Friday, June 29, 2007

Friday Destination Dreaming # 19

This is a post that I have been wanting to write for several months. My intention was to suggest this destination over the Easter week, as there are lots of colorful pageants, dances, religious processions, and creative decorations to behold, comprised of cereals and fresh vegetables. Holy week is arguably more important than Christmas as deduced by the natives whole-hearted involvement in celebration. Many businesses close, and hours of operation are shortened so that the locals have more time to spend with family and to enjoy their holiday. This might make it a LESS ideal time to visit, without a genuine interest in Easter traditions.
Months later, and I still find myself dreaming of this destination. The summers are brutally hot, so I am squeezing this spot in before the hordes of tourists arrive for July and August, and the extreme heat reduces one to an oily meat patty.

I bring you a little early summer spice...in Sicily!


Visiting Sicily is all about culture, history, natural beauty, and Italian cuisine. I'd suggest flying into Palermo, to begin your trip with the excitement of a big city and all its' varied entertainment. You will have many archaeological sites to visit, beaches to swim at, and boutique shops to browse through. Sicily is an island of vineyards, orchards, rocky coastline and mountains, such as the famous volcanic Mt. Etna. You can tour through Ancient and Medieval cities like Agrigento, Siracusa, Monreale, and Cefalu, spending much longer in lovely Taormina. Do as the locals do, and spend your evenings strolling arm in arm through piazzas and down stone lanes, stopping for coffee, gelatto, and granita (flavored ice), all the while watching the beautiful and well-dressed around you. Food will be the real treat, and provides the clearest insight into both the land and the people. Dine alfresco, indulging in fresh caught seafood and Sicilian wine. You should detect hints of orange, lemon, olives and almonds - all locally grown, in the flavor of your food. Sicily is surrounded by water - three different seas - the Ionian, Tyrrhenian, and Mediterranean, so when the heat finally becomes unbearable, you can stretch your body out on a sandy beach, or go snorkeling in one of the many coves. Scintillating!

2 Comments:

Blogger Mom101 said...

Just wanted to say I hope your little girl is okay. F*cking Veggie Booty.

12:41 PM  
Blogger Reinmorgen said...

I have to laugh. I got an email today from a friend stuck in London. She did go for the last month to the southern areas of Europe aka Spain, Italy, Greece, etc.. She got stuck in Madrid first, now London due to bad weather. She was due home last Friday and London wasn't even planned! She was only able to email me because she finally found a cafe that charges 1 pound for an hour instead of ten minutes. YIKES! How did you two find all the cafes?

When the day comes and I decide to travel I am coming to you for advice!

2:09 PM  

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