood images and word associations. The words were “Helter Skelter” which I had always associated with happy fun fair days when extremely excited kids (myself included) sometimes hurtled shouting and screaming along “Helter Skelter” chutes around and around to the ground.
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It was a warm sunny day, I was 4 kilometers or so from Gangi, the walking was pleasantly easy, with the open road gently leading downhill through lovely grassy landscapes and in fact at the time of the incident (as I later reflected) the traffic was so light that it was truly fateful to have ever happened. Looking up above and around me I suddenly caught sight of a large winged butterfly fairly close by, near to the verge side. It was circling around, gaily carouselling around, quite carefree as though without a care in the world, much like I’d seen them so often.
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Bit by bit, gradually, the colourful carefree creature’s circles were causing it to descend while in my very same view I suddenly noticed, also heading towards Gangi, towards the butterfly and myself, the relentless steady approach of a very large big wheeled articulated high roofed lorry. Seeing the driver sat quite high up in his driving cab I easily realised that he could not be otherwise than totally oblivious to the butterfly. Although it was very unlikely it seemed to me that if the butterfly didn’t unexpectedly somehow change its own repetitive downward spirals then it and the driving cab roof were very likely on a collision course. Each time the butterfly completed a single circle it over-ran the verge side into the space above the road unaware that it was putting itself in danger. There must have been only the remotest of chances that it would avoid injury when the vehicle passed alongside. Of course the vehicle continued along its course and I continued to hear and reflect upon its progress. I found myself watching events that I was totally powerless to stop happening. I continued to hear the relentless steady purr and quietly ticking whir of wheels.
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The circling light winged buttefly impacted with the near side high roof of the driving cab and bounced off it. It immediately fell to the ground, into the verge side grasses almost like a dead weight, like a stone, dead. It was pretty upsetting, I had been totally powerless to prevent what I had watched realising that it was virtually inevitable. The lively fateful “helter skelter” pattern of the butterfly in its final flying moments along with what seemed to be the relentless though steady journey of that very large solitary vehicle etched itself into my mind. In my Notebook I wrote the words “Helter Skelter how my heart sank down”. And I definitely meant it.
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For a Madonie Region indexed A to Z locations map click >here<.

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For a Nebrodi Region indexed A to Z locations map click >here<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

LASCARI - "A WISH I WISHED".

2009-02-22T22:00:00.010Z

A WISH I WISHED

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Freed up of every

conceivable kind of bag'n'baggage

my wish was possessed of

a powerful tail flipper,

whiskers, a quizzical face

'n'absolutely superb body lines

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it cut through water

like a knife

it wished life

was eternal -

a metaphore for

really fine weather

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endlessly diving, rolling,

turning'n'turning about

my wish wished

it was a Seal

stealing the show

breaking the seal

on Fate!

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Oh come on, get real,

you know you ask

too much too late.

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Written in 1998 very late at night

sleeping by Lascari Salinelle beach

under clear summer time stars

within the sound of the lapping sea.

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For an indexed Madonie Region map to locate LASCARI click >here<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

ROLL UP! ROLL ON! ITALIAN CONDOMS GALORE!

2009-02-17T11:25:00.001Z

The sub text is Condoms Galore versus Stuffed Shirts! And as such it has below the belt potential.
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Unlike in the UK (relatively speaking) in Italia, bella Sicilia included, where condom usage is against the teaching of the Catholic Church there truly are condom machines galore, banks of ‘em screwed (no pun intended – honest!) to FARMACIA walls. It's a joke among some English living in Sicily. Clearly condoms are doing an absolutely roaring trade ‘n’ hurrah hurrah ‘n’ all that jazz. On my travels I’ve not knowingly encountered anyone who’s had an unpleasant "ear full" for participating in the rubbery roll on!
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On the other hand I have myself had an "ear full" or two from Sicilians (including a staunch “OASIS” fan and used fone card collector!!) for having dared to produce a street-wise light hearted humorous item of artwork from a small S. Francis of Assisi religious text which I’d found randomly scattered amid the country road vergeside beyond Gangi – only one or two were saveable when found as others had been roughly cut to shreds by hand-operated grass cutters. It’s grass cutters 'n' S Francis in Shreds Assisi 'n' condoms you win, and itinerant transient hight hearted artwork you lose.
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In my artwork street-wise old S Frances has something up one of his sleeves – it sure isn’t a condom so no worries there. Wow that would’ve probably been a very close call. Perish the thought.

