Amy Welborn: June 2009 Archives

As in - serious castle.



This is the Castle of Chiaramonte overlooking the town of Mussomelli.

We headed up there around 9:45 and arrived around 11:00, even though it was maybe 30 miles from where we are as the crow flies. But of course the crow does not have to fly on winding roads that back around into each other. I had wanted to hit another interesting site, Sutera, after this, but honestly, I was so tired of the corkscrew driving, I decided we'd come home and go swimming.

But on the way, more shrines:



The interior held a mosaic:



(speaking of mosaics, I have yet to blog on our visit to the Villa Romana del Casale...soon)

This was interesting:

On the way up we saw this  ...which is a typical historic farmer's hut from the area:



And this interesting arrangement, which appeared to still be inhabited:



As seems to be the case in most places we've toured, we were essentially alone. Paid our 6E (total) to get in, and started climbing the steps up to the first level of dwelling.



I thought the stable was interesting because it was, of course, quite large.



A few rooms, just to give you  a sense of the restoration.

A break from SIcily - and I discover that my internet connection is much better in the morning. So maybe I can start some other kind of blogging in the meantime, if I can just get up early enough.

My friend Matthew Lickona has written a graphic novel - the first volume of several - about Alphonse. As far as I am concerned, Alphonse expresses the core of the abortion issue, without sentimentality or a fear of offense. It is a fascinating, rich, deeply suggestive work.

Here's the basic webpage for Alphonse.

Here's where you can buy Alphonse - it's only 2.99 - and perhaps worth buying especially for the hard core young adult in your life who is unfazed by violence and brutality, including that of abortion.

Here's Alphonse's Twitter page.

Here's where you can support Matthew's work on Alphonse in a bigger way.

...but still fascinating.

So, as we ate our sandwiches I had picked up at the autogrill on the way back (autogrill=convenience store of sorts with gas station. Coffee/mediocre panini bar replaces slushees and sausages slowly turning on rollers.) - oh, by the way, I wonder why every Italian asks me if I'm German when I attempt to speak Italian as they did again today at the autogrill. Have I been listening to the Pope too much?

Yes, as we ate our sandwiches, I contemplated our next move. Katie was feeling a bit better, but still had work to do. (I'm not the slave master. Blame IB. She really just needed this day to dig into the research, get her head straight on what she's doing, and not feel so overwhelmed by the project. And maybe...to take a break from 2 little brothers and bask essentially alone in the Sicilian sun. Yeah, even with the work load, I could see it...). I decided on a point of interest, as they say, that might not fascinate her, but would probably interest them. If I could find it.

And I did! I was sort of pleased with myself - and there were signs, but as in the Italian style, they were few and far between and in the same size and shape, if not color as the other landmark signs, all smooshed together on signposts, and in, you know, Italian.

And look! Look where I took them! Doesn't it look GREAT?








Mother of the Year, I tell you. "Thanks for taking us to the sun-baked dirt patch, Mom!"

I have weaknesses and strengths in regard to this little Sicilian towns. I can find my way in and out of them, but once in them, I can never seem to find anything I intend to. Even the big church that invariably reaches up to heaven from the summit of the hill  that would seem impossible to miss  - when I'm on those winding streets, that church might as well be back in Birmingham. It's so strange.

Today was going to be a wandering day. It still is - I'm just back here taking a break.

(I started this post about 2 pm. Am finishing it at 11pm)

We wandered down to Delia, where I'd read there were castle ruins. I have promised castles. There are, indeed, castle ruins, but they are inaccessible. They look nice and ruinous, though.

On the way, a shrine to S. Giussepi:





Then to attempt a Carrefour trip (shampoo, etc), but find that it does not open until 2 on Mondays. So I just kept going on that road to see what was up there and ended up in Racalmuto, the home of famed  writer Sciascia. (Pronounced "Shia-Shia" - approximately - as my hostess told me later.)

In reading that link above, I marvel that I saw exactly one of those things mentioned and even then  thought the town had a surfeit of riches for its size, but there was actually much, much more to see. Which is the case with all of these towns (in any part of the world with such a rich history), which is another reason I didn't plan with great vigor. Would I have planned Racalmuto? No. But I went there, saw a bit of beauty,  absorbed a bit more about contemporary Sicilian life, which I am finding so interesting, and came back here for a bit.

(And remember what I could see w as limited since I arrived around 11:30, which means...everything was going to be shut down for the next 3 or 4 hours anyway. Seriously. )

Of course, it is on a hill, of course the streets wind and bend, but if you follow the sign for "centro" you will end up someplace interesting.

Some scenes from the center:




I'm thinking this is Sciascia. It wasn't labeled, but I'm just guessing. He's strolling along the street.  Michael is trying to identify the object in his hand, which was a cigarette.



I have no idea what this says.






