This is just to let you know that after this post, I will be resigning as your roving reporter and dependable blogger, and as soon as you read this you will understand why and agree, I'm sure.
So I'm on one of the Aeolian Islands off the north coast of Sicily. It's a beautiful place and it took me over three hours on a ferry to get here.
Now, it just so happens that my visit coincided with a visit by Queen Paola along with the National Symphony of Belgium which I'm sure is not what it's really called. I saw them setting up earlier in the day, and was told that the music didn't start until 9:30.
I put on a sweater, as it's chilly here tonight for us southerners, and walked down the hill and the hundred or so steps and the cute little street to the plaza. I was homing in on La Vela, a bar and sort-of restaurant with a terrace that overlooks the plaza, thinking that would be the place to watch the action. I ordered an Aperol spritz from the darling waitress, who I love and who loves me back, and went outside because that's how you do things here. She brought it out to me at my table on the terrace along with what amounts to a full meal for free. I'm sitting there scarfing down pistachios, which come with everything, and a plate of grilled vegetables (I skipped the peanuts, I can get those in Mexico). I couldn't really see the orchestra but I could see the audience which was fine for now.
The orchestra started playing about 7:35, which I thought was pretty good, considering. All was well until these nineteen-year-old boys sat down near me, with low slung jeans and sweatpants on and their underpants showing. Some things are the same no matter where you are. They began talking loudly about who-knows-what and looking at each other through their straws and balancing stuff on the napkin dispenser. I could no longer hear the music, so I chugged the rest of my spritz, popped a few more pistachios, paid up and went down to the plaza.
Oh, the music was glorious and so was the audience.
Meanwhile, I had been wandering around freely with my camera, as there was virtually zero security for the Queen of Belgium. Perhaps she's not high on anyone's hit list. There were handsome guys standing around in handsome uniforms, but they were all sweet and smiling too, and most of them were taking pictures. So I kept on moving up and had a nice interaction with one of the uniformed cuties who did not discourage me one bit from standing right up there near the stage and even asked me if I wanted to get closer.
Unfortunately, simultaneously, my camera began telling me my battery was dangerously low.
I shook it, removed the battery, shined the contacts on my boob, replaced the battery, turned the camera off so it could rest, and kept watching. Then I started talking with one of the orchestra members who was telling me that the last piece they'd played was Cello Concerto #1 by Camille Saint-Saens. I was delighted to hear this, as I knew I could find it on YouTube.
Just then, I happened to glance up and THE QUEEN OF BELGIUM WAS SIX FEET AWAY FROM ME! Standing right there, talking to people! I excused myself from the conversation, turned on my camera...and you know what happened. The battery was completely dead.
Nothing. I had nothing. And I have nothing. No photo of the pretty Queen in her short blonded hair and coral jacket over a tasteful skirt. No photo of her escort nor her retinue. No photo of the flowers, grown right here on Salina, that they presented her. No photos of all the other people taking photos because THEIR CAMERA BATTERIES WERE NOT DEAD.
So there you have it. I resign, gracefully, before being rightfully dismissed. If I were a Queen, I would abdicate. If I were Napolean, I'd move to Elba. If I were the Groundhog, I'd climb back into my lonely burrow and wait out the winter.
I am abashed and humiliated. Disgraced and dismayed. I am asking for volunteers from my readership (which is different from a ferry but probably not as big). I already have one potential volunteer to take over, but she wants to write about cows and I'm not sure that's what SanPanchoVida readers are really looking for.
Send me an email with a brief resume, your interests and hobbies, and a few sample photos, and we'll put it up for a vote. I suppose we should have some sort of deadline, so let's say tomorrow afternoon.
Wait! Hold on one second! I'm just looking back at the photos I took before the battery died and I DO have a picture of the Queen of Belgium! It's a terrible photo, all blurry from distance and incompetence...but see her? Lower left, near the bush? That's all I got.
I await your decision.
So I'm on one of the Aeolian Islands off the north coast of Sicily. It's a beautiful place and it took me over three hours on a ferry to get here.
Now, it just so happens that my visit coincided with a visit by Queen Paola along with the National Symphony of Belgium which I'm sure is not what it's really called. I saw them setting up earlier in the day, and was told that the music didn't start until 9:30.
I put on a sweater, as it's chilly here tonight for us southerners, and walked down the hill and the hundred or so steps and the cute little street to the plaza. I was homing in on La Vela, a bar and sort-of restaurant with a terrace that overlooks the plaza, thinking that would be the place to watch the action. I ordered an Aperol spritz from the darling waitress, who I love and who loves me back, and went outside because that's how you do things here. She brought it out to me at my table on the terrace along with what amounts to a full meal for free. I'm sitting there scarfing down pistachios, which come with everything, and a plate of grilled vegetables (I skipped the peanuts, I can get those in Mexico). I couldn't really see the orchestra but I could see the audience which was fine for now.
