These days have certainly blurred together. I still love it here, but I'm about ready to head home. 2 hours locked in a room with children is killing me! And I can never really figure out if Teresa wants us here. Dad, yes; the rest of us, I don't know. Then again, she is a very loud Sicilian, so maybe I'm just being a sensitive American.
Today, we got up and went to Tindari in Patti, where there is a Greek theatre (and other ruins) and a popular church. The art is so beautiful in cathedrals -- I wish it weren't wasted on things as obsessive as religious cults. Then again, that may be the only way to really preserve it. Anyway, it was beautiful, and the church was next to a fantastic view of the shoreline. (Going back to the religious cult idea: Rumor has it that the Virgin Mary took the Bambino to that particular spot on the Sicilian shore and God made a pool for the baby to play in -- in the middle of the sand! Damn selfish child. It has an entire ocean to play in -- he could have chosen any spot on the shoreline! -- but no, he wants his own pool. Whatever. ANYWAY, they say that if you look down on these little pools on the shore, you can see the outline of the Virgin Mary holding and looking down at the baby. Yes, "religious mumbo jumbo" was my first reaction, too. But I didn't feel like walking all the way home. *sigh* cults.)
After admiring the sights, we walked around the little tourist shops. I bought a spoon-holder with the island painted on it. So, yes. That's awesome. I'm excited.
After Tindari, we came back, ate lunch, had a siesta (which consisted of my mom sleeping, me reading, and Butt and Dad walking around), then explored the farm. So we: found 4 adorable stray kittens, hassled a spotted pig (affectionately called "Cowpig" by Amanda "It's two-thirds bologna!"), touched another pig, milked a cow, and rode a horse! I really didn't like the horse-riding because I didn't know much about the horse and its training--and because the last [and only] time I had ridden a horse, it laid down on me and nearly crushed my leg. (The other one reared up with my friend on it.) I was not very comfortable with it.
* Interjection from Amanda: "I'm a pterodactyl! I'm pterrifying!" *
Those kittens--HOLY SHIT--they were so cute! Momma and I both fell in love with the runt of the litter. It and another let us get near them, and we held and loved them. If we had been in the States, I would've taken them home. :3 They were not cleaned well (crusty eyes and noses -- one couldn't even see because of it!), so we figured the momma was gone. Uncle Vito told me later that she was around. So I'm confused. Poor babies. I wants them. :(
Anyway, after seeing all the animals and feeding them, eating dinner, and relaxing, we are now in bed -- and I am pooped! I'm half-way through A Child Called It (because I finished Sarah Waters' The Little Stranger earlier today), and it's horrily sad, but I guess I just can't get past the title-I do not see "it" as bad! The gender studies part of me is coming through too strongly, I think. Too bad I read the title before I read the book -- the "it" thought won't get out of my head! (If you want to understand more of what I'm talking about, read this story: X: A Fabulous Child's Story)
Regardless, Buona Notte!
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