#baz standee

[bookish-bogwitch]

Hello! I’m working hard on Basil Pitch’s Diary and decided to hop a plane and explore Baz’s roots in Sicily. Join us for Part 1 of

Boyo in the Old Country

Sicily is not all dusty mountain towns and fishing villages. Today Baz enjoyed some shopping in the vibrant Ragusa Superiore.

He walked its boulevards

And leafy side streets

But his favorite was the view of Ragusa Ibla, a “baroque city on ancient foundations, with unique medieval [sigh] yes, Snow, we can get another granita.”

Now, after a long day of sightseeing, Baz is ready to curl up with some local fruit and a good book.

A thousand thanks to my sister in law and traveling companion, to whom I have explained nothing, but who has unquestioningly supported the mission to photograph “your little man.”

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

[bookish-bogwitch]

Boyo in the Old Country, Part 2

Part 1

Today Baz explored some of the historic towns of southeast Sicily. First he stopped in Modica, where some of the first chocolate was made in Europe after cocoa beans started being imported from the New World. The town is still full of chocolate factories, and Baz enjoyed a literal melted candy bar before checking out the town.

Baz was bummed that the Warhol exhibit didn’t open until later in the day, but the Baroque cathedral was an acceptable substitute.

Next Baz visited Scicli, where people have been digging caves out of the soft volcanic rock for centuries, and continued living in them until the 1950s. He visited a museum maintained by a man whose grandfather grew up in one. No numpties in were in evidence.

Baz below the caves.

After all that educational sightseeing, Baz had earned an afternoon at the beautiful Donnalucata beach.

The water was perfect.

Baz returned that night to Ragusa Ibla, where he grudgingly rode the Trenino Barocco (“baroque little train”) along with fifty of his newest, drunkest best friends. He secretly loved it but refused to be photographed on it.

Baz’s view from the trenino:

Cqoming up in Part 3: Baz experiences some unique Sicilian weather, explores local cuisine, and finds a new life motto.

Part 4