List of Articles.


December 2013
Dicembre 2013

Novembre 2013
November 2013

Selinunte
Ottobre 17 2013

Segesta
Ottobre 16 2013

Villa Romana
Del Casale

Valley of
The Temples

Sicilia
Ottobre 2013

In Solvang With
Mark , Shanna
Anthony and Adrian
Settembre 28 2013

September 2013
Settembre 2013

August 2013
Agosto 2013

July 20 2013
Alexia B-day

July 2013
Luglio 2013

June 2013
Giugno 2013

May 2013
Maggio 2013

Aprile 2013
April 2013

Nonna Vita's
93rd birth day

February 2013
Febraio 2013

January 2013
Gennaio 2013

Arboretum (December 30th 2013)
Today, we went with Mark, Adrian and Anthony to Discover the internationally famous Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, a 127 acre natural and historic wonder with plant collections including rare and endangered species from all over the world. The garden has been featured in several television shows and movies, We also explored peaceful and unique paths or sat with Adrian and Anthony to relax by the Mayberg waterfall, fountains, ponds and themed gardens.
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Los Angeles Zoo (December 26th 2013)
Today, Salvo, Adrian, and Anthony took some of us adults to the Los Angeles Zoo to see the tigers, giraffes, elephants and a great number of other animals. I, along with the younger group found the animals interesting and fun to watch, especially Santa's rain deer, the monkeys and kangaroos. A certain member of the adult group "Valeria" thought that the animals would be better off in much larger more natural environment. I tend to agree with her but still found the place interesting affordable and close enough to L.A. for an easy day trip.
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Dinosaurs, Pomona Fairplex (November 29th 2013)
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals that first appeared during the Triassic Period, 231.4 million years ago, and reigned suppreme until about 66 million years ago when all perished except for a small group of diverse dinosaurs that somehow managed to survive to the present and now at the Pomona Fairplex they make a living entertaining and terrorizing young and old alike who are brave enough to come and explore this "Jurassic Park".
This trip was partially set up by Deanna and Mark who paid for the event, thank to both. Present at the Pomona Fairplex was, Deanna, baby Julian, Adrian who had a blast riding the dinosaurs but was terrorized at first by the moving animals, Anthony who broke the no feeding the dinosaurs rules and tried to feed potato chips to Tyrannosaurus Rex, very brave, Thanks also to Shanna for her participation and help in almost all of our events.
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Erice, Sicilia (October 12th 2013)
Erice is located on top of Mount Erice, at around 750m above sea level, overlooking the city of Trapani, the low western coast towards Marsala, the dramatic Punta del Saraceno and Capo San Vito to the north-east, and the Aegadian Islands on Sicily's north-western coast, providing spectacular views.
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Palermo (October 14-21th 2013)
My primary reason for coming to Sicily did not go as smoothly as hoped, I don't mind, I can return another time once I get the required paperwork back in the states or can convince Mayra to make the trip with me. That aside everything else was enjoiabble. Special thanks to cousin Salvatore Maltese who was always helpful, also Salvatote Sclafani who took me on a trip to Palermo and a Visit to the Cathedrale di Palermo, San Giovanni Degli Eremiti, Piazza Pretoria, San Domenico Church, and a drive by Teatro Massimo, Politeama and and i Quattro Canti then on another day a tour of Piano Maggi and the surrounding area including a walk almost to the plane crash site on Montagna lunga.
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Roma, Italia (October 12th 2013)
I wonder sometimes which one of my trips to Sicily will be my last one. I'm here about four years later than planned, but I'm here.
To Start, I arrived in Rome October 12 at about 2:00 pm, after a long wait at the airport for custums inspections I took the metro to the Cipro station, from there a short walk to The Nova Domus Hotel for two nights. My stay in Rome includes a visit to Castel Santangelo, the Colosseo, Altare della Patria, Fori Romani and St. Peter's Basilica. The most exciting part of this short visit was when I walked to St. Peter's Square and witnessed a mass headed by Pope Francis himself, a beautiful experience.
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Julian Michael Choi (August 25 2013)
Congratulations to Deanna and David. Today August 25th 2013 at about 5:38 PM Deanna gave birth to a beautiful healthy 8 lbs 5 oz, 20 inch baby boy. Everyone in the Chirco and the Choi family is elated to welcome Julian as the newest member to our family. we all look forward to help and support with the new addition in whatever way we can. Once again, congratulation to The parents, Grandparent, uncles, aunts etc...
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Knotts Berry Farm (August 22 2013)
Today, with Mayra and Baby Anthony we went on Anthonys first ever, honest to goodness trip to Knotts Berry Farm. This amusement park has all kinds of heart stopping, blood rushing and hair curling rides that both Mayra and I dream about, but since we where with baby Anthony we decided to enjoy just the rides appropriate for Anthony age group. We all did however look at the trilling rides and hope to return when anthony can ride with us on, La Revolucion, Rip Tide, Screamin' Swing etc... All rides that Mayra and I live for and look forward to every single day of our lives. Yeah.
Anthony was great, he had fun on all the rides and we look forwad to taking him back for more fun and rides.
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Shuttle Endevour (July 15 2013)

