Next trip will be so different

Next trip will be to North Africa, Cairo to be exact. I'm looking at old photographs and feeling deep nostalgia already. There will be no European language but Arabic, which I have no clue about. There will be no lush countryside unless I go to an oasis which I'm hoping to. There will be sand, sand and more sand. There will be camels and a ride on a felucca on the Nile. It'll be so different. I don't know if I'm excited. But it's time I get out of my comfort zone, go somewhere so different that it'll shock my senses. No Roma Termini this trip, see you soon, Rome.

The accommodations wouldn't be much different since I travel so cheaply. This was the hostel room in Nice.

We'll set aside time to write our journal and record the happenings of the trip over some mint tea, what do they drink in Cairo?

It'll just be Cairo so there won't be any trains. I just need to collect information on how to get around so my next trip there will be more extensive. I'll go to the rest of Egypt the next time.

The architecture will be different too.

The food will be different, no pasta, fromage blanc and whatever else I like to eat in Europe. It'll be a different culinary experience.

I'm going to miss these cute vignettes of country life.

Of Alpine atmosphere.

Colorful churches. I'm definitely going to the Coptic centre of town.

I'm sure I'll find cute and unusual vignettes to interest me.

I'm ready to go.

When are we going back to Sicily?

I just acquired an old book, 'Old Calabria' by Norman Douglas about his travels (or his travails) in Southern Italian years ago. Half way through it, he wrote about 'lovers of the baroque would be disappointed with San Caltado'. San Cataldo is in Palermo, Sicily unless there is another San Caltaldo in Calabria. This is San Cataldo in Palermo, Sicily. I went to Sicily in search of Sicilian Baroque, I found, not only Baroque, but also Norman and San Cataldo. San Cataldo is stark (compared to the flourishes of Baroque) inside and out. The only distinguishing features it has going are the three red domes on the roof top. Most entrances to the churches in Sicily were free except we had to pay 1 euro to enter San Cataldo to see the stark interior. The mere lack of decoration in the interior contributed to an heighten spiritual feel to the place and also its association with the crusaders and the crusades. Not only that, Constance, the aunt of the Norman kings who first ruled Sicily was married to the first ruler of the Holy Land under the crusaders. San Cataldo is a very special place. Norman Douglas could not have been more wrong. It was in San Caltado that I felt a deep spiritual bond unlike other Baroque churches when I was distracted by the adornment of the interiors.
Why did we even considered Sicily as a place we would visit, twice and now considering a third trip? It was in Leece, a little town in Southern Italy, the year before that I fell in love with the Baroque. Leece is a very baroque city, absolutely delightful and I couldn't get enough of baroque. I read somewhere that Sicily is the place to get your fill of the baroque because a lot of cities were destroyed by a huge earthquake around the time of the appearance of the baroque movement and so a lot of Sicilian towns and cities were rebuilt in the baroque style. So off we went, to Sicily, and we were not disappointed.
So when am I returning to Sicily? 2010. This year's trips have all been planned out. I'm looking into next year's and it will include a trip to Sicily. Where would I go this time, definitely some places would be revisited and new places too. Maybe Modica, to meet with Patrizia of blog, http://sicilyscene.

The stark interior of San Cataldo, what the dome looks like inside.

The crusaders' cross adorns a curtain inside San Cataldo.

Sicilian puppets.

The Vucciria market in Palermo. Here am I reaching into my bag to get some money to pay this fellow for some wild strawberries.

I will return to Santa Zita to see some of the works of Giacomo Serpotta.

The rich marble inlay of a lot of the churches in Palermo is amazing and beautiful.

I think I will return to Noto, another very baroque city, that some say, out baroque the baroque of Leece.

Noto is a small and very delightful place, across the street from here is the restaurant, 'Buca' which serves great food and is quite inexpensive.

Monreale, here I am waiting for it to open, it closed at lunchtime and I already had a great meal of pasta.

The duomo at Ragusa Ibla.

Ragusa Ibla, as seen from Ragusa Superiore. You arrive at the train station in the new town, Ragusa Superiore and a short walk from it, Ragusa Ibla will come into view. This is the most delightful view of Ragusa Ibla. They say Modica is very similar and I have to go and find out in my next trip.

