Sicily by Tabi

21/11/2024

You may not always associate Sicily with cozy mountain retreats - but it fits!! And it's marvelous!

This weekend retreat was for chestnut 🌰 picking and we went to Etna. Chestnuts were slim, but the views stunning! Nothing like Etna to put things in perspective! That clean mountain air just clears out the mental cobwebs like nothing else!

Cozy fires, amazing food in Nicolosi, hikes, views and the slower pace of fall! Overnight temperatures dipped to 4 degrees! While in Catania Sunday morning we reached 26 degrees while driving home (and a mandatory Ikea visit ..)

Love these getaways! Planning some more Sicilian mountain excursions soon 🧡

31/10/2024

Pollina 🧡

Pollina: Un Gioiello Siciliano con Vista su Cefalù

Arroccato sulle colline delle Madonie, Pollina è un borgo incantevole che offre una vista mozzafiato sulla costa e sulle montagne circostanti. Vista dall’alto all’imbrunire, Pollina si accende di un fascino particolare: le case in pietra e i tetti si mescolano ai colori caldi del tramonto, mentre le nubi, note come “lupa,” aggiungono un tocco di mistero al paesaggio. Sullo sfondo, la sagoma di Cefalù appare all’orizzonte, creando una cornice naturale che lascia senza fiato.

Questo borgo medievale custodisce una storia antica e affascinante, tra strette stradine, archi in pietra e l’antico teatro greco che offre un panorama unico. Pollina non è solo un luogo di bellezza naturale ma anche una meta di interesse culturale, dove si respira la storia della Sicilia più autentica.

Pollina è perfetta per chi cerca un angolo di Sicilia meno turistico ma ricco di autenticità, ideale per immergersi nella cultura, nella natura e nelle tradizioni locali, avvolti da paesaggi suggestivi che al tramonto rivelano il loro lato più magico.

© ANTONINO BARTUCCIO 2024

12/10/2024

Day 14

Time to say goodbye - I prefer Arrivederci (until we meet again)💛

What an amazing group of women! So thankful to have met you all! Can't wait to see you again! On either side of the pond! Thank you for coming on this journey!

💛💛💛

12/10/2024

Day 13

Our relaxing day at the Amazing Terme Segestane! Nothing like some hot thermal water to soothe our tired muscles! We also happened to represent the canadian swim team 😂

After a lovely lunch on the beach, it was time for some last minute shopping and packing.

And before we realized it, time for our farewell dinner at Mistral where we tasted amazing pasta alla norma, swordfish, wine and just so many laughs and wonderful moments! What I love about these tours is that the bonds forged will last a lifetime! I gained 16 amazing friends!

We then did an evening stroll to the port and back to bed.

12/10/2024

Day 12

We ended up skipping our San Vito lo Capo daytrip and opted to stay in Erice a Little longer.

Compared to last year, we have been hitting cooler temps and today would not have made a great beach day, so we explored Erice shrouded in clouds, the artisan shops, thick hot chocolate with anise cookies at Bar Edelweiss, almond paste cookies at the unmissable Maria Grammatico pastry shop and soaked in the eerie views of Castello di Venere hidden in the clouds.

I try not to talk up Erice too much - I understand everyone has their own favorite spots, and Sicily certainty offers nothing but a bounty of spots to compete for the coveted nr.1 favorite spot! But for me, it has always been and I dare say, will always be, Erice!

Despite the tourism and popularity, it has managed to maintain its authenticity thanks to it's few inhabitants that clearly value their traditions and crafts over selling out to commercialism. You won't find any name brands here - just locally worked goods like hand woven carpets by a second generation artisan who has compassion, love and pride etched onto the wrinkles of her face and the permanently disfigured fingers from a lifetime of weaving her heritage into her carpets. You can't buy this kind of dedication.

The few people who still inhabit Erice do so out of passion, out of love for their unique home and out of pure grit! It's not an easy life: either inundated by often less than considerate tourists and filming crews to the utter isolation and loneliness of months of solitude. It takes a special person. And that's part of what makes Erice so unique.

Not just the breathtaking views, the feeling of having escaped the world below for a few precious moments and hiding in the mist of clouds rolling by, the marble roads etched by centuries of wooden cartwheel traffic several lifetimes ago, the solitude and inherent peace you feel while sitting in a bench in the castle park, soaking in the views below and finding many more reasons for gratitude in your soul.

The food and drinks are really good too 😉

Just very happy that the girls also loved Erice! It's my peaceful spot I don't mind sharing! 💛

09/10/2024

Day 11

Started with a visit at the nearby Creto di Buri - epicentre of the 1968 earthquake that devastated the nearby towns. An incredible spot hard to describe in words.

Then off to the olive oil mill! We got to taste fresh pressed olive oil! This was only the second milling of the season! We also met up with Franco and his lovely family from California and learned all about how olive oil is made, how sustainable it is, and the many tricks employed by commercial venues to make a profit by distorting this incredible nectar. We even found a namesake for our Erin - Erino who works at the mill!

Then we went to Mazara del Vallo and had lunch at the Cozzaro for some amazing mussels.

Next we visited the museum of the salt in Nubia - learned all about the salt trade and the interesting history behind it.

Next we had a little hike up to our hotel in Erice. Unfortunately we caught a cloudy sunset so we found a speakeasy with an incredible bartender and enjoyed some amazing cocktails.

Next we had an amazing dinner at la Pentolaccia in Erice. Best seafood cous cous ever!

