Mt. Etna Exploration and the Arrival of Jason and Christie

I've been away from the internet for a few days due to my travels from Catania to Rome to Playa del Carmen for Andy and Jenn's seaside wedding on Saturday, February 14, 2009... Valentine's Day!

This post will deal solely with what happened on Tuesday, the day before I started my trans-Atlantic journey.

The morning saw me gat my first haircut from Giogio the Aci Castello barber I used all last season.  Last year a haircut and beard trim cost 10 Euros, of course no prices are posted.  This season my first visit cost only 5 Euros!  As with all things Sicilian, life is on a sliding scale or maybe it is the economic downturn... "No lo so?"

The afternoon continued Paul's travels around the greater Catania megalopolis with a trip up the Mt. Etna Sud road towards the village of Nicolosi.

Mt. Etna in all her winter glory.

A Trotter or a Pacer?

When you leave downtown Catania and it's insane traffic patterns, you will often see these horses working out.  I've been told that at night, on quiet streets rigs like these meet for the equivalent of "Sicilian Drag Racing", I hope I can be privy to one of these clandestine meetings this year.

A rather unique tower in one of Mt. Etna's many small towns.

In the evening, Jason Johnson and Christie Chorley, my roommates last season arrived in Catania for a week to visit all of our friends before they start their football season playing in Innsbruck in the Austrian League for the defending Euro Bowl Champion Raiders.

Christie and Jason back at Malibu with Gregorio Barbagallo

Night time in front of the "New and Improved Dorm" in Aci Trezza

This again is the view on the balcony where Luke, Larry and soon Taber live.  In the summer the empty street you see will be wall-to-wall people enjoying La Dolce Vita.

With our main man Gustavo Bonanno

Dinner at Pizzeria Ciclopi in Aci Trezza with the "Usual Suspects" yet again.

Shockingly, Valerie, here with Peppe was a little late to the meal.

Is Roberta smiling again for fans in America?

I had to fly out to Cancun the next morning so I won't see Jason and Christie again until Laurie and I go up the Austria to visit them during our first Bye week.  I must admit that I really feed off their energy and miss them at Malibu greatly.

A Monday in Catania

On Monday we did a little grocery shopping, talked a little football and toured a little more of the city of Catania to get Paul a little more comfortable with his new surroundings.

Artistic Pay Back

The story here is that the artist, who was commissioned to build this edifice for the Roman Catholic Church, was unhappy because of the Church's meddling with his plans.  As a result his final adornment for the building were these various human and animal figures for the balcony over the main entrance.  Note that figure in the center is grabbing a part of his anatomy that expresses the artists feelings towards Holy Mother Church.

Paul Tastes His First Cannolo

It is safe to say that he is hooked!

Arm Circles... We're Doing Arm Circles!

Crazy exercise from the 1950's but what the heck, it may be the Chaos Theory at its finest!  Good work tonight at practice, we're getting better.

Gustavo explaining the inner workings of the Catania Bus System.

Paul does NOT want to drive in Catania and is trying to figure out how to navigate the town by bus.  This may be a tough one.

They are seen at Jonica's Pizzeria in Aci Castello after our Monday night practice. Going to Jonica's after the Monday practice was a tradition we started last season and it is still a good one.

DB Techniques

Larry and Christian got into a deep discussion about the strengths and weaknesses of Cover 3 vs. Cover 1 after eating their pizzas or not.

Jason Johnson and his wife Christie blow into town tomorrow evening... batten down the hatches Catania!!!

 

Orienteering Paul Around Town

I spent most of Sunday afternoon walking Paul through the villages of Aci Trezza and Aci Castello so that he could acquaint himself with the lay of the land.

This statue of Jesus guards the entrance to Aci Trezza's harbor.

TRADITION!

Paul posing by a traditional Sicilian fishing boat that now serves as a taxi in the summer to ferry visitors out to the small islands in the bay.  Paul's father was a fisherman by trade himself in San Pedro, California.

Paul Petrich Jr. in the Summer of 1964

Here is a shot of Paul working on a commercial albacore tuna "Jack Poling" fishing boat.  The day this picture was taken they hauled in three tons of tuna!  So Paul can definitely identify with the local fishermen and their fishing fleet.

By the way, Paul is still using the same sunglasses you see in this picture today.

Is this safe?

How about this one?

The high-tech Aci Trezza dry docking system used to repair large boats.

Paul discovers the wonderful world

of the Fiat Cinquecento.

The three rocks that give Aci Trezza it's name.

Paul at the Norman Castle in Aci Castello.

Lunch at Al Tubo's Place

Here Paul discovers all-you-can-eat Antipasto Misto, Sicilian ristoranti are now officially in trouble!

Alex Garfio Playing in Seville, Spain

Alex Garfio, with teammates and their families at a BBQ after a game in Seville, Spain, is partially hiding at the right edge of this picture.

Alex Garfio was a GREAT high school running back for us in 2001-02 at Buena H.S. in Ventura, California when I coached there with their head coach and longtime friend Rick Scott.  Rick is the main reason that I have been coaching in Sicily since the 2008 season.

After high school Alex spent two years at Ventura College and then finished his collegiate playing career at the University of California in Davis.

I am happy that after talking to him last year, Alex took up the challenge and found himself an opportunity to play American football in the Liga Nacional de Football Americano in Seville, Spain.

Alex Garfio toting the pigskin for the Sevilla Sulime Linces

Alex, #39, at Tailback vs. the Valencia Firebats

Alex has started a blog and you can link to it at the top left of this blog.  It sounds like he is having a great time in Spain and why not, he HAS discovered tapas bars after all.

The Linces (Lynx) end their season in April and I hope we can make it to one of their games if our schedule permits.

