Category: Jojo in Sicily Page 2 of 63

Driving in Sicily – How to survive

On February 10, 2018

In Catania (CT), Jojo in Sicily, Living in Sicily, Palermo (PA), Ragusa (RG), Sicilians, Sicily

One golden rule about Sicily is Law says one thing – Reality is something else.

Sicily is filled with cars and the situation is not getting any better. Generally if a family has four family members, there are four cars, perhaps also two vespas and a motorbike. Now when I think of it also I have one car and two vespas. If you look into the sicilian cars you often see just one person in it, they do not plan to go together.

The traffic situation changes very much dependning on where you are in Sicily. In Ragusa area you find calmer traffic, order, people using seat belts, children in car seats, people using helmets and so on… Ragusa has always been the Germany in Sicily. Then you start to move towards Catania and Palermo and there you find vepsas on the right and left, a car for five people may have eight sitting inside, a whole family on a vespa with no helmets and cars parked all over. In Messina five cars ignored the red light in 20 minutes.

For guests renting a car in Sicily I always advice the following “You have to drive like only you exist in the world. No one will give you priority and if you follow north european rules, you will never reach your destination. In road crossings if turning left, you have to sneak out slowly, stopping the cars on the left field and continue slowly forward stopping the cars from right side. This way you cross a road in Sicily. If parking confuses you, check how other cars has parked in the area. If they have a paid ticket in the window, then pay. If not, just park there. You can also ask the closest shop or bar for advice. Or park on the side of the road checking that you do not block the traffic.” In Sicily many times fast parking means parking on the sidewalk and put emergemcy lights on.?Double and triple parking is more standard than exception. I recommend not to do this.

The city of Catania got tired of double- and tripple parking in central city that stopped even the public transport, so the municipality put some cameras in the streets and sent the fines home. In one month they collected over 80,000 fines.

For safety: always drive with locked doors especially in Catania and Palermo. No one will point a gun on you, but open doors means e.g that someone can steal you bag on the seat. Bags always keep on the floor. Never leave anything in the car if you are not there; put shoppingbags in the trunk and papers ecc under the seat. In Taormina area I drive more safe, but when I got to Catania I lock the steering wheel with a chain that goes under seat if I leave the car for longer hours. Your items in the car may be stolen or the car itself, but you do not have to worry about someone treathening you. Same with Vespas, lock the rear wheel with a chain.

In the sicilian traffic you will notice sicilians anger and frustrations; lots of shouting, hand gestures and using the car horn. Do not stress! It is always the same.

If you have an accident, never move the car, leave the scene as it is even if you block the traffic, as it is the police who will report what may have happened. Never listen to the counterpart what to do, wait for the police. Insurance frauds are alarmingly high in Italy and an accident is a perfect occasion to milk extra money from you. In small accidents the sicilian custom is to solve the issue there by giving some cash to the other party to solve the damages without dragging in the insurance companies.

If you rent a car many companies offers full insurance, it means that for a small amount you have full cover and can return with just one wheel not paying anything at all, they call it Full Kasko. And if you get a parking ticket, or a fine, pay it. Paying it within five days gives you up to 30% discount. If you do not pay it will get more expensive as they will deduct the money from your card and often add an extra fine of 50 euro.

Good luck out there laughing well, you’ll see things to remember for life!

In Catania red light is only a suggestion – I Catania ?r r?tt ljus bara ett f?rslag

Svenska

En gyllene regel om Sicilien ?r Lagen s?ger en sak – Verkligheten ?r n?got annat.

Sicilien ?r fylld med bilar och situationen blir inte b?ttre. Generellt om en familj har fyra familjemedlemmar finns det fyra bilar, kanske ocks? tv? vespor och en motorcykel. Nu n?r jag t?nker p? det har jag ocks? en bil och tv? vespor. Om du tittar p? de sicilianska bilarna ser du ofta bara en person i den, de planerar inte att ?ka tillsammans.

