Though I cannot be in Sicilia during Christmas, my mind still transports me there. I am not looking at Sicilia through rose colored glasses but it is MY place to alleviate or at least lower my stress levels whenever necessary. Yes, it does snow in Sicilia as one can see from the photo taken somewhere between Sant' Agata di Mitello and Navarra di Sicilia. Other images: The sun setting through the mountains at Rocafiorita, Cefalu on the beach and through one of it's many portals to the sea, The train station near Linguaglossa which is one of many running in and around Etna. Buon Natale a tutti

Traveling in the interior or to the western part of the island, one is always reminded both of the past reasons so many of our relatives left in the early part of the last century and also the unparalleled beauty which always brings a tear and a smile when one reflects upon BEDDASICILIA. These sheep were in a field in Linguaglossa near Etna while the one with the shepherd could be in the same place but was in San Teodoro near Bronte. The flat plain sitting below the mountain is part of Corleone while the Reserva dello Zingaro forms the backdrop for the image taken, obviously, from a boat. The laundry image, so ordinary throughout Sicilia, could be anywhere but this particular one was in Ali Termini on the eastern coast just south of Messina.

Just having some random thoughts about Sicilia so I thought I'd post some random images. The boy was caught in thought at the beach at Roccalumeria on Sicily's eastern coast just north of Taormina. The insalata caprese is anywhere but I must confess, it is from DA GIUSEPPE (me). My "thing" with trains continues. This image was somewhere in the Nebrodi Mountains.
Interior town of Cesaro` contrasts with the beach town of AciCastello which has its' place in Sicilian literature made famous by Giovanni Verga.

On The SS 289, returning from Sant'Agata di Mitello, one comes to Cesaro` situated high on a hill top with stunning views.
We stopped at the RISTORANTE NEBRODI MIRAGLIA and, thanks to Signor Miraglia, his daughter Sara, and his wife whom we did not meet, we had a really delicious pranzo typical of this region of Sicilia. The gentleman on the road back to Sant'Alessio kindly asked us to stop until the TRAFFIC had passed!

PIETRAPERZIA, in Enna province is one of those uniquely old hill towns overlooking the Valley of Himera where it is thought the original inhabitants of Sicily dwelled. The castle, built by the Arabs and modified by the Normans is now a ruin and an attraction not to missed as it offers a spectacular view of the valley and Caltanisetta. The town consists of an upper and lower part and there are many events there all during the summer.

Despite the international success of the 1995 movie, IL POSTINO (with Massimo Troisi), SALINA is one of the least known and explored of the Aeolian Islands. The beauty and tranquility are evident everywhere as one roams the narrow colorful streets which seem always to lead to the turquoise waters. World famous for capers and the grape which makes Malvasia wine, it is a place to return to over and over again.

ERICE, located in the province of Trapani, offers some of the most spectacular views I have seen in Sicily. It is said that on a clear day ( weather can change from minute to minute at this height of 2,400 plus feet above sea level) one can see the northern coast of Africa. Below, the entire city of Trapani dazzles the imagination while looking to the west are the Egadi islands of Levanzo, Marittimo and Favignana. From either of the two castles, the view is rather humbling. Walking the narrow cobblestone streets, one finds many restaurants, shops and in particular, Maria Grammatico's pastry shop celebrated in Mary Simeti's book, BITTER ALMONDS". To wander the streets in Erice is to step back to the time of its mythical founding. To me, ERICE inspired Shangri La!

I have always been in love with the western part of Sicilia and what better proof of the island's beauty is there than CASTELLAMARE DEL GOLFO situated in a beautiful bay with access to the Zingaro Natural Reserve; where time seems to slip away and one is seduced by the panoramic views, the laziness of the summer days and the sweet smell of freshly caught fish in the surrounding water. From here it is easy to arrive at such places as Trapani, the island of Mozia, Erice and more. A more pleasant place to visit and/or to stay would be hard to find.

I am sorry, but for reasons unknown to me, the windmill image did not appear.

It is great to be back only to be able to share more images of BEDDASICILIA.
One thing I have always wanted to do has been to visit the salt fields in Trapani. These images were made in the town of Nubia which runs along the coast. The Phoenicians, I believe, originally brought the technology to begin this world famous salt production.The windmills, active today are a vital part of extracting the salt which you can see is still a manual job.

So, in Sicilia, during the summer, the image on the left is what you may have for breakfast: cappuccino or expresso, a brioche and a granita
which is, to the best of my ability to explain, a cross between an american slushy ( doesn't do it any justice) and a gelato which is far creamier and more delicious than the best American ice cream. It comes in many flavors but the Sicilians LOVE lemon. I am a pistacchio freak and mixed with chocolate, is d e v i n e !!!! The panna or cream on top is optional. Go for it! The tomatoes seen here are not altered or color enhanced but are rather real, like in... NATURAL!!!!! Chocolate granita ( again), Pistacchio and mandola (almond) gelato in Pace del Mela, Sicilia ( grazie Maria!) and a caffe (which I can smell) con biscotto in Furci. Have a great summer everyone!!!

Way up in the mountains where the Nebrodi and the Peloritani ranges meet lies the lovely town of Novara di Sicilia. While walking through town, I met these two gentlemen who swore they had relatives in NY! Where? Brooklyn of course! No where does one find Pistacchio nuts as delicious as those from Bronte. Just the aroma itself is magnificent! One of the things that is most fun during the summer is the outdoor markets which are part of the culture of most, if not all towns. One can buy anything form kitchen utensils to clothing to bar B Q's to all kinds of food and anything else you can imagine. They are an event not a chore. The prices are set only after the cat and mouse game of bargaining! This is the weekly Wednesday mercato in Furci, an otherwise delightful seaside village with a spectacular beach about half way between Taormina and Messina.