What can one say about the people of Sicily? In all my travels there I have been met only with kindness, appreciation for coming to visit and for wanting to rediscover my roots as well as for my desire to get to know these enormously resourceful, energetic, kind, sincere, hard working people who are truly lovers of life and the Salt of the Earth.
I met this group of men in Salemi in western Sicily one afternoon while the wives were all home cooking. It was just after pranzo or the long afternoon lunch when the shops start to reopen and the perfume of food is everywhere. Showing what a small world this is, I met Nicolo'(seated) in Sant'Alessio quite by chance. I saw this car outside the entrance to our complex and was struck by the NY licence plates!!!!!! Nicolo' was born in Sant'Alessio, emmigrated to the U.S.(NY) and now goes back for a several months during the year to stay in the home he was born in and to mingle with his childhood friends. He is quite a guy! If ever there was a non official mayor of a town, it is he. Saluti Nicolo'. Carmela and Giuseppina Cacopardo are the female equivilants of Nicolo'. Born in Taormina, emigrating to the US and attending school in Queens NY, they returned to Sicilia "For a better life". They are the very proud owners of a most wonderful restaurant in Letojanni ( near Taormina) called ARCO ROSSO. Everything about this restaurant says,
Sicily at its' best! The ambiance, preparation, location ( across from the beach) THE FOOD ( and price) and of course they themselves make eating there an absolute MUST for any traveler to Sicilia.