OUR TOUR GUIDE ARRIVING IN HIS APE in SICILY.

We all met in a PARKING LOT!

OUR MODE OF TRANSPORT FOR THE NEXT THREE HOURS!

I do not know why this photo is distorted!Do you see it that way?

AT LEAST IT MAKES MY ARM LOOK LEAN!

Unfortunately you can not see from here but the water is crystal clear!

Here is a better PHOTO of the CLEAR blue/green waters……..

A small beautiful church with a SAINT!

NOTE HOW SMALL SHE WAS.

SHE WAS BURIED INSIDE THE ALTER.

BASILICA SANTUARIO SANTA LUCIA.

Below I’m trying to show how tall she would have been with my leg.

Another distorted photo…………HUM BUG!Plus the DOUBLE CHIN IS ACTING OUT!

THIS WAS SAINT LUCIA’S TOMB.

Historic ROMAN and GREEK Park in SYRACUSE where they have modern art on display.

THE PARK IS QUITE LARGE.

PARCO ARCHEOLOGIC DELLA NEAPOLIS

Look at the pink colors in these ancient Roman/Greek Caves.It was SO HOT that water looked VERY APPEALING!This is called the EAR of DIONYSIUS.A unique cave with impressive acoustics, once used for storing water.

ALL BUILT BY THE ROMANS AND GREEKS.

MORE MODERN ART in an ANCIENT SETTING……………..

THE TUFA STONE ABOVE.

Is a type of limestone, specifically calcium carbonate, that forms from the precipitation of minerals out of water.

It was a little TOO HOT for me this day in SYRACUSE.After walking the Historic NATIONAL PARK we sat our selves down for a GRANITA and a WATER.If you can imagine I was VERY HAPPY TO SEE OUR GUIDE and his CUTE LITTLE APE!

AS I was DONE WALKING FOR THE DAY!

THE PALACE and a FOUNTAIN that looked VERY INVITING AGAIN!

Now we are on the tiny island of Ortgia.

A couple of REMNANTS……….How many MEN did it take to LIFT these stones?

I have NO IDEA.Just remember there were no power tools or equipment back in the day.

A BIT OF FASHION FOR YOUR EYES……….

I LOVE THAT PALE PINK BUILDING.

The horizontal sailor t-shirt is ALWAYS BIG in EUROPE!

For both men and women.

The weather dictates shorts for ANY AGE!

I admire this age group on bicycles.

A PEEK through a wall to the other side!

NOW THIS APE has STYLE!!!!!!!

A MOMENT TO CAPTURE THE MOMENT!

I think this is my favorite photo from the whole trip!

First time in MY LIFE I have felt short!

There are ZERO BEACHES in ORTGIA!

JUST ROCKS to access the water.

I do not do well on rocks……..never have.

Never will!

THE FACADES of these building just TAKE MY BREATH AWAY!From the color to the window surround to the light fixtures!I guess NONE of the ARTISANS who created this immigrated to THE STATES as our buildings are so BORING!Don’t get me started on the CHURCHES HERE IN THE STATES!

LANTANA my husbands childhood favorite flower……………

I was thrilled I MATCHED the LANTANA…………….

I have NEVER seen so much, so BOUNTIFUL.

IT LIKES THE HEAT IS MY GUESS.

We ruined this dress in the wash when we arrived home as SOMETHING BLUE got in with it!

NAVY BLUE……

This dress is ON SALE NOW at Bryn Walker in BERKELEY.I think its 50% OFF!

If not its 30% OFF.The whole STORE IS ON SALE……………..it comes in a LILAC TOO!

1-510-525-9418 (CALIFORNIA TIME.)

YOU ARE WELCOME!!

THEY WILL SHIP.

NO ONE THERE!

THE PIAZZA WAS EMPTY!

This was early JUNE of 2025.

The ITALIANS aren’t on vacation yet!

DONOT GO IN AUGUST AS ALL THE ITALIANS ARE ON VACATION ;PLUS OTHERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

BEAUTIFUL CHURCH…………once again; I think to myself how did they get those stone figures up there?

I know in FLORENCE, they mounded piles of dirt to access the top of THE DUOMO.

That was the scaffolding!

I could MOVE INTO THIS…………

Could you?

I would put planters hanging from the balconies maybe with cascading LANTANA!

This was my last photo I shot in ORTGIA……………..stairs going no where now.

Plants and most likely an artifact or two if you dug around.

As a child I would have LOVED this setting to play in.

As an adult I do LOVE the LOOK of it.Minus the plastic bags.

Next up THE VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES in THE AGRIGENTO dates to 400 BC.

Meanwhile, back home I had a HAIRCUT!I had missed my appointment when we returned from this MAGICAL TRIP due to my BACK.She fit me in and here I AM………….

My buddy JO ANN was my INSPIRATION!

I recently saw her its been years and her daughter cuts her HAIR!

The daughter happens to have the same birthday as me and just turned 40 which makes sense as when we worked together at NORDSTROMS she was pregnant with her baby girl!SO over 40 years…………..I have known THIS BROAD who was and still is SO MUCH FUN!She then became an INTERIOR DESIGNER.Now retired.Still having FUN!

SHE WAS ALWAYS SMILING AND LAUGHING!

LOOK we even have the same hair.Our original color with DASHES of GRANNY GRAYS!!!

OH, I just came up with GRANNY GRAYS its a GOOD ONE!!

I went a little LONGER.Trying to hide the neck stuff a bit.

It was WINDY getting to the car, so that is why I have fly away HAIRS sticking straight up!

Some lipstick would be a BONUS, but I was too much in a hurry to show THE ITALIAN!

Necklace I purchased in NOTO, SICILY.It was like $30.00 and what sold me was how light it was around my neck.Plus THE SIZE IS RIGHT UP MY ALLEY!

TIGRE IN A STRETCHED POSITION.

THEODORE SNUG AS A BUG!

WE are becoming good friends………..it ONLY took a year!

SCHOOL has started and I have the sense everything is going to speed up again!

The FALL calendar is filling up.

One SON turns 36.

Company from ITALY ARRIVES.

HALLOWEEN I must prepare.

ANOTHER SON turns 38!

Need to unload some furniture into my house and do some MUCH NEEDED PRUNING INSIDE LA CASA!

First stop will be MY CLOSET.

YOU BE WELL……….. AND INVITE A FRIEND FOR LUNCH!

I just did that and we ate TUNA PASTA and MOZZARELLA tomato CAPRESE salad.

IT was DELICIOUS and OH SO EASY!

GET MOVING.START LIVING.

WE ALL LOVE TO SEE INSIDE OTHER PEOPLES HOUSES.

MAKE THAT TIME TO BE TOGETHER.

I will be at the SEBASTOPOL CENTER FOR THE ARTS on SATURDAY,AUGUST 23 rd from 2-4.

A short film will be shown on ADVANCED STYLE along with some question and answers with A BOOK SIGNING TO FOLLOW with the author of ADVANCED STYLE ARI SETH COHEN.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE………..tickets are $15.00 each.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY HIS BOOKS.

XXX

YOUR CONTESSA

I LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU SO LEAVE A COMMENT OR A SUGGESTION WHICH EVER TICKLES YOUR FANCY!I will respond to ALL COMMENTS………….just give me a day or three!