February 9, 2012
He was sitting in the piazza in quaint little Monterosso Almo, Southeast Sicily, out in front of a bar.
I like your beret. Did you get that in France?
He pulled it off his head to study it, revealing a thick mop of hair the color of sheep’s wool.
No, no. It is from Siena.
Siena?
Si. Siena, Siena, he muttered. Tanti anni fa. So long ago.
Ah! (I could think of nothing better to say.)
The man got very quiet and a faraway look came into his eye.
I slipped into the bar for a coffee. When I came out, his eyes were still on the horizon and his cigarette unlit.
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Monterosso Almo (the lower part of town)
Jann, that faraway look must mean that Siena holds a dear place in his heart. Or perhaps someone who lives there? You’ve captured his nostalgia wonderfully! And those eyes! So haunting!
Ciao Bella–yup, “haunting” is a good word for them. Thanks for your comment. xxxx
I picture him remembering a long lost love and wandering Siena’s narrow roads thinking of her face….. her touch. Your call took him back there. AHHH
Rosann, you sound like such a romantic soul! xxxxx
my father used have that look when he used to talk about Sicily at the kitchen table like all of a sudden it was right in front of him!
Oh, my, Lucy–I’ve heard this story from other people, about their parents who missed Sicily soooo much after they emigrated.
I wonder what a Sicilian was doing in Siena which is one of my favorite cities in Italy. I studied there many, many years ago and love it. To me it is more beautiful than Firenze. And I love the pici. Maybe he was remembering the pici.
You were so lucky to have studied in Siena, Catherine. I’ve only had the pleasure of 2 days trips there, and that’s not nearly long enough to get its flavor. What are the pici, please?????
Pici are the most wonderful homemade spaghetti similar in size to bucatini and only found in or near Siena. You will never find them as far away as Firenze. When I am in that part of the world I eat them every day! You can buy some artigianal pici there but not the same as the fresh ones. Of course, they, like bucatini, are very messy to eat and you are guaranteed spots on your shirt especially if it is white.
Thanks for the tip–pici sound wonderful! So many different kinds of pasta in Italy–quite amazing–I’m still not even familiar with all the varieties in Sicily!
Pici remind me a bit of busiate from Trapani but they are not curly.
Sitting here planning my trip to your island and you give me another reason to be bursting with excitement (and another possible stop). Lovely picture of the man. Thanks.
How fun! When and where exactly do you plan to go, Bonnie????
Storyteller, Photographer a sublime combination. I too drifted away into a dream of what could have been. Beautiful!
Thank you so much, Liana Sofia. Dreams of “what could have been”–those are always poignant….
Ciao Jann,
Maybe he’s remembering the young signorina who gave him the beret all those years ago….
I think that’s a real good guess, Maria!
–He is Lovely,
And you captured the soul inside his eyes, Jann.
Xxxx
He has gorgeous eyes, doesn’t he? Thanks, Kim.
Oddio! Jann, I just had a thought….that I’m going to be that man one day. Maybe we all are. Maybe he’s lucky to have such memories….I like the way you see the world. Jx
Janine, yes, I thought of your lovely post on Siena. The town seems to have an odd effect on folks!
Janine, where is your post about Siena? I would love to read it.
Catherine,
In case Janine doesn’t see your comment, here’s the link to her post.
http://destinationumbria.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/siena-girl/
Thanks, Jann but I actually found her by clicking on her name on your blog which took me right there. I enjoyed her site.