Seven Days of Sicily - Day 6 - The Sea
I appreciate the majesty of the Hudson River and the cool blues of a lake in Maine but I’m a sea/ocean person.It’s probably because I’ve spent the majority of my life living on the East and West Coasts of the United States and during the summer my family went to the Caribbean to see my grandparents. Even if I didn’t go to the ocean often, when I lived in Manhattan the beach was a summer situation only, I needed to know that it was close by.Once I moved to Los Angeles, I had a car again. On Sundays I would load up my LL Bean tote bag with scripts for the infamous weekend read and head to El Matador Beach in Malibu. Working on Sundays wasn't so bad with a view of the Pacific Ocean.Sicily, Italy’s largest region, has 992 miles of coastline surrounded by the Tyrrhenian, Mediterranean, and Ionian seas.Sunrise. Ortigia. The sea was a block away from my apartment.
So were these rocks. Erica’s five year-old daughter asked me if I was going to jump in too. I told her I didn’t swim. She’s a great swimmer and was perplexed by my answer.
Ortigia. Early morning swimmers.
Siracusa. Three small trees on a cliff spotted during an early morning jog.
Mt. Etna. View from the Monaci della Terra Nere boutique hotel on a cloudy morning.
Salina. View of Stromboli.
Salina. On the mountain near the village of Pollara.
Salina. The San Lorenzo church in Malfa.
Photos: Me and my iPhone
Seven Day of Sicily - Day 5 - Ceramics
Sicily is known for its hand painted pottery.Like the cuisine, each region has it's own style. I have to ask Erica where she bought her octopus plate. I think it was somewhere near Cefalù.As I have stated before, I have no more room in my apartment, so I was only able to buy a few small bowls.I used one of the them in the photos that Gina took of the terrace project I worked on.
The larger blue and white bowl and the little eggshell one (for salt or jam) were bought at a small workshop located right on my street. Ceramiche Artiginali DoLù, Via Larga, 7 Ortigia +39 0931 449451
The other bowls were bought at a tiny store on the island of Salina. It was located on the main street in Malfa. The owners told me Dolce & Gabbana bought quite a few pieces from them. You can see the influence in their S/S 2013 collection.
Speaking of that collection, please note my fellow Americans that the black versions of these kings and queens are not the same thing as Mammy imagery from America. Context is important when looking through our very specific American lens of a different culture, history, and country. I was annoyed that their runaway (like most) had no diversity.I say this as someone who gave Gladys Knight the side-eye when she became a spokeswoman for Aunt Jemina back in the day. I didn't care that AJ's handkerchief was replaced with a relaxer. I knew that context of that brand.
Taken from the terrace of the Metropole Hotel, Taormina, Sicily.
Photos Dolce and Gabbana: Fashionista Other photos. Me and my iPhone
Dolce Far Niente (The Sweetness of Doing Nothing).
I wish I knew I how to do this.Trust me, this is not a humblebrag. You know when you ask someone how they're doing and they reply, "BUSY!"? Then they proceed to talk for twenty minutes about how busy they are?I used to do the BUSY thing all the time when I lived in Los Angeles. I broke out of that habit after living here a few years. When Italians ask, "how are you?", they really want to know. It's a conversation starter, not an opportunity to brag about how much work you do. Nobody wants to hear that mess unless you are at a work conference or something.While I have calmed down a bit since my big move, I still find myself feeling guilty for not working all the time. I know there are people who never stop. I did that during my Hollywood years but had nothing to show for it other than missed weddings back east, stress, and debt.So I know I wasn't healthy or happy during that time yet August in Rome continues to freak me out. This week my vendors are closing up for the summer. There is nothing I can do regarding deliveries, invoices, my projects, etc.Last year when I went to Salina, I had a view like this,
but I was constantly checking my emails and on the phone with my clients. However, that was in June. August is another story.In August I'm forced to slow down so why can't I just chill the heck out without feeling guilty about it? One of my favorite designers, Erin Gates of ELEMENTS OF STYLE, wrote a fantastic POST about the pressure we Americans put on ourselves to do it all.It's madness. I told myself that this year would be different. It's not. It's only the 6th and instead of reveling in the summer, I want September to get here already.My local caffe and many of my favorite restaurants are shutting down this week. Only the places catering to tourists will be opened. Most of my friends are gone and the rest are leaving next week. Tumbleweeds will roll down Lungotevere.I should try to follow my dad's example. He was an incredibly hard worker but he also knew how to relax. He truly appreciated the little vacation and down time he had. My mom also worked hard but NEVER relaxed. Even on her days off from work she was going, going, going. I used to think I was a combination of the two but no, I'm more like my mom. There's always something that must be done.I have my own company. You'd think I would be able to give myself a break and/or vacation. No, instead I think if don't burn the candle at both ends I won't be able to succeed, which means I won't be able to pay my rent, therefore I will end up living under the Ponte Sisto bridge.Okay, this summer I am going to break the cycle, dammit! I must do it for my mental, physical, and creative health.We'll see how the rest of the year shapes up as I start my quest to partake in the fine Italian tradition of Dolce Far Niente.Any suggestions?
