CIKKO- AND OUR VILLAGE LIFE.

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For as long as I can remember and long before this, Cikko( Francesco) has been a part of the scene; I should really say a central part of the scene. Village life without him would simply be unimaginable. A man of the village and the sea, he is woven into the very fabric of life and living here.  As  we rise in the morning at 5-00 Cikko's light is glowing from his little house across the way, then he is off to church and his morning prayers. The ducks are ready and waiting eagerly for their morning feed, and Cikko never misses. We took these pictures of him this morning as he made his way to them.
 All through winter and well into spring his woolly hat is a permanent fixture. -only when he feels that warm summer air does he discard it. He loves spring time when he can walk along by the sea, or sit for a while under the big palm tree, chatting to passers -by. It's as if everyone stops to talk with Cikko, and he loves a little conversation with the early tourists,I'm sure fascinating them with stories they love to hear. On beautiful spring mornings, very early, there is Cikko below us in his little boat, gliding gently along with his long bamboo pole, looking into the clear depths for the octupus that he nearly always finds. Later on such days we see him in his small storeroom mending his nets.
 As it draws towards the Summer Season, Cikko begins a quiet mumbling  and grumbling about 'THE SOMMAIRE!'- He Really hates the way the rocks quite suddenly lose their tranquility and become part of the tourist  attraction for a while.He makes the best of it though, there as usual but not in the heat of the day.  It's not until we are well into autumn that we greet and see him once again truly in his element, savouring the  scene. His wise old face crinkles into a grin and he says with a twinkle in his eyes----'Aaah -PEACE.'  
 Everyone loves Cikko! A man of the village, a man of the sea;- a simple man, a brave and good man,-a man whose face shines with warmth and love of life and people,-  a dear, sweet,  gentle friend who without doubt  belongs with us all  here as a  deep part of ourselves .
                                                                                Mo.