Trafiksituationen f?r?ndras v?ldigt mycket beroende av var du befinner dig p? Sicilien. I Ragusa-omr?det finner du lugnare trafik, ordning, personer som anv?nder bilb?lten, barn i bilstolar, personer som anv?nder hj?lmar och s? vidare … Ragusa har alltid varit Tyskland p? Sicilien. Sedan b?rjar du flytta mot Catania och Palermo och d?r har du vepsor till h?ger och v?nster. En bil f?r fem personer kan ha ?tta sittande inuti, en hel familj p? en vespa utan hj?lmar och bilar parkerade ?verallt. I Messina ignorerade fem bilar det r?da ljuset p? 20 minuter.

F?r g?ster som hyr en bil p? Sicilien, rekommenderar jag alltid f?ljande: “Du m?ste k?ra som om bara du existerar i v?rlden. Ingen kommer att prioritera dig och om du f?ljer nordeuropeiska regler kommer du aldrig att n? din destination. I v?nstersv?ng m?ste du smyga l?ngsamt ut, stoppa bilarna p? v?nster fil och forts?tt l?ngsamt fram?t och stoppa bilarna fr?n h?ger sida. P? s? s?tt korsar du en v?g p? Sicilien. Om parkeringsplatsen f?rvirrar dig, kolla hur andra bilar har parkerat. Om de har en betald biljett i f?nstret, betalar du det. Om inte, bara parkera d?r. Du kan ocks? fr?ga n?rmaste aff?r eller bar f?r r?d. Eller parkera p? sidan av v?gen och kontrollera att du inte blockerar trafiken.” P? Sicilien inneb?r m?nga g?nger snabb parkering parkering p? trottoaren och s?tta p? n?dblinkers. Dubbel- och trippelparkering ?r mer regel ?n undantag. Jag rekommenderar att du inte g?r det h?r.

Staden Catania blev tr?tt p? dubbel- och trippelparkering i centrala staden som stoppade ?ven kollektivtrafiken, s? kommunen satte upp n?gra kameror p? gatorna och skickade b?terna hem. P? en m?nad samlade de in ?ver 80 000 b?ter.

F?r s?kerhet: k?r alltid med l?sta d?rrar, s?rskilt i Catania och Palermo. Ingen kommer att peka med en pistol p? dig, men ?ppna d?rrar betyder till exempel att n?gon kan stj?la v?skan p? s?tet. V?skor har man alltid p? bilgolvet. L?mna aldrig n?gonting i bilen om du inte ?r d?r. L?gg shoppingkassar i bagaget och papper ecc under s?tet. I Taormina-omr?det k?r jag s?kert, men n?r jag ?ker till Catania l?ser jag ratten med en kedja som g?r under s?tet om jag l?mnar bilen l?ngre tid. Dina saker i bilen kan bli stulna eller bilen sj?lv, men du beh?ver inte oroa dig f?r n?gon som skulle hota dig. Samma med Vespor, l?s bakhjulet med en kedja.

I den sicilianska trafiken kommer du att m?rka sicilianarnas ilska och frustrationer; massor av skrik, handgester och tutande. Stressa inte! Det ?r alltid s?h?r.

Om du har en olycka, flytta aldrig bilen, l?mna scenen som den ?r ?ven om du blockerar trafiken, eftersom det ?r polisen som kommer att rapportera vad som kan ha h?nt. Lyssna aldrig p? motparten vad man ska g?ra, v?nta p? polisen. F?rs?kringsbedr?gerier ?r orov?ckande h?ga i Italien och en olycka ?r ett perfekt tillf?lle att mj?lka extra pengar fr?n dig. Vid sm?olyckor ?r sicilianska stilen att l?sa problemet p? plats genom att ge n?gra pengar till den andra parten f?r att l?sa mindre skador utan att dra in f?rs?kringsbolagen.

