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

-----------------------------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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OK GOD GET YOUR FICARRA FINGER OUT!

----- 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 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!

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 1 year later 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.

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.

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.

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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!

--------------- 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.

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 >.