Shut that Door

Along with closing my front door every time I come home, I also try to shut out the outside world.

While a simple and physical action on my part, that doesn’t make it any less an ‘emotional’ one. To me anyways.
In fact, I actually enjoy the sensation, as it helps you cope with the ongoing stress-and-strains of so-called modern living. Not just here in Modica, of course, but anywhere on our planet.
Alongside this more physical act, I’ve sought to ‘not get involved’ in the continuing troubles in NZ, the UK, and about everywhere else at the minute. I mean: Why should I? After all, I don’t live in my home country or in the UK anymore.

This doesn’t mean I’m indifferent to what’s going on outside of my front door.

How can I be? We have a fibre-link, and I’m nothing if not a news-and-entertainment ‘junkie’. This is the 21st century, after all!
But I choose (where I can) to not let it affect me all that much. Y’see, this ain’t my world anymore ... it’s the younger generations.
I earned my stripes (in my own small way) back in the day, protesting and marching against the Vietnam War; French nuclear testing in the Pacific; nuclear war in general; apartheid in South Africa; and much more.
But that was then: And this is now. Does this ‘Boomer’ live in a bubble? Most likely. But, here-and-now, it’s a ‘coping mechanism’.
And one that works for me…

Stuff of Life

The history of bread in Sicily is deeply rooted in its agricultural heritage, of course.

My homemade (and delicious) Focaccia!

Bread is, was, and always will be, a staple of the local culture, economy, and daily life. And its history is long here: Dating back to at least the 4th century BC Greeks and, after them, the Romans, who would describe Sicily as “The granary of the Empire”.
As Italians put it: “Per noi, il pane è sacro” (“For us, bread is sacred”).
Who am I to argue? Especially as we seem to have an almost endless variety here. I mean: I’ve read there are 250-plus different commercial bread types in Italy.
Now, while you may not find all of those when you walk into your local panetteria (bakery) here, you may well find yourself confronted by somewhere between 10 and 30 different ones.
These’ll be local (to the province), Sicilian, and more ‘national’ types. All with distinct names. and all of which, traditionally at least, ‘must’ be used in different ways.
It can f’sure get quite confusing! Even Alice, who did a lot of her growing up in Italy (albeit the North), initially got somewhat baffled by some of the local types and names.
Nevertheless, it’s all good. Except maybe for that twice-baked “Pane Duro” (“Hard Bread”) which’ll crack your teeth if you’re not careful!
And don’t forget seasonal offerings like “Panettone”, which we always argue about: Is it cake or bread?
As this is my blog: It’s a bread, okay?

Support the Local Product

If bread is indeed the “Stuff of Life”, then it’s best accompaniment (besides olive oil) must surely be vino (wine)?

Don’t ask me to wash that panini (sandwich) down with a healthy glass of cold milk! Why would/should I, when the wine here is just so ... quaffable? Okay, I’m not advocating too much lunchtime drinking, but still!
And, of course, Italians have another perfect quote here: “Un pasto senza vino è come un giorno senza sole” (“A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine”).
Who am I to argue with such wisdom?
With this firmly in mind, I made a ‘semi-sacred’ vow when we first arrived here in September 2020. That was to drink, only and always, Sicilian vini rossi (red wines). That’s not to say that any vino bianco (white wine) or vino rosato (rosé wine) has never been enjoyed but, for the most part, I’ve pretty much stuck with it.
Now, I’m f’sure not about to claim this was one of the (major) reasons I moved to Sicily, but it certainly played a part.
It’s just that the vino is so plentiful here; it’s cheap as; and can be both lovely and lively. I mean: When you can pick up a decent bottle of DOC wine for less than €3.00; a good one for less than €5.00; and a great one for €5.00 to €15.00? What’s not to love?
It’s a real challenge though: So many wines ... so little time!

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