Tag: Italy
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La Befana In Sicily
The visit of the friendly witch La Befana is celebrated on Epiphany Eve (January 5) throughout Italy and Sicily. La Befana is recognized because of her broomstick, shawl, and sack filled with sweets and gifts for children. Legend is that she originally set out to meet the Baby Jesus, but never found her way to…
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Hiking In Sicily Takes My Breath Away
Yesterday with naturalistic guide Nanni Di Falco and the Italian hiking organization Compagnia dei Cammini, I traversed more than 12 miles of stupendous landscape in Trapani province on foot (Yes, I’m on the move!). In the distance of this photo are Scopello and the Tyrrhenian Sea coastline leading to Lo Zingaro Nature Preserve. We hiked…
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January 2, 2023 In Sicily
Today… Oh, today. I apologize to my friends in New York. Yes, this was the absolutely perfect day we had in Sicily today at my favorite place to swim (If you follow me, you’ve seen this view from Capo Zafferano looking at Palermo before.). In my opinion, the Tyrrhenian Sea this time of year is…
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Family Lunch in Caccamo, Sicily
I was blessed to spend today, New Year’s Day, with my family in Caccamo. This is the view from the agriturismo where we had lunch (NB a three and a half hour lunch!). We ate local sausages and cheeses cultivated and created from these hills. We also celebrated my cousin Tanina’s 80th birthday, and of…
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Santa Lucia In New York City 2022
Eyes on a plate: This is how one identifies Santa Lucia, the patroness of light, grain, wheat, and eyes. Legend is that her eyes were gouged out either to make herself unattractive to her pagan betrothed or upon her arrest when Roman soldiers could not move her from where she stood. She was a determined…
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Sicily And The Cyclops
This is a cyclops. Well, sort of. It’s actually the skeleton of an elephant. A small elephant that at one time was indigenous to Sicily. Yup, that’s right. This animal, which is the size of a Vespa motor bike, once roamed the ancient landscape of Sicily. (Remember, part of Sicily is on the African tectonic…
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Santa Lucia in New York City 2022
The shadows come early these days in the northern hemisphere. Santa Lucia, illustrated in this 1526 Gagini statue from the Duomo of Siracusa, reminds us to follow the light. Join Experience Sicily in New York City on Sunday, December 11 to celebrate the Feast of Santa Lucia at Pasta Eater. Featuring guest Sicilian chef Giuseppe…
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Not The Cyclops, But Etna
These rock stacks are volcanic. The beginnings of Etna, they were pushed up from the sea floor. So, contrary to the story from Homer’s Odyssey, they were not rocks thrown after Odysseus and his men by the cyclops. I recently finished listening to the Emily Wilson translation of the Odyssey read by Claire Danes. It…
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Sciacca: Our First Base For Photography in Sicily
Yesterday we kicked off Photography in Sicily with Don Toothaker and Hunt’s Photo & Video. I am so excited to co-host this 10-day photography workshop that we’ve been planning for two years! Here we are in Sciacca, where it’s beautiful and off the beaten path and… Fabulously photogenic!