An 81 year old subscriber, I grew up in Italy; one of the pleasures I had was to visit Sicily in the summertime. One comment: Italians value their siesta especially in the summer, almost above anything else. If you had visited around 6 pm, you probably would have found more signs of life for better or worse
Sounds like you and Elizabeth stepped into a time warp. No city services, e. g., water, sewer, police, fire, make living there a throwback to a long ago past. Narrow, one-way roads make getting to it dangerous. Did you see anyone with a cell phone or even an old telephone? But, on the plus side, it did have a facility for the mentally impaired.
I had heard of the "free houses" in parts of Italy and often have wondered how that scheme for revitalization of a town worked out in the long run. As Bill and Elizabeth point out, obviously not very well! There's nothing free in life worth having!
Wonderfully written chapter in Bill and Elizabeth's "travelogue". Thank you for sharing!
As migration descents through the tunnels of tempo, the latte within the realms of Sicilian warp mountains will unveil a desolate picture of demographic unison that up ends the parliament hierarchy of neo-nutcake espressos.
Fear not the rip-band Harlingen, when eagles collide in the air, the smoke clouds will disperse acid rain in the form of pellets. The building will once again collapses into ash and a porcupine emerges. Sea turtles drink salt water. The crosshair marks the end of the red line, the new leader reeks havoc.
I’ve been away from my haven for a while, like a mouse in the willow, doing work that does not exist 😂, but soon I will return to the dusk of dawn foundation. Where I can properly summon the forces that open the portal of eternity, unless I get struck by lightning on my way back from Atlantis.
I am eager to test and try out a new little piece of Alien technology that’s suppose to activate nature’s spark, like a strand of hair on a butterfly’s wing, the effects of the Z-92WT1 Alien Pin will control the substance.
If it works Star-man, you will surely see the lights in the heavens at night! Keep an eye out! 😂
I'm looking forward to the next installment in this experience, but I suspect that if you stuck around until the evening, as the heat of the day dissipates and the typical Italian social hour rolls around, you would get a better feel for how many people are really left, and perhaps even to meet someone with whom you can converse in one of the languages you understand. On the other hand, your time is limited and it may not be feasible to satisfy your (and my!) curiosity.
Fascinating story. We visited the general area some years ago and found it charming and populated. Perhaps your friends at International Living could investigate the area for U.S. expats looking for undisturbed boltholes? Of course, they would have to be extremely versatile given that there are no services, government or otherwise. What does this mean for the future of Italy? The rest of Europe?
Thanks for sharing. I loved, loved your story! Waiting for the next installment. I have been to Italy but not to that part...Only to the usual tourist places.
"Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)" —Matthew 24:15
I'm pretty sure Jesus was not talking about Troina (??). But he was talking about 70 A.D. The Romans had surrounded Jerusalem, but the Roman General, Titus, did not want to destroy the city. He withdrew. The believers in the city remembered Jesus words, which you quote, and left the city. Titus came back, and you know the rest. If you don't, you can read about it here:
What could God do? What happened was not His first choice. The Pharisees even prayed, 'let His blood be on us and our children.' That prayer was answered. History and prophecies rhyme, so something similar will happen, I believe sooner than later.
So nice to hear how the "other half" or should we call them the abandoned half lives .. funny that the 'RIGHT' amount of people is hard to find either in quantity or quality .. when we arrived in old Sydney town in the 1970's it was still a turn of the century port city with the most beautiful harbor in the world (seriously) but it's age was showing and the population of the "Rats" was growing so we ventured into unknown parts where daily movement wer more suited to horse and buggy although cars/trucks were being used the Pace of life was much slower than most cities ..so 'Pace'
of life obviously was also important .. so why do humans abandon one place for another ..?
A heartfelt thanks, and congratulations, Bill - up there with the likes of Bill Bryson , Paul Theroux or Mark Twain, as far as a travelogue goes, in my opinion. Almost as good, or maybe better, as being there.
An 81 year old subscriber, I grew up in Italy; one of the pleasures I had was to visit Sicily in the summertime. One comment: Italians value their siesta especially in the summer, almost above anything else. If you had visited around 6 pm, you probably would have found more signs of life for better or worse
first thing I learned when traveling through Italy, is NEVER call Sicilians - Italians ! or vice versa!