Guest Blogging at Browsing Italy about Salina, Sicily
The lovely Diana asked me if I could write about my trip to the island of Salina for her "Show and Tell" series on her blog Browsing Italy.My post is HERE.
I had a great time in Salina. The minute the ferry pulled into Salina's port, I forgot about the long journey to get there. It's a beautiful island.Thanks, Diana!
Snapshots - Salina, Sicily
It took me forever to get to Salina.I took a car (at 5:00 a.m.) to the airport to fly to Palermo, a taxi from the Palermo airport to the central train station, the train from Palermo to Milazzo, a ferry from Milazzo to Lipari, a ferry from Lipari to Salina.Once I arrived, I understood why so many of my Italian friends schlep from Rome, Milan, etc. to visit the Aeolian islands. Stunning.Salina is surprisingly green for a volcanic island, tiny (population 2,000), and there was a constant breeze. The food was delicious and folks knew how to make a very good cocktail.It was my first trip to any island in Italy. That's bananas. I'm an island person. I was born on the island of Manhattan and my parents are from St. Martin.I cannot wait to return.
Weekend Inspiration - A Dip In The Pool - Salina, Sicily
Just as I predicted, only a few weeks after everyone and their mother was complaining about the cold wet weather, summer arrived with a vengeance.It's outrageously hot in Rome thanks to winds blowing in from Africa. It's no joke people, and it's only mid-June. Oh Dio.Last weekend I finally made it to Sicily. I went to the tiny island of Salina. The island is gorgeous and the weather was perfect.I spent at lot of time here:
This weekend instead of looking out at Stromboli and Panarea poolside, I will be sticking my head in the freezer and thinking cool thoughts.Buon weekend!
Weekend Inspiration - Get Lucky
No one really knows what makes a song THE song of the summer.Is it the timing, the melody, the lyrics, sheer luck, or a combination of all these things?One thing we know for sure is you cannot create "the song of the summer." It just happens.Pop culture, especially music, is so fragmented. The song of the summer cuts across genre lines.This year's song of the summer, is Daft Punk's "Get Lucky."The first time I heard this track it made me feel all the feelings.It's contemporary mixed with a disco-vibe. It sounded a little like a classic from the band CHIC. I was not surprised to read that the very talented Nile Rogers was one of the producers.Pharell is also a producer on the song. What a summer he's having. Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" (with a Marvin Gaye sample) is also a monster summer hit.I've just arrived in Salina and have heard this song all over the island. When I hear it in the future it will always remind me of Summer 2013 on a beautiful Italian island.Here is the male model version from the CFDA's. Unfortunately, it's not a walk off. I would like to see a gentleman wear an outfit from Thom Browne's Amish/Hasidic collection off the runway, including the hat.[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-22tSs8BP0&w=560&h=315]Someone did a '70s Soul Train line mash up. The dude at 0:31 is too cool for school. Love it. The fashion is amazing. Some of these dresses you could wear now.If this doesn't make you move, call your doctor, you might be dead.Buon weekend a tutti![youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeEQDtk63H4&w=420&h=315]