I’ve noticed something in Sicily and it’s something that I like.
Life is lived at a slower pace.
The trick is to embrace this “piano, piano” way of life, to join in. Slowly, slowly. Any other response can only lead to frustration and irritation in equal measure, so when in Rome do as the Romans, or in our case when in Pozzallo do as the Pozzallese….
Everybody walks slowly here, they stroll, amble, toddle along. Maybe it comes from living through such high temperatures for much of the year, but nobody seems to be in a rush in the way they seem to be elsewhere. Life has become so fast-paced for so many of us that we’ve somehow begun to consider our hectic, busy lives to almost merit a badge of honour. Not here.
So…..
Pause for coffee.
Go grab a granita.
Stop all the traffic while you double park for a moment to have a chat with a friend.
Eat lunch, then snooze – the siesta is sacred!
We’ve seen cars left running, keys in the ignition, the owner nowhere in sight.
On a stroll through Modica we spotted a woodworker’s workshop and stopped by to admire the craftsmanship – the door was wide open, keys in the lock, the interior an Aladdin’s Cave of tools and wooden wonders. “C’e nessuno?” Fabri called. “Is there anybody there?” No reply. Not a sinner. As we walked away I couldn’t help thinking that there’s something quite special about a place where a man can step away for a while, confident that on his return, everything will be just as he left it.
And then there’s the food….. The glorious, diverse and flavoursome, Sicilian food.
The first time we holidayed here I realised that in three weeks we hadn’t seen one of the big fast food chains in all our wanderings – no golden arches, no finger-lickin’ chicken, no American coffee franchises. Everywhere we looked signs proudly displayed ‘cibi tipici’ or ‘prodotti siciliani’ – local, home-grown, artisanal, seasonal – these are the qualities locals look for in their food.
The slow-food movement is strong in Sicily. The slow-down life comes naturally. This is a place where my head feels lighter, my thoughts clearer. I can appreciate the small things here because I’ve time to stop and see them. Sicily feels good to me because here I can…..
