Buona Pasqua

                                        

Horseback Riding and Italian Lessons

OK - this is Mecca.   I went on an hour long ride with Guglielmo aka "Memmo" while the kids had their lesson.   It was terrific.   I rode a white Arabian dressage horse.   She was anti-walking and insisted on prancing the entire way which was fun (although my butt already hurts).    Memmo doesn't speak English, and I don't speak Italian which made for a fantastic Italian lesson for me.   Instead of learning relevant phrases that might help me out in Italy, I learned the names of all of the wildflowers, trees and animals that we passed along the way.

Here is a Sample of the Sara Dictionary of Italian

Fig               fico
Poppy          papavero
Aster           astro
Grapes        uva
Artichoke    carciofo
Geese          oche
Donkey       asino
Carob          carruba
Walnut        noce
Horse          cavallo
Rain           pioggia

And Now, Pasqua, aka Easter (in a non-chronological order)

Tomorrow is Easter.     The town of Scicli has been on holiday since Thursday.    It has been impossible for me to park the beast legally anywhere and as a result, I think I have become a real Siclian (apart from the fact that I drive a beast that is literally the size of 3-4 Siclian cars).   I parked perpendicular to the sidewalk last night.   But I was at an "enoteca" so it was ok.   And I bought a case of wine from the wine guy we met at the crazy swank Modica party (see earlier post).   Sean will be happy as he really liked this wine.

I miss Sean.   He returns tomorrow  from a four day trip back to Toronto.   He changed his flight so that he would be able to join us at Ellen's aunt's place to watch the Easter festivities from her balcony.   The town is already lit up with giant arches and decorations.  But tomorrow, apparently the Madonna comes out of one church, and Baby J out of another, and they circle the city looking for each other until they meet in a crescendo of joy and chaos.   I am told there will be no room to park anywhere as the people from Scicli and beyond, swarm the streets and participate in this epic reunification.  Easter is the most important holiday on the island.   It is bigger than Christmas.    Serina, Ellen and I took the kids' to three churches on Friday evening at 7.00 (it was a party in Scicli to celebrate "The Last Supper").   The churches were filled with flowers and, as it turns out, people.   We got past the door in only one of them.   But in that one, St. Bartolomeo, we did manage to see a fourteen hundred year old nativity which was pretty cool.

Naturally, tomorrow, we will eat.   I am told the feast begins at 2.30 and will likely take us into the wee hours of the morning.   My poor little bambinis.   Although they are thrilled about the party prospects now, (plus the fact that I will bring their DSI's), they are going to be zonked.   As I am right now.

Bueno notte.