August 21, 2012
What could be more summertime than stoop sitters?
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August 13, 2012 Meet Debora.
I found Debora Lo Magno at a wedding, exuding cocktail glamour. She has, in spades, that incredible Italianate ability to transform oneself into a work of art.
*** A few weeks later we met at the bar. I didn’t recognize her right away because her real hair flows down her back in waves. *** “I am 23, a stilista, fashion designer,” she says. “I have another year of design school before I look for a job as a designer. I spent a year making this dress, working at night, sewing everything by hand. Including the crystals. They’re Swarovski.” “Swarovski!!!!” Indelicately, I ask what they cost. “The material, the jewels, everything for the dress: around €2,500.” That’s over $3,000. (Not counting labor.) How can a 23-year-old Sicilian woman afford this? “Besides going to design school I have two jobs. Monday through Friday, I work as a secretary for an accountant, staring all day long at a computer screen.” (She crinkles her nose when she tells this.) “On Saturday and Sunday I work at Benetton. And all night I sew my clothes–usually till 3 or 4am.” Giancarlo, her fidanzato, confirms this with a nod of the head and a roll of the eye.  “My nonna, grandmother, was a seamstress. She was my inspiration. I must be courageous. But following my dream is not so easy. People here do not understand me.” We are, after all, in the hinterlands of Sicily. Good luck, Debora! You blow me away! 38% of young people in Sicily cannot find work. Oh, Domenico Dolce, you of D&G fame, son of Sicily, won’t you give this passionate and talented young Sicilian a break? *** Debora’s shoes: handmade in Rome. She tottered for 13 hours on them the night of the wedding resulting in feet so swollen she could barely walk the next day. Debora’s hair: When she showed her hairdresser the dress, he said she needed a very special “do” and came up with this Japanese anime style using synthetic hair extensions. Debora said the faux hair gave her such a headache that she had to pull it out the next day! Debora’s purse: Tied to her wrist with Swarovski gems.
August 8, 2012 There was a whole lot of amore goin’ on in my hot Sicilian village a few Saturday nights ago.
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Many thanks to all of you who enthusiastically entered the contest for Susan Van Allen’s book 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go. The winner is Emalene Renna. Congratulazioni, Emalene! (Please send your address!)
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July 31, 2012 The fabulous Susan Van Allen has updated her 100 Places In Italy Every Woman Should Go, adding budget tips, maps, and online resources to a wonderful list of must-see spots. You can win this book! To have your name tossed into the hat, just drop a comment on this post before midnight on August 3 EST. You can just say hi, or you can tell us what your favorite place is in Italy (or if you’ve never been to Italy, tell us where you wanna go). Or explain why you must have this book. The contest is open to everyone; if your name is picked from the hat, Susan will send the book to you even if you live at the ends of the Earth. Grazie Susan, and complimenti!!!
Advice from Susan Van Allen… Go Solo. Italy is a fantastic place to wander solo, following your very own desires. As Italians are such wonderfully social people, you’ll rarely find yourself feeling lonely….If you are on your own and would like to break up your solo time, log on to Lonely Planet’s Thorntree (www.lonelyplanet.com), CouchSurfing (www.couchsurfing.com) or Connecting Solo Travelers Network (www.cstn.org) to find out who else is around that you could meet up with. Or you could join a group tour that’s focused on an active adventure, sightseeing, or a workshop that focuses on your interests. In other words, “I have no one to go with,” doesn’t have to be an obstacle to your Italian travel dreams. Flirting. There’s a shrink in New York who prescribes a trip to Italy for women who need a boost to their self-esteem. Italian men have mastered the art of flirting—it’s one of the country’s masterpieces. Females of all ages are adored here. Enjoy, without taking it too seriously. It’s all in the spirit of: You are women, we are men. We are alive! And what a fun game we play! If you get harassment rather than flirting, a loud “Vai Via” (”Go Away”) is the age-old stopper, and it usually works. *** PS. Susan is offering a “Golden Week in Tuscany” for women only from November 3-10. Check it out here. *** July 26, 2012 When I first came to Sicily I though it was just plain weird: who ever heard of shoveling ice into your mouth at dawn???? But now I think it’s brilliant. These soporific temperatures demand it. Apparently, Sicily’s Arab conquerors (10th-11th centuries) were the first to blend snowflakes from Mount Etna with sweet fruit juices. Look at all the flavors you can get nowadays! Be sure to pair your breakfast granita with a big fat Sicilian brioscia or two.  Mulberry (gelsi) granita  Prickly pear (fichi d’India) granita  Toasted almond (mandorla) granita  Lemon (limone) granita, my fave  Chocolate (cioccolata) granita with cream and nuts (soooo decadent)  My friend Roberta always mixes things up. Here she ordered almond granita mixed with ice coffee. Did you know you can create your own drinks in Italy and the barista will oblige? (Dipping bread into granita is the normal m.o. of islanders at breakfast.) *** |
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