Streets of (Southern) Italy (and Sicilia)

Field notes and photos from Brian Burwell:

"The streets are very narrow in the older towns, many are one way, and sometimes at a steep slope.  There is little vision onto the street you are entering because buildings are right up to the edge of the streets.   This leads to challenging situations where Italians are very patient with one another.  (Not so in the larger cities where multiple lanes are always merging and one juts one’s bow into any opening in the desired direction.)  Work vehicles have been built and adapted to meet space restrictions.  

"My Ford Ranger would not fit and certainly not your "full size” pickups.  A basic model is the three wheeler, often used for street-side sale of fruit, vegetables, etc.   The green unit is for pizza delivery.  

"Old metal bed headboards are often attached — must be good for tying to. 

"The third truck is small four-wheeler used to deliver vegetables door to door in Castelammare del Golfo where many of the residents are elderly women. 

 

"The fourth truck with the fold-down sides is owned by a furniture store and used for delivery.  

"Cars carry many things including brush for a baker in Scopello, and some benches.  

"Cats also need transportation.  The 63 year-old operator of the laundromat we used in Palermo has driven a Honda Shadow for the past 22 years. 

"Some highway trucks are personalized with the drivers name emblazoned across the front, a saint pictured on the side, fancy lights etc.  These are probably driven by old guys. Unfortunately we haven’t been able to get pictures"--BB