Om du hyr en bil erbjuder m?nga f?retag full f?rs?kring, det inneb?r att du f?r en liten summa har full t?ckning och kan ?terv?nda med bara ett hjul utan att beh?va betala n?got, det kallas Full Kasko. Och om du f?r parkeringsb?ter, eller annan b?ter, betala den. Betalar du inom fem dagar ges upp till 30% rabatt. Om du inte betalar blir det dyrare eftersom de kommer att dra av pengarna fr?n ditt kort och ofta l?gger till en extra b?ter p? 50 euro.

Lycka till d?r ute och skratta gott, du kommer se saker att minnas f?r livet!

Sicilian way to eat

By Siljehagen

On February 4, 2018

In Jojo in Sicily, Sicilian Food, Sicilians, Sicily, Taormina (ME) - Isola Bella

The sicilian cuisine is quite simple to make because you feel the taste of each ingredient. You will notice that here in Sicily they do not use much spices. A great restaurant is one that is capable to combine the first and second course in the same pan, like this one where we ordered grilled prawns and with the apetizers leftovers they made a lovely tagliatelle called Diavola by adding fresh chilli and fresh pasta. With a light red wine this was a perfect dinner. Personally I like the Cucina Povera as they call it here, translated The Poor Kitchen, easy dishes made of what the soil and sea brings; contains much fish, beans and vegetables, wine and olive oil. It is also the famous Healthy Mediterranean Diet.

Svenska

Det sicilianska k?ket ?r ganska enkelt att g?ra eftersom du k?nner smaken av varje ingrediens. Du kommer m?rka att h?r p? Sicilien anv?nder de inte mycket kryddor. En bra restaurang ?r en som kan kombinera den f?rsta och andra r?tten i samma gryta, som den h?r d?r vi best?llde grillade r?kor och med apetizers rester gjorde de en h?rlig tagliatelle kallad Diavola genom att l?gga till f?rsk chilli och f?rsk pasta. Med ett l?ttare r?tt vin var det h?r en perfekt middag. Personligen tycker jag om Cucina Povera som de kallar det h?r, ?versatt Det Fattiga K?ket, enkla r?tter av vad jorden och havet ger; inneh?ller mycket fisk, b?nor och gr?nsaker, vin och olivolja. Det ?r ocks? den ber?mda h?lsosamma Medelhavsdieten.

Restaurant: Tiramisu, Taormina. By Porta Catania, the south entrance.

Are Sicilians religious?

By Siljehagen

On February 1, 2018

In Jojo in Sicily, Sicilians, Sicily

In public opinion I live in a very religious area, a catholic area. But in real life, are sicilians religious? My immediate reaction is No! By heart no, but by presence yes. This meaning that most people here are very much involved with church activities by masses, choir singing, sports, christmas activities like Presepe Vivente (living Joseph, Maria and bady Jesus in stable), spreading palm leaves for Easter and so on. Church is also a meeting point for many house wives and if you get married most people still chooses church wedding by tradition, even if civil marriages are increasing. Children are baptized because it is still something you do. Catholism is teached at school and in every public office, post, police, municipalities, hospitals ecc, you find a cross. People even have pictures of saints in their car to protect them in traffic, Padre Pio, but then you see children jump in the car, using no seat belts, in 140 km/hour. You find statues of Holy Mary in many house corners and walls and every city celebrates its own saint.

By heart sicilians are not in general religious. Most do not follow Jesus foot steps and cities like Catania is rated as a city where most people cheat on their partner…in whole Italy. I have in ten years met one true catholic who was also a priest. He had the respect for atheists and was very frank on church traditions admitting that many of them are just traditions and nothing to do with christianity. But he lived as much as he could following Jesus foot steps. He seemed to have peace in his heart and was an amazing person. By personal experience I have met people who uses religion when it suits them, in my case often to shame me. Women who shame me not being married and having kids (often the older generation) or when religious days come and most end in euphoria they often ask How I can cope with life not being part of these traditions, it must be lonely? Some even shaming me having my family far away.

