Blogs from Catania, Sicily, Italy, Europe - page 5

Thursday 18th September Licodia - Catania When Kurt and I got up we started our final clean. Kurt took all the suitcases downstairs to the van, and I gave the place a final clean. Zia Vincenzia’s apartment was so clean, that I felt I had to give the bathroom a once over and the floors a sweep. We stopped and had our final breakfast with Zia Vincenzia and her daughters Anna Maria and Angela. It was nice and funny. I went back upstairs to finish sweeping and Kurt went to packing the car. Later Zia Vincenzia said she’d be really angry if I’d done any cleaning up and her daughter added, I’d have to come back to Taormina. I said I’d come back from Taormino with much pleasure and hugged her. Then the tears started coming!! ... read more

Wednesday 17th September Licodia - Vizzini Zia Vincenzia’s son-in-law Guiseppe, invited Kurt, Joshua and my Dad to go fishing in Lago Licodia. So first thing Wednesday, they were up ready to go and Katelyn couldn’t make up her mind whether to go fishing or go shopping at the market with me. She was worried about the road and thought the market would be the same size as Licodia’s market. Just as they drive off, I found out the market at Vizzini is huge!! poor Katelyn! Angela drove my Mum, Zia Mimmi and me to Vizzini. The market was great with lots of produce and small goods (Boring!) and loads of shoe, bags, jewellery and clothes stands (yeah!) The only problem was space in my suitcase!! I had none!! Although I was planning to ship 10kg ... read more

Friday 12th September Licodia - Donnafugata.. On Friday Kurt bought a telephone card from the local bar. I’m always so impressed when he heads out on his own with limited Italian and doesn’t hesitate to speak to the locals. After that he went to Giuseppe’s home (my dad’s cousin’s son) to use their internet. He virtually lived there during so much of our time in Licodia, trying to download photos for my blog, reply to emails and do banking. They were always so welcoming and trying to feed him. Kurt spoke to his Mum and Dad who had just returned from Europe themselves. It was great to hear her voice again although she did sound a bit tired. Travelling Europe can do that to a person!! They, along with Claudette and Rohan (Kurt’s sister and brother ... read more

Tuesday 9th August Licodia Giuseppe took us to the council to help us get our original marriage certificate back. When I applied for my Italian passport and wanted to have my children’s names added, my marriage certificate was required. I don’t how it happened but the Italian consulate held on to my original marriage certificate and when questioned they said, if I wanted to hold an Italian passport, my marriage certificate had to return to my parent’s place of origin. So here we are at the council office of Licodia, humbly requesting our original certificate. And guess what!!!!! They don’t have it because they are only sent copies and they translate them. The whole visit to the council was hysterical because the council members started arguing about something too complicated for me to understand. But thank ... read more

Sicily - Back To Home Roots My next relative stop over was the small town of Mineo deep in the middle of Sicily, where two aunties (mums sisters) and one uncle have resided there their whole lives. Most of my cousins have since left for better prospects in bigger cities. A common trend for the younger generations, leaving the much older folk and the very young the main life line of the town. But every August this quite quaint little town of around 3000 residents, doubles it's population with families returning from main land Italy, Switzerland, Boston (USA) and as far as Australia to celebrate the town Saint Patron, Santa Agrippina in the last two weeks of August. Something i was looking forward too witnessing. I arrived in mid August to await the much expected hot ... read more