Randazzo, città d’arte
“Oh my god, Kate! Get down here. You have to see this …” Kate and I are in Randazzo. We’d only intended to be here for an hour to grab some lunch and then head on, but we got distracted … Continue reading
Category Archives: Living Like a Maniac
Sinners and Saints in Siracusa
Twenty years ago, Ortigia island was the red light district of Siracusa. Look past the cute, chi-chi boutiques and cafes that are there now and you can see why: it’s all narrow, winding streets and dark corners just made for … Continue reading
Posted in Living Like a Maniac
Tagged caravaggio, chiesa di santa lucia alla badia, duomo, sicily, siracusa
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Italy Blogging Roundtable: Springing to Confusion
Sorry for the delayed posting this week, but it’s for a good reason, honest. Let me explain … Over the past two years I’ve read with interest as the five ladies of the Italy Blogging Roundtable have shared their stories … Continue reading
Posted in Italy Blogging Roundtable, Living Like a Maniac
Tagged catania, italy blogging roundtable, somerset, spring
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Stay Tuned …
UK readers who grew up watching the BBC in the 60s, 70s and 80s will recognise this picture and understand what it means. For the benefit of my overseas and younger readers, however, it’s called Test Card ‘F’ and … Continue reading
Posted in Living Like a Maniac
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Easter Day
The sun’s out and the clocks have gone forward, so everyone’s a bit discombobulated. Outside, Fat Cat leaps out of a flowerbed and into the air, then scoots across the lawn. Halfway over she freezes in a crouch and stares … Continue reading
The Ghosts of Marches Past
By the time you read this I’ll be in Rome airport, most likely, having spent a night on the train. I’d tell you the story of the women with whom I shared my carriage, but I don’t know it yet. … Continue reading
Posted in Living Like a Maniac
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Cultural Contrasts
There’s a flurry of Sicilian from the top of the steps and Marco laughs. “You’re in trouble!” In the car on the way over he’d told me with a certain amount of glee that not only was it unlikely that … Continue reading
Market Day
I’m walking home from the market with bags full of fruit and vegetables when the man appears at my shoulder. “Sei in vacanza?” I don’t look at him. I’m not sure if he’s a pickpocket trying to distract me from … Continue reading
Close Encounters of the Sicilian Kind
I’ve already got a tub of ricotta in my shopping basket, but then I notice some others. They’re bigger, and look to be made locally, rather than by big brands. I bend down to take a closer look. I’m not … Continue reading
Posted in Living Like a Maniac
Tagged catania, sicily
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From a Distance
I live 40km from an active volcano. At the moment, as you’ve probably seen in the news, Etna’s being particularly lively, spewing out pieces of volcanic rock measuring inches across, as well as clouds of ash that have reached as … Continue reading
Posted in Living Like a Maniac
Tagged catania, etna, flood, nubifragio, sicilia, sicily, volcano, vulcano
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