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For an indexed Madonie Region map click >here<.
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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

PETRALIA PETRIFIED - ABANDONED DOGS.

2008-12-14T21:25:00.001Z

To view ENLARGED click on IMAGE - please do NOT throw any old SHOES - thank YOU!
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A subject I will return to again in due course -namely ABANDONED DOGS. A dog like the above would thoroughly deserve to be abandoned. When you leg it around the SICILIAN MADONIE and NEBRODI you certainly come across abandoned dogs - at times in relatively remote countryside locations and at other times in townships. Responses from local folk vary from positive to negative - the latter, at times, almost verges on the superstitious "DON'T TOUCH THE DOG"! - hence this PETRALIA fantasy image which, in the case DUBYA BUSH extreme negativism would be very understandable. At other times it can be extremely demoralising.
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For a full indexed Madonie Region map click >here<.
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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE page titles click >> here <<.

PETRALIA SOTTANA - BUSH, BLAIR AND BERLUSCONI ARRIVO!

2008-12-13T22:57:00.001Z

ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO. EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION INDEED - BUSH BLAIR AND BERLUSCONI ARRIVE IN PIAZZA UMBERTO UNO, PETRALIA SOTTANA. TIME FOR A CELEBRATION.

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For detailed Madonie Region map locations information click >here<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

CHILLIN' OUT

2008-12-12T19:28:00.001Z

--------------CLICK on IMAGES to ENLARGE and ENJOY!

These are two of my favourite foto's but like so very many others featuring animals in varieties of settings they're now tinged with sadness because for reasons there is no need to fully enter into here they do not enjoy the longevity that we humans generally do. The topmost foto was taken at Lago Biviere d' Cesaro (during my first ever visit 1989) - Parco d' Nebrodi.

For an indexed NEBRODI region locations map click >here<.

Lago Biviere is at map location 17.

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For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

CAPRI LEONE - ALCARA LI FUSI "FLY BY NIGHT" BUS SERVICE.

2008-12-01T13:06:00.000Z

-----CLICK on IMAGE - to ENLARGE - this is a BUS WORLD EXCLUSIVE.

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On current trends this service will only operate about once in 30 years - the driver has to get permission and may not yet know the way. He's working on it. It is believed that a number of London "Bus Stops" have also made their FLY BY NIGHT journey to bella Sicilia. What a fate!

"LASCARI CHAMPAGNE"

2008-11-28T00:37:00.002Z

LASCARI CHAMPAGNE

I lay in the sea at Lascari
the rushing tide foaming into
my cupped hands
bubbling like Champagne
my last evening here
so I’m saddened
never mind, next year
I will come back again!
---
(Lascari. 21 July 2001).

For indexed and mapped Madonie locations including Lascari click >here<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

GIOVANNI NAPOLI's SMALL WOOD.

2008-11-26T12:44:00.002Z

Ah GIOVANNI NAPOLI's small wood (top photo) located along the GANGI > BIVIO COMUNELLO > MISTRETTA road (for an indexed locations map click >here<) lies at about 3 hours walk beyond Gangi - with a rest at BIVIO COMUNELLO (>here<).

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It is a very peaceful beautiful spot as the photographs attest to. In one foto 2 of Giovanni's dogs are shown taking their ease. One very strange doggy habit - they had the habit of hunting down and devouring human faecies and so desperate measures were resorted to to bury them securely.

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I spent a number of beautifully peaceful summer days and nights holed up here en route to further afield destinations. Future posts to this blog story will further spotlight this location. Giovanni Napoli had a home in GANGI and was reasonably at ease and hospitable about my stop-overs at this location.