A postcard of Ragusa Ibla.

A crumbling palazzo, I might be in the market to buy one, set up home in Sicily.

The valley of the temples with Agrigento in the foreground, what a magical place.

The duomo in Cefalu.

The town of Taormina just before we headed up to the ruins. Taormina is very pretty and a very popular resort destination.

Here we found some really delectable and the sweetest pears that came from a farm nearby. This was Acireale, we stopped just to see the duomo which I read had a very unusual baroque facade. I told you I was on a baroque quest.

The duomo in Acireale. I was not disappointed.

Snow in Sicily? Yes, they have skiing on Mt Etna, this is around Mt Etna, we took the train, the Circumetna that runs around the base of Mt Etna. This was early March, it was raining and snowing and so magical. The wet weather did not dampen our spirits at all.

The ubiquitous prickly pears, they are everywhere.

An old palazzo in Catania which was converted to a cheap hostel where we paid 45 euros/night and we stayed here on both trips.

The airport in Catania is the major airport in Sicily. This was where we flew in and out of on both trips. One can also take the night train to and from Rome. I'd like to do that one day, maybe the next trip.

The financial mess

Everyday we wait with bated breath,'will we still have a job to go to?' As the financial crisis in this country and in the state of California deepens and worsen, it is hard to tell. We read of stories in financial times predicting the demise of the company that I work for. It's stock price has fallen to pennies. A friend and colleague bought a bunch of company stock, his way of trying to shore up the company stock price, his contribution in helping the company survive, I laughed at him, a fine gesture but not enough. They say when there is an en mass departure of company executives, it is a sure sign that the ship is sinking. Yesterday we saw a huge list of job vacancies the company is trying to fill, for top executives, this can't be because of business expansion but more like an exodus of top executives. What are we to make of that? My colleague and I looked at each other and wondered, I said, 'at least they are still trying to fill these positions, rather than leave them vacant and shuffle existing people to take over the slack.'
One thing I know, my staff and I are working our hardest to maintain and grow the business but in the end, will it be enough? Like everyone in this situation, only God knows and only time will tell. I predict in 6 months the environment in the drugstore business and ownership will be very different in Southern California. My colleague came from Target Pharmacy. Target has already cut their pharmacy hours and business. At least we are still hiring. Is that good? We are not hiring full time people, every new hire is part time and you get work if there is work. This is a good thing, people will work harder in order to be retained and given work. This downturn has it's advantages, people work harder because in the end, who gets the pink slips? The unproductive. I have a much easier life too, my staff is working harder, making it easier for me. I like it.
This downturn has spawned a lot of new industries. I read of a company who goes around California painting the brown lawns of foreclosed homes green. Watering the lawn is turned off and the grass turned this ugly brown color and the banks wants them to look nice and green and have curb appeal, so it would sell faster. There are trash companies who goes in to foreclosed homes to clean out the stuff left by homeowners. These are very sad businesses but necessary businesses.
It is heartening to see houses that went on the market in my area still got sold and in a short time. I worry when I see a for sale sign up in front of a neighbor's house, I wonder, will it stay long on the market?.
In the end, whatever it is, worry doesn't change a thing. The crisis will need it's own time to work itself out. I don't know that the massive stimulus package they signed will make a difference in how fast and how this will turn out. We have no confidence in government.
Jesus did say in scripture, 'these will take fasting and praying....' Not just praying but fasting as well....

Santa Monica Farmers' market

A street farmers' market in Rome, this was near the main train station. This morning I was at the Santa Monica farmers' market. I saw a photo shoot, it was, what's her name, Giada de Laurentis, some gal who cooks Italian food on TV. I've seen lots of other photo shoots before, last year I saw Wolfgang Puck. I guess, where would you go in winter but to Southern California. Even it has been cold the past week, we've had some incredible days and we get produce year round. I was on another incredible website today, some Japanes girl who now lives in London. Check this out http://www.nordljus.co.uk/en/a-trip-to-the-farmers-market-in-california, she has some incredible photographs of the Santa Monica farmers' market. She's a photographer, has some great pictures and writes a food blog http://www.nordjus.co.uk.

