Wednesday, 29 July 2009

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>.

Sunday, 5 July 2009

"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>.

Tuesday, 30 June 2009

"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.

----
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.
-----
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".
-----
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.
----
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!
----
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.
----
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!
----
A nice long “H”oliday
“G”elato a-plenty
with the occasional COKE
thrown in, just for good measure!
Double dangerous . . . . . oooaaarrrr!

---

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 >.

Thursday, 7 May 2009

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).
---------------------------------
---------- 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>.
F
or 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.
------
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 >.

Saturday, 18 April 2009

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

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!
----
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 <<.

Monday, 6 April 2009

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








"SICILY ISN'T THE MOON"
--------
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 <<.