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For indexed Madonie Region map locations information click >here<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

ALL DAY I'D BEEN WALKING - a poem.

2008-11-25T11:54:00.002Z

------- CLICK on IMAGES individually for ENLARGEMENT.
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ALL DAY I’D BEEN WALKING

A busy city intersection.
It could have been
Hyde Park Corner,
Marble Arch,
Place De La Bastille,
or Piazza Barberini,
but wasn’t.

I was on foot
or at least
I think I was!
Suddenly there was this terrible screaming,
traffic came by
it passed before me
very close, from the left,
then just turned after slowing
just a little
the way traffic often does
as it converges en masse
into a bend.

The sceaming
was from a young woman
totally flung out
from an open backed lorry
flung out of the Driving Cab
from the nearside -
she was hanging on
her grey coat
trailing and flailing.
She was screaming.

Nobody was at the wheel!
Somehow the lorry jostled
and negociated the bend
of its own will –
or wheel – choose for yourself
how you’d like to express it.
And then the traffic, the lorry
with the woman,
gathered speed
and sped on very fast.

The screaming went on and on.
Shocked and exasperated
I said to someone:
“Why didn’t one of the
other cars or several
of them slow down
and stop, then the lorry
would have been boxed in,
and brought to a halt”.
A woman said: “Yes,
there would have been
a bump, but it could have worked”.
I could still hear the woman’s terrible screams
trailing on and on and on...

And then I woke up
in long luxurient grasses
under an Almond tree.
Dawn was breaking.
It was 5 a.m.
Through the leaves
there was just the rustle
of a gentle breeze,
no traffic, no woman screaming.
All day, a Sunday,

I’d been walking, marvelling
at the incredibly peaceful, traffic free
Sicilian country roads.
And now this!

(Towards Cerda. 7 July 1997. Notebook page 129).

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For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

PETRALIA SOTTANA - VIA CALZOLAI's "D.C.A" - A POEM.

2008-11-22T06:57:00.001Z

------------------CLICK on image to ENLARGE text.
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VIA CALZOLAI "DCA" - a Petralia Sottana poem that among other things celebrates the Sicilian sunshine.

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For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

SUB AQUARIAN SICILIAN LANDSCAPE

2008-11-12T19:54:00.000Z

----------------------CLICK on IMAGE to ENLARGE.

FESTA S ANTONIO - CAPIZZI POEM.

2008-11-10T02:40:00.003Z

------------- CLICK on individual images to ENLARGE.

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AT THE VERY LAST LAMP ABOVE CAPIZZI

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At the very last lamp above Capizzi
with a clear starlit sky over head
I slept with a vision
of Cerami bejewelled
in lights at the
foot of my bed.
To the mountainous North
distant lightening struck
highlighting great forests
against the night sky
Capizzi lay silent
perfectly peaceful, fairytale serene
“So pleased to be back again”
mused I.

CAPIZZI. Festa S Antonio. (Sept. 2007).
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Top photo - Capizzi’s last lamp - with Etna in the far distance.
Other photo’s – Capizzi - Festa S Antonio (Sept. 2008).
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More on Capizzi in due course.
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For Nebrodi map locations click >here<.
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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

SITE MAP - NEBRODI REGION BLOGSPOT LOCATIONS.

2008-11-09T10:59:00.001Z

Click on IMAGE to view above listed locations in ENLARGED detail.

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For MADONIE region locations map click >here<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

SITE MAP - MADONIE REGION BLOGSPOT LOCATIONS.

2008-11-07T09:39:00.001Z

---------------CLICK on image to view above listed locations in ENLARGED detail.

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For NEBRODI region locations map click >here<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

"YOU CAN'T DO MUCH BIZ' WITH THE LIZ"

2008-11-06T11:51:00.003Z

CLICK on IMAGE to see the LIZ' disappear like GREASED LIGHTENING.

