one last trip with my panda...

road to Castelbuono

Castelbuono main church

old castle at Geraci

Sunset at Capo Milazzo

The trek down was beautiful

Some real antique bargains to be had in this second hand store!

Gateway to the Castle

The interior was beautifully restored

Castle courtyard

Pottery from nearby Santo Stefano

ornate chapel at Castelbuono

In a few days I will be leaving Sicily and I am reflecting on my time here so far.

It has been exactly what I wanted and needed. Connecting with my inner “Italian” has been great.

I have managed to revisit some “past” things, plan and look forward to “future” experiences, but mostly I have been wonderfully and in so many ways in the present, noticing and enjoying the moment to moment experiences that are so joyful in their simplicity.

It’s been good to sit still for a while and put into practice some of the things that I am always telling everybody else they should be doing!

There are many new memories that I will take away with me, many moments that I will treasure and only a few that I would rather not have had! Perhaps the best way I can sum up this part of my mid life gap year, is to say that it has been an opportunity to sit still, breathe and be, in safety.

I have been accepted into a family, and in turn experienced their “village” for a short time. Of course, I have had to learn the unwritten rules and understand its rituals and negotiate a course through its sometimes unfamiliar and complex historical, sociological and bureaucratic systems.

I have moved through the initial “honeymoon” period, past the niceties and superficial things to the nitty gritty, being more than tourist. I have felt like a participant observer, with the benefit of being part of and also apart from the situation. I know I have had impact and there have been moments when my values and beliefs have rubbed up against others. Always though, I have felt a deep affection and respect from and towards the people who have been so generous and hospitable to me.

I could not leave Sicily without one last trip with my panda. So off we went to Castelbuono and Geraci, two medieval towns located off the 113 state road towards Palermo in the “parco delle madonie”.

Castelbuono was worth the trip. A picturesque proud town that rightly attracts groups of tourists who enjoy the free local produce tastings offered regularly in the main piazza and visiting the superbly restored Castello.

Although the drive there was pleasant, Geraci was a rather forlorn and uninteresting place. It was only memorable as the local spring water is bottled and sold all over the country and you can stop and fill up your water bottles from a fountain near the old castle.

As I parked Panda outside the b and b on my return, I silently thanked her for transporting me so loyally for all these weeks and said goodbye.

A couple of small bytes!

For the last few nights, I have had a 5am visitor. The pesky uninvited guest is a mosquito. I am woken by the buzzing sound of his pre landing engine noises around my face. I try to swat it in the dark and temporarily there is silence, so I assume he has changed flight course. Then the buzzing starts again. The first morning I woke with just a few welts on my hand, but it was amazing just how much sting was in those small bites and I was aware of them all day.

Then last night he came early. I was quite groggy from a night out, eating  some local delicacies at “le Siciliane” with a friend and drinking a bit too much good Sicilian wine, so I barely registered his presence and my swats were pretty half hearted. This morning I woke up with a face full of bites. The small red welts are everywhere. Countless times the little bugger has pierced me and left his mark. My arms and neck and even my stomach are covered with evidence of his attack, but there is surprisingly little sting or itch.

I am not quite sure if mosquitoes actually suck your blood, but I hope this one did and has one hell of a hang-over as a result!

Italian weather forecast

Barometro del somaro (donkey forecast)

Small souvenir found in a local shop with picture of donkey with a tuft of hair as its tail

Instructions: hang outside

If the tail is dry –it’s fine  

If it’s wet- it’s raining

If the tail moves –it’s windy

If it’s white-it’s snowing

If it’s frozen- it’s cold

If the donkey falls –there’s an earthquake!

a presto 
Mon x