August 25, 2011
I was stalking photos in Palazzolo Acreide, a sweet town in the hinterlands of Southeast Sicily, when I spotted a pink coppola in the distance.
I needed a picture of that cap.
I ran after it.
“Scusi, Signore!” I caught up to it as the owner was putting a key in his car door. “Can I take your photo? Put it on my blog?”
He smiled and nodded good-naturedly. Odd that he seemed to know what a blog was–many Sicilians don’t.
I shepherded him away from his car and posed him in front of a blank wall. Snap, snap, snap.
Bella figura! A fine specimen, indeed.
Note the jewel-studded lizard crawling out of the pocket. The bling around his neck? Greek masks, he said. (Just above Palazzolo lies the ancient Greek city of Akrai.)
The man in the pink cap sped away, and I continued stalking photos.
Thirty minutes later, something a little odd happened, and I discovered what this man does for a living. Can you guess his job?
***
Hi Jann, I’m captured with the response,enjoy
Me too. But I was even more surprised to the responses on Part 2 of this story. 🙂
His nails do not look manicured and no fancy key chain, so I’d rule out actor. What are the papers sticking out of his pocket? And what is the lettering on his belt buckle? Sherlock would certainly include those (and the meaning of the gator)in a smart conclusion. I have no idea and await your revelation!
Aysha–you’d be a good detective.. I wish I knew what the belt buckle says… There must be symbolism of some sort.
He looks like my Uncle and Godfather Joe who wore the bling and played a gold plated guitar in the “joints” around Jersey at night. His day job was pressing clothes in the Evan Picone factory in North Bergen. I agree with Rosa, he’s a musician.
I think he is a fisherman because of his tan and his wrinkles…
I agree with Wayne something to do with acting.
He’s in such good shape…maybe he’s a personal trainer or a ballroom dancer or a soccer player, not a yoga teacher.
I wonder: do you reply if I respond in Dutch? Anyway, just write the next blog, I’m too curious! 😉
BTW, very nice pictures, very nice blog and thanks for bringing back holiday memories.
Hi Nicky,
I’m Dutch American and sadly don’t know Dutch :(. (Though it’s on my list of things to learn someday….) Thanks for reading and leaving a comment!
Maybe there’s a connection between the lizard and what this man is doing for a living?? Not that he’s making jewelry, but maybe he’s working with something that has to do with lizards??
Anyway, like it’s said – Italians are the only ones who look good in an outfit like this. I wonder why…?
I think he’s a snazzy chauffeur……un autista Siciliano.
Hmmm I can’t decide if a water hunter, a cemetary guardian or a fortune teller…
🙂 Not quite right, but I love your guesses! I have met water hunters (dowsers) in Sicily, and they’re quite flamboyant!
I’d say he is a butcher.
Do you have a Sicilian butcher who resembles him, Catherine?
Jann, I dare say this handsome gent makes jewelry and if he does, I want an alligator. Or a crocodile. Or whatever that thing is coming out of his pocket! 🙂 Waiting with bated breath for you to reveal the right answer, amica!
Lizard, gecko, whatever!
Madonna mia! K bello..questo uomo! He is hot! I say he’s a musician!
Thanks for commenting, Rosa. LOL.
Wow, he’s soooo attractive….is he one of those bicyclists who are all slim…
well,most of them? Is he available?
Mary, sorry I can’t tell you if he’s available…
What is the first thing I noticed, aside from the cap and the veryt expensive designer bluejeans?
The man is not wearing any ‘horns.’ Perhaps the only real Sicialian man without them.
How does he deflect malocchio? Or does the alligator do the job?
Well, Henry, for readers who don’t know what malocchio is–it’s the evil eye.
I obviously don’t spend enough time looking at Sicilian men, because I haven’t noticed them wearing horns. I resolve to study them in much greater detail from now on.
Thanks for your comment!
Henry, the masks are considered a powerful symbol against “malocchio” in the South of Italy…
Ciao Pina! Thanks for your comments. That’s really interesting–I didn’t know!
—I think he’s a poet. Beautiful. Intriguing. I want to have a glass of wine with him. x
I’m sure he’d love to!
Actor? Playwright?
Thanks, Wayne. Next post will tell if you’re right.
A baker or a construction worker.
🙂 Funny combo!
I agree with the other comments, an actor! I LOVE his style! I love the lizard and his cap. Great style spotting, my dear!
Yes, he’s got lots of COOL…
Jann
He makes jewelry of course, or he is the mayor..
Are you going to tell us?
Smart guesses! Ha. Yes of course I will tell in a couple days, Aida. Thanks for commenting.
Give a hint. What type of car was he putting his key into?? I was going to say director/producer of some sort, but your question makes me think it may be something unsavory. He is, most definitely, an italian-looking italian man. The style…. the detailing…. Hmmm.
Rosann, I have to say that the car seemed somewhat sporty, but I cannot really remember the exact make… Yes, who but an Italian could pull off those clothes?
ACTOR or something to do with acting
Thanks for this guess, Lucy!
Comedy and tragedy!!!!!!
🙂
He’s got to be an actor…
Check back in a few days, Liz for the “answer.” Thanks for commenting!
You got the full meal deal with this one when you’d only gone in for a cherry soda! I’m afraid to venture a guess on what his occupation might be…
LOL, louciao!
You’ve capture a picture of no ordinary guy. What style, I love the alligator. I’m hoping Part 1 means more of his story! (I can’t stop wondering about the alligator…the guy always has it with him? why?)
Thanks for your comment, Bonnie. The rest of the story coming in a few days.
At first I thought he was a cruise ship crooner, but then, he also look like a hairdresser with a numbers racket on the side.
🙂 You’re way off, Sam.