YOU CAN’T DO MUCH BIZ'
WITH THE LIZ'
'COS THE LIZ' TAKES ONE
LOOK AT YOUR FIZ'
“JESUS CHRIST!” CRIES THE LIZ'
“I’M NOT UP FOR THIZ”
‘N’ HE’S UP
'N' HE’S OFF
IN A TIZ.

-Notes:
“TIZ” – Oxford Dictionary of 21st Century English (Pub'd Palermo. June 2003).

---“Tis – a poetic word used to denote Lizard disappearing up its own rectum at very high speed”.

Sicilian translation as yet unavailable - offers welcome!! Don't be shy!!!

For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<.

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For the full up to date chronological list of SICILY ABLAZE blogged title pages click >> here<<

Tomorrow - Parco delle Madonie Region "Blogspot" locations.

SURROUNDED

2008-11-05T06:58:00.005Z

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In 2003 I holidayed in a Sicily for 2 months from the end of May. I used up about 5 small Notebooks with scribbles in the usual way. At the end of Notebook One on Tuesday 17 June I noted

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“had decided to walk from Geraci Siculo to Gangi at a little after 3pm and plotted an itiniery for next week – it was a really really lovely sunny afternoon – with breezes following or either to my left side. Portella dei Bifolchi as ever lovely to take a drink at, and then the lovely lovely grasses and wayside plants from there down to Bivio Geraci – really lovely - as ever. Then the walk from there to Gangi was lovely too – found many items of wayside ephemera I’ll try to utilise for Cards – including my 2nd “Route 66” packet. Time for a Notebook No. 2. What a lovely lovely walk in the sun and not the first one”.

I’d woken up on that Tuesday morning having slept on the old abandoned pizzeria patio below Geraci Siculo’s Castello, had made the above walk to Gangi and slept beyond the town’s eastern side (but well before Bivio Comunello) next to a big haystack in a field – very comfortable. I’d already slept at this spot for 3 nights between the 5th and 7th June. On the first night of this 3 day period, very nearby in the hedgerow of that haystack field a Nightingale sang and sang for hours and hours – it was incredible, the first Nightingale I had ever heard. Fantastic – hence the reference to a Gangi Nightingale in my 7th June 2003 poem “SO NICE TO BE BACK IN SICILY” (>see). -

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In that June I also made and posted several ephemeral home made "on the road" postcards to London friends. They’d included “SURROUNDED” and "ROUTE 66". For a fuller appreciation of the inspiration that helped to create this item of ON THE ROAD ephemera click on the following ROLLING STONES link >> “ROUTE 66”.
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For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

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Tomorrow - “YOU CANT DO MUCH BIZ WITH THE LIZ”.

GOBSMACKED! ANGLO-SICILIAN REFRESHERS.

2008-11-04T13:31:00.001Z

--CLICK on images individually to view/read in LARGER detail.

Just before noon on Sunday 23 June 1997 I arrived at BIVIO COMUNELLO (>see<) after the 3 mile walk from GANGI and after having amusingly photographed 2 contrasting road signs just yards apart – one warned against fires the other about “snowy road conditions”.. At Comunello I rested up for 4 hours. I ate 3 chicken pieces and a ham sandwich and also noted

“there was some breeze, tho’ the sun is very warm – also a few spots of rain! The water is running … my ankle is a bit sore – it’s a nuisance. Bag not too heavy but heavy all the same. Nice in the grasses under these small trees opposite the water point…that lovely goat was with the sheep and nearby, and a shepherd (a nice man). The sheep all ran off in a great pack along the Nicosia road – the shepherd had to run to keep up – they were all over the road. The goat was extraordinary – he’d
previously jumped down off the roof to land right beside me! He did it again a little later”.

I still remember him right by my side, he stood for a second or two kind of shook himself down then toodled off.

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I set off along the ST MAURO road to a small bivio intersection then forked right in the MISTRETTA direction and after about 3 miles rested up at GIOVANNI NAPOLI’s small wood where I slept the night. Next morning I went on at 8am towards MISTRETTA and a little before noon arrived at an intersection (ST LUCIA/ MISTRETTA) and rested up. Here I ate one or two thirst quenching REFRESHERs and for amusement wrote “ANGLO-SICILIAN REFRESHERS”.

