Thunderstorms and Chaos

Local Report on the Flooding and Landslides that Occurred as a Result of Very Bad Storms Last Night and This Morning

Landslides close stretch of Catania-Messina highway and State Road 114, at least four people are dead and 20 missing after floods hit the Messina province. Landslides close stretch of A18 Catania-Messina highway and State Road114 as storms lash Sicily, traffic is severely disrupted. According to local media and Police reports, several landslides occurred last night in the Messina province, closed a stretch of the A18 Catania-Messina highway in both directions between the Roccalumera andTremestieri exits, as storms hit several Sicilian provinces including Palermo, Catania and Trapani, disrupting rail services, ferry sailings and causing traffic chaos. Motorists are facing massive detours. A stretch of State Road 114 was also shut in the same area. At least four people are dead and 20 missing after a river of mudflooded parts of Messina as the area was hit by heavy rains. Officials said at least 100 people fled their homes when violent mudslides collapsed several buildings and swept away cars during a rain storm that lasted through Thursday night and early Friday. Mayor Giuseppe Buzzanca told Italy's Sky TV that rescuers were usingdogs to search for the missing in the hardest-hit suburbs. Sky aired images of flooded streets, filled with debris and mud reaching up to the wheels of cars. Buzzanca said rescue efforts were being hampered because many roads and railways were cut and parts of the city were still isolated, with help reaching those areas only on foot.

Swim Time

Thomas loves the pool, although probably not all the attire we make him wear there...

Gambino Winery

Thomas enjoys the flora at Gambino as much as we enjoy the wine! We passed a billboard for their wines in Taormina that read "Gambino, La rima con Vino" or "Gambino, rhymes with vino". How clever and struck me as very funny (after a glass of wine with lunch)!

Trecastagni Garlic/ Three Saints Festival

The main church of Trecastagni - with a newly refurbished exterior!

The three brothers.

Our town is supposedly named for three brothers, although "tre castagni" really means "three chestnuts". Every year the garlic harvest coincides with the celebration of the martyrdom of the three brothers, so there is a very large festival. Our town is not huge by any means, but there were at least one hundred food stalls and market booths out in the streets including a dozen selling large bunches of garlic for about a Euro each! The festival started on Friday and ends tomorrow. Last night was the largest event with many people recreating the march of the three brothers from Catania into Trecastagni carrying large pedestals and candles. The procession ends at the town church, which is decorated with icons of the brothers and beautiful murals and mosaics. We didn't get to go into the church, however. We were wearing shorts, and in Italy most churches will not allow you in so we didn't even try! [Upper arms and most of the legs have to be covered (remember this if you are ever touring in Italy in the summer - a lot of the famous cathedrals and churches will turn you away!)]. We did, however, walk through the streets and take lots of pictures. As usual the festivities are followed EVERY evening by a rather loud (we live only two blocks from the main square) and ambitious fireworks display. A small display is usually set off around 0730 with a much, much larger one around 0930. What a joy to hear that every single night like clockwork.

Mother's Day

Today the weather was a terrific 75 degrees and sunny! After much to-do with the GPS, we managed to locate the Gambino vineyard and buy some vino. Our favorite Sicilian wines! Then we headed to Taormina for some walking and a nice lunch overlooking the ocean. We happened to run into some old timers from a cruise. They were from Culpeper - go figure! Thomas was especially good today. Not sure if he knew it was Mother's Day, or if he was just having a good day.

Adventures in the Yard

Thomas loves roaming the yard and scouring for plants and flowers. Our roses aren't out yet, but we do have so nice red poppies in the front yard.

He also likes play with the wild cats, including this one we call Giuseppe!

Palm Sunday

We ventured into Catania on Palm Sunday morning. Street vendors were selling woven palm leaves to the church crowds (and I do mean crowds!). Took us a minute to figure out what was going on! We had forgotten it was Palm Sunday. Time flies...