First Practice in Pads

Today was our first practice in pads and we greeted 49 Elephants to the manicured practice field that is the pride of the Elephant's Park.

Three Liters of

Barbagallo Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Every week someone gives me a delicious food item to take home after the Saturday practice.  Last week the Palermo boys gave me about a 5 kilo bag of a delicious typical Sicilian food called panelle.  This week Gregorio presented me with this new treasure.

What does today's practice have to do with three liters of Gregorio's family olive oil?  Simple, both went down smoothly!

We had a VERY positive practice with several of our new players showing that they can definitely contribute to our 2009 success.  The coaching staff was also very pleased with the effort put forth by our rookies in their debuts.

We have a long way and a lot of hard work to put in before we are ready to play a game but today's practice was a good first step in the right direction.

I was so excited that I forgot to take pictures, that's how good it was today.

An Exciting Day For Elephant Football

Today, Gustavo and I had an appointment with some of the movers and shakers at the U.S. Naval Air Station Sigonella, a few miles outside of Catania.  We were hoping to generate interest on the base for the servicemen and servicewomen and their families who might be missing the thrill of watching American football in person during their three year tours of duty at Sigonella.

The Entry Gate was Full of Promise

While we waited for our contacts to arrive, who did we see across the street? 

Why none other than our old friend Mt. Etna!

Our new liasons with the base, on the left,

Bill Bray, the Director of Morale, Welfare and Recreation

and Bob Froelicher, the Recreation Director.

Two truly GREAT guys who are going to do everything in their power to promote the Elephants and hopefully significantly improve our fan base at games.  They may be a God-Send or maybe, at least the answer to our prayers to Sant' Agata.

Davide Giuliano, the Owner of the Elephants

To play it safe, Gustavo and I bought him one of the traditional yellow candles that are burned constantly during Sant' Agata's festival for Davide.  Here he slings it over his shoulder just before we lit it and he embarked on his four mile trek to the Cathedral of Sant' Agata as a way to say thank you for her intercession with the U.S. Navy!

Paul Petrich Jr.

Larry and Luke were at the airport to welcome the Elephant's new Defensive Line Coach to Catania.  After being stuck in London's freak snow storm for four days, Paul finally made it to Sicily.

First day in pads tomorrow, LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!

The Last Day of the Feast of Sant' Agata

Thursday was the last day of the three day festival in honor of Catania's Patron Saint, Sant' Agata.

Katerina Barbagallo

Widely Acclaimed as Catania's #1 Hostess 

Gregorio has us over again for lunch which his mother, Katerina, prepared with her usual attention to detail.

Mangia Luke!

Larry knows that

"IT'S GREAT TO BE AN ELEPHANT!!!"

Madonna and Child

Once again, "I DO NOT KNOW?"

Gustavo and His Posse

A Happy, Satisfied Group of Catania's Beautiful People

Christian DiMauro

We came back that evening to Gregorio's home to go see the finale, the candle light parade through the about three to four mile loop through the city.  Christian is wearing the traditional garb of the truly devoted fans of Sant' Agata.

Oops!

During Wednesday's daytime parade this second story balcony about five blocks from Gregorio's home partially gave way, the right side here, injuring both the man standing on it and the unfortunate woman who was walking below it on the sidewalk.

Big Candle Night

People devoted to Sant' Agata show it on this evening by carrying lit candles that can weigh as much as 250 pounds on their shoulders over the entire parade route, NO SMALL TASK INDEED!  This one is big but it's not a 250 pounder.

On the way to Gregorio's friend Nicola's house, we inexplicably got hungry.

Here you see a lot of sausages on the grill.  As for me, I had to go with the polpetto, i.e., horsemeat meat ball sandwich.  It was SO good... I know, I know...

Nicola's Home

Nicola is the fourth one from the right.  On the fourth story of a splendid home on Via Etnea, Catania's main thoroughfare, it offered great views of the parade.  Of course it meant that their three balconies would be put to the test.

Far From the Maddening Crowd

Alessandra and Roberta

Does Anybody Know Where I Parked My Car?

Madalin Pavel

After a long night, what could be better than a stop a Jonathan's Pannini Stand for a 3:30 a.m. snack?  Madalin is a former Romanian boxer who fought for 17 years, speaks five languages including great English, and is a really good guy.  He now is a key member of the Jonathan's sales team.

One bad note to the evening was to find out that during the parade someone broke into Gregorio's home.  Fortunately, not too much was missing but it still is upsetting to say the least when your privacy is invaded.  DAMN GYPSYS!!!

The New Mr. and Mrs. Contreras

Just got these pictures from yesterday's wedding in Las Vegas.

Laurie and Andy

Note the Elvis memorabilia for sale on the counter.

Jenn, Andy and "The King"

That pretty much sums it up.

Luke Tracy - Catania QB

Mike and Molly, it wasn't easy but Luke arrived in Catania safe and sound at 11:10 p.m. tonight.

The Elephants New QB Luke Tracy

After a quick tour of the city on the drive to his place in Aci Trezza, it was back downtown to Fondo Bianco to meet the team bars owner, Attilio, and about a half dozen of his new teammates.  When I surrendered at 2:30 a.m. they were all having a good time talking about football, snowboarding, fun and girls but not necessarily in that order.

In a Very good sign, Luke fit right in with the guys.

GOOD NIGHT or should I say GOOD MORNING?

Heather Linderman Ad of the Day

Today we found two ads that were judged to be worthy of your consideration.

This first ad was found in the store window of a shop that sells Eye glass frames and lenses OF COURSE!  I think these frames would be better in red but that's just my opinion.

Who doesn't like a good therapeutic massage?

Time to vote people, you get to decide today's winner, just hit the comment icon and VOTE!