I stood in one spot and took this shot:




Then turned around in the same spot and got this:





The boys are on the bottom steps, sharing a bottle of water and a small can of Pringles, the only snack on which they could agree on the shelves of a nearby alimentari.

The church in the first picture is decent looking on the outside, but nothing of that exterior prepared me for this:

So you picture Sicily (or many other parts of Europe) and you might picture "flocks of sheep in the road." I scoffed. A pious myth, I said. Doesn't really happen.

Okay, so it was goats and sheep:




How is this going to be resolved, you wonder.Traffic coming on both sides, one of them a truck. Hmmmm..

...of the duomo in Piazza Armerina: A mom's eye view. Her own child in the forefront, naturally. Katie's eye view.  She really liked the almost Wedgewood-like effect of the interior.Little Michael's eye view. (He took the photo. Randomly) Closer to...

I'm sorry.Actually, I'm not really.Look, these little boys have been super, fantastic travelers so far, and even decent eaters. Joseph gobbled down pasta with pesto the other night - perhaps it  being about 9pm had something to do with it,...

When I first started researching Sicily, one of the things I read is that it's popular to eat gelato for breakfast, and in a particular form: as a filling in a bun. I just couldn't picture it. Well, here's the...

Yeah, basically this trip is about going places where Katie and I can absorb a little history and the boys can run around like madmen, ...and contemplating variations of sic transit gloria mundi for three weeks straightOh, and wine and...

The agriturismo where we are staying right now has dogs and cats. Both boys are enchanted with this, but especially Michael. He races through his breakfast so he can run out and greet his friends. This makes me happy, sad,...

I don't mind the Italian way of driving.In fact... I kind of like it.Let me explain. When I was planning this trip, it became clear to me pretty early that renting a car was going to be a necessity. If...

So saith my daughter at the end of the first full day in our B & B in Scopello.My poor children. I haul them around the world, thinking I have explained to them where we are going and why, only...

Our first B & B was in Scopello - we are now in a fantastic agriturismo in the middle of Sicily. But I decided to go in the Scopello direction first because we were flying into Palermo, I knew we...

I have two days to catch up on here - I'm thinking Saturday will be a quiet day, which I need, but you never know. Better internet today, but still not great. However, I will take not-great internet in Sicily...

The quiet life.I finally have decent internet connecton - one which does not involve hanging outside the window of a B & B in Scopello, Sicily, with a TIM USB key trying to catch rays and communicate them to the...

Terrible internet connection. The best I can do until later:...

I had no plans for the first full day here - I have very few plans, period, as a matter of fact. As I was thinking about this trip on Sunday night, I was sort of shocked at how few...

..is the fact that they sell contact lenses in vending machines.Okay, so I'm kidding. It's my second favorite thing.Oh, stop. For all I know it's a European thing - or even a non-US-thing. All I know is that it's nifty....

And it was worth it. ...

1. Fly First Class or Business. Yeah, I know. Me neither.Okay, try this:2.  Be three feet tall.No? I'm with you on that one too.I always hope to sleep on a plane, but never really have on any of my numerous...

So, yeah, if you saw me running through the Charlotte airport on Monday right before noon and I didn't say "hi..."  well, sorry about  that.  I was determined not to check bags. On the return end, I will, but on...

Something on the other side of a wall-sized window excites Michael."It's Daddy's plane!"Katie and I stare at each other. Neither really knows what to say. Finally, I manage, "What makes it Daddy's plane?" He doesn't answer, but only repeats, "It's...

Well, stage one has happened. Four more to go. I'm serious. This is crazy. But it was (relatively) cheap, and that's the way that goes. You pay one way or another. Like health care. I'm just sayin'.It was a little...

  Stage one. So we're off. Except we're not. Because as the plane sat there on the runway, getting warmer and warmer without any engines running, it became clear something was amiss. And it is. Mechanical problem. Always a...

...with a new camera. Because we're all about depth and profudity here. But I had to practice for upcoming events: There will be pictures of churches: (Cathedral of St. Paul, Birmingham, AL. Not bad.)         Boys running...

I have many dear, sweet friends who have been thinking about me this past week. More than thinking in fact. They have been praying. They have offered Masses. One friend fasted for our intentions on Wednesday. Sometimes, this virtual neighborhood,...

"Wake up and start living a life that can't be explained except for the fact that Jesus is your Lord and you follow him."The Internet Monk with thoughts and questions for parents on Father's Day....

Well, actually, it was. A lake beach, of sorts. Muji journal: check. (volume...what? 6? 7?)Summer reading: checkThomas sandals: checkThey're a little small, but whatever.Boys, swimming: checkWhere? Here.  An easy 10 miles or so from our apartment.We had been here once...

This film, based on a true story, will be released next week. The film's Facebook page is a good source of information and links.Jim Caviezel, who has a role in the film, is interviewed here:Is there anything else about the...