Amazing how many intersting sites are available withing minutes of Downey. Today we, Adrian and I, went to the California Science Center to see the space Shuttle Endeavour and some of the other exhibits at the site. There is a lot to see and we hope to return as soon as we can get a larger group to attend. Ok both Adrian and I had a great time, I really liked the shuttle Endeavour, this time seen on the ground of the Science Center and Adrian developed a special bond with the big fish he saw from the tunnel in the 188,000 gallon aquarium.
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Santa Barbara/Solvang (July 5^th to July 8^th 2013)
One of the goals of this trip was to visit Mission Santa Ines. OK, that was my goal. As a group we will also visit, Santa Barbara, Solvang, Morro Bay and a few other sites along the way. Mission Santa Ines was founded on September 17, 1804 by Father Estevan Tapis, and was named in honor of Saint Agnes, an early Christian martyr of the fourth century. The Mission continues its central role in the spiritual and social life of the Santa Ynez Valley as an active parish church of approximately 1,000 families, and is administered by the Capuchin Franciscan Order.
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Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon (May 5^th to May 8^th 2013)
On our return trip from Chaco Canyon we stopped at Painted Desert in Arizona and Petrified Forest just off HWY 40 after which we spent the night in Holbrook. Next day we visited Meteor Crater near Winslow AZ and them made a short detour to Lake Havasu to admire the London Bridge. Our trip home was a non stop seven something hour car ride. From my point of View and overall we all had a great time, the trip back home was a little long and caused some consternation but that aside, IT WAS FUN., and we had a great time.
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Horseshoe Bend an Antelope Canyon (May 5^th to May 6^th 2013)
Today with Mayra, Carola and Elizabeth we are on our way to see some beautiful and interesting places in the Four Corner area of the Southwest. Our first stop will be, Page, Arizona where we plan to visit Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. Mesa Verde National Park, a U.S. National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site will be our next stop. Mesa Verde is best known for several spectacular cliff dwellings including Cliff Palace, which is thought to be the largest cliff dwelling in North America.
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Mamma (Febraio 20 1920-Marzo 3 2013 )
A mia madre

Dimmi, dimmi, apuzza nica:
unni vai cussì matinu?
Nun c’è cima chi arrussica
di lu munti a nui vicinu;

trema ancora, ancora luci
la ruggiada ntra li prati:
duna accura nun ti arruci
l’ali d’oru dilicati!

Li ciuriddi durmigghiusi
ntra li virdi soi buttuni
stannu ancora stritti e chiusi
cu li testi a pinnuluni.

Ma l’aluzza s’affatica!
Ma tu voli e fai caminu!
Dimmi, dimmi, apuzza nica,
unni vai cussì matinu?

Cerchi meli? E s’iddu è chissu,
chiudi l’ali e ‘un ti straccari;
ti lu ‘nzignu un locu fissu,
unni ài sempri chi sucari:

lu conusci lu miu amuri,
Nici mia di l’occhi beddi?
Ntra ddi labbri c’è un sapuri,
na ducizza chi mai speddi;

ntra lu labbru culuritu
di lu caru amatu beni
c’è lu meli chiù squisitu:
suca, sucalu, ca veni.

(Giovanni Meli)

Ciao Mamma. Ninuzzu ma dumannatu diresi voti "Ninu, unne Nonna Vita ?" Un sacciu veramenti comu arrispunnici, provu ma nun lassu cuntentu e mancu surisfattu ne a iddu n'e a mia stessu.
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USS Iowa (January 5 2013 )
USS Iowa (BB-61) was the lead ship of her class of battleship and the fourth in the United States Navy to be named in honor of the 29th state. Owing to the cancellation of the Montana-class battleships, Iowa is the last lead ship of any class of United States battleships, and was the only ship of her class to have served in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II. During World War II, she carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt across the Atlantic to Casablanca en route to a crucial 1943 meeting in Tehran with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin
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New Year Day 2013 (December 2012/13 )

We at the Chirco family in Downey had a great ending to the year 2013. WE, Mayra and I find we have been blesses with another beautiful healthy grandson thanks to Marks and Shannas efforts. Deanna and Davids baby boy also is growing to be the life of the party at all our get togethers. The year was closed with Fanny and her entire family with us to celebrate Christmas. Vitina came from Hawaii, Antonella and Alessandro traveled from Cinisi and Michele left the snow and freezing wether of Michigan just to be with the entire family. Giuseppe, Marina and JJ also at our year end celebration. Later Elsa and Andy also showed up along with some friends.
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