A Market in Sicily
Vocabulary
| corral | point (3) | attention |
| thrive | ancient | come/came/come |
| chaos | flourish | fall/fell/fallen |
| rule | unique | salesmen |
| usher | island | exploration |
| glory | overlord | metropolis |
| busy | heritage | reflect (2) |
| port | scruffy | surrounded |
| noisy | elegance | exploration |
| invite | sprinkle | feel/felt/felt (2) |
| snack | spirit (2) | boisterous |
| gritty | compete | commotion |
| lyrics | stall (2) | buy/bought/bought |
| scene | conquer | entertaining |
| own | action | understand/understood/understood |
| lyrics | wander | good/better/best |
| style | tangle (2) | adventure |
| odd | bit (3) | sell/sold/sold |
| gawk | slice (2) | hoof/hooves |
| boil | cut off | parade (2) |
Video
Transcript
Palermo is a great starting point to untangle the story of Sicily.
The island was a thriving Greek colony 500 years before Christ. Then came ancient Rome for a few centuries. Then it fell. After some chaos, Sicily flourished again in the 9th and 10th centuries under Arab rule. Then, in the 11th century, the Normans came.
While the ushered in Sicily’s glory days, the parade of conquerors just kept on coming.
Palermo, Sicily’s main city and historic capital, is a busy port corralled by mountains. A noisy and energetic metropolis, its architecture reflects the rule of its many overlords, as well as its rich heritage.
Walking the lively streets, you’re surrounded by a scruffy elegance. The city invites exploration.
You feel the city’s boisterous spirit in its markets. Here at the gritty Ballarò Market, you’ll wander among a commotion of stalls all competing for the buyer’s attention.
It’s an entertaining scene, complete with singing salesmen, each with his own unique style. Whether you understand the lyrics or not, this slice of life market action is some of the best in Europe.
And don’t just gawk — adventure in, try something new. Just like his father did, Pippo sells the odd bits of the cow — it’s all boiled from hoof to snout. And I’m picking its nose. You take a little cow, you cut off his nose, you boil it, sprinkle a little salt, you got a snack.
Questions
Sicily. Palermo, Sicily in Italy is an entirely new, modern city.
Sardinia. Has Sicily always been an independent place? Who were some of its occupies and rulers?
Corsica. Does everyone drive cars in Palermo? Does everyone travel by car?
Ibiza. Everyone in Palermo shops in supermarkets and shops. Is this right or wrong?
Majorca. Is it very quiet at the Palermo Bazaar (Market)? What do you hear?
Crete. What do vendors sell in the market (bazaar)?
Cyprus. Did the presenter taste some barbecue or shish kebab?
Rhodes. Is the market popular? Is it crowded?
Ikaria. I have visited Italy. Yes or no? Have your friends visited Italy?
Spain. What do you associate with Italy? What comes to mind when you think of Italy?
Italy. Are there bazaars and markets in your city? Are markets and bazaars popular?
Greece. Is your local market similar to or different from the Palermo bazaar?
Lebanon. What might happen in the future? Will bazaars be more popular, less popular or the same?
