George Gershwin’s line: "Summertime, and the livin' is easy..." could’ve been written for Sicily.
And it’s one of the major reasons why we’re here, of course.
Although when I wrote last post that one day it was Spring, the next Summer, I didn't expect it to hit quite so hard! Because the daily temperatures these last few weeks have been in the low to (mostly) high 30's Celsius.
I'm writing this at 06:36, and it's already 28 degrees, with a high of 38 predicted for 2pm.
Dogs and cats are refusing to move during the day, birds are walking around suffering from heat exhaustion, and the locals leave the streets of Modica almost entirely empty in the hours either side of midday.
You know it’s damned hot when those same locals complain! Who can blame them?
Although the humidity is low during the day, which means it’s okay in the shade, it don't stop you frying when you attempt to walk in the direct sunshine.
To make matters somewhat worse, the sky's turned this dull and dusty blue due to sand from the Sahara being blown our way.
A reminder that we're only 100 miles (160 kilometres) from the nearest part of Africa here! You can feel the sand in your eyes and throat when you have to go out.
About the only sound you can hear nowadays is the whine and whir of over-used aircon units.
But then it’s watermelon season, so every cloud has its silver lining, yeah?
Although when I wrote last post that one day it was Spring, the next Summer, I didn't expect it to hit quite so hard! Because the daily temperatures these last few weeks have been in the low to (mostly) high 30's Celsius.
I'm writing this at 06:36, and it's already 28 degrees, with a high of 38 predicted for 2pm.
Dogs and cats are refusing to move during the day, birds are walking around suffering from heat exhaustion, and the locals leave the streets of Modica almost entirely empty in the hours either side of midday.
You know it’s damned hot when those same locals complain! Who can blame them?
Although the humidity is low during the day, which means it’s okay in the shade, it don't stop you frying when you attempt to walk in the direct sunshine.
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| All dull and dusty at the horizon |
A reminder that we're only 100 miles (160 kilometres) from the nearest part of Africa here! You can feel the sand in your eyes and throat when you have to go out.
About the only sound you can hear nowadays is the whine and whir of over-used aircon units.
But then it’s watermelon season, so every cloud has its silver lining, yeah?
No Damns Given
Okay, it's damned hot, but you have to go out, of course!
There's shopping to do, and people and places to see, so on go the shorts, tees, shades, and factor 50.
Now, because of the stress of looking for our forever home is coming to a head, we've declared this week to be 'holiday week'. So yesterday we hopped on the (late) 9am bus, and off we went to the nearest beach.
Marina di Modica that is, around 20 kilometres south. With its kilometre of golden, powdery sand, and its family-friendly gradual slope into the cool waters of the Mediterranean, what's not to love?
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| All the shapes and sizes... |
Well, the people already using it were anyways. I'd not seen so many men wearing budgie smugglers since the 70's! And the majority of the women, no matter their age, sported bikinis.
We're talking all shapes and sizes here, okay? Yes: Bulgy, flabby and saggy bits, on all sexes, exposed all about the place.
It was f'sure an eye-opener!
But in a great way, I reckon. Because what was on show was 'honesty'.
I may've criticised the whole 'bella figura' thing sometimes, but here were people simply accepting what is, without disguise or artifice, and just going about enjoying their day at the beach.
Alright, they may stare, as Sicilians always do, but then they just got on with getting on.
It was so very refreshing, and I for one loved it!
One Door Closes…
Years as a contractor in the IT industry have taught me to be wary.
Wary of promises made: Verbally, and often even those in writing. And that's transferred to buying our '4everhome' here in Modica.
Y'see, we found this great property which met (most) of our requirements. However, cutting a long sorry story short, it proved to be even more illegal than both Alice and I thought it may've been.
So, we wasted two months waiting to find this out, and then had the (not) pleasure of watching the real estate agent representing it scramble about for excuses as to why he didn't, in fact, know this!
And: Bollocks!
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| View from 'our' maybe terrace |
A private sale this time, for a house whose location couldn't have been more perfect, as it was only a few minutes’ (mostly flat) walk from two supermarkets, the pharmacy, and about every other retail establishment we required.
It had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and this nice terrace. Totalling 87 square metres, they wanted around €920 per square metre, which is okay for the historic centre of Modica.
But still more than we wanted to pay, of course!
Three visits later, two in company with our geometra (surveyor) and builder, and we were about ready to begin negotiating. Which is now complete, I’m happy to report.
So watch this space!
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