Blog Archives
the strongest remain
You know your guide and driver are reading the room when they make non-routine stops (without even being asked) – for important things like roadside ruins or newly blossoming almond trees or the light hitting a hillside town in just the right way – so the photographers could pile out and do our things.
near Enna, Sicily
photographed 2.3.2025
rosella, making bracelets
The other day, I mentioned our visit to the home of Claudio and Rosella and said I’d be writing more about later.
And so, here’s part one of what I have to say about that day and our visit.
You’ve probably already noticed that I have a strong affection for Sicily and for the people I’ve met on my visits there. Almost without exception, the people I encountered were kind and generous, happy to welcome visitors, and eager to share their lives with us. Claudio and Rosella are perfect examples of these attributes.
I’d met them at a market in Catania on my first visit to Sicily. After we examined their wares – baskets and soap – and listened to Claudio play his tammorra and sing, our tour guide (the talented Allison Scola) joined in with drums and song. It was just amazing.
I was happy to learn that my return trip included a visit to Claudio and Rosella at their home in the mountains. And that visit was truly the highlight of this trip.
They and their family made lunch for us, one of those outstanding 10- or 15-course meals (complete with plenty of wine) that last for hours. They don’t speak English, or even Italian – their language is Sicilian – but the language barrier seemed non-existent. The food, the people, the way they made us feel at home in their home transcended language. They could not have been kinder to us.
After lunch, we went outside and spent an enjoyable few hours in their yard, surrounded by plants, baskets, fruit trees, family, music. We had dessert and coffee; Rosella and Claudio showed us how to make baskets and they sang traditional songs. Claudio, a renowned story-teller told some stories; I didn’t understand the words, of course, but the cadence of his voice helped to feel the tales. It was the sort of day that needed to last for a few more hours.
Somewhere along in there, Rosella made twig bracelets for anyone who wanted one; I proudly wear mine several times a week. It’s a nice way to remember our day.
Pallazzolo Acreide , Sicily
photographed 1.27.2025
seat of the bishops
I am led to believe that “normal” travelers get on the road on the most convenient route to where they are going and that they make steady forward progress through the trip and that they arrive at their destination within a reasonable time.
Photographers do not do any of those things. We’re wandery, we’re distracted by light, enchanted by vistas, delighted by skies. And we take approximately forever to get someplace.
So many thanks go to Allison Scola at Experience Sicily for understanding those things and being ready to change her careful plans if there was a sunset that needed our attention. And so many thanks to our driver Massimo Mudó, who could park the van in some really tight spots just so we could get the shots.
Piazza Armarina, Sicily
photographed 2.3.2025
foam at sunset
It looked like we weren’t going to get a spectacular sunset at the Trapani salt pans, and we really didn’t. It was stormy and cold and very windy and it started to rain just as I was getting this shot.
And you know what? I don’t even care that the sunset was sort of a bust because if it had been gorgeous, I wouldn’t have spent any time looking at the details of the place.
Trapani, Sicily
photographed 2.2.2025
spinning
Every day in Sicily was full of amazing things; this particular day was one of the best days I could imagine. We spent several hours on a farm with a family of artisans, who made us lunch (which was so delicious I can’t even describe it), played music and recited poetry and stories, gave a soap-making demonstration, and were just generally the most open and thoughtful and kind people you’ll ever meet.
What was going on here? The patriarch of the family was playing sheep-skin bagpipes while his son spun a flag-colored rug as though it was pizza dough.
I’ll write more about this fantastic day later, but please know that Claudio and Rosella and their family were just the best; so many thanks to the amazing Allison Scola at Experience Sicily for making this happen for us.
Pallazzolo Acreide , Sicily
photographed 1.27.2025
One Day | One Image 