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Your Online Guide » Holiday Destinations » Sicily Vacation

[W609]Whats Hot And Not
by Rex Bush, Rex
Actually, during my six months in Sicily, I never got sand in my hair but I did experience the hot African winds when the mercury climbed to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit.)

Picture a nineteen-year-old American boy, in sweat drenched short-sleeve white shirt and brown polyester pants riding his bicycle in the empty August afternoon streets of Catania and Palermo.

ANCIENT GREEK RUINS

What else is hot in Sicily? How about ancient Greek ruins for starters?

"Temple E" is the name given by modern archaeologists (yes, archaeologists have a knack for coining colorful names) to one of the best preserved temples of the ancient Greek city of Selinunte.

Just as the Roman empire encompassed not only the Italian peninsula but also Spain, France, Switzerland, Turkey, Israel and other parts of Europe, the Middle East and Africa so also did the empire of Greece extend beyond the bounds of the Greek Isles.

MAGNA WHAT?

Magna Graecia (Latin for "Greater Greece" as in "greater metropolitan area") was the name the Romans gave to Sicily and Southern Italy, for this region was home to numerous Greek colonies.

[Did you know there are still Greek speaking descendants of the ancient Greeks in Italy? It's mostly in the tip of the boot in Calabria. Their language is "Griko". You can read an article on it at Wikipedia.

Selinunte was founded by Greeks who emigrated from Western Sicily around 640 BC. It quickly became one of the most progressive and successful cities in all of Magna Graecia, second only to Syracuse in prominence and grandeur.

HERE COME THE AFRICANS

In 409 BC, the Carthaginians of Northern Africa, along with their elephants, were still smarting from a loss to the Sicilian Greeks in the war of 480 B.C. (Apparently, Carthaginians, like elephants, never forget.)

So they sent an army of 100,000 men (yes, that was a little bit overkill) equipped with battering rams, and with siege towers that were taller than Selinunte's walls.

After a siege that lasted only nine days, the Carthaginians broke through the walls of the city and overwhelmed the defenders.

SELINUNTE IS WIPED OUT

Of Selinunte's 25,000 inhabitants, 16,000 were killed and 7,000 made slaves. (Hopefully not sex slaves.) Only 2,000 escaped. And this is why you have never heard of any famous Selinuntians: they were pretty much wiped out in this slaughter.

Though the city never regained its former prestige it was re-populated to some degree by Carthaginians (free land) until 250 BC. At that time the Carthaginians, fighting Rome, in the first of the Punic Wars, were fleeing the Roman advance and razed Selinunte to the ground.

The ruins of Selinunte lay abandoned and desolate for nearly one thousand years until a group of Greeks (ironic, eh?) from Byzantium (modern day Istanbul) established a small village there about 700 A.D.

MORE TRAGEDY

Alas, this settlement also met a tragic fate when, a century later, an earthquake struck Sicily, destroying the village.

WHERE IS IT?

How about just checking out its location on a map?

A quick search on Google maps shows Selinunte to be southwest of Palermo in the southwest corner of Sicily.

If you enjoy the archeological ruins at Selinunte you'll find more at Agrigento and Syracuse.

WHAT ELSE IS HOT ABOUT SICILY?

"Pasta al forno" is pasta baked in the oven (sort of like lasagna, but better). You can find it at almost any "trattoria" in Palermo and elsewhere on the island.

Beautiful beaches abound.

The cathedrale at Monreale, near Palermo, is thought to be one of the most beautiful in the world.

For something a bit quirky and macabre, check out the catacombs of Palermo where hundred year old corpses hang from the walls fully dressed in period attire.

WHAT'S NOT HOT?

What's not hot about Sicily? I would have to say organized crime. The Mafia began here and is still a factor in daily life though it is becoming less so with each passing year.

Any mom or mom-to-be would love to spend fond hours thinking about how to deck up their little princesses in the most charming of outfits and make them stand out in the crowd. Such is the pleasure in having a baby girl and the little unparalleled joys of having her at the center of your world. Keeping in mind such super delicate feelings and the superb baby dolls, girl's fashion has taken a leap forward in today's time, with numerous cool designer brands packing the scene to make a place in every closet.

Fashion has always been an exciting factor for everyone, but it is a tad more impressive and adorable when it comes to draping those little angels. Be it the layettes, dresses, shirts, sweaters, onesies, frog suits, skirts, pants or jumpers, there is a fashion rolling for each and in every shop or boutique. You just need to know what's best and hot for your darling daughter, niece or granddaughter and what's not. So here are some essential pointers to buying baby-gears for the girl child you love so dearly.

  1. Comfort: No matter how gorgeous the dress is or how stunning you think your little one would look in that, forget a dress if it is not comfortable enough for an infant or toddler. To make the dresses look cute, designers often give accents to these that can be bothersome to the child. So careful'no itchy tags, tight elastics, scratchy laces or stifling neckline. And keep the seasonality factor in mind as well'no layered dresses in summer, save the satins for winter, pastels for spring and so on.


  2. Handiness: Your baby girl may invite hugs and cuddles in one oh-so-pretty dress and you may take pride in that too, but imagine if changing diapers in that dress is harder than putting it on, you might just not like your little darling to wear it anymore, would you? Therefore, buy clothes which are easy to put on or take off for her.


  3. Perfect fit: Fitting is of significant import to any dress'be it a boutique girls clothing or any ordinary home-stitched fashion frock. Many boutiques today sell unique mix-n-match colors and fabrics for those teeny-weeny dolls, but you must remember that sizing is more important than style. The choky tees or skinny jeans may be a huge letdown for the plus-sized young one or a flowing unmanageable frilly jumper may increase chances of a free fall for your petite toddler. In either case, consider twice.


  4. Personality match: As much essential as matching size, is matching the dress with the personality of your girl. If your infant or toddler girl is bubbly and restless, let the colors speak for her. Choose bright and vibrant shades of bloomers or wrap tees. And if your little princess is restfully quiet, the floral pastels would be right compliments to her personality.


So now that you know the basic start-ups for buying a baby girl's clothing, get set to pamper your doll as much as you can and be the proud mamma!

Article Source : Sicily Vacation

About Author
Both Rex Bush & Wain Roy are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Rex Bush has sinced written about articles on various topics from Legal Matters, Travel and Leisure and self improvement and motivation. Article provided by Salt Lake City attorney Rex Bush who spent two years in Italy and continues to explore his love for that land by returning often, studying Italian and by reading and writing about Lo Stivale (the boot). Rex Bush is founder of Bush Law. Rex Bush's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.

Wain Roy has sinced written about articles on various topics from Multi Level Marketing, Luxury Cars and Games. Wain Roy is an internet marketing professional expert in various industries like real estate, web design, finance, medical tourism, Canadian pharmacy drug and
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