There are som religious expressions used in life happenings like Santo Cielo! = Oh My God! that with direct translation would be Holy Sky!, or Porca Eva! / Porco Guida! = God Damn! that with direct translation is Shitty Eva! / Shitty Judas!, meaning when something is really bad and by Bible stories we learn that Eva deceived Adam and Judas deceived Jesus.

Just because Sicily is known to be a religious area does not mean you find more morality here or honesty. I would say it is the opposite. Sicily still has very much Omerta and things You Do Not Talk About. Cheating, lying, frauds, violence is a much present here as anywhere else. Religion seems to be for many a gate-way to have in reserve if…. Things are though changing fast in Italy as the church complains that they have fever priests and churches are empty (article 28 Marzo 2017, in italian) . Most people around me whispers they are atheists or fascinated bu buddism, but go to church the most important days to please their mother or for the beautiful traditions. Generation gap.

Svenska

I den allm?nna opinionen bor jag i ett mycket religi?st omr?de, ett katolskt omr?de. Men i verkligheten ?r sicilianare religi?sa? Min omedelbara reaktion ?r Nej! Av hj?rtat nej, men genom n?rvaro ja. Det inneb?r att de flesta m?nniskor h?r ?r mycket engagerade i kyrkans aktiviteter med m?ssor, k?rs?ng, sport, julaktiviteter som Presepe Vivente (levande Josef, Maria och Baby Jesus i stall), sprida palmblad till p?sk och s? vidare. Kyrkan ?r ocks? en m?tesplats f?r m?nga hemmafruar och om du gifter dig v?ljer de flesta fortfarande kyrkbr?llop enligt tradition, ?ven om de civila ?ktenskapen ?kar. Barn d?ps f?r att det fortfarande ?r n?got du g?r. Katolismen l?rs i skolan och i alla offentliga lokaler, post, polis, kommuner, sjukhus ecc hittar du ett kors. M?nniskor har ?ven bilder av helgon i sin bil f?r att skydda dem i trafiken, Padre Pio, men sen ser du att barn hoppar i bilen, utan bilb?lten, i 140 km / timmen. Du hittar statyer av Heliga Maria i m?nga hush?rn och v?ggar, och varje stad firar sin egen helgon vilket ofta ?r stadens h?jdpunkt.

I hj?rtat ?r inte sicilianare i allm?nhet religi?sa. De flesta f?ljer inte Jesus fotsteg, och t.ex. Catania ?r rankad som den stad d?r de flesta ?r otrogna mot sin partner … i hela Italien. Jag har under tio ?r tr?ffat en sann katolik som ocks? var pr?st. Han hade respekt f?r ateister och var mycket uppriktig om kyrkans traditioner och medgav att m?nga av dem bara ?r traditioner och inget att g?ra med kristendomen. Men han levde s? mycket som han kunde f?ljandes Jesu fotsteg. Han verkade ha fred i sitt hj?rta och var en fantastisk person. Genom personlig erfarenhet har jag tr?ffat m?nniskor som anv?nder religion n?r det passar dem, i mitt fall ofta f?r att sk?mma mig. Kvinnor som sk?mmer p? mig att jag inte ?r gift och har barn (ofta den ?ldre generationen) eller n?r religi?sa dagar kommer och de flesta hamnar i eufori, fr?gar de ofta hur jag kan hantera livet, inte vara en del av dessa traditioner, det m?ste vara ensamt? N?gra sk?mmer mig ?ven f?r att ha min familj l?ngt borta.

Det finns som religi?sa uttryck som anv?nds i livets h?ndelser som Santo Cielo! = Herregud!, med direkt ?vers?ttning skulle vara Helig Himmel!, eller Porca Eva! / Porco Guida! = Helvetes Fan!, med direkt ?vers?ttning ?r Gris Eva! / Gris Judas!, Vilket betyder n?r n?got ?r riktigt d?ligt, via bibeln ber?ttas att Eva lurade Adam och Judas bedrog Jesus.