I’d also bought REFRESHERS with me in July 1995. Walking north of ST MAURO towards POLLINA and the blue sea I popped a REFRESHER into my mouth and in that very same split second instant totally out of the blue a butterfly flew straight into my mouth along with the REFRESHER. I reacted absolutely immediately, spat out both, tasting a powdery residue on my lips which I took to have been deposited by the unfortunate butterfly. It had had pale blue wings. An enormously surprising event. GOBSMACKED indeed! GOBSMACKED by the BUTTERFLY and GOATSMACKED by you can easily guess who.

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For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

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Tomorrow - SURROUNDED!

"CHIROPO DI DOO DA".

2008-11-03T17:44:00.002Z

CLICK on each image individually to ENLARGE detail. With the sun still rising the landscape photo was taken en route to BIVIO CALABRO with distant GERACI SICULO just visible.

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Here we re-locate across the wide beautiful valley below Geraci’ Siculo’s Contrada S. Antonio to visit BIVIO CALABRO (mentioned in passing in an earlier post >see< ). Always en route to ST MAURO CASTELVERDE from time to time I passed this way on a number of occasions. There was one particular CALABRO tree that I always liked to re-visit to take the shade and rest up under before making the demanding 6 mile (10 km) climb up to ST MAURO. Sometimes – as on this occasion – I had foot blisters to contend with hence CHIROPO DI DOO DA.

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NOTEBOOK (July 1st) - “….9.40am at Bivio Calabro – a really glorious morning … Geraci Siculo is immediately in view across from (this) bivio … new road sign says 10 km to St. M. …Now a knob of STALE bread, ham, water, new dressings (as necessary) to my tootsies (feet) then ’ey up and on we go – with a very modest Yo Ho Ho (all the way). A really lovely morning tho’. Scrumptious, gorgeous, The Knob and Ham was molto buono”. (I then wrote the verse “Chiropo Di Doo Da” ) and then noted “Depart 10.45am” and added a few more observations:
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“You certainly get the impression that the insects sense there is something new about and they’re curious and attracted and want to be around. That spider this morning … also that Shooting Star** – must follow-up back in London”.
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**I had just spent 2 days and nights on a hillside between Bivio’s Calabro and Comunello (>see<) at a spot that I’d so much enjoyed briefly visiting the previous year that I had named it “MY SICILIAN BEDROOM”. At the latter location I also wrote “IN LONDON IN LONDON” – about HEAVENS and SHOOTING STARS (>see<). I walked the non-stop up to St Mauro and Noted: “a really nice steady walk up compared to some years. Not any real hassle this time from “Guard Dogs””. (The latter dogs had tended to run out onto the road and bark and fiercely threaten etc.,).
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For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

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Tomorrow - GOBSMACKED ANGLO-SICILIAN REFRESHERS.

"BISHOP IN THE GRASSES"

2008-11-03T00:45:00.003Z

----------CLICK on images to see them in ENLARGED detail.

I wrote a postcard from Sicily (obviously not the above postcard) in late June 1997 to London friends. My message partly read: “am okay – a few lousey blisters but coping. Pretty hard going first few days – the last 9 kilometres up hill all the way. Knackered I was but I still overtook an Ant lugging a full ear of Corn!! Today a sad grass-hopper with no right leg …”.

The above mentioned one-legged grass-hopper was spotted in long luxuriant grasses at SELLA DEL CONTRASTO on the beautiful MISTRETTA / NICOSIA road (top 2 photographs) where I’d stopped under lovely trees to take some rest. I went on to stay 2 nights at LA VIGNETTA motel at Portelle – where at midnight I wrote BISHOP IN THE GRASSESS, photographed as above my VINO ROSSO prize blister, and having drunk wine also wrote “I’M ALL WINED UP!”

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For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

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Tomorrow - "Chiropo Di Doo Da" at Bivio Calabro.

