39. A few small tit bits I learnt.
39. A few small titbits I have learnt.
I forgot to share with you this picture I saw in Ragusa Ibla. I did notice how clean the streets were.
Since being in Sicily I have been puzzled by the pottery heads and also the conical shaped pottery which adorned all the pottery shops.
Well a good source namely an English man who has lived in Sicily for 20 years explained to me.
On the far upper left you can see a rounded conical shape and at the bottom of the photo you can see two heads. One of a black man and the other of a white woman. The conical vase is supposed to be a fertility symbol likely left over when the Moors lived in Sicily.
Apparently (as my good authority tells me) an aristocratic lady was having an affair with the black man when she found out he was also seeing someone else so she had his head cut off and placed on her balcony to deter other men from cheating. Now the custom is for ladies to have one as a plant pot on their balconies to warn men to behave!! Perhaps the female figure is the lady who he was having a dalliance with.
Another interesting fact we have found out is a new drink!!
It is "Bitter Rossa" It comes in a small bottle and takes like Campari and is alcohol free. In a glass with lots of ice and a slice of orange. It not only looks like campari but tastes like it!
You can also get Aperol in the same way but this is 3% alcohol instead of 15%.
I must say I have found the Italians very cheerful and willing to help. They seem to have an affinity with the English and love to have fun. Sometimes a bit noisy and like all populations there are the good and the not so good, but I do feel generally we have found them very pleasant people to deal with.
Comments
Post a Comment