Another Karate demo

I tell you this and last week have been the busiest weeks in a long time. EVERY Day this week there has been something. 4 days of karate, with Cameron doing 2 demos and getting his purple belt, the Navy Relief Fashion show was on Thursday, in which we worked the silent auction booth, the of course Easter on Sunday and the big celebration here Easter Monday. Last week was all the Holy Week activities. These have been all fun, but quite taxing on our little family. Cameron school, well not too much this week. Anne having to nap daily, with this Crohn's her energy has not been too high and then poor Randy who seems to have picked up the stomach flu and has been in bed for 2 days. Thank God next week has no major goings on for any of the family.

Purple Belt in Karate

Cameron got his purple belt in karate. He has been practicing hard for almost a year and LOVES karate. He has found his nitch.

Easter Monday

Easter Monday here in Sicily is huge. It is the time where all the family and friends go to their country houses and play and eat and eat and play and, did I say EAT. We are now part of Emilio and Mariska's family and join in on most of their celebrations. Cameron had spent the night from Easter to Easter Monday giving Randy and Anne the night off. And boy was it a nice, relaxing night. When we returned home Easter night, Randy and Anne got to enjoy a glass of wine while sitting on the porch watching the sun set. Easter Monday morning was just as slow. Not much to do and didn't have to be up at E&M's until after 11am. Everyone visiting brings something to eat and we did the same. We brought carne asada, Anne's salsa, flour tortillas and avocados. All new stuff for the Sicilians. Now like I said, food food food, is the center of the day. Everyone basically waited in line to cook. As soon as the artichokes were done, then chicken went on, as soon as chicken, then carne asada, after that sausage. It was an eating fest. After showing these people how to make a taco with Emilio's homemade black beans, carne asada (Randy's special recipe) , guacamole (made by Emilio) and Anne's salsa, they had to eat it. I am surprised, especially the older people seemed to love these new interesting foods. Pippa loved the size of the carne asada steak, most meat here is cut paper thin and this carne was a 1/4 to 1/2 thick.
Anyway, it was a wonderful day of food, wine, fun and friendship. We Thank God for giving us Emilio and Mariska as such good friends.

EASTER SUNDAY

It was so warm the boys decided to take a swim. 1st of the season.

Randy and Mariska playing ping-pong.

The wood-fired oven with the lamb just coming out.

Cameron found his basket and bunny!!

Salvatore found his basket. How cute is he?!!

Mary seeing the Risen Christ in the Piazza.

Procession with flags from the three Churches.

Main Piazza. Look at all the people.

Cameron and Salvo

The procession from Santa Agripina Church with the Risen Christ.

The Risen Christ inside Santa Agripina Church.

Cam in his Easter best. Of course with a bit of a attitude.

Randy and Anne getting ready to head to Church.

Easter Sunday was a beautiful day here is Sicily. Nice warm and sunny, who could ask for more?!! We went to mass at Santa Agripina Church in the Town of Mineo. As with everything religious here there is always Pomp and Circumstance and it was in full bloom today. After the Mass, the flags from all three churches in Mineo met at Santa Agripina. The procession then started with the flags and was then followed by the "float" of the Risen Christ carried on the shoulders of many a strong man. The Risen Christ procession went through the entire town and ended in the main square. Mary "float", with Mary veiled in black, came out of the Church in the main piazza. And the story goes when she saw her Son had risen, her veil came off and they ran to each other. Those poor guys carrying the floats had to run back and forth three times. I didn't even mind standing for hours in heels to watch this.

After that we had some Prosecco in our favorite bar in the square, Julio's Latino Bar. Later that afternoon we had dinner with Emilio, Markisa, Pippa, Salvatore and the family. The lamb was cooked in the wood fired oven. MMMMmmmmm!!! Then a relaxing day.

Holy Week Thursday in Mineo

Emilio and Randy.

Julio's Latino Bar in Mineo

Mineo town square.

The procession with the scourged Christ.

The "float" of the scourged Christ.

Start of procession. Each Church in Mineo had a flag and lead the procession in front of the Scourged Christ.

Anne and her "new daughter" Noemi.

Randy near a cross.

St. Peter and Paul

Beautiful lighting on the town of Mineo.

On Thursday night we went to the Easter week procession in the town of Mineo. Mineo always has such beautiful processions and we enjoy sharing them with our Italian friends.

Palm Sunday

Look at all these people.

Over view of the Town.

The City view, down the hill.

The first Church with the Palms in it.

Randy and Cameron view from the Church.

In Procession. Cameron bought a palm branch.

One of the Palm displays they were holding.

The procession.

These palm displays for the procession seemed very heavy

We took a tour to the city of Gangi for their Palm Sunday procession. They say it is one of the most beautiful processions in Sicily. After a 4 hour bus ride with 1.5 hours of that up a winding mountain (Thank God we weren't driving) we got there just in time for the procession. The drums started and the procession started. I we followed it into the first Church. It came out of the Church and proceeded around the entire town, then back to the first Church. It was a sight to be beheld. The town itself was nice, but there were so many people. On the way back to base we stopped at an agriturismo for lunch, not the best, but not too bad. Good time!!

Sicilian Oranges

Nothing is better than fresh oranges, except when you pick them yourselves. We bought a crate of oranges from our friends last week and we had fresh orange juice EVERY morning. This week he invited us out to pick the oranges. It was a nice sunny day and you felt the health eminating from these oranges. So again this week, fresh orange juice EVERY morning, oranges for snacks and maybe juice at night. They say fresh juice is good for Anne's GI problems, we shall see. There are some full blood oranges and then some part bloods, I don't remember the "real" names for the types. Look it up is you want to know!!

Carnivale Acireale 2010

Randy and Cameron went to Carnivale Monday night with our friends. They say it was a great time.