WHERE I WAS SICILY
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For two weeks, as heady honeymooners, Sicilians were delighted at the news and especially welcomed us...
We explored all the abundance this vast and varied sun-drenched island offers. We did 17 towns (a meager total considering there are 391!) in 14 days with rests along the way in 7 hotels.
Our pace was feverish. Because after all, this sun drenched island has it all: ancient ruins, baroque splendor, and rugged landscapes interwoven with a soulful blend of Italian, Greek, and Arab influences in its food, architecture, and spirit.
Its topography is a breathtaking patchwork: rugged mountains fold into fertile valleys lined with olive groves and citrus orchards.
Tiny villages perch high on its hill tops, while gritty, bustling cities layered with chaotic food markets. grandiose churches and Greek ruins, await exploration along its jagged coastline lined with cobalt blue waters.
And so like the Greeks, Romans, Normans and Arabs, we too wanted to conquer all its riches!
Along the way we consumed enough caponata to teach a master class in all its sweet-and-sour variations and sipped wines borne from volcanic soil and high-altitude vineyards that cling to the slopes of Europe’s most active volcano.
As exhilarated as our pace was to explore, there’s nothing frantic about this island. It invites you to be awed by its history and traditions. But it very much keeps its understanding in the present day.
I break out what we saw, ate and bought by the towns we visited. And then where we slept and ate and what we saw and bought along the way, within those places.
Our experience was vastly enriched by AI and Grok searches: it allowed us to quickly dive deep into the many layers of history and information that shored up all that we were seeing at that very moment. We could make spontaneous detours, set up our driving itineraries for the day and meal stops!
CATANIA
Where I was: Catania
Now that Delta is offering direct flights from JFK we flew into this weathered city on the east coast, got our rental car and spent one night at the cute Habitat hotel. But Catania’s streets provide no inspiration I could find. It’s a good starting point but do not linger here.
Where I Stayed: Catania
We stayed at Habitat Hotel
Where I Ate: Catania
After a quick visit to Catania's fish market where we ate a briny oyster pried open by the deft hands of its vendor...
…we drove north and made a pit at Norman castle, fashioned in 11th century on a lava rock outcrop.
The Norman feudal warrior culture left architectural fingerprints all over this island we were soon to discover!
RANDAZZO
Where I Ate: Randazzo
We then drove to have an incredible lunch at the San Giorgio il Drago facing a former monastery. The gleaming red of the local tomatoes paired with the luscious mozzarella was worth any detour. Felt like we had finally arrived in Sicily.
