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ProfessorGAC

(77,356 posts)

16. My Family Is Nearer Siracusa

Reply to CTyankee (Reply #9)

Tue Aug 4, 2015, 10:45 AM

Aug 2015

And the other half is from right across the straits from a town called Paneteria. My GF worked for the Italian railroad as a brakeman.

When il Duce started purging Sicilians from government work, it seemed a matter of time before the purge got all the way down to a lowly brakeman's position.

So, GF packed my grandma and aunt and moved to NYC when he worked on the Penn Central as a fireman. (Still steam trains.) Got a opportunity through other family for a job on the Rock Island as a brakeman, so moved to Chicago in 1928. My dad was born in Chicago in 1931.

The Calabrese (gramma's side) part of the family owns a chain of furniture stores in southern italy. I still communicate with them

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Do we still have a military presence in Sicily? [View all] CTyankee Aug 2015 OP

So that we can project air power into North Africa? Freddie Stubbs Aug 2015 #1

Do we have a treaty with the government of Italy? CTyankee Aug 2015 #2

We have bilateral agreements through NATO which allow the bases Freddie Stubbs Aug 2015 #6

Ah, I shudda known it would be a NATO agreement. Just wasn't sure... CTyankee Aug 2015 #9

... pinboy3niner Aug 2015 #10

Actually, it was the final scene where Michael's daughter is shot on the steps of the CTyankee Aug 2015 #11

My Family Is Nearer Siracusa ProfessorGAC Aug 2015 #16

there is also a Caravaggio painting, The Burial of St. Lucy, there... CTyankee Aug 2015 #19

There are seven US military bases in Italy - they date back to the 1950s. nt hack89 Aug 2015 #12

It's initial purpose was to support ASW in the eastern Mediterranean. hack89 Aug 2015 #13

But we did invade Sicily in WW2. Or rather the Allies did. Fascinating... CTyankee Aug 2015 #20

North Africa (nt) Recursion Aug 2015 #3

Yes, They are there. mymomwasright Aug 2015 #4

As far as I know NAS Sigonella is still there tkmorris Aug 2015 #5

I didn't see it actually altho I was in Catania (not the nicest place in Sicily...) CTyankee Aug 2015 #7

Yes I did get up to Taormina tkmorris Aug 2015 #15

The steepest inclines I ever saw were in Anghiari, Tuscany. It is one of the hill towns CTyankee Aug 2015 #17

Yeah, Sig is still there. Adrahil Aug 2015 #8

We need to protect the invaluable resources of rectangular pizza with a doughy crust. Tommy_Carcetti Aug 2015 #14

Sicilian pizza was fabulous. I also liked their own "dish" Pasta Norma, made with CTyankee Aug 2015 #18

What part if Sicily are you going to? Javaman Aug 2015 #21

we fly into Palermo and out of Catania... CTyankee Aug 2015 #22

Siricusa is wonderful. I spent a week there. Javaman Aug 2015 #23

It's not til the spring. prolly April... CTyankee Aug 2015 #24

I had gone there in Mid March in 2010... Javaman Aug 2015 #25

we are waiting to go in April because in March we can get late a snowstorm that CTyankee Aug 2015 #26

the dreaded late season snow... Javaman Aug 2015 #27

don't worry we will. my travel buddy is a foodie and a wine lover like me...we've CTyankee Aug 2015 #28

You'll have a blast. :) Javaman Aug 2015 #29