Jac the Bee and The Traveling Camera

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

I Stalked a Lady While in Ortigia

This evening, I stalked a lady for 4 hours here in Ortigia, Sicily.

She took my breath away.

I went from one street to the next...

....passing through staggering crowds of Sicilians,

in hopes to get another glimpse of this beauty I could hardly take my eyes off.

I saw this lady in Ortigia a year and a half ago and

she let me photograph her in a private session.

This time I spotted her on her way out of the Piazza del Duomo.

She was surrounded by men who were also in awe of her.

The crowd of onlookers began to fill every open space along the

narrow streets and passages just beyond the Piazza.

The men who surrounded this beautiful lady banned together and

picked her up with all of their might.

I couldn't help myself...

I pulled out my camera and

captured her just as they carried her off

with a dagger in her throat.

❦

The sound of bells and horses' hooves filled the air.

I can't get her out of my head.

Saint Lucia of Syracuse

On this day, 13 Dicembre ~ Ortigia, Sicilia

❦

See video clip here from La Festa di St. Lucia.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Day of the Dead ~ Sicilian Style

The first couple of days of November are treasured by the Italians. Celebrations are anxiously awaited and are full of Italian tradition. The 1st of November, All Saints’ Day, is a religious and national holiday known as “Tutti i Santi”, which is dedicated to honoring all of the saints. All Saints' Day is followed by “Il Giorno dei Morti”, or The Day of the Dead, on the 2nd of November, a day devoted to celebrating the loved ones who have passed away. This is not a sad day in any way. It is a day where 'two worlds' meet to celebrate life.

Parents tell their children that if in fact, during the year were good and recited prayers for the souls of the dead, the souls of the "dead" will bring them presents. Children go to bed with the hopes to wake up to find presents left for them from “i muorti”. One of the traditional sayings for the children to ask for presents is this:

"Armi santi, armi santi, 

Io sugnu unu e vuatri siti tanti ,

Mentri sugnu 'ntra stu munnu di guai, 

Cosi di morti mittitiminni assai."

"Holy souls, holy souls, 

I am one, and you are many, 

While I am in this world of troubles, 

Bring me lots of presents from dead people."

As usual with Sicilians, food is a big component of this festivity and traditions vary from town to town. One of the most renowned treats that is made for this occasion is Frutta di Martorana, which are marzipan sweets made of almond paste that are expertly crafted to look like fruits and vegetables.

On occasion you will find some crafted into unexpected shapes, like fried eggs and brioche stuffed with what looks to be gelato, but is actually crafted out of almond paste.

Sweets called Bones of the Dead or "ossa ri muortu" are cookies that are either biscotti shaped into bones or a very dry meringue resembling white bones.

Although Halloween is not traditionally celebrated in Sicily, it is creeping into the scene here and there.

I was lucky to be in Taormina on October 31st, and was delighted to see children trick-or-treating. Seeing little ghouls and witches popping into the boutique shops to collect candy from the shop owners made for a fun stroll along the Corso Umberto.

Even some grown-up "kids" got into the action with their brightly colored pumpkin costumes.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Taken In By Taormina

THE BEAUTY OF TAORMINA IS CAPTIVATING!

It is my belief that no trip to Sicily should be without a stop in what is one of the prettiest towns I have ever seen! Taormina is one of Sicily’s top travel destinations and now it is also mine! This small wonder curves around the side of a mountain 1000 feet above the Ionian Sea, in the Province of Messina. It is charming as all-get-out and is filled with so many rare and wonderful things to see that you will want to plan at least two days to truly enjoy it. Thankfully, we only live about forty-five minutes away, which has given me the opportunity to see the town a few times each season. It’s magical any time of year, but I have to say that fall and spring have been the best times to travel there, as winter can be surprisingly cold and summer brings far too many tourists for me to take in all the beauty Taormina has to offer.

View of Giardini Naxos, where the Greeks first landed in Sicily

It’s no wonder so many writers, artists, photographers and poets have been smitten by Taormina, and it is no wonder that the Greeks chose to build the most spectacular theater I have seen right into the peak of the mountain. The breathtaking views of the tip-end of Calabria, mainland Italy’s “boot”, and Mount Etna will leave you wondering if there is way you can sell off your assets, leave your life behind, and find a small apartment somewhere along the terrace above the sparkling Ionian Sea!

Isola Bella and The Ionian Sea

A double rainbow looking towards Messina and Calabria...THIS WAS MAGICAL!

The Greek Theater built in the 3rd century BC

Before I arrived in Sicily, my mom gave me Daphne Phelps’ book “A House in Sicily”. I wouldn’t put this on my favorite list of books, but it did describe the fascinating life Daphne led in Taormina after she inherited Casa Cuseni, a grand villa that was left to her by her uncle when he passed away. In 1948, Daphne arrived from England with the sole purpose of selling the house, but ended up staying for fifty years...not surprisingly! She, too, was taken in by Taormina and did everything she could to maintain the villa and stay until her death in 2005. Today, Casa Cuseni, which is a place I have yet to discover, is now planned to be opened as a museum. This will certainly make for another excuse for me to go to Taormina!

I will leave you will these photos to gaze upon in hopes that you discover something about Taormina that tugs on your spirit.