SUPERMARKET CAR PARK

2008-11-02T04:25:00.003Z

------CLICK on images big-time to see them in greatly ENLARGED detail.

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At just 5 minutes walk from GERACI SICULO’s Bivio S. Giuseppe (>>see<<) we have a CONAD supermarket car park. From an exceptionally scenic point of view it certainly compares extremely favourably with London supermarket car park phenomina. Situated on the CONTRADA SAN ANTONIO mountain-side it provides a fabulously peaceful summertime vantage point from which to rest up, day dream and take in the beautiful landscaped countryside. Exit CONAD with a refreshment or two and sit relax and enjoy. With binoculars you can trace the distant peaceful lower road (SP 60) from BIVIO COMUNELLO (>>see<<) to where it eventually intersects at BIVIO CALABRO from where the options are to continue seawards (SP 60) or make the winding viaducted climb up (SP 52) to ST MAURO CASTELVERDE.
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For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

TOMORROW – “BISHOP IN THE GRASSES” etc.,

IN SICILY "IN LONDON IN LONDON".

2008-11-01T05:04:00.003Z

If you are (1) in love with London stupor-market Seven-til-Eleven shopping and (2) endless crowds and (3) absolutely adore light pollution take this warning to heart "don't plonk yourself down on a Madonie wide-open-to-the-sky hillside along the Bivio Comunello / St Mauro road or you'll truly miss out". On the other hand do do so if you like nature and peaceful starry nights.

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For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

Tomorrow - "SUPERMARKET CAR PARK".

"I CALL TO MY SOCKS" - BIVIO COMUNELLO.

2008-10-31T08:12:00.002Z

-------------CLICK on IMAGES to greatly ENLARGE!!

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Departing GERACI SICULO with it's "premier class" free hotel accommodation (previous post) we now showcase tranquillo BIVIO COMUNELLO an oft re-visited homely spot 3 miles east of GANGI. In recent years it has become a little less accessible with extra fencing introduced but earlier visits there were extremely homely. Set in beautiful countryside it was a staging point for destinations such as St Mauro Castelverde, Mistretta and locations even further afield namely Nicosia, Cerami, Capizzi, Troina, Cesaro. With open accessible drinkable water and local herds of visiting sheep and/or goats BIVIO COMUNELLO had additional attractions. There were small trees to take shelter beneath from the blazing sun and upon which socks freshly washed could be hung. About 2 miles away towards St Mauro a small road viaduct came in very useful for overnights or if the weather deteriorated and Giovanni Napoli’s small peaceful accessible woodland lay a mile or two (albeit up-hill) further on along towards MISTRETTA.

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For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

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Tomorrow - "IN LONDON IN LONDON" - in SICILY!!

FREE HOTEL ACCOMODATION - GERACI SICULO.

2008-10-30T10:55:00.003Z

--------Click on IMAGES to FULLY inspect accomodation.

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Of course when you are legging it through the fantastic Madonie countryside there is no shortage of absolutely free over night accomodation. If you like top-notch 5 star plus moonlit nights there is “ALBERGO ALBERO” (one of a chain of "ALBERGO ALBERO'S") located just one minute's walk from “HOTEL S. GUISEPPE” – both are on the Castelbuono road just at Bivio S. GUISEPPE just 10 minutes walk or so from GERACI SICULO town centre. I have used both facilities on many occasions – if the weather looks uncertain – not very often in summer time – “HOTEL S. GUISEPPE” does the trick extremely nicely. There is also a 3rd overnight - “YE OLDE DELAPIDATED PIZZERIA” conveniently located immediately under Geraci’s Castello.

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NOTEBOOK (mid July 1998) "arrived by coach at GIUSEPPE - sat there an hour or so admiring the views, meditating, nice to be back etc., etc., Ate last packet of Shortbread biscuits - put plasters on my foot".
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For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

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Tomorrow - "I CALL TO MY SOCKS" - BIVIO COMUNELLO.

"TO GANGI TOWN THERE CAME A STORM"

2008-10-29T11:53:00.001Z

----------Click on IMAGES to see them in ENLARGED detail.

