Buona Pasqua e buona primavera!

Throughout Sicily, there are processions during Easter beginning with Holy Thursday and culminating with larger events on Easter Sunday.
These images were made in Taormina and Leonforte and represent a small sampling of this all important time in the life of all Sicilians.

I offer these only to whet your appetite as the rich volcanic soil of etna produces the finest fruits and vegetables to be consumed. It is no wonder I find it extremely difficult to consume any tomato here at home after having had so many tomato rich dishes while in Sicilia. Cefalu` 2010 february
Melanzane...OMG!!!!!!

Carnevale 2010 in Sicilia was punctuated by largely unfavorable weather causing the cancellation of many events. Worse was the destruction done to the town of San Fratello in the Nebrodi Mountains due to mud slides from the torrential rains. I was able to make these images in three different towns; Acireale which hosts the largest Carnevale on the island, Letojanni, a small town near Sant'Alessio and Taormina, and Leonforte which is where my family lives.
The floats pictured here are made entirely of flowers and the resemblance of the one to Michael Jackson is just that as well as a tribute to his genius. The smaller towns have there own distinct events and all are indicative of a Sicilian sensibility unique to each "paese".

Well, it is almost time for Carnevale and I am really excited to be going again. Just thought I would add a few more images. All were taken in Acireale except the blur which was in Leonforte.
I love blurs!

Maria Tuttocuore is a very special person who is just as her name literally means, "All heart". I first met Maria in a restaurant owned by a mutual friend in Brooklyn, NY. She is a native Sicilian with more than 10 years experience in the hospitality and travel industry. Maria daily publishes a fantastic site ( sicilyguide.com) (www.sicilyguide.com) which presents news items and things of interest for the

lover of sicilian culture. Her expertise is incredible and I highly recommend seeking out her site to any lover of all things relating to Sicily.

As it is almost time for Carnevale, that "Infamous pre lenten festival, I thought I would share some images made in Acireale, Sicilia the town that boasts, "IL PIU BEL CARNEVALE DI SICILIA", which I happen to agree with!

Not a carnevale of costumes such as is the case with Venezia ( see my web site (www.joezarba.com)

but rather gargantuan floats as large as two stories high and the width of 2 SUV's depicting political satire where no one is spared! It is a time of merriment and revelry ( my favorite B&W)

and, as Ed Norton of the Honeymooners once said, "Good Clean Fun"! I hope you enjoy this modest sample.