Graffiti

So graffiti is a huge problem here in Sicily and Southern Italy in general. There are absolutely no controls on the purchase of spray paint. Anyone with a few Euro can buy a can. The low police presence and lack of respect for what police presence does exist, creates a perfect atmospere for teen vandalism and tagging. The tragedy is when you see graffiti on buildings older than the United States. We went and visited a Norman Castle, and there was graffiti all over it. The US hadn't been discovered yet! Yet here, it's no biggie, tag that baby up. Every once in a while though you see a work of art. These are two pieces painted near our home. Don't ask me to explain the symbolism on the "mammory soup" one, but the writing on the old man one translates roughly to "for the Sicilian culture, looking forward to a better future."

Fireworks

OK, fireworks in Sicily are an every night occurrence. There isn't any anticipation for the one or two nights a year the kids get to stay up to watch fireworks. Every Saint gets his/her own fireworks show. Pick a reason, any reason, and we'll do fireworks to celebrate. But they don't do them at 9 or 9:30. Oh no. Lets wait till it's really dark, say 1:00 am. Yeah, that's a good idea! We'll wake everyone up to let them know we are celebrating little Giovanni's first tooth! So the American community does a fireworks show on July4th. No big deal to the Sicilians, just another fireworks show. For some reason, the fireworks misfired in that they didn't quite get as high as they were supposed to before exploding. And, of course, it's summer so the brush is all really dry. So a few minutes into the show, the brush catches on fire. Now in the States, they would shut down the show, evacuate the crowd, and call in the fire department. Not in Sicily. Fire? Who cares! The show must go on. So the fireworks show continues as the fire blazes and spreads into the neighboring olive grove. Party On!!!

Drive Beer

OK, so I don't actually drink beer, but I just love this brand of beer. Drive Beer. That's right, because beer and driving go so well together. Now, in Drive Beer's defense, it is non-alcoholic beer, the Italian O'Doul's, but come on. Making the fact that you can legally drink and drive with this tasty beverage not only the ad campaign, but the name of the beer seems a bit inappropriate. Remember folks, if you've got the keys, drink and drive, Drive Beer.