We also met a Paolo (kind of) who declared his love to Erin by way of a lovely cake 😂

It was an awesome day! Love those laughs that make your cheeks hurt!

09/10/2024

Day 10

Nothing is more relaxing than eating, cooking, eating, wine and eating some more.

Today we learned to make some local dishes like caponata, hand made busiate pasta, cauliflower fritters, involtini and of course cassatelle. There are no pictures of the cassatelle... They were simply too delicious 😬😬

It was a great day to relax, soak in the atmosphere, the experiences and taste many delicious dishes and wines. A feast for the senses.

09/10/2024

Day 9

We enjoyed a late start to our day which allowed for some pool time, cribbage marches and even knitting!

After a quick lunch we went to explore the Turkish steps from the Belvedere. Pictures don't do it justice! But we can all agree it's a stunning spot!

We set off for our relaxing stop on the tour! A few one night stops in a row, a relaxation break is well deserved.

We arrived at the and were met by Nonno Gaspare. This setting is all about good food, good wine and relaxation! We even had massages waiting for us.

The girls that work here prepared an amazing dinner with an incredible antipasto, busiate alla salsiccia, involtini with salad! It was perfect.

Wish I had taken more pictures lol

08/10/2024

Today was the last seasonal departure for Neos direct service to JFK! Until next season! 🧡

08/10/2024

Stromboli is always a sight to behold 🧡

Stromboli🔥

06/10/2024

Day 8 -

Woke up to less pain and the wonderful care of Signora Lina from in Noto. She is like the best Nonna ever. Took such good care of us, was so accommodating and caring. The best! Also, one of the bedroom flooring perfectly matched one of the girl's shoes! (Planned of course 😉)

After a short Sunday morning hike to the local pharmacy, we bid adieu to Noto! Amazing Noto.

We ended up changing our itinerary to accommodate the Valley of the Temples tour in Agrigento for this evening (instead of tomorrow morning) at the bequest of our super guide . The temperatures have been hot (over 30 Celsius)! And the valley of the temples is always a few degrees hotter! So a cool sunset tour at sunset sounded perfect to us! Much better than a daytime sweat bath.

We had a beautiful lunch at Castello di Donnafugata on the way and checked into our awesome which is just 10 min from the valley of the temples.

06/10/2024

Day 7

Marzamemi! A picturesque and adorable fishing Village turned IG famous! Campisi Is One of the oldest tuna processing plants in town - we did a tour of the shop and learned about bottarga and various cuts of tuna etc.

My pictures are sorely lacking because I had a little slip and fall accident 🫣 (I am a klutz by nature) and had a throbbing knee. But we had a lovely lunch at Campiso, did some shopping and unfortunately one of the girls on the trip started feeling ill, my knee was swelling, so we proceeded to our next stop - the spectacular town of Noto.

While the injured and sick rested, the girls sent back lovely photos of the local attractions - the painted and live variation 😂😂

In the evening we decided a hospital visit was in order. After matching x-rays and some good meds and more artistic specimens of the live kind... an incredibly friendly and fantastic taxi driver, we were all back in our rooms and resting.

Sicilian healthcare has a bad reputation but let me assure you that on this particular day, it was much more efficient and speedy than other experiences I had back in Canada. Just to reassure you that if you need to access healthcare while on vacation, do not be afraid. Also, it was free....

06/10/2024

Day 6 - part 2

We arrived in Siracusa/Ortigia and were presented with blocked roads and no parking options... The city was buzzing! We soon found out that the G7 Agricultural was held in town! Ortigia was unrecognizable - operas, tenors, tractors, displays, events.... While it was incredible to witness I couldn't help but year for the simple Ortigia - she's so beautiful she does not need to be dressed up...

Anyhow it was memorable and a surprise! And a warm welcome to our Canadian group of course 😂😂 anytime there is a pleasant surprise, or course I take all the credit with a wink and a smile and a "of course I planned this surprise for you!" 😬😉

Twas a good way to finish day 6, we had a fantastic meal a low-key, comfortable Bistro that serves fantastic dishes, very good wines, very good value and has the friendliest and most accommodating staff and owner! Try them out, you will love it!

Buona notte 🌅

29/09/2024

Day 5

Time to say goodbye to uncle Dino and his amazing hospitality. We headed for Taormina.
Visited the main street, archeological park, villa (park), tried to break into the San Stefano hotel (white lotus hotel) but Sicilian security is fairly efficient so we settled to one of the countless amazing spots to enjoy a light lunch and refreshing white wine.

One of the more touristy spots for sure but it merits!

Then we headed to our glamping cabins in Acid Reale for some drinks and most delicious pizza dinner!

29/09/2024

Day 4

Sicily, being surrounded by hundreds of Islands, offers plenty of boat excursions. My favorite are the Eioli Islands.

With our master skipper Calogero, we visited grotta del cavallo, piscina di Venere, the active volcanic island of Volcano (creative name) and the island of Lipari.

Wonderful day on the water - we explored the islands, shopped, ate amazing capers and cucunci (caper berries), swam and our sunset boat aperitivo.

Twas a good day 💛

25/09/2024

Day two we visited Cefalù! Beautiful beaches, delicious seafood, incredible scenery, fun shopping and beautiful cathedral - what's there not to love!

25/09/2024

Best of Sicily Tour 2024 is on its way!!!

This year's adventures are in full swing!! This one our first night together in Palermo learning the history of Palermo with my favorite street food guide, Giorgio! Food, history, fun vibes.... What's there not to love?

If you are visiting Palermo, I cannot suggest Giorgio's street food tour enough! Buon Appetito 💛