weekly photo challenge: illumination

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it was late evening in palermo, sicily. as i turned a corner into a dark alley, i was drawn to a lighted puppet shop like a moth attracted to the flame. from the window, i saw a craftsman doing finishing touches to one of his creations under the glow of fluorescent lights above him.

it was always a privilege to witness somebody in his element. it was poetry personified. it surely beat the risk of being mugged walking back to the hotel from such a desolate place.

story-telling using puppets has long been an established tradition in southern italy. based on the heroic deeds of charlemagne and his knights, its origin can be traced as far back as the nineteenth century. i’d say you have never been to sicily if you haven’t gone to one of the puppet shows there.