Bara f?r att Sicilien ?r k?nt att vara ett religi?st omr?de betyder inte att du hittar mer moral h?r eller ?rlighet. Jag skulle s?ga att det ?r motsatsen. Sicilien har fortfarande mycket Omerta och saker du inte pratar om. Fusk, l?gn, bedr?geri, v?ld ?r lika mycket n?rvarande h?r som n?gon annanstans. Religion verkar vara f?r m?nga en gate-way att ha i reserv om …. Saker f?r?ndras ?nd? snabbt i Italien, eftersom kyrkan klagar p? att de har f?rre pr?ster och kyrkorna ?r tomma (artikel 28 Marzo 2017, p? italienska). De flesta runt omkring mig viskar att de ?r ateister eller fascinerade av buddism, men g?r till kyrkan de viktigaste dagarna f?r att behaga sin mamma eller f?r de vackra traditionerna. Generationsgap.

Back in Sicily – first Stop at Teapot Cafe

By Siljehagen

On January 4, 2018

In Catania (CT), Jojo in Sicily, Living in Sicily, Sicilian Food, Sicilians

Teapot Cafe at Via Liberta in Catania has become my favourite lunch stop when in the city. The place is very cosy and much needed in Catania. Sicilian cafes and restaurants are often quite dull cold places, but this one is a very varm welcome place with good food and service. The menu is short with salads, sandwiches and crepes. Always start lunch with an aperol Spritz while waiting for the order to arrive. If in Catania, stop by!

Svenska

Teapot Cafe p? Via Liberta i Catania har blivit mitt favorit lunchstopp n?r i staden. Platsen ?r mycket mysig och beh?vs i Catania. Sicilianska kaf?er och restauranger ?r ofta ganska tr?kiga kalla platser, men den h?r ?r en mycket varm v?lkommen plats med god mat och service. Menyn ?r kort med sallader, sm?rg?sar och crepes. B?rja alltid lunchen med en aperol Spritz medan du v?ntar p? att best?llningen ska komma. Om i Catania, kila f?rbi!

Saint Petersburg ballet visited Catania * Nutcracker *

By Siljehagen

On December 9, 2017

In Catania (CT), Jojo in Sicily, Living in Sicily, Sicily

Catania has become quite of a cultural city and when the Saint Petersburg ballet had a performance yesterday with the famous Nutcracker, we were of course there. World premiere of The Nutcracker took place at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg on December, 18, 1892. It was not an immediate success but in 1919 choreographer Alexander Gorsky staged a new version of The Nutcracker with different scenario, roles and other dance order. The first performance of The Nutcracker outside Russia took place in England in 1934.

Svenska

Catania har blivit en ganska kulturell stad och n?r Sankt Petersburg-balletten hade en f?rest?llning ig?r med den ber?mda N?tkn?pparen, var vi f?rst?s d?r. V?rldspremi?ren med N?tkn?pparen ?gde rum vid Mariinsky-teatern i St Petersburg den 18 december 1892. Det var inte en omedelbar framg?ng men 1919 arrangerade koreografen Alexander Gorsky en ny version av N?tkn?pparen med olika scenarier, roller och annan dansordning . Den f?rsta prestationen av N?tkn?pparen utanf?r Ryssland ?gde rum i England 1934.

The dancers are graduated from one of the world’s leading ballet companies, The Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, established in 1738.

Dansarna ?r utbildade i ett av v?rldens ledande ballettf?retag, The Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, som grundades 1738.

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is written in 1816 by German author ETA Hoffman, in which young Marie Stahlbaum’s favorite Christmas toy, the Nutcracker, comes alive and after defeating the evil Mouse King in battle, whisks her away to a magical kingdom populated by dolls. In 1892, the Russian composer Tchaikovsky adapted the story into the ballet The Nutcracker.

N?tkn?pparen och Muskungen ?r skriven 1816 av den tyska f?rfattaren ETA Hoffman, d?r unga Marie Stahlbaums favoritjulleksak, N?tkn?pparen, blir till liv och efter att ha besegrat den onda Muskungen i strid, skickas hon bort till ett magiskt land som befolkas av dockor. ?r 1892 anpassade den ryska komposit?ren Tchaikovsky historien till baletten N?tkn?pparen.

