High
on a narrow limestone hill surrounded by deep river gorges, the older part of
Ragusa is a maze of cobbled streets and honey coloured limestone buildings adorned
with balconies, statues and shutters. It is very old and rightly a world UNESCO
heritage site. The square in front of the cathedral slopes steeply upwards
towards the cathedral steps. Narrow alleyways twist and turn linked by narrow
steep flights of steps up and down the hill slopes. Around every corner are stunning
views across terracotta tile roof tops and roof terraces.
Streets come alive in lower Ragusa around the main cathedral
piazza from seven in evening. Children play in the street, football, Italian
style.....ignoring tourists, lots of yelling, gesticulating, dives onto the
floor and good natured argument. Teenage girls and boys chat each other up with
much laughter and many smiles, mobile phones glued to their hands. It is
fascinating to watch teenage courtship rituals ongoing whilst each furtively
look at their mobile phones, frequently......they call it romance. I think I am
getting old!
As the sun sets and the streets are bathed in warm lamplight,
more people come out. They sit on street chairs, on pavements, below fountains.
Animated chatter and lots and lots of laughter, Italians have such a zest for
life. Heads bowed towards each other, intent eye contact, smiles, shrugs of
shoulders, waving of arms. Glasses tinkle at pavement ristorante.
Italians, of course, dress with flair and style. They make the
simplest clothes look so chic. Evenings are a fashion parade as well as a
social gathering with family. In the
meantime, a wizened, grey haired, stooped elderly grandfather sits on a public
bench, his young granddaughters at his feet as he tells them stories. They are
transfixed for he is a good story teller. His hand lovingly pats the head of
one and then fingers brush lightly the cheek of another and he is rewarded with
beaming smiles. They clearly dote on him.
Family life at sunset, shared on the streets of Ragusa.
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