The orchestra started playing about 7:35, which I thought was pretty good, considering. All was well until these nineteen-year-old boys sat down near me, with low slung jeans and sweatpants on and their underpants showing. Some things are the same no matter where you are. They began talking loudly about who-knows-what and looking at each other through their straws and balancing stuff on the napkin dispenser. I could no longer hear the music, so I chugged the rest of my spritz, popped a few more pistachios, paid up and went down to the plaza.
Oh, the music was glorious and so was the audience.
Meanwhile, I had been wandering around freely with my camera, as there was virtually zero security for the Queen of Belgium. Perhaps she's not high on anyone's hit list. There were handsome guys standing around in handsome uniforms, but they were all sweet and smiling too, and most of them were taking pictures. So I kept on moving up and had a nice interaction with one of the uniformed cuties who did not discourage me one bit from standing right up there near the stage and even asked me if I wanted to get closer.
Unfortunately, simultaneously, my camera began telling me my battery was dangerously low.
I shook it, removed the battery, shined the contacts on my boob, replaced the battery, turned the camera off so it could rest, and kept watching. Then I started talking with one of the orchestra members who was telling me that the last piece they'd played was Cello Concerto #1 by Camille Saint-Saens. I was delighted to hear this, as I knew I could find it on YouTube.
Just then, I happened to glance up and THE QUEEN OF BELGIUM WAS SIX FEET AWAY FROM ME! Standing right there, talking to people! I excused myself from the conversation, turned on my camera...and you know what happened. The battery was completely dead.
Nothing. I had nothing. And I have nothing. No photo of the pretty Queen in her short blonded hair and coral jacket over a tasteful skirt. No photo of her escort nor her retinue. No photo of the flowers, grown right here on Salina, that they presented her. No photos of all the other people taking photos because THEIR CAMERA BATTERIES WERE NOT DEAD.
So there you have it. I resign, gracefully, before being rightfully dismissed. If I were a Queen, I would abdicate. If I were Napolean, I'd move to Elba. If I were the Groundhog, I'd climb back into my lonely burrow and wait out the winter.
I am abashed and humiliated. Disgraced and dismayed. I am asking for volunteers from my readership (which is different from a ferry but probably not as big). I already have one potential volunteer to take over, but she wants to write about cows and I'm not sure that's what SanPanchoVida readers are really looking for.
Send me an email with a brief resume, your interests and hobbies, and a few sample photos, and we'll put it up for a vote. I suppose we should have some sort of deadline, so let's say tomorrow afternoon.
Wait! Hold on one second! I'm just looking back at the photos I took before the battery died and I DO have a picture of the Queen of Belgium! It's a terrible photo, all blurry from distance and incompetence...but see her? Lower left, near the bush? That's all I got.
I await your decision.
What an incredible evening you had. You should've introduced yourself to her as the Queen of San Pancho (although some may fight you for that title). Now hold it. You wrote this article a week ago. I'm a bit behind. Now...what's this about visiting another island? Sounds very intriguing. :) OK...it's time for you to come home. But I've had so much fun with you on this adventure! Thanks for sharing!!!
Posted by: Allen | September 27, 2013 at 07:49 PM
It was just your camera telling you to enjoy the experience without the distance of the looking glass. There are many things that cannot be seen through the eye of a camera. As always,I will follow your observations of your beautiful world and hope that someday soon I will be a part of it...
KISSES!!!
S
Posted by: Sheri | September 27, 2013 at 06:33 PM
I (thought) I posted several nights ago but it's not here - don't know what happened.
What a time for your batteries to go dead - I know you were very disappointed!
Jeanne: I sent you an email at the duke address regarding your other comment. Didn't you get it? Email me when you have a chance. xo C
Posted by: Jeanne | September 26, 2013 at 01:46 PM
Keep rocking the blog, you will always be my Queen Candice.
Posted by: King Jeribus | September 24, 2013 at 08:57 PM
My vote's with Fred....
Posted by: Char | September 24, 2013 at 08:53 AM
Fret not fair Lady and buy a second battery.
Posted by: Fred Feibel | September 23, 2013 at 08:39 PM
That Pau is such a dear!!! I heard she'd received my message but I had no idea she was going to put on a concert for you. What a sweetheart!!!
Posted by: Travis | September 23, 2013 at 03:24 PM