Sicilyfood feastboar meet*cuzzola paninis

By Siljehagen

On December 7, 2017

In Antillo (ME), Jojo in Sicily, Living in Sicily, Sicilian Food, Sicilians, Sicily

In Sicily food is the center part of peoples lives. While they eat, they talk about what they will eat the next meal, what they eat yesterday, last christmas, their mothers last birthday party, coming christmas, nephews baptism and so on….

Food fiests are arranged all over the island and there is a feast somewhere almost every week. Many of them has become way commercial, but there are many local small feasts around where you can eat local delicacies. We visited a small village called Antillo, a hidden mountain village north of Etna in Messina province. So small that even the road gets tiny. Here the had the annual boar meat feast for only two days. Everything made in original style, even with wooden ovens.

Svenska

P? Sicilien ?r maten den centrala delen av m?nniskornas liv. Medan de ?ter talar de om vad de ska ?ta n?sta m?ltid, vad de ?t ig?r, f?rra julen, deras mammors f?rra f?delsedagsfest, kommande jul, bror- eller systersonens dop och s? vidare ….

Matfester arrangeras ?ver hela ?n och det finns en fest n?gonstans n?stan varje vecka. M?nga av dem har blivit v?ldigt kommersiella, men det finns m?nga lokala sm? fester runt d?r du kan ?ta lokala delikatesser. Vi bes?kte en liten by som heter Antillo, en dold bergsby norr om Etna i Messina provinsen. S? liten att ?ven v?gen blir liten. H?r hade den ?rliga vildsvink?ttfesten i endast tv? dagar. Allt gjord i originalstil, ?ven med tr?eldade ugnar.

Here with local boar meat just from the butcher and a glass of local made wine for 50 cents.

H?r med lokalt vildsvinsk?tt direkt fr?n slaktaren och ett glas lokaltillverkat vin f?r 50 cent.

The local bread is called Cuzzola. A very light bread where basic ingredients are local wheat, olive oil, salt… can not be found anywhere else in Sicily. Of course baked in old style owens with wood fire. In Sicily the variety of bread changes in each region and also the color. In this area it is more white, in Ragusa area more yellow. We decided to eat a Cuzzola sandwich for dinner, price was just two euro. Filled with grilled sweet pepper, olive oil and boar sausage. They also offer complete menus with first dish pasta, second dish grilled, wine and water for only ten euro.

Det lokala br?det heter Cuzzola. Ett mycket l?tt br?d d?r grundl?ggande ingredienserna ?r lokalvete, olivolja, salt … kan inte hittas n?gon annanstans p? Sicilien. Naturligtvis bakas i gammal stil med vedeldade ugnar. P? Sicilien varierar sorten av br?d i varje region och ?ven f?rgen. I detta omr?de ?r br?det mer vit, i Ragusa-omr?det mer gult. Vi best?mde oss f?r att ?ta en Cuzzola sm?rg?s till middag, priset var bara tv? euro. Fylld med grillad paprika, olivolja och vildsvin. De erbjuder ocks? kompletta menyer med f?rsta matr?tt pasta, andra matr?tt grillat, vin och vatten f?r endast tio euro.

Wine Tasting Wine Harvest Wine Exhibitions Wine Fiest

By Siljehagen

On September 28, 2017

In Jojo in Sicily, Living in Sicily, Passopisciaro (ME), Sicilian Food, Sicilians, Sicily

Now Sicily is in wine grape harvest time, Vendemmia, and wine fiests are organized all over the island. In small cosy villages local vineyards, big and small, present their own production. Last year we went to Milo wine fiest and this year we went to Passopisciaro wine fiest where your entrance ticket was a five euro wine glass. Then you could cruise among the wine tables and taste all you like. Over 30 wineries presented their production.