Given that I have walked the beautiful Sicilian Madonie and Nebrodi countryside now for 20 years plus with only a sleeping bag and ground sheets to cope with the starry nights that must signify that by and large the weather from late May through to September is usually very fine indeed. It certainly was this year (2008) but there have been occasions over the years when the fine weather has temporarily and surprisingly been usurped by the very opposite. One such very memorable occasion occurred back in early June 2003 when en route I happened to be in the township of GANGI. There was a big local religious event (Pentecoste) scheduled for the day in question and the above poems and notebook sketches were made to mark the occasion. VIALE DON BOSCO was the main downhill procession route - it was like a river. The top image is of the initial sketchy scrawly Notebook entries and a little later I made the improved GANGI town sketch. These poems and entries were made just around the time when I wrote the poem "SO NICE TO BE BACK IN SICILY" (>>see<<).

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For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<
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Tomorrow - freebee "HOTEL- S. GIUSEPPE" - GERACI SICULO.

"PARMALAT SUNDAY" IN PETRALIA TOWN.

2008-10-28T08:00:00.000Z

Click on IMAGE for clarity and ENHANCED ENJOYMENT and don't be shy - drink up (uggghhh!!). Also starring Petralia SINDACO (MAYOR) SANTO INGUAGGIATO.

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For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<

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Tomorrow - To Gangi Town There Came A Storm

GERACI SICULO - SUMMER TIME BUTTERFLY BANDITO.

2008-10-27T23:18:00.003Z

----- Click on IMAGE to see the foto in much GREATER detail. aaaaaa

Summertime Sicily 2008 - there is no end to the glorious wayside scenes like this. From the mountains to the sea. The 4 day walk through the Parco delle Madonie from Petralia Sottana via Geraci, Castelbu0no, Isnello, Collesano and Campofelice di Roccella to the Salinelle beach at Lascari was glorious. a------aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

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For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

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Tomorrow - "PARMALAT SUNDAY" IN PETRALIA TOWN!

SICILY ABLAZE IN SUMMER!

2008-10-27T06:37:00.003Z

What no Mafia??? Sicily truly ablaze - it warms the heart and strengthens the leg muscles. Click on IMAGE to greatly ENLARGE and ENHANCE the FREEBEE experience.

For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<.

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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

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Tomorrow GERACI SICULO BUTTERFLY BANDITO.

PETRALIA SOTTANA - BELLA ARIA???

2008-10-26T12:50:00.001Z

-------Click on IMAGES to enjoy more PETRALIA SIGARTANNA aria.

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Sicilians smoke like chimney's - the younger generations especially. Went to an indoors night-time political meeting with about 15 persons present - the majority young - found myself to be the only non smoker. It WAS an unpleasant experience in this particular regard. Subsequently piled-up logo'd local Communist Party LIBERATION FESTIVAL cigarette lighters (see image above) were a totally banal non-brainer. I have no idea whether the Communist Party has ever expressed itself about smoking related health concerns. A year or so earlier I made a summertime trip up to the MADONNA del' ALTO local mountain top sanctury - about 40 persons up there mostly young - only a very small minority were not smoking. Sicily is very very beautiful but not in every respect. Abandoned dogs are another very unpleasant blot on the landscape.

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For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<.

For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

ON THE ROAD

2008-10-06T10:39:00.006+01:00

For all my youthful ON THE ROAD cycling and shadowy Sicilian sunshine walking I never managed to metamorph into a duck. Not so the above COCA COLA duckling spotted on the road in the 1990's as I legged it seawards downhill on the quiet Madonie country road between St Mauro Castelverde and Pollina.

For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<.

For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<.

SO NICE TO BE BACK IN SICILY - A POEM

2008-10-06T00:35:00.004+01:00

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For info' re the GANGI NIGHTINGALE click >here<
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For Madonie Region map locations information click >here< -
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For Nebrodi Region map locations information click >here< . -
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For the FULL chronological list of all SICILY ABLAZE pages click >> here <<