Un Giro in Moto

From the mountains to the sea, we let the road roll under our two wheels, taking us on a journey through the Mt. Etna landscapes.

Through the town of St.Alfio, we passed countless chestnut trees. One in particular, the largest and oldest known chestnut tree in the world, The Chestnut Tree of One Hundred Horses (Castagno dei Cento Cavalli) . The tree's name originated from a legend in which the queen of Aragon and her company of one hundred knights, during a trip to Mount Etna, were caught in a severe thunderstorm. The entire company is said to have taken shelter under the tree.

On our way, there were beautiful volcanic sights.

Fresh Sicilian produce... Including our favorite weed "Cauliceddi", Cicoria, Boraggine, wild Asparagus, fresh scallions, garlic, and sweet pumpkins. Everything picked by local farmers and sold on the streets to passerbyers. Organic one stop shop!

You can notice, on the truck, the vibrant violet sicilian "Cauliciuri", cauliflower.

Coming down from the mountain, we reached the coast of the beautiful "Riviera dei Ciclopi". Here in the little village of Santa Caterina, we stood on the cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea.

The "Timpa" of Acireale.

Gazing at the view...

Aci Trezza, a little fisherman town with it's faraglioni, a pre-historic lavic rock formation. The legend states that Polyphemus, the one eyed cyclops in Homers The Odyssey, threw these rocks into the sea trying to catch the ship of Ulysses.

Aci Trezza also has a very important fish market. In the early morning, fishing boats unload their catch and auction off their goods to the fish shops of the area.

On our last stop we visited a place dear to us... Santa Tecla, the location where we took our wedding pictures. Featuring a beautiful rocky coast, the Mediterranean flora, the cliff of Acireale in the background, and Mt.Etna.

We were so thankful for this opportunity to ride our bike with such beautiful weather in this late fall.

Cipollini Agrodolce

At the market yesterday I found a large basket of little onions. My first impression, when I saw these little beauties, was to make a batch of sweet and sour onions.

I'm afraid they are not going to last very long in this house...


2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
half kilo small white cipollini onions
5 tablespoons sugar
half cup white wine vinegar (or less)
half cup water Salt and pepper

In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine all ingredients, cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook 40 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally so that the onions don't stick to the bottom of the pan. The onions should be easily penetrated with a paring knife but should not be falling apart.
Remove the lid and continue to cook until the liquid has evaporated and the onions are glossy and dark brown, taking care not to burn. Remove from heat and serve.

Not a bad way to kick off November?

Ok, what season are we in? Well, it's Novemeber in Sicily!

On Saturday morning we packed our lunch and headed down to the beach to spend some time in the warm sun. There are not going to be too many more days like this one, so when there is the opportunity, we take it!

Where has the time gone?

I know... Too much time has passed and I have to get to work! Antonello and I have been enjoying our days here in Sicily, watching the weather change before us. We've been very busy, but I will update soon.

Involtini di pollo al pistacchio

Kelly joined me for lunch last week and we decided to pass by Enzo and pick up some fresh chicken breast. I had some finely ground pistacchio's from Bronte on hand, and a soft cheese in the fridge, so we were all set.

Kelly was put right to work!

She covered the thinly sliced chicken with a mixture of Parmigiano-Reggiano and pistacchios, then a slice of soft cheese. She then rolled them up and placed them on a baking sheet.

Very delicate and very tasty!

La Festa della Vendemmia 2008

It's that time of year again!! You can feel it in the air, the time for the Vendemmia. The rain has fallen on the dry land of Sicily, and the grapes are plump and ready for picking. Tonight begins the first night of the three day celebration, and the town is all ready for the thousands that are expected. It is an amazing sight! Pictures from last years vendemmia are posted here if you'd like to see a quick peek of what's to be expected.

The town has planned a full weekend. Check out the program here.

This morning, the school kids were invited to start the process of stomping the grapes. They all had such a good time!




La Festa della Vendemmia will be from the 26th to the 28th of September.

Permesso di Soggiorno... Not yet...

Yesterday, I drove to the Questura in Catania for my 9:30 Permesso di Soggiorno appointment. I must say that having an appointment makes it so much easier. The lines in the Questura can be very daunting and eye opening. My first Permesso di Soggiorno had expired, and I renewed the document a few weeks ago through the post office Kit. I was so surprised to hear back from them so soon. Thinking that I would be walking away with a new 5 year Permesso di Soggiorno was a crazy thought! And in fact, I was wrong. The appointment was only to collect my pictures and take my finger prints. (Again) But, I'm in no rush... :)

casa dolce casa

It feels good to be back! First thing I did in the morning was pick up fresh everything... Bread, fish, and vegetables to make a nutritious lunch.
A presto...

A day on the island of Malta

Sailing into Malta you could see the heat in the air...

We ported in Valletta, Malta’s capital city. The newly restored “Valletta Waterfront” welcomed us once we disembarked.

The Azure Window is a 50 metre high rock arch in the Dwejra Point cliffs. The sea has worn a hole through a narrow headland forming "the window" called Tieqa in Maltese.

These little window balconies are everywhere in Malta.

The streets of Valletta, the city of the Knights.

Malta was the last port on this journey. Everything was packed and ready to return home to Sicily.

Passing Capri

As we left Naples, we followed the coast line south on our way to Malta. The views from my cabin were amazing. Here is a glimpse of Capri when we were sailing by...

Around midnight we entered into the straight of Messina. Everyone was on the open deck to see this passage through the narrow section of water separating the Italian Peninsula from Sicily. The Strait joins the Tyrrhenian Sea in the north with the Ionian Sea in the south and has a reputation for its hydrological peculiarities – namely whirlpools, strong currents and internal waves.
"Throughout history the Strait has received a lot of attention because of its dangerous waters. In Greek mythology, a six-headed monster named Scylla lived on the Italian Peninsula and would pull sailors up and devour them if they came within her grasp, while an all-consuming whirlpool called Charybdis, on the Sicilian side, would suck passersby to their deaths." European Space Agency

We passed through without harm, and shortly after I could see home, Etna lit up for us.

un giorno a Napoli

The beauty of the ship is that it ports right in the heart of the city at the Stazione Marittima, a large terminal near Piazza Municipio. Once you step off the gangway, you can feel the difference as you have arrived in Naples.

I am not a very aggressive person. At first, it was a bit difficult for me to adjust to the pace of the city... I just let Antonello lead! He let me just observe and absorb. The character and culture of Napoli is immense, and even the craziness has its own flavor.

The Church of Gesù Nuovo was built by Jesuits in Naples with its splendid "diamond point bugnato" facade. It was dedicated to the name of Jesus and Immaculate Conception of Mary. The volcanic piperno stones with their bugnato finish are the work of "Master piperno-masons" who were part of a powerful and secret society that handed down the art of cutting Campanian stones, from Roman times, under oath by the apprentices.

The Spire of the Immaculate Virgin stands at the center of the square that was built to invoke the Lord's protection from the plague. Depicted on the spire, among other scenes, are the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple; The Birth of the Virgin Mary; and The Annunciation. Its rich ornamentation is considered the epitome of Neapolitan Baroque sculpture.

We, however, spent most of our time looking on the reverse side of the spire, the back of Mother Mary. (One very kind old man tried to inform Antonello that he was looking at the wrong side. ) We heard that the sculptor created something, in his creation, that if you find the right angle you can discover. Was it his true feelings for the church? Can you see something?

As good visitors of Naples, we found a pizzeria for lunch. I enjoyed the original authentic, D.O.C, pizza Margarita with cherry tomatos, fresh basil, and fresh buffalo mozzarella. Something worth coming back for!