Svenska

Nu ?r Sicilien i vindruvornas sk?rdestid, Vendemmia, och vinfester organiseras ?ver hela ?n. I sm?, mysiga byar presenterar lokala vinodlingar, stora som sm?, sin egna produktion. F?rra ?ret ?kte vi till vinfesten i Milo och i ?r valde vi festen i Passopisciaro vinfest d?r din entr?biljett var ett fem-glas vinglas. D? kan du kryssa bland vinborden och smaka allt du vill. ?ver 30 ving?rdar presenterade sina viner.

When in Sicily – You drive Sicily

By Siljehagen

On September 17, 2017

In Jojo in Sicily, Sicilians, Sicily

And the fires continues in Sicily

By Siljehagen

On August 13, 2017

In Cefalu (PA), Giardini-Naxos (ME), Jojo in Sicily, Letojanni (ME), Living in Sicily, Messina (ME), Ragusa (RG), Sicilians, Sicily

We have had many fires in Sicily this year, more than last year and the fires are lit by locals; Messina, Ragusa, Taormina, Giardini-Naxos, San Vito Lo Capo and so on. So why do the locals want to burn their own land? Yes, it has to do with some typical local thinking “If I start some fires, I get more money in my paycheck”. You look only in to your own home and income, and do not care about other people getting effected by damages, healt issues caused by smoke, putting other peoples lives in danger, damaged properties, ruined businesses, burnt animals and so on. It is the mafia way of thinking.

Active in the tourist industry we follow these fires and the problems closely to see if our guests will be effected and if they need to be evacuated, like this hotel complex in Letojanni / Taormina that is one of the largest on the island had to be evacuated last friday. Reason is the same, locals started a fire just under the hotel. When fire fighters needs to have their contracts renewed, it is the same story we start fires to show the government that our jobs are needed, the locally famous forestale issue.

The fires starts normally the days it is very windy, like last friday the temperatures started to drop from over +40 ?C close to +30 ?C and late morning this fire was started. The wind was very strong and the fire grew very fast.

Italy is the country with most fires by far in the whole Europe and almost all of them are started by humans. Sicilians do not like very much to talk about the issue and say it is just few people doing this, but almost 50 people has been arrested this far and majority of the perpretrators are never found. This does effect also the tourism industry as guests choses other european destinations for their vacation because of these fires. I was personally shocked to see peoples reaction of anger learning to know that foreign media has written about these issues. Wouldn’t one be more worried about all the people who gets effected of these fires?

Last year many parts of Cefalu had to be evacuated because of one of the largest fires in Sicily in a long time, also this started by locals. The area had an immediate drop of a tourist and many local business suffered economically, many went bancrupt.

Article about 15 fire fighters arrested in Ragusa because they have started fires: Firefighters in Sicily accused of starting blazes for cash. For more information please use Google.

Do not be afraid to book your vacation here, Italy has the best crises team in the world, hotels are well prepared and foreign tourist offices are used to handle these issues very well. We have not been effected by any of these fires thanks to good preparation and observation.

Svenska

Vi har haft m?nga br?nder p? Sicilien i ?r, mer ?n f?rra ?ret och br?nderna startas av lokalbefolkningen; Messina, Ragusa, Taormina, Giardini-Naxos, San Vito Lo Capo och s? vidare. S? varf?r vill lokalbefolkningen br?nna deras egna land? Ja, det har att g?ra med ett typiskt lokalt t?nkande Om jag startar br?nder f?r jag mer pengar i min l?necheck. Du ser bara om ditt egen hem och inkomst, och inte bryr sig om att andra m?nniskor p?verkas av skador, orsakar h?lsoproblem p? grund av r?k, s?tter andra m?nniskors liv i fara, skadade fastigheter, f?rst?rda f?retagsverksamheter, br?nda djur och s? vidare. Det ?r mafia s?ttet att t?nka p?.