The joy of being home

What's this? My soap dish with lots of little leftover soap bits. I have to force myself to throw them out. This is how frugal I am. There just doesn't seem to be enough time anymore. I love being at home but as the day draws to an end I am sad, then I would be back at work. I'm at work from 7 in the morning to 7 in the evening and even in the 12 hours there doesn't seem to be enough time, there's so much to do. I guess we just have to make do with our 24 hour day, whether we are at home or at work. Today is a day off from work, I did some writing, I made pancakes, I chatted with my neighbor, I ordered office supplies from Staples, my gardener is here, and the Verizon technician is here installing some new gadget for me to make my Internet faster. Faster, faster, more, more, that's the modern theme, so we can achieve even more in our 24 hour day. And we do, achieve more, are more productive. Will there be an end to this madness? Maybe not, so we better enjoy work when we are at work, enjoy home when we are at home.

I saw a picture in a book of a glass vase and the stalks of flowers in it, it didn't show the flowers, I thought, what a clever idea. I decided to take a picture of my glass vase. I am a shameless imitator. That's what I like to do at home, pretend I'm a hot shot photographer and pretend to have photo shoots.

This is another of my 'brilliant' photo shoots. Oh well, I may as well enjoy being home. A 24 hour day would have to suffice, whether I am home or at work.

The joy of working

Are you serious? I hate working, I hate work but I have to fool myself everyday just to get myself out of bed and get to work. I like this book, it makes some good arguments about why I should enjoy work and how to enjoy work. Well, first off, without reading it, without work I won't be able to afford all the experiences I am currently experiencing. I won't be able to write a blog about all my adventures because I won't be able to afford any of my adventures. I won't be able to afford my house and live by myself in my own house.

I won't be able to travel as much as I do and a whole hosts of other things I can't do without a job that pays me something. Work is hard, life is hard but once we realise that, it becomes easy, we won't be surprise when things don't work out the way we expect.

'Hard work is not fun. Hard work is just that- hard work. Only rarely is hard work pleasurable. But self-satisfaction at the completion of a job well-done is pleasurable'.....said the book. So I'll continue to fool myself, enjoy work, it is fun, enjoy hard work, it is fun, think of the experiences I can buy with the money I make from work, it is fun.

Chinese new year 2

It is seasons like this that makes us remember the times spent in our country of origin. As a child I remember the exciting preparations for celebration of Chinese New Year, the menu is almost always the same, it is the time of Spring in China,(not that I grew up there) the food available are the food of Spring. There is the proverbial night market, on the eve before the eve of Chinese New Year where we would stock up on food for the celebration, or else the markets would be closed for days and there wouldn't be any food in the house. The eve of Chinese New Year is the time when families get together, everything must be new, new clothes, new everything. Red is the color of Chinese New Year, the red fire crackers, the red lanterns.... I have vivid memories of the making of the rice cakes from scratch. We would soak the rice in water and take it over to my uncle's house, he has a milling stone in his back yard. It is 2 huge milling stones on top of each other with the one on top having a hole from which the wet rice is fed through and the stones rub against each other and mill the wet rice. Then sugar is added and the whole mixture is poured into tins and steamed. It is an outdoor affair because the wok is usually too big for the kitchen and the cakes are steamed for hours, almost 6 hours or more and firewood is constantly being added to the fire. The cakes would become this brownish colored thing, the long slow cooking allows complete caramelization and they become so tasty. We would eat for days and being a large family of kids, it doesn't last as long as it should. They were so tasty. Today I can buy the same rice cakes in the oriental supermarkets but these are cooked so hastily that they don't taste anything like the ones of my childhood. I bought this, took a bite and threw the rest away. It is just not the same. I don't think anyone in this world makes the rice cakes of my childhood anymore. The taste of those days are gone forever.

