"TO GANGI TOWN THERE CAME A STORM"

----------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<<).

-----
For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<
------

Tomorrow - freebee "HOTEL- S. GIUSEPPE" - GERACI SICULO.

"PARMALAT SUNDAY" IN PETRALIA TOWN.

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

-----------

For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<

-----

Tomorrow - To Gangi Town There Came A Storm

GERACI SICULO - SUMMER TIME BUTTERFLY BANDITO.

----- 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

----

For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<.

----

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

-----

Tomorrow - "PARMALAT SUNDAY" IN PETRALIA TOWN!

SICILY ABLAZE IN SUMMER!

What no Mafia??? Sicily truly ablaze - it warms the heart and strengthens the leg muscles.  For certain sure DO Click on IMAGES to very very greatly ENLARGE and ENHANCE the FREEBEE experience of the absolutely beautiful fiery flowery plant life scenery.

These particular two 1997 photos were those which 

have INSPIRED the name chosen for this blog 

SICILY ABLAZE. 

Enjoy!! Imagine walking through fantastically peaceful beautiful countryside like this - 

there IS MORE to Sicily than the MAFIA. 
Lots more and beautifully so. 

For Madonie Region map locations information click >here<.

-----

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

----

Tomorrow GERACI SICULO BUTTERFLY BANDITO.

PETRALIA SOTTANA - BELLA ARIA???

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

-----

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.

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

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

ON THE ROAD

"TIME TRIAL" CYCLE RACE - SOUTHERN ENGLAND. 1957.  XXXXAGE 19.

For all my youthful 1950's 1960's KENTISH WHEELERS (as per photo immediately above - and four other photographs here) ON THE ROAD cycle racing days and now (since 1987) my shadowy "SICILY ABLAZE" sunshine walking, I have never managed to metamorph into a duck. Not so the above COCA COLA duckling. I spotted it 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

--------------------Click on IMAGE to ENLARGE text.

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