a while ago, i was going to write a blog about sicily and naples, and it was going to be called catnaps, or something. that has now disappeared into the past and i wonder at the continued wisdom of writing blogs. i have reached the final destination before the slow haul back to england, and writing about this seemed to be unnecessary. but, maybe as a kind of pre emptive summing up, here's some things that happened, in a list

- singing in catania on chairs but not tables because they were too w...
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still up at 5:30am a saturday morning (/friday night) listening to italian prog readings of dante's inferno, discussing ezra pound's continued influence in italy. apparently no one is allowed (supposed) to talk about him because of his alignment with mussolini's fascism. my host was told about him by an old friend of his, a far right italian terrorist maoist nazi - if there is one thing to be said for such a group, it is that they do a great book club.

mornings in catania come equipped with th...
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i have been coping, or not coping, by either lying inside, dousing myself in water, or by not going out until much later. but it's still hot then.

after leaving the mountains went to venice for a couple of days, found it very expensive but as beautiful as it is always meant to be. then took a train to mirandola to play a show at a place called estivo,  but as it turned out i was to play at a pizzeria. i was unexpectedly joined in this by the 'by and by string band' of new orleans, who had also...
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