Is anyone watching this?
I love it but I just wondered if anyone watching, who has never been to Sicily, would feel like going there?
Whoaa..he is nice.. :P Oh yes..I'm watching.. ;)
Quote from: goodlife on September 02, 2012, 20:22:22
Whoaa..he is nice.. :P Oh yes..I'm watching.. ;)
Yes he is nice ;) but what do you think of Sicily?
The translation makes me laugh sometimes. Some of the things he says are quite rude and funny in Italian and the dialect.
Am I sad and the only one to examine the type of tomatoes in the murder scene in the glasshouse? ::)
I've been in Sicily once..though that was 20+ yrs ago..spent week in Taormina..BEAUTIFUL!
What they show on the program of the scenery and what I've seen myself...lots of rocks..arid land..even the most avid greenery lover can't miss the beauty in the landscape, not matter how little green there is.
I wish I could speak Italian and understand what they really talk about instead of reading subtitles..but I can't help repeating some words and sayings after the program..with perfect Italian..no Sicilian accent of course..and 'waving' my arms same time.. ;D ...proper job.. ;D
I had a look at the location in Google earth where the series is filmed and you can see there 'Sono Montalbano' in Punta Secca..sounds like the house is firmly named after the character.. ;D..it would be nice to go there for holiday.
Quote from: Toshofthe Wuffingas on September 02, 2012, 23:05:03
Am I sad and the only one to examine the type of tomatoes in the murder scene in the glasshouse? ::)
No..not sad at all.. ;D I did notice that majority of them were plum shaped...must be some big producer of tin tomatoes who's GH they were filming in...definately commercial set up.
I noticed the tomatoes too and couldn't help feeling a bit jealous when I thought of all the blighted ones I had pulled up this week. There are lots of polytunnels all over Sicily - they must be like ovens inside.
Goodlife - I went in spring once and couldn't believe how green everything was, so different in the summer when the heat dries it up.
The language is mainly Italian but with a good sprinkling of Sicilian too, especially for the swearing. :o
One thing that strikes me as strange is how empty the streets are. They must clear them before filming because otherwise the noise of the bl**dy scooters would drown everything!
One thing that strikes me as strange is how empty the streets are. They must clear them before filming because otherwise the noise of the bl**dy scooters would drown everything!
Ah, yes..the scooters..now I remember..and where ever you go they 'sign' their every movement with sound of 'horn'..like jugle law, "toot" and 'licence' to go.. ::)
I noticed the deserted streets too... ???..no youngsters sitting on walls eating icecream and cuddling to each others.. ;D
Oh yes I'm watching Mr Montalbano ,I love the music, and the type of dancing at the christing ,and I would love to go for a wee holiday there and swim in the sea it looked lovely,I thought it was very empty of people a bit odd, we were in Istanbul in the spring when they were making James Bond in the old part,it was heaving with people trying to see Daniel Craig ,he not as nice looking as the inspector ;) sorry I never payed to much attention to the tomato's
It's a brilliant programme and I'd love to go to Sicily having never been there. I enjoy the plot of the programme but keep an eye on the scenery too. Looks a fascinating place. I thought it seemed a lot quieter than Naples. :D
My only problem is the programme cuts right across my parents bedtime so I have to wander off to sort my dad out right in the middle of it each week.
I hit the "record series" button tonight so that's solved that problem. :)
By the way I will do my best to clear a slot in my diary if anyone wants their bags carrying. Feel free to send me a message anytime. 8)
Thanks for suggesting this program. Enjoyed watching it.
I love it! I would not be inspired to go though because of the lack of greenery (oh and not having an up todate passport ;) )
I've been watching the programme for a while and love Salvo, still watching the first episode and the mix of drama and humour. Especially when he tows the corpse in with the cord from his swimming trunks then exposes himself to the elderly couple !!, then there is a deeper bit with the corruption that goes on.
I would not be inspired to go though because of the lack of greenery
Ah, but when ever you do come of across greenery..natural, park or pot plants..they do stand out and you really see what is there.
Often those 'green' places are just one big mass and you don't see most of it..almost like being snow blind for the amount of it.
If one is particularly keen for sea view..it is place to be, though one must have head for height in some places. When I stayed in Taormina..only way to nearest beach was with cable car...and that didn't do any good for my vertigo.. ::)
If I recall correctly there was a very long period of prolonged drought in Sicily so I guess this has much to do with the lack of greenness. Perhaps things have improved recently?