Sounds like you and Elizabeth stepped into a time warp. No city services, e. g., water, sewer, police, fire, make living there a throwback to a long ago past. Narrow, one-way roads make getting to it dangerous. Did you see anyone with a cell phone or even an old telephone? But, on the plus side, it did have a facility for the mentally impaired.
I had heard of the "free houses" in parts of Italy and often have wondered how that scheme for revitalization of a town worked out in the long run. As Bill and Elizabeth point out, obviously not very well! There's nothing free in life worth having!
Wonderfully written chapter in Bill and Elizabeth's "travelogue". Thank you for sharing!
Buon Pomeriggio,
As migration descents through the tunnels of tempo, the latte within the realms of Sicilian warp mountains will unveil a desolate picture of demographic unison that up ends the parliament hierarchy of neo-nutcake espressos.
Fear not the rip-band Harlingen, when eagles collide in the air, the smoke clouds will disperse acid rain in the form of pellets. The building will once again collapses into ash and a porcupine emerges. Sea turtles drink salt water. The crosshair marks the end of the red line, the new leader reeks havoc.
Slowly nodding reverently over here Mr. Gypt...
I’ve been away from my haven for a while, like a mouse in the willow, doing work that does not exist 😂, but soon I will return to the dusk of dawn foundation. Where I can properly summon the forces that open the portal of eternity, unless I get struck by lightning on my way back from Atlantis.
I am eager to test and try out a new little piece of Alien technology that’s suppose to activate nature’s spark, like a strand of hair on a butterfly’s wing, the effects of the Z-92WT1 Alien Pin will control the substance.
If it works Star-man, you will surely see the lights in the heavens at night! Keep an eye out! 😂
LOL!!!
THE MONOLITH!!!
Dave Bowman:
You see, something's going to happen. You must leave.
Heywood Floyd:
What? What's going to happen?
Dave Bowman:
Something wonderful.
Heywood Floyd:
What?
Dave Bowman:
I understand how you feel. You see, it's all very clear to me now. The whole thing. It's wonderful.
(Space Odyssey)
😂
ES: I think I saw it!
I'm looking forward to the next installment in this experience, but I suspect that if you stuck around until the evening, as the heat of the day dissipates and the typical Italian social hour rolls around, you would get a better feel for how many people are really left, and perhaps even to meet someone with whom you can converse in one of the languages you understand. On the other hand, your time is limited and it may not be feasible to satisfy your (and my!) curiosity.
Fascinating story. We visited the general area some years ago and found it charming and populated. Perhaps your friends at International Living could investigate the area for U.S. expats looking for undisturbed boltholes? Of course, they would have to be extremely versatile given that there are no services, government or otherwise. What does this mean for the future of Italy? The rest of Europe?
So Bill, Did you buy the entire town?
Thanks for sharing. I loved, loved your story! Waiting for the next installment. I have been to Italy but not to that part...Only to the usual tourist places.
"Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)" —Matthew 24:15
I'm pretty sure Jesus was not talking about Troina (??). But he was talking about 70 A.D. The Romans had surrounded Jerusalem, but the Roman General, Titus, did not want to destroy the city. He withdrew. The believers in the city remembered Jesus words, which you quote, and left the city. Titus came back, and you know the rest. If you don't, you can read about it here:
http://www.destructionofjerusalem.com
What could God do? What happened was not His first choice. The Pharisees even prayed, 'let His blood be on us and our children.' That prayer was answered. History and prophecies rhyme, so something similar will happen, I believe sooner than later.
So nice to hear how the "other half" or should we call them the abandoned half lives .. funny that the 'RIGHT' amount of people is hard to find either in quantity or quality .. when we arrived in old Sydney town in the 1970's it was still a turn of the century port city with the most beautiful harbor in the world (seriously) but it's age was showing and the population of the "Rats" was growing so we ventured into unknown parts where daily movement wer more suited to horse and buggy although cars/trucks were being used the Pace of life was much slower than most cities ..so 'Pace'
of life obviously was also important .. so why do humans abandon one place for another ..?
A heartfelt thanks, and congratulations, Bill - up there with the likes of Bill Bryson , Paul Theroux or Mark Twain, as far as a travelogue goes, in my opinion. Almost as good, or maybe better, as being there.
The same in the cities in the USA and many small towns, now.