LOVE STORIES - SALVATORE

Otherwise known at Toto`....tall..slender...steel blue eyes, but not cold steel-warm steel.. matching glasses frames....looks a bit nerdy, but in a charming nerdish way....gangly...all arms and legs. Always moving, moving outward, moving towards something, not sure what. He seems a bit hesitant and defers to me mostly. .the hands of an accountant..in fact he is..knows the law and contracts. Lives in Piazza Armerina, ltogether with his brother and parents...wants to break out and live a new and exciting life...is searching for the vehicle..wants a family and kids of his own. A joker, a clown, wants to be in all the pictures, ready to go anwhere, do anything. Has had to mend his broken heart, still has the scars.

LOVE STORIES - SEBASTIANO

The first thing you might notice about Sebastiano (or Seby) is that he is not so tall, but elegant, yes, sophisticated and dresses to kill...in the Italian manner that American men rarely can pull off, occhi scuri, capelli scuri... fine, expressive and sensitive hands. Hands of a priest...what does that mean? you ask...Puo' fare il sacramento....chess trophies decorate his modern yet cozy, bachelor pad in Taormina, full of mood lighting, contrasting textures and warm accents. He is independent, runs a successful business with his partner Alessandro, friends for years! ...ready to laugh and play, kind and sensitive to the needs of others (mostly) ....drives seriously, is 100% confident calm and relaxed. I allways feel safe and secure with him..He takes the reins, makes decisions, moves toward warmth and closeness.

CEFALU' - FINITO

One last dinner as a group, a few drinks at La Galleria bar tonight then the last morning; un caffe e cornetto (vuoto!) and a last lunch at the Pizzaria on the lungomare...the last studio day was spent frantically trying to finish, then I thought the work will be better if I don't rush, and so what that I did not complete it in Cefalu'?. The studio is cleaned, but will never be the same as there is no doubt countless shards of colorful glass smalti throughout...no matter, next year there will be even more. The final crit by Martin was helpful though could have been more critical...ie he gave lots of positive comments, but not many suggestions for improvement. I saw the whole group off in the afternoon then a much needed nap, some interntet time and finished packing. Thursday I was up very early for a last caffe e cornetto and a hike up to La rocca and to see the Temple of Diana...I ran into Massimo (from the Alimentari) and he insisted I join him for another caffe..very handsome, really friendly and with long curly eyelashes!! So 1/2 hour of virtual vertical climbing, some steps cut into the rocks, I am on top of La Rocca with the most spectaclar view of the bay with a 3-masted ship, a birds eye view of Cefalu' and the crystal clear waters below..the sun was just cresting over the top of the rock. It was peacful and perfectly quiet other than the birds chirpping...a perfect addio to Cefalu'.....back down, cab to the train station.. .Cefalu' to Messina, Messina to Taromina and... Sebastiano Alibrandi :-)

(see SICILIAN LOVE STORIES)

LUNEDI

ok, so my plan to post regularly is impossible and not due to the massive amounts of Nero'd'Avola we have a lunch and dinner...Saturday a field trip to Villa Romano del Casale...much of it was closed due to restoration...and you don't want to get me started on the method..Mio Dio!! It was good to see them again in anycase and just as I passed the ticket booth a call from Toto'..what timing..he came by and chatted a bit..then recommended a fabulous restaurant in Piazza Armerina...Garibaldi's..the entire group plus our driver had an incredible meal and truly as good as it gets! More about Toto' later....OK, back to Cefalu' through the center of Sicily and the amazing rock formations that seem a mile high...via viadotti and countless gallerie (Tunnels) to a huge storm on the sea that had waves crashing against the rocks ..think Maverick's surf spot! I was able to watch the storm from my apartment window that overlooks the sea...and saw the waves take away most of 2 dining decks! A spectacular storm without any rain, thunder or lightening...just the roiling waves...yesterday was a studio day and we all worked hard..then to Peters apt for a nice lunch of prosciutto and melone and penne arabiata..do I need to mention the wine??
back to studio then obligatory gelato e caffe..After dinner we played Martin's word game (an Anagram\Scrabble combination he made up) It was rumoured that no one had beat him before...but I did!! poor bruised ego...but he recovered and vowed a play off tonight.I won with the word "yonic"...yeah, go look it up. :-) Today is a field trip to Palermo,to see Cappella Palatina and Morganata..I stayed back to work on my mosaic as I have seen the sights a couple of times and have so much left to do ...tomorrow is the last workshop day, and we will finish up, have a final crit, a group of students tour the studio plus a visit from the Mayor! After this I am on to Taormina for a meet up with Sebastiano....and of course the famous architect...Francesco Cavallaro..ok ciao for now..and i promise,,pics soon!

una pausa

and an update...By the time I arrived in Palermo, I was dead tired, slightly wrinkled but very excited and met Sato and Kammalish of Australia while boarding the flight from Rome to Palermo..Annette found us and managed to get us to Cefalu' and into our apartments with about 5 minutes before our first dinner meeting at Piazza Duomo.....today is day 3.. have already had 1 day or workshop, 1 day excursion to Monreale and today is our 2nd workshop and lecture. The food and wine has been coming fast and furious.....never a hungry moment...am missing the "I'm hungry feeling" ..Tonight is Sicilian night at a local farmhouse...should be very interesting...The workshp is very intense and Martin is paying close attention to our work and providing good guidance and direction to all. While in studio we are being interrupted by a constant flow of the curious...due to the the sign out front reading "Mosaic workshop". I have been taking losts of pics and will post photos later....am enjoying immensely my new Canon Rebel XT....OK gotta run have lots to do on my mosaic before we leave.I am using some titanium tesserae from Murano.. really nice....ciao....apresto.