It's the towns I tend to mean, the buildings are very close together and no sign of anything growing, no pot plants or trees in the street, but I guess that is the heat. I have not been to hot countries but I suppose the watering would be too much? so people do not bother?, but I remember one episode with a lovely courtyard with plants in.
The countryside and coast is lovely, but the towns are a sort of faded elegance- then when you look inside the house it is so grand and beautiful.
I can't remember where the programme is filmed but it's true that there does not seem to be much greenery in those streets......however, every town is not like this. We stay in a very small town near the sea and the amount and variety of plants you see when walking around is amazing. The locals probably think I'm mad because I take so many photos of plants they just take for granted. If people don't have gardens they will fill their balconies with pots of plants.
Trees in the streets can become a nuisance because of the speed they grow in the heat. For some unknown reason they planted trees in the middle of pavements which was ok while the trees were young but they have grown so big now that there is no room on the pavement to walk. ???
TV series are filmed southern coast of the Sicily..suppose it is the most exposed part of the country. I visited the east coast and that didn't leave me the impression being quite and arid as what the program shows. As Squashed mentioned...pot plants were dotted every where.
Sounds great when is it on?
What about a group hol to Sicily? ;D
I watched the 'kidnapping' episode the other week after reading about it here, found it quite enjoyable. As others have said, the translations are quite funny, and it does seem to be a very empty place! Some of the houses are beautiful though, but do one thing I noticed was that most of the main characters seem to be very bow legged! Don't know why I noticed that but hey..... ;D
Quote from: Deb P on September 15, 2012, 12:01:24
I watched the 'kidnapping' episode the other week after reading about it here, found it quite enjoyable. As others have said, the translations are quite funny, and it does seem to be a very empty place! Some of the houses are beautiful though, but do one thing I noticed was that most of the main characters seem to be very bow legged! Don't know why I noticed that but hey..... ;D
I noticed that too!
:D
flowers on the balcony
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Tree is a bit too big for the pavement
Quote from: Digeroo on September 15, 2012, 10:31:42
Sounds great when is it on?
What about a group hol to Sicily? ;D
It's on tonight, BBC4 at 9pm.
I was looking through some photos earlier and thought how lovely it looked but then I remembered the heat in the summer, which was the reason I started going only in November or February!
A group holiday would be lovely but we would never agree on when to go. ;)
Quote from: Digeroo on September 15, 2012, 10:31:42
Sounds great when is it on?
What about a group hol to Sicily? ;D
Great idea! Isn't that similar to the way Thompsons started out?
You organise it and let us know how much.. group rates should be good off season.
Can't wait :toothy10:
Thanks for the photos Betty- I was expecting them to have more trees to create shade and cool in the towns.
this is one of the suggestions to keep cities cool in reponse to climate change and like many "new ideas" has often been used for centuries in other parts of the world.
I think that this series has got a bit more depth to it than last- but I am only on the first programme as I watch when Mr PKL doing something else as he does not like subtitles.
Give me plently of warning of group trip as I haven't got a passport anymore. I'm for ever being asked to provide a passport and photo driving licence for ID. wel I have not get either :dontknow:
but then I remembered the heat in the summer, Oh yes..and even with sea breeze..it is a 'killer'. We went in the middle of the summer and ended up sleeping on floor with wet sheets over us to keep cool.
Sadly I find Sicily is not the cheapest places to go for holiday..not so when you are actually there, but to get there in first place.
But I do have fond memories of that place..left me with feeling that one day I would like to go there again..hot or not.. :sunny:
Quote from: goodlife on September 16, 2012, 09:18:43
Sadly I find Sicily is not the cheapest places to go for holiday..not so when you are actually there, but to get there in first place.
Ryanair do cheap flights to Palermo (just looked up 9 - 23 Oct £47.99 return plus various rip-off extras) From Palermo airport we get a coach direct to Agrigento (12 euro) then it's a very short bus ride to San Leone where we stay. Unfortunately there are no cheap flights from Birmingham airport so we have to go to either Stansted or Luton.
A few more pics of plants in Sicily
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Lovely photos Squash64 - thanks for sharing them. It's great to see the exotic and faraway even if it is from the comfort (?) of our spare room with grey skies on the other side of the curtain. :happy3: It's good to have a look around the world now & then.
