18 months ago, we picked up the keys to our ‘kiwi4everhome’.
Given this milestone in our new lives, I thought I’d mix it up a little this month!
And, as I’ve always had a soft spot for the film, I thought I’d base this month’s blog on Sergio Leone’s 1966 classic "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly".
Alphabetical, but in no other particular order, here goes:
And, as I’ve always had a soft spot for the film, I thought I’d base this month’s blog on Sergio Leone’s 1966 classic "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly".
Alphabetical, but in no other particular order, here goes:
The Good...
1. Bureaucracy: Why? Because once ‘in the system’ ... you’re ‘in’, and doors start opening! Healthcare, ID, bank accounts, etc., all become way easier to navigate.
2. Crime: Uber-low in Modica. Here fruit shops and supermarkets have their fruit and vege delivered on the street hours before opening, and café owners confidently leave their chairs and tables out.
3. Drink: What can I say? The local vini (wines) both tickle the palate, and pack a punch. So many wines … so little time!
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| Polpo (Octopus) to die for! |
5. Healthcare: The Italian healthcare system may be somewhat ‘creaky’ here in Sicily, but you can pop in to see your GP with no appointment, and prescriptions are cheap.
6. History: F’sure a big plus. We’re both history buffs, and it’s living and breathing all around you here: From the Neolithic to the Baroque.
7. People: A huge plus! We’ve made many friends here, and most locals accept us. Especially once they learn we’re living here.
8. Traditions: Breakfasts of coffee or granita and something sweet? Yes please! And I must admit to loving the afternoon nap. Sorry. Not sorry.
9. Weather: We have blue skies more often than not, even in Winter. And the Summer’s here seem almost endless.
10. Working City: One big reason for being here. Modica isn’t overly reliant on tourists, services a large area, and it’s always bustling.
The Bad...
1. Accents: We’ve found that some people (albeit a minority) increase their prices when we open our mouths. Like those at the local Sunday market, and it can be frustrating.
2. Bureaucracy: In both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ as there’s no getting away from it! Because, with the constant change of governments here, nothing changes and old practises grind on.
3. Cash: Despite successive governments pushing the use of cards, cash is still pretty much king here, so you always have to carry some.
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| About as useful as you'd expect! |
5. Language: This one’s on me. With a wife who speaks fluent Italian, I’ve been way lazy about learning the language, I’m afraid.
6. Noise: With rubbish collectors loudly emptying bins at 5am; workmen starting up at 7am, and scooters roaring about the place, it can get way noisy!
7. Real Estate Agents: A pet peeve of ours. To say they’re useless is doing the useless a disservice! Thankfully in the past now.
8. Secondhand: Except for the monthly Sunday market, there’s no such thing as ‘secondhand’ here, which can be somewhat frustrating.
9. Television: It’s shite, and no mistake! Which means you must sign up for a streaming service or be driven mad!
10. Water: The comune only provides water for around four hours a day, so water conservation has to be a thing here.
...and the Ugly
1. ‘Balcony Dogs’: A very sad problem here. Some owners (literally) leave their dogs, chained up or not, on their balconies or terraces, and they can end up living their entire lives there! And we know many of these poor animals are often not even exercised!
2. Abandoned Houses: A recent survey (May 2022) stated that of 5,661 buildings in Modica’s historic centre, a total of 2,174 were empty. Sadly, that’s nearly 40 percent! You see them everywhere here. From older homes to newer apartments, often in a state of disrepair and many entirely neglected.
3. Dog Poop: Another doggy problem here, and it’s everywhere, I’m afraid! Especially off the main streets, but even there. I have to reckon I’ve seen maybe a dozen dog owners picking up after their animals here, and only if they see someone’s watching them. It’s like walking in a minefield.
4. Stray Cats: You’ll find them all over the city. We have several resident in our street. And many are in a terrible condition, missing tails, legs, an eye, with a majority sporting ringworm or worse. They’re not even good ‘mousers’, given the locals insist on feeding them.
5. Upkeep: Given the historical nature of many of the churches, palaces and other edifices here, it’s so sad to see some (not all!) in such a poor state of repair. A majority though do sport weeds, bushes and even entire trees sprouting from their guttering and drainpipes.
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| Just left... |
3. Dog Poop: Another doggy problem here, and it’s everywhere, I’m afraid! Especially off the main streets, but even there. I have to reckon I’ve seen maybe a dozen dog owners picking up after their animals here, and only if they see someone’s watching them. It’s like walking in a minefield.
4. Stray Cats: You’ll find them all over the city. We have several resident in our street. And many are in a terrible condition, missing tails, legs, an eye, with a majority sporting ringworm or worse. They’re not even good ‘mousers’, given the locals insist on feeding them.
5. Upkeep: Given the historical nature of many of the churches, palaces and other edifices here, it’s so sad to see some (not all!) in such a poor state of repair. A majority though do sport weeds, bushes and even entire trees sprouting from their guttering and drainpipes.
To end here, I will say that the ‘good’ I’ve found in Modica far and away outweighs the ‘bad’ and even ‘the ugly’.
But then, life is what you make of it, of course!
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