RAVENNAMUSIVA

Giovedi 22 Ottobre.. RAVENNAMUSIVA The Conference starts today at Palazzo Congressi....This is an international confrence and anybody who is anybody in the world of Mosaic Conservation and Restoration - contemproary or anicent is here..It's pouring down rain and the building is difficult to find as the entrance on the building side and is not situated off a main street or piazza but a parking lot! The building is contemporary with a quite non descript exterior. The ground floor ceilings are curved and angled, decorated with a simple mosaic design and follows the architecture of the theatre floor. See pictures above. The theatre itself is typical,seating around 300 persons; comfortable seating, lighting and audio/visual After the welcome address the first lecture is "The Importance of Meditarian Mosaics as dialog between cultures"..the language spoken is Italian, though with the slides and the printed abstracts I can follow along quite well.

RAVENNA

Spent 2 beautiful days in Catania with Francesco and was this close to making the big "borsa" purchase, but didn't! Flight to Bolgona, then train to Ravenna Statzione Centrale..funny I realized I had forgotten the name of my hotel so when the taxi driver asked, I just said I would know it when I see it. I then saw the sign for ARGENTARIO ***….That’s it !! I was not happy with my room as it did not have a window to the street, but to an interior light shaft. They were nice enough to change the room, but the hotel has not been updated at all since my last stay 7 years ago. I went to dinner at the closest restaurant/ pizzeria ‘IL PASSATORE that I remembered from my first visit-had a nice plate of fresh grilled vegetables…then the pizza came..OMG … for 6E I had a pizza that would feed four! I only ate part of it and the yummy topping - mozarella cheese and carciofini!

For some reason this restaurant seems to attract bunches of men. I counted 3 men eating solo and at least 3 tables of 2 or more men...a few women eating by themselves. I guess its just a very comfortable place for everyone. I chatted with one sitting nearby and was asked out to dinner the next night...Leonardo - a government employee.

RAVENNAMUSIVA begins tomorrow - a very short walk from here.

OK. well the photo is neither Ravenna nor Catania, but the view from my hotel in Taormina...more pics in proper order later!

SICILIAN FOOD or what I plan to eat!!

"The culture of fine dining may have been conceived in Sicily when Archestratus, a Greek poet born at Gela in the 4th century B.C., wrote Gastronomia as an ode to the pleasures of the Sicilian table."

Sicily is so full of wonderful food and wine, I hardly know where to start! I 'll start with what's coooking in my kitchen right now..CAPONATA..this is an eggplant appetizer that you will find on every antipasti plate, lunch and dinner. I nerver tire of it and when I see the beautiful purple eggplant or aubergines in the market I make a nice batch. Basically its eggplant that is pan fried with onions, tomoatoes, olives, and vinegar. Its can be served warm or cold, but I prefer it room tempature with some nice crunchy bread. It can also be tossed into some warm pasta, put in an omlette, baked into a meat loaf, in pita bread, or a side dish for many meats...One may find the sweeter version with raisins and pine nuts on the Western coast..See photo.

10 DAYS AND COUNTING

Finishing up preparations for my trip...I have been trying to get as much information as possible about the recent mudslides mostly in Messina (NorthEastern corner) and chekcing the weather daily...funny a recent friend said "By the time you get there it will be sunny in Sicily" I told her I didn't care if it rained..well I don't bud the mudslides and deaths and missing persons is really sad...
In anycase, I will be in Crossville, TN for a tour of the Crossville plant for 3 days, then back to work for 2 days then...leaving on a jet plane...I really must get busy!!

more later...

SICILIA ON MY MIND

Though the tour is not happening as originally scheduled, could I let 12 months go by without a return to Sicily? No way! ..I am now planning a trip in October when I will meet up with my US and Sicilian friends in Taormina for a week, then off to Ravenna for RAVENNAMUSIVA... (musiva is an Italian word and technical term that means the mosaic worker who sets tesserae.)
http://www.ravennamusiva.com/
The conference will present research papers, lectures, workshops etc on ancient mosaic restoration and conservation.
Taking place concurrently in Ravenna is a month-long Mosaic Festival http://www.ravennamosaico.it/. I sogno dei mosaicisti! I promise to bring home information and post pictures.

TOUR UPDATE!... NON C'E

OK, well sad to say, but due to a 'lack of interest"..the Fall Mosaic Tour has been postponed for now..People you do not know what you are missing...:-) Thats OK though, Spring will bring another opportunity and maybe people will be feeling a bit more confident in the economy. I would like to thank IMA, MOSAICARTNOW, SFMOSAIC, for your interest and support in the planning efforts for the trip...check back often for updates!

INVITES GOING OUT and here is yours!!

MOSAICS IN SICILY

SEPT 17th-26th 2009

YOU ARE INVITED!!

Hello friends and fellow mosaicisti! I invite you to join a small group visiting Sicily this fall! I am leading a tour that is focused mostly on mosaics; Because of your interest in mosaics, art/architecture I thought this trip would be of special interest to you. (The secondary focus is eating great food, drinking excellent wines and experiencing the real Sicilian culture!)

We will see some of the world’s most important and magnificent Roman and Byzantine era mosaics in their original settings as they were designed to be seen. Touring at a comfortable pace with plenty of time to relax, we will eat and drink well, but most of all have fun while experiencing the incredible ancient treasures and true culture of Sicily. We wrap up our visit with a brief mosaic course with maestro Ezio Cerruto in the charming town of Modica.

I offer this tour to share with you the history and beauty of mosaics on the enchanting island of Sicily! Scroll down this page for the reservation form and all the details will be sent to you directly....in the mean time, SAVE THE DATE for unforgettable vacation and learning experience! Sincerely hoping you will join me! Anne