Something else that seems strange is that the exterior of the buildings and the foyers of the apartments always appear very scruffy and neglected, with peeling paint and sparse furnishings.
However open the doors and enter and the story is so different, all beautiful and elegant.
It also appears that Ikea has not arrived in Scilily!
Is Sicilly a safe place to go. Been to Naples, it is very iffy. Someone was stabbed in the street. Within seconds the street cleared and someone grabbed me and plied me with coffee until the whole thing had blown over.
Will this be a enjoy the scenery, good food and wine sort of trip? Combined of course with seed shopping.
The majority of Sicilians are very houseproud and the exterior of the buildings does not often give a clue to what's on the inside. As for Ikea or similar, they would be horrified at the thought of actually having to make the furniture!
I have always felt very safe when I've been there, but we stay in my husband's town or a smaller town on the coast. In both places, everyone seems to know everyone else. It's almost as though they are Local Towns for Local People and strangers are very noticeable. There is crime of course, but we have walked home in the early hours of the morning, which is something we wouldn't do here in Birmingham.
I think we will have to arrange our A4A trip in the spring because the heat is so overpowering in the summer that we wouldn't have the energy to do anything. (I'm speaking for myself here) My husband is over there at the moment 'enjoying' temperatures in the 30s!
I don't know what the 'feel' is there now as it is some years ago from my trip there...but then I felt safe and I even managed to forget to leave camera on one of tables in coffee shop..later on when I realized I didn't have it with me anymore and wasn't sure where it was left I could have .. :BangHead: Next day I walked by the shop and the old lady there come running out bringing my lost property to me :icon_cheers:..after that we had several coffees from that shop during the stay.
I have to admit I had this 'mafia = crime' picture in my head before we went there..but it was all very neat and tidy and didn't feel unsafe at all.
I was bag packing across Italy during that trip and Sicily felt safest place out of all..Taormina (where we stayed) is not big place so I cannot say what other, larger places on island are like....Napoli was only 'hair raising' experience from Italy but even there we found plenty of kind people willing to help two girls with their big bags in distress.
Oh..about the TV series..what we've been shown here..looks like they pick and choose the episodes, everything has 'jumped' few years ahead..little Salvo is suddenly several years old little boy, fashion has changed, actors looking older and not so 'clean' faced anymore...and they've started to show more people on streets and on beach :icon_cheers:
I wonder if they are still filming the series..must do some googling..
Been googling...and YES.. :icon_cheers:...novels are still being written and series filmed and as I suspected we've not been shown complete series but episodes from 'here and there'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inspector_Montalbano_(TV_series)
Quote from: goodlife on October 01, 2012, 08:14:11
Oh..about the TV series..what we've been shown here..looks like they pick and choose the episodes, everything has 'jumped' few years ahead..little Salvo is suddenly several years old little boy, fashion has changed, actors looking older and not so 'clean' faced anymore...and they've started to show more people on streets and on beach :icon_cheers:
I wonder if they are still filming the series..must do some googling..
Yes, I noticed that little Salvo had suddenly grown up a bit!
When my husband phones me I'll ask him if it is popular over there and if so, what they think of it.
I noticed the contrast between the exterior and interior because when I go to the homes of the allotment Italians they are so nice outside as well.
Several of them have tiled drives and paths and every thing is slightly ornate and just "different" from our homes, in the nicest possible sense.
I tried to talk Mr PKL into the tiled idea as I think it looks really nice, but as he messes about with the old landrover ihe dismissed it.
(Which reminds me to pop round to take a few figs to the lady who used to have my plot!)
Quotenoticed the contrast between the exterior and interior because when I go to the homes of the allotment Italians they are so nice outside as well.
Traditionally Sicily has been 'poor south' so I suspect they would not waste money for 'looking nice' on the face of the buildings..and suppose their get really strong sun and sea 'air' so it takes toll from painted surfaces...they would have be doing them up regurlar bases.
But yes..I noticed too how stairways and inner yards did look very 'forgotten'. I don't think they have the same 'mentality' about cosying the houses up like in everywhere else norther Europe..we spend far more time in our houses..down south in 'warm countries' its all about being and going out, not being locked up between four walls.
That makes sense, "our" Italians also came from the poor southern areas but not Sciliy. They seem to make the most of everything that they have, most came here to work in the chemical industry after the war.
It is different to Mr Squash though -one will not go when is hot weather and he complains when hot here!!