Experiment

We are very visual people and that's why some print magazine might survive in these days of the Internet when we can almost anything online. Sometimes I buy a magazine because I love certain pictures in them like this issue of Saveurs magazine, it's in French. I thought this picture was so appealing. kaisssseeer... Kaiserschmarrn, I can't even pronounce the word. One day I'm going to make this, I am going to take out my French-English dictionary and I'm going to make this... Kaiiiss..whatchamacallit! It's been over a year now and I still haven't attempted to make it. I was reading a blog a few days ago, Creampuffsinvenice, ca and I found out it is also called Austrian pancakes. So what it really is, is pancakes done the Austrian way. So this morning I decided to experiment, made some eggy pancakes, cut them up and strewn them in a jumble in a plate, sprinkled powdered sugar over them and ate them with some jam. This is my rendition of Austrian pancakes, Kaiserschmarrn..... I hope Arnold would approve.

I still have a whole bunch of it leftover on my kitchen table.

Three years

I'm going to celebrate the end of three years for this blog by posting again pictures of my most favorite place in the world, Sicily and my most favorite place in Sicily, the very quirky Villa Palagonia in Bagheria, a little town 20 minutes by train from Palermo. It's been a lot of hard work and a lot of fun. I've been taking 2 trips a year to Europe the past 8 years and have collected innumerable stories and of them all, I, return time and again to memories of my 2 trips to Sicily. It is a lot of hard work, traveling as an independent traveler but a lot of fun. I remember the day we were caught in a huge downpour in Erice, a little town outside of Trapani in the western part of Sicily. We couldn't find our way back to the bus station because we couldn't see through the deluge of water coming down and a nice Sicilian in a new BMW gave us a ride to the bus station and we still have to wait an hour inside a smelly public toilet for the city bus. We saw other tourists coming and going in their tour buses and for a very brief moment I did feel a ping of envy, wishing that we had a tour bus waiting for us....only a very brief second. Other than that we've been really happy, wandering around the world on our own.
Traveling, as in life, is hard, 'life is hard' - M Scott Peck said. Knowing that then makes life easy. Independent traveling is hard and knowing that then makes it easy.

This is the entrance but when we first arrived, we came from the rear which was locked. I remember yelling, 'hello, hello, is anybody there?' No one answered, so we decided to walk around the property and then came upon the entrance and after paying an 8 euro fee, was inside the grounds. I love Villa Palagonia. We walked the 30 minutes from the train station to get there, asking people all the way, 'dove Villa Palagonia'. Each time they answered, 'quoi' or over there till we finally found it.

This little dog was chained outside in the property. I stopped and patted him.

I love the gorgeous staircases of Baroque buildings.

I look forward to the fourth year of this blog. Over the course of the three years, it has evolved, I remember, reading about blogging in a newspaper and decided to try it. Blogger.com made it so easy and over the past three years I've learnt about widgets, videos and all sorts of things and it has been a lot of fun.

Another thing about blogging, one gets lens envy. If not for blogging I would never have bought an expensive DSLR but I'm glad. Every now and then I view other blogs for inspiration, they do all inspire me.

Ideas from other blogs

http://dreamacresdiary.typepad.com/dream_country_chat/2009/01/simply-red.html
you like the fabric. I printed it myself. Here's how

I used pages from a french novel and tore a hole in the middle of the
page. Mounted it on to plain white paper.
I used a natural plain off white cotton and cut out a piece A4 in size
(same size as the usual printer photocopy paper we use here). I cut out
the same size of Freezer Paper and ironed the freezer paper on to the
back of the cotton fabric.
Then feed the fabric that is 'glued' to freezer paper into your printer
just like normal paper.
Photocopy your image (french page with hole in it) at the 'black' ink
setting on the printer.
When it comes out of the printer just peel off the freezer paper on the
back and iron the fabric on the printed side. I use a damp cloth on top
of the fabric. This will seal the ink into the fabric.

Et voila! printed fabric.

I then stamped on the rose picture in stayzon red ink.

I am so pleased with how it has turned out. Have spent ages working on
this new range trying to get it right.

Hope all well with you.
Karon x

--
Karon H Grieve
Dream Acres Home Scentsations
www.dreamacres.co.uk
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Check out the link above for Dreamacres. I was impressed about a technique she had on her blog so I left a comment asking how she did it. She emailed back with the instructions and I have it here.