Som aktiv i turistindustrin f?ljer vi dessa br?nder och problemen n?ra f?r att se om v?ra g?ster kommer att p?verkas och om de ska evakueras, som detta hotelkomples i Letojanni / Taormina, som ?r en av de st?rsta p? ?n, var tvungen att evakueras i fredags. Anledningen ?r densamma, lokalbefolkningen startade en brand precis under hotellet. N?r brandm?nnen har behov av att f? sina kontrakt f?rnyade, ?r det samma sak, vi startar br?nder f?r att visa regeringen att v?ra jobb ?r n?dv?ndiga, det lokala ber?mda forestale problemet.

Br?nderna b?rjar normalt de dagar det ?r v?ldigt bl?sigt, liksom i fredags b?rjade temperaturerna sjunka fr?n ca +40 ? C till n?ra +30 ? C och sent p? morgonen startades elden. Vinden var mycket stark och elden v?xte v?ldigt snabbt.

Italien ?r landet med mest br?nder i Europa, och n?stan alla ?r startade av m?nniskor. Sicilianare gillar inte att prata om problemet och s?ger att det bara ?r f? personer som g?r det h?r, men n?stan 50 personer har arresterats s? l?ngt och majoriteten av mordbr?nnarna hittas aldrig. Detta p?verkar ocks? turistindustrin d? g?ster v?ljer andra europeiska destinationer f?r sin semester p? grund av dessa br?nder. Jag var personligen chockad ?ver att folkets reaktion p? ilska var n?r vissa fick veta att utl?ndska medier har skrivit om dessa br?nder. Vill man inte vara mer bekymrad ?ver alla m?nniskor som p?verkas av dessa br?nder?

F?rra ?ret evakuerades stora delar av Cefalu p? grund av en av de st?rsta br?nderna p? Sicilien under l?ng tid, ?ven denna startades av lokalbefolkningen. Omr?det hade en omedelbar dropp av turister och m?nga lokala f?retag drabbades ekonomiskt, vissa gick i konkurs.

Artikel om 15 brandm?n arresterade i Ragusa f?r att de har startat br?nder: Firefighters in Sicily accused of starting blazes for cash. F?r mer information anv?nd Google.

Var inte r?dd att boka din semester hit, Italien har det b?sta kristeamet i v?rlden, hotelln ?r v?l f?rberedda och utl?ndska turistbyr?er ?r van att hantera dessa problem mycket bra. Vi har inte p?verkats av dessa br?nder tack vare god f?rberedelse och observation.

Birthdays and Private boats – Taormina bays and hills

By Siljehagen

On August 4, 2017

In Giardini-Naxos (ME), Jojo in Sicily, Letojanni (ME), Living in Sicily, Sicilian Food, Sicilians, Sicily, Taormina (ME) - Isola Bella

Instead of a classical birthday invitation at a restaurant it was this time organized as a private boat tour, and may I say that if you have not seen Taormina bays from the sea side, you have still things to see here. It is one of the most beautiful places to rent a boat or yacht to spend your time by the sea. Amazing relaxing time for festivities.

We were out just before sunset to enjoy the amazing sicilian sun go down slowly behind the Etna volcano, crystal clear sea and reflexions towards Taormina, Isola Bella and Giardini Naxos. Organizer was of course Sicily Private Spot. Take with you your favourite champagne and camera. I let the pictures speak for themselves!

Svenska

Ist?llet f?r en klassisk f?delsedagsinbjudan p? restaurang var det den h?r g?ngen organiserad som en privat b?ttur, och kan s?ga att om du inte har sett Taorminabukten fr?n havet, har du fortfarande saker att se h?r. Det ?r en av de vackraste platserna att hyra en b?t eller yacht f?r att spendera din tid vid havet. Underbart avkopplande f?r festiviteter.

Vi var ute strax f?re solnedg?ngen f?r att njuta av den fantastiska sicilianska solen som sakta sj?nk ner bakom vulkanen Etna, kristallklart hav och reflexioner mot Taormina, Isola Bella och Giardini Naxos. Arrang?ren var sj?lvklart Sicily Private Spot. Ta med din favorit champagne och kamera. L?ter bilderna tala f?r sig!