As promised several days ago, I want to quickly add a bit more to the discussion about Caritas Christi and Catholic health care in general.I recommended Dr. Leonard Nelson's new book, Diagnosis Critical as a start. It's a very clear...

Jane, the daughter (sorry for the previous error) of writer, blogger ("The Paragraph Farmer")  and online friend Patrick O'Hannigan needs our prayers:Jane and I were in a serious car accident yesterday morning. Thomas and Cathleen were not with us at...

Maybe this:  The one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide you with all the seed you want and make the harvest of your good deeds a larger one, and, made richer in every way,...

We all have our definitions for good service. Here's mine: We sat down, she greeted us, and then immediately, with knowing grace, removed a certain utensil from each of the boys' place settings. Either a parent or a veteran of...

I was awestruck by the pattern on these rays....

So, a bit of change in plans. Not that I plan much these days anyway.I'd post a photo, except for the fact that even though I brought my camera, I left the USB connector at home. (Maybe I should get...

In case you've missed it, what Pope Benedict is talking about these days...and some interesting notes on JON, Part II: First, going back to last Wednesday, the GA talk on John Scotus. Much talk, of course, about faith and reason....

(Comments open now.)Sorry for the slow blogging - but I think the Internet is slow, period, these days, except for @ChangeforIran at Twitter. Well-merited, that. It's nice outside (except for that amazing storm this morning at 11:00 am that left...

There has been a lot of conversation this week about the proposed arrangement between the Archdiocese of Boston's Caritas Christi health organization and a secular entity called Centene. The plan is problematic and serious questions are being raised. Philip Lawler...

Over the past week or so, anonymity, fraud and the internet have become news items - although on the internet, anonymity and fraud are always lurking, always living and thriving somewhere.Ed Whelan exposed an anonymous blogger who'd been attacking him...

...in New Orleans.Aymond from Austin moving over. Going back home:The Vatican for the first time in the city's history today appointed a New Orleans native to head the Catholic church here, naming Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin, Texas the 14th...

Killing as a "solution" to problems, as a statement, as a protest - we've seen it this week.Get Religion is a blog dedicated to evaluating religion coverage, but over the past week, it's provided some of the best internet commentary...

...driving and swimming.....that's our week so far.Years ago, I was talking to a mother of two toddler girls. Christopher (now 26) was just a baby. I don't remember what the topic of conversation was - perhaps the sweetness of little...

Freelance journalist Matt Baglio has written an interesting book an exorcism called The Rite: the Making of a Modern Exorcist.What sets Baglio's book apart from many others contemporary works on the same subject is its sober, measured tone and steady...

Some recent reminders of the gift. Many of you have probably seen them here and there. I thought I'd gather them in one place.Jen at Conversion Diary with an interview with the parents of a child with serious disabilities:The best...

...or at least a block down.Thursday night, the boys saw their first Broadway show - The Thirty-Nine Steps, a rather madcap sort of re-imaging of Hitchcock's film, with the primary attraction being the fact that the many characters are played...

If you're Catholic, you heard that phrase from Matthew 28 today, but translated differently - as "but they doubted." The Greek can be translated either way.I have written before about the gift of being prayed for. About startling mystical experiences....

A leg. Brought on the train around Stamford, taken off at Grand Central Station....

...who remember how much I always appreciated seeing Buddhist monks in the post office, walking around the park, or in Kroger's in Fort Wayne, Indiana..this is for you: I did love seeing people of all nationalities and faiths going to...

Wednesday night, Katie and I went to see Waiting for Godot.The wonderful daughter of a wonderful friend stayed with the boys in the hotel. Over the four full days we were in NYC, one or all of us saw four...

(as they say at Trip Advisor and such) Dear God, where is she taking me next?...

(or seem so at least)...spend a week in single hotel rooms with three other people...That'll do it.I am contractually obligated to write five blog posts a week. I guess I'd better get cracking on that over the next few hours...(It...

Knights at the Met....Dinos at the Natural History Museum...Godot...Central Park...MOMA for the daughter...Statue of Liberty...Ellis Island....39 Steps...Becco...Exit the King...now the Intrepid this morning and then we're off back in a southerly direction...later......

Started the day in Times Square: And ended it there:He's been saying he wants a guinea pig that he would name Bugsy after the bug-eyed creature in Bedtime Stories. I don't think he needs one. Or perhaps he just wants...

When they tell you NYC hotel rooms are small....

Apple store entrance (the store is underground) - Fifth Avenue. (that's the south end of Central Park in the background.)...

...we're the English-speaking tourists in the city.And I mean the. only. English-speaking tourists in the city.That would be us....

Yes, we're here in New York, for the first part of "Dramatic Change of Scenery Tour '09"It will be wandering, meeting up with a couple of people, and